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Literary
June 9, 1956
The Home Journal
Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas County, Virgin Islands
What is this article about?
In this short story, Annie misunderstands Bert's reserved behavior as lack of love, influenced by her cousin's misconception about her wealth. Bert, trying to appeal to her by pursuing an urban business venture and flashy attire, proposes marriage. Annie reveals her farming heritage through an old photo, expressing her dream to be a farmer's wife, leading to their joyful reconciliation and commitment to rural life.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
SNAPSHOT OF A FARMER
By F. L. Rowley
Annie sat on the edge of the bed looking at an old photograph of herself. What a wonderful change ten years had made!
At length she dropped it into her purse and turned to confide in her cousin:
"Doris, Bert doesn't love me. Whenever we're out together he acts as if he's afraid of saying too much."
Doris raised her eyebrows with the expertness given to older cousins. "Annie, you're on the wrong track," she observed wisely. "Bert does love you."
"It's your money that's holding things up," Doris volunteered.
Annie spun around. "My what? Are you mad? All the money I have in the world is here in this purse. Remember how I scrimped to get the fur coat? My money indeed!"
"Tell it to Bert," grinned Doris backing out of the room. In a minute she was back, hands across her eyes. "He--he's downstairs now," she said chokingly. "—and something's wrong."
"Wrong?" Annie's heart beat faster as she ran out to the landing.
What had happened to Bert?
She realized with a thrill that she was more than a little concerned.
Then she saw him! His wavy brown hair had been squelched into a hideous, yellow hat. A bright orange tweed suit completed the startling picture. Annie shuddered as she returned to the bedroom for her coat. What had happened to Bert?
Annie got her answer in their favorite coffee-shop a few minutes later.
"How do you like the new Bert?" he asked, stretching his arms to show off the orange suit.
Annie gulped: nodded.
"And this isn't all," he boasted. "I'm planning to move into town for good. Going to get a franchise on farm machinery. Might be a big wheel in a couple of years."
"But your farm?"
"…Oh-that!" He dismissed it with a wave of the hand yet Annie detected a glint of disappointment in the brown eyes.
"I was hoping you'd keep it," she said. "Always did admire a well-run farm." She held her breath.
His eyes widened slightly as he reached for her hand. "It-it wouldn't be fair to you, Annie."
She thought of what Doris had said-about money. "I'm not rich, Bert," she announced bluntly.
He shrugged. "So what? Who is?"
A chill went through her: Doris had been wrong! Why then had he been silent these many months?
He was studying her now: intently; possessively.
"Annie, will you marry me?"
She gasped. The question hung between them for a long moment.
And suddenly she knew why he had not asked her sooner.
"I-I've always dreamed of being a farmer's wife," she said simply. "And now you talk of this franchise-?"
He was around the table in a flash, his eyes glowing. "You mean it?" he cried eagerly. "But I thought-well, you're so frail; I mean you're not used to my kind of life. I've--we've got a beautiful farm, darling. I only hope"
Annie drew the small snapshot from her purse. "Look. Here's a picture that was taken of me when I was ten-on my father's farm. Never really been proud of it until now. Fat, wasn't I?"
"You-a farmer's daughter?"
Annie laughed. "Dad always said that being a landowner made any man a king; and secretly, I've always longed to be a queen.
But I'm going to give you my answer this evening. And Bert- please wear your dark suit."
He kissed her forehead. "Sure thing, Annie. This suit goes out with the franchise. Bit loud, isn't it? Even for a King."
By F. L. Rowley
Annie sat on the edge of the bed looking at an old photograph of herself. What a wonderful change ten years had made!
At length she dropped it into her purse and turned to confide in her cousin:
"Doris, Bert doesn't love me. Whenever we're out together he acts as if he's afraid of saying too much."
Doris raised her eyebrows with the expertness given to older cousins. "Annie, you're on the wrong track," she observed wisely. "Bert does love you."
"It's your money that's holding things up," Doris volunteered.
Annie spun around. "My what? Are you mad? All the money I have in the world is here in this purse. Remember how I scrimped to get the fur coat? My money indeed!"
"Tell it to Bert," grinned Doris backing out of the room. In a minute she was back, hands across her eyes. "He--he's downstairs now," she said chokingly. "—and something's wrong."
"Wrong?" Annie's heart beat faster as she ran out to the landing.
What had happened to Bert?
She realized with a thrill that she was more than a little concerned.
Then she saw him! His wavy brown hair had been squelched into a hideous, yellow hat. A bright orange tweed suit completed the startling picture. Annie shuddered as she returned to the bedroom for her coat. What had happened to Bert?
Annie got her answer in their favorite coffee-shop a few minutes later.
"How do you like the new Bert?" he asked, stretching his arms to show off the orange suit.
Annie gulped: nodded.
"And this isn't all," he boasted. "I'm planning to move into town for good. Going to get a franchise on farm machinery. Might be a big wheel in a couple of years."
"But your farm?"
"…Oh-that!" He dismissed it with a wave of the hand yet Annie detected a glint of disappointment in the brown eyes.
"I was hoping you'd keep it," she said. "Always did admire a well-run farm." She held her breath.
His eyes widened slightly as he reached for her hand. "It-it wouldn't be fair to you, Annie."
She thought of what Doris had said-about money. "I'm not rich, Bert," she announced bluntly.
He shrugged. "So what? Who is?"
A chill went through her: Doris had been wrong! Why then had he been silent these many months?
He was studying her now: intently; possessively.
"Annie, will you marry me?"
She gasped. The question hung between them for a long moment.
And suddenly she knew why he had not asked her sooner.
"I-I've always dreamed of being a farmer's wife," she said simply. "And now you talk of this franchise-?"
He was around the table in a flash, his eyes glowing. "You mean it?" he cried eagerly. "But I thought-well, you're so frail; I mean you're not used to my kind of life. I've--we've got a beautiful farm, darling. I only hope"
Annie drew the small snapshot from her purse. "Look. Here's a picture that was taken of me when I was ten-on my father's farm. Never really been proud of it until now. Fat, wasn't I?"
"You-a farmer's daughter?"
Annie laughed. "Dad always said that being a landowner made any man a king; and secretly, I've always longed to be a queen.
But I'm going to give you my answer this evening. And Bert- please wear your dark suit."
He kissed her forehead. "Sure thing, Annie. This suit goes out with the franchise. Bit loud, isn't it? Even for a King."
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Love Romance
Agriculture Rural
What keywords are associated?
Short Story
Romance
Farm Life
Proposal
Rural Living
Misunderstanding
What entities or persons were involved?
By F. L. Rowley
Literary Details
Title
Snapshot Of A Farmer
Author
By F. L. Rowley
Key Lines
"I I've Always Dreamed Of Being A Farmer's Wife," She Said Simply.
"Dad Always Said That Being A Landowner Made Any Man A King; And Secretly, I've Always Longed To Be A Queen."
"Sure Thing, Annie. This Suit Goes Out With The Franchise. Bit Loud, Isn't It? Even For A King."