324: MEN I HAVE FISHED WITH. 



to the influence of hot water and soap at all, but for- 

 tunately we escaped all harm perhaps because we had 

 youth on our side." 



She paused a moment, drew a long breath and said: 



"You don't tell me . Oh, men are horrid, anyway! 



I don't believe a word of it!" 



Warren said : "When you take the ox team up to Em- 

 poria after the mail and provisions, see if you can't get 

 some vegetables. The cows got into my garden, and 

 cleaned up what the 'coons, bugs and other things left, 

 and we want some green stuff; see if you can get some 

 onions, beets, cucumbers, or anything." 



Among the things which I brought was a fine bunch 

 of early beets, and we promised ourselves a treat. We 

 peeled and sliced them, and put them in vinegar. Next 

 day they were set out for the evening meal, when we 

 talked about them. 



"Betcher," said Warren, "them beets is more'n a hun- 

 dred years old. I've seen lots o' beets, but they wuz 

 allers tender an' good." 



"They can't be old. They don't keep beets over a 

 year like dried beans; besides, didn't you see the tops 

 were green? I think they're a new kind, or else the soil 

 here is not good for beets." 



"Betcher they ain't cut thin enough for the vinegar to 

 sof'en 'em. These cukes are all right; they're cut thin, 

 and the vinegar goes right through 'em and they're ten- 

 der." 



"Yes, the cucumbers are good enough, but what ails 

 the beets I don't know. I've often eaten 'em at home 

 when mother cut 'em up in vinegar ; perhaps they want to 

 be soaked in vinegar longer to make 'em tender; I don't 

 know just how long they have to stay in vinegar before 

 they're fit to eat." 



