They had “the orchard, the meadow, and deep-tangled wildwood,” full of sacred memories.  They fairly gloried in their dairy, the poultry yard, and garden.  They were up at daylight, and with the help of a small boy from the cabins, gathered the marketing which Margaret, in her high cart, took to the hotels at the thriving village of the railroad junction.

Richard Davis undertook the live-stock raising for the sisters on the shares.  This was a great help, though Uncle Abner, who had been bulldozed into complacency, he said, hinted on occasions that the “young fellow would be sharing himself with one of ’em before long.”  However, the energetic maidens gave no heed, save to the grand purpose of their lives.

They learned to “gar old clo’es amaist as weel as new.”  Carpets were darned and scoured and turned; the time-honored furniture was patched and polished; and their fair hands did not shrink from putting on a fresh coat of paint, or paper, now and then.  Under severe pressure of temptation they parted with several pieces of old mahogany during the craze for antiques, at prices almost fabulous.  This they invested in some shares of bank stock.

The second year’s profits footed up enough to make a payment to Uncle Abner, and then their joy knew no bounds.  In vain their anxious friends urged them to sell out and live in a small cottage.  Their sympathy was thrown away.

“Every blade of grass is dear to me,” persisted Margaret.  “Perhaps I have more sentiment than sense, but this should be my life work.  And when free from debt, think how easy to see the end of every year from the beginning.  Meanwhile everything is getting more simple for us.  At first, we had to be content with just the old rut, for we knew nothing else.  Now we study the best methods.  We take a farmer’s journal, which has proved a noble education.  The continual improvements in machinery and necessary implements are of inestimable value.  The best costs a little more at first, but in the end it pays.”

“I always detested farming,” exclaimed an old schoolmate who had married a rich banker.

“Come and see us,” said Margaret, with her hopeful smile.  “Let us show you our work.”

She came, partly from curiosity, and together the friends went over the premises.  First, the kitchen garden where grew in hills or rows vegetables after the most approved latter-day culture; next, the glowing garden of flowers whose gorgeous bloom found ready sale; then the poultry yard, pig-sties, bee-hives and stables, Margaret all the while discoursing upon remedies for this or that drawback, and how to manage the diverse brands and breeds, till her dainty friend held up her hands in honest wonder.

“How on earth and where did you learn all this?” she found voice to ask.