"A horse and carriage?" repeated Adam, staring at her.
"Why not?" said Kate, casually.
"But how?" cried the amazed boy.
"Why, earn the money, and buy it!" said Kate, impatiently. "I'm
about fed up on earning cabbage, and potatoes, and skirmishing for
wood. I'd prefer to have a dollar in my pocket, and BUY what we
need. Can't you use your brain and help me figure out a way to
earn some MONEY?"
"I meant to pretty soon now, but I thought I had to go to school a
few years yet," he said.
"Of course you do," said Kate. "I must earn the money, but can't
you help me think how?"
"Sure," said Adam, sitting straight and seeming thoughtful, "but
give me a little time. What would you -- could you, do?"
"I taught before I was married," said Kate; "but methods of
teaching change so I'd have to have a Normal term to qualify for
even this school. I could put you and Polly with Aunt Ollie this
summer; but I wouldn't, not if we must freeze and starve together -- "
"Because of Grandma?" asked the boy. Kate nodded.
"I borrowed money to go once, and I could again; but I have been
away from teaching so long, and I don't know what to do with you
children. The thing I would LIKE would be to find a piece of land
somewhere, with a house, any kind of one on it, and take it to
rent. Land is about all I really know. Working for money would
be of some interest. I am so dead tired working for potatoes.
Sometimes I see them flying around in the air at night."
"Do you know of any place you would like?" asked Adam.
"No, I don't," said Kate, "but I am going to begin asking and I'm
going to keep my eyes open. I heard yesterday that Dr. James
intends to build a new house. This house is nothing, but the lot
is in the prettiest place in town. Let's sell it to him, and take
the money, and buy us some new furniture and a cow, and a team,
and wagon, and a buggy, and go on a piece of land, and live like
other people. Seems to me I'll die if I have to work for potatoes
any longer. I'm heart sick of them. Don't say a word to anybody,
but Oh, Adam, THINK! Think HARD! Can't you just help me THINK?"
"You are sure you want land?" asked the boy.
"It is all I know," said Kate. "How do you feel about it?"
"I want horses, and cows, and pigs -- lots of pigs -- and sheep,
and lots of white hens," said Adam, promptly.
"Get the spade and spade the onion bed until I think," said Kate.
"And that reminds me, we didn't divide the sets last fall.
Somebody will have to go after them."