250 



" By perseverance and common sense. I am going to 

 order some seed of Washburn this very night." Then he 

 began to write a letter. While writing he weut on talking. 

 "As far as I can understand the matter, lettuce seems 

 to be something that can be forced ; by that I suppose they 

 mean it can be forced, or compelled, to grow in advance of 

 the regular season by artificial means, such as shelter, etc. 

 I cannot now tell how this is accomplished, but I have no 

 doubt we can invent some method if we put our minds to it 

 At any rate we will try." 



The next morning the remainder of our furniture arrived 

 from the city, and nearly the whole day was taken up in 

 setting our new home in order. At nightfall we again sat 

 down to our reading. To tell the truth, we were both fas- 

 cinated with the books. Though we could not understand 

 all they had to say, yet we found it a novel and pleasing 

 sensation to read and talk about the real, tangible things of 

 which they treated. We discussed lettuce far into the night. 



I was awakened early the next morning by a great pound- 

 ing in our barn. Hastily dressing, I went down to see what 

 was going on. I found my husband had turned carpenter, and 

 was busy with saw, hammer, and boards, making a huge box. 



" What are you making, Robert? " 



" A hot-bed frame. I made a lucky find this morning. 

 In the barn chamber I discovered three sashes. I knew 



