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Mary's Penny    by Tanya Landman & Richard Holland Amazon.com order for
Mary's Penny
by Tanya Landman
Order:  USA  Can
Walker, 2010 (2010)
Hardcover
* * *   Reviewed by Bob Walch

I live on a farm with my father and two brothers. One day my father realized he was faced with a serious dilemma. He was getting older and he didn't know which one of this children should get the farm after he passed away.

Then he had a bright idea. My dad gave each of my brothers a penny and said, 'With your penny, you must each buy something that will fill the whole house.' Perhaps you noticed I wasn't part of this contest. Being a girl, my father didn't think I could operate the farm.

Well, both my brothers tried to complete this task but both failed. One of them purchased straw and the other bought feathers (you could buy a lot for a penny years ago!), but neither one of them could fill up our farmhouse.

At that point I asked my father, 'Where's my penny?'

'You?' he sputtered. 'But you're a girl! Everyone knows that girls can't run farms.'

I smiled and replied, 'It takes brains, not brawn, to run a farm. Give me my penny, and I'll show you.'

Well, he reluctantly gave me a penny. And, guess what? I accomplished the task that both my brothers failed at. I won't tell you what I purchased; you'll have to read my story to find out. But, I will tell you that upon my father's death I inherited the farm and it prospered and flourished.

My story certainly proves that girls are just as capable as boys. Tell us we can't do something and you might be very surprised at how we respond!

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