113 



worker, you just step into the greenhouse yonder and see 

 the woman-florist." 



While this -was going on, a wagon drove slowly past the 

 gate. In it sat a farmer with his little girl. Seeing my 

 sign, he pulled up his horse, got out, and came in. 



"Is Mr. Oilman in?" 



" There is no Mr. Oilman." 



" Who is M. Oilman ? I want some tomatoes any way." 



"I am Mrs. Oilman, and if you will come this way I 

 will show you the plants." 



On entering the violet house, he seemed greatly pleased 

 with the appearance of things. Walking up and down 

 the path, he looked at the plants, and ran his hand over 

 the tops as if to feel how stout and stocky they were. 



"Wall now, them be purty plants. Did you raise them 

 yourself? " 



" Yes, sir." 



" Wall, now, that beats all I ever heard. And you are a 

 woman-gardener, -are you ? " 



U I am trying to be." 



"Come now, they is good ones, aint they? Lordy ! 

 who'd a thought it ? I must tell my old woman. A wo- 

 man-gardener ! How much do you ask for them, ma'am ? " 



" Fifty cents a dozen." 



"Oh, don't mind the dozens. It's not by the dozen 

 or hundred I wants them. What do you charge for a 

 thousand?" 



10* 



