Amarilly of Clothes-line Alley

"I'm a little fearful of the river on Iry's account," said Mrs. Jenkins,

"but we kin spank him up good as soon as we git thar, and then he'll

understand he's to keep away."

"We kin git a good dog to keep track of Iry and the cattle," said the

Boarder, and then he paused expectantly to listen to Amarilly's

approbation. But she was strangely silent.

"It will be a fust class investment," he continued sagely.

"Why will it? We don't know anything about farming," objected Amarilly.

"We'll have to hire someone to run it."

"I was brought up on a farm," replied the Boarder. "Thar ain't a thing I

don't know about farm work."

"I was raised on a farm, too," said Mrs. Jenkins. "I can make good

butter and I know all about raisin' chickens. I'll get some young

turkeys and have them ready to sell for Thanksgiving, and I'll set out

strawberries and celery plants."

"I kin larn, and I'll work hard and do just what he tells me to," said

Flamingus, motioning toward the Boarder.

"I kin have my dairy all right, all right," said Gus joyfully. "I'll

have a hull herd of cattle soon."

"I shall go in heavy on hens," said Milt importantly. "The grocer give

me a book about raising them. There's money in hens."

"I choose to take keer of the sheep," cried Bobby.

"I'll help ma do the work in the house and the garden," volunteered

Cory.

"And I'm strong enough to work outdoors now," said Lily Rose. "I shall

help with the garden and with the housework."

"We'll all pitch in and work," said Flamingus authoritatively, "and

we're all partners and we won't hire no help. It will be clear profit."

"Ain't it lovely, Amarilly?" asked the mother, apprehensive lest the

little leader might blackball the project.

"We're all doing so well here, why change? Why not let well enough

alone?" she asked.

There was a general and surprised protest at this statement. It was

something new for Amarilly to be a kill-joy.

"Do you like to live in this alley when we kin hev all outdoors and git

a chanst to be somebody?" demanded Flamingus, who was rapidly usurping

his sister's place as head of the house.

"And think of the money we'll make!" reminded Milton.

"And the milk and butter and cream and good things to eat without buying

them!" exclaimed Gus.