15 DECEMBER 1917, Page 14

A GIRL ON THE LAND.

[To res Emma or rim "Sexcesroa."1 Sui,—Possibly the enclosed letter from a young girl relative, who has lately taken up work on the land, may interest some of your readers who may be considering the advieability of doing likewise. I may add that she is a somewhat delicate girl, brought up in a home surrounded by every luxury.—I am, Sir, &a., W. G.

" r have got quite a lot to tell you. I have left Mr. A., where I went for three months' summer work (that hateful hoeing!), and am now with a working farmer in the same place and having a lovely time. He was desperately hard up for labour, and knowing that I would like to come, he tried for ages to get me away from Mr. A., without success. However, at last Mr. A.. let me go, and now- I am living up at the farm. They are very superior people and most hard working. She Is inch a good sort, and he an awfully nice old fellow who works from morning to night. It ia a very nice farmhouse. The usual family at home consists of Mr. and Mrs. D. and two daughters and an old father. Mre. B., I, and the daughters and small son have meals In the dining-room, and Mr. B. has- them with the old father in the kitchen. So you see I am living with farm people after all, in spite of what COUIDD H. mid on the subject! It ie nearly all home work, and I specially work a very jolly little mare called Raby—quite a darling. I have done a lot of mowing hay with a pair of horses, and this week we have begun harvesting and I have driven the • binder.' It is such a jolly machine, which cuts the wheat, ties it up in sheavee, and throws it out. It is just like being in a big watch with all the wheels going round I The farmer keeps a good many sheep, and sheep dipping was great fun. I was given the pole with a curved stick at the end, and had to prod their heads under water and keep them in the tank. I got covered with the horrible stuff; I might almost have been dipped myself. Altogether the work is fine, and I've really found my job at hut It is so much nicer than that nursing. A Miss — is also boarding at the farm, though she is a tractor driver and works some distance away. She is clever and interesting, and it makes all the difference having some one like that to talk to in the evenings. Another ladrworker is expected in a few daye, as we shall be a pleartant party. The former is getting a fourteen-horse-power engine put into his barn to drive the chafkutter and other thing.), and I am to learn to work it, which will be rather fun; imagine what I shall look like in mechanic's overalls! I get precious little time for reading now, as you can imagine, but I have the Grettir Saga, which is very interesting, and the Burnt Njal, which I am going to read presently.