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third year； calculating in the same safe way； we shall have twenty…
one hundred and sixty chickens； in the fourth year there will be
twelve thousand nine hundred and sixty； and at the end of the fifth
year； which is as far as I need to calculate now； we shall have
sixty…four thousand and eight hundred chickens。 What do you think
of that？ At seventy…five cents apiece；a very low price；that
would be forty…eight thousand and six hundred dollars。 Now； what
is the petty cost of a fence； and a few coops； by the side of a sum
like that？〃
〃Nothing at all；〃 I answered。 〃It is lost like a drop in the
ocean。 I hate； my dear； to interfere in any way with such a
splendid calculation as that； but I would like to ask you one
question。〃
〃Oh； of course；〃 she said； 〃I suppose you are going to say
something about the cost of feeding all this poultry。 That is to
come out of the chickens supposed to die。 They won't die。 It is
ridiculous to suppose that each hen will bring up but five
chickens。 The chickens that will live； out of those I consider as
dead； will more than pay for the feed。〃
〃That is not what I was going to ask you； although of course it
ought to be considered。 But you know you are only going to set
common hens； and you do not intend to raise any。 Now； are those
four hens to do all the setting and mother…work for five years； and
eventually bring up over sixty…four thousand chickens？〃
〃Well； I DID make a mistake there；〃 she said； coloring a little。
〃I'll tell you what I'll do； I'll set every one of my hens every
year。〃
〃But all those chickens may not be hens。 You have calculated that
every one of them would set as soon as it was old enough。〃
She stopped a minute to think this over。
〃Two heads are better than one； I see；〃 she said； directly。 〃I'll
allow that one…half of all the chickens are roosters； and that will
make the profits twenty…four thousand three hundred dollarsmore
than enough to buy this place。〃
〃Ever so much more；〃 I cried。 〃This Rudder Grange is ours！〃
CHAPTER IX。
WE CAMP OUT。
My wife and I were both so fond of country life and country
pursuits that month after month passed by at our little farm in a
succession of delightful days。 Time flew like a 〃limited express〃
train； and it was September before we knew it。
I had been working very hard at the office that summer； and was
glad to think of my two weeks' vacation； which were to begin on the
first Monday of the month。 I had intended spending these two weeks
in rural retirement at home； but an interview in the city with my
family physician caused me to change my mind。 I told him my plan。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃if I were you； I'd do nothing of the kind。 You
have been working too hard； your face shows it。 You need rest and
change。 Nothing will do you so much good as to camp out； that will
be fifty times better than going to any summer resort。 You can
take your wife with you。 I know she'll like it。 I don't care
where you go so that it's a healthy spot。 Get a good tent and an
outfit； be off to the woods； and forget all about business and
domestic matters for a few weeks。〃
This sounded splendid； and I propounded the plan to Euphemia that
evening。 She thought very well of it； and was sure we could do it。
Pomona would not be afraid to remain in the house； under the
protection of Lord Edward； and she could easily attend to the cow
and the chickens。 It would be a holiday for her too。 Old John；
the man who occasionally worked for us； would come up sometimes and
see after things。 With her customary dexterity Euphemia swept away
every obstacle to the plan； and all was settled before we went to
bed。
As my wife had presumed； Pomona made no objections to remaining in
charge of the house。 The scheme pleased her greatly。 So far； so
good。 I called that day on a friend who was in the habit of
camping out to talk to him about getting a tent and the necessary
〃traps〃 for a life in the woods。 He proved perfectly competent to
furnish advice and everything else。 He offered to lend me all I
needed。 He had a complete outfit； had done with them for the year；
and I was perfectly welcome。 Here was rare luck。 He gave me a
tent； camp…stove； dishes； pots； gun； fishing…tackle； a big canvas
coat with dozens of pockets riveted on it； a canvas hat； rods；
reels； boots that came up to my hips； and about a wagon…load of
things in all。 He was a real good fellow。
We laid in a stock of canned and condensed provisions； and I bought
a book on camping out so as to be well posted on the subject。 On
the Saturday before the first Monday in September we would have
been entirely ready to start had we decided on the place where we
were to go。
We found it very difficult to make this decision。 There were
thousands of places where people went to camp out； but none of them
seemed to be the place for us。 Most of them were too far away。 We
figured up the cost of taking ourselves and our camp equipage to
the Adirondacks； the lakes； the trout…streams of Maine； or any of
those well…known resorts； and we found that we could not afford
such trips； especially for a vacation of but fourteen days。
On Sunday afternoon we took a little walk。 Our minds were still
troubled about the spot toward which we ought to journey next day；
and we needed the soothing influences of Nature。 The country to
the north and west of our little farm was very beautiful。 About
half a mile from the house a modest river ran； on each side of it
were grass…covered fields and hills； and in some places there were
extensive tracks of woodlands。
〃Look here！〃 exclaimed Euphemia； stopping short in the little path
that wound along by the river bank。 〃Do you see this river； those
woods； those beautiful fields； with not a soul in them or anywhere
near them； and those lovely blue mountains over there？〃as she
spoke she waved her parasol in the direction of the objects
indicated； and I could not mistake them。 〃Now what could we want
better than this？〃 she continued。 〃Here we can fish； and do
everything that we want to。 I say； let us camp here on our own
river。 I can take you to the very spot for the tent。 Come on！〃
And she was so excited about it that she fairly ran。
The spot she pointed out was one we had frequently visited in our
rural walks。 It was a grassy peninsula； as I termed it； formed by
a sudden turn of a creek which； a short distance below； flowed into
the river。 It was a very secluded spot。 The place was approached
through a pasture…field；we had found it by mere accident；and
where the peninsula joined the field （we had to climb a fence just
there）； there was a cluster of chestnut and hickory trees； while
down near the point stood a wide…spreading oak。
〃Here； under this oak； is the place for the tent；〃 said Euphemia；
her face flushed； her eyes sparkling； and her dress a little torn
by getting over the fence in a hurry。 〃What do we want with your
Adirondacks and your Dismal Swamps？ This is the spot for us！〃
〃Euphemia；〃 said I； in as composed a tone as possible； although my
whole frame was trembling with emotion； 〃Euphemia； I am glad I
married you！〃
Had it no