Query the XML Tree and get the Name and Hourly Rate elements.
Imports System
Imports System.Xml.Linq
Public Class MainClass
Public Shared Sub Main()
Dim employees As XElement = XElement.Load("Employees.xml")
Dim afterQuery = From ele In employees.<Employee> Select Name = ele.<Name>.Value, Wage = CDbl(ele.<HourlyRate>.Value)
End Sub
End Class