had also been proving up, but he had accomplished that years ago and
has his deed, so I am allowed my homestead. Also I have not yet used my
desert right, so I am still entitled to one hundred and sixty acres
more. I shall file on that much some day when I have sufficient money
of my own earning. The law requires a cash payment of twenty-five cents
per acre at the filing, and one dollar more per acre when final proof
is made. I should not have married if Clyde had not promised I should
meet all my land difficulties unaided. I wanted the fun and the
experience. For that reason I want to earn every cent that goes into my
own land and improvements myself. Sometimes I almost have a brain-storm
wondering how I am going to do it, but I know I shall succeed; other
women have succeeded. I know of several who are now where they can
laugh at past trials. Do you know?--I am a firm believer in laughter. I
am real superstitious about it. I think if Bad Luck came along, he
would take to his heels if some one laughed right loudly.

I think Jerrine must be born for the law. She always threshes out
questions that arise, to her own satisfaction, if to no one else's. She
prayed for a long time for her brother; also she prayed for some
puppies. The puppies came, but we didn't let her know they were here
until they were able to walk. One morning she saw them following their
mother, so she danced for joy. When her little brother came she was
plainly disappointed. "Mamma," she said, "did God really make the
baby?" "Yes, dear." "Then He hasn't treated us fairly, and I should
like to know why. The puppies could walk when He finished them; the
calves can, too. The pigs can, and the colt, and even the chickens.
What is the use of giving us a half-finished baby? He has no hair, and
no teeth; he can't walk or talk, nor do anything else but squall and
sleep."