12 MY TEN-ROD FARM ; 



began to cut the flowers, verbenas, geraniums, mignon- 

 nette, fuchsias, and roses, by the handful. Filling my box, 

 I carried them into the kitchen, and, procuring all the 

 empty pans I could find, I placed the flowers in water and 

 arranged them on the table. "No, that will not do; the 

 children will see them." So, one at a time, I carried the 

 pans, now glowing with color, downstairs, and placed them 

 all in the cool, dark cellar. The next morning, I was up 

 very early ; and, after getting the children's breakfast ready 

 for them, gathered all the flowers together from the cellar, 

 put them in the bandbox, got my hat, shawl, and veil, and 

 started for the railroad. 



The cars had not arrived when I reached the station ; so 

 I was obliged to wait among a crowd of men and boys and 

 a few girls, all going to their work in the city by the first 

 morning train. Soon the engine appeared, and we started. 

 I felt lonely indeed, and was almost the only woman in the 

 throng. The conductor knew me, but seemed puzzled to 

 see me. "What brings you here at this early hour?" I 

 dare say, he thought. 



In due time we ran into the great depot in the city. I 

 had never been in the streets so early in the morning before. 

 Everything seemed strange. Plenty of people were stir- 

 ring, but they were all of a class which I had seldom met. 

 Only a few stores were open, and before these, boys and men 

 were busily sweeping out and taking down the shutters. I 

 had to pick my way along carefully, for it did seem as if 



