Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-12-02

delicious fruit, her rich voice ringing
most sweet, mos, oiuslcally IN the clear
morning air. She thus passed along
down Bleeker-si., now glancing to that
side oithe street, now lifting her bright
eyes 10 the bai-closed blinds and the
doors on this, to see if any one was com
ing to buy. No one passed her, dres-
sed in her neat hut worn sun-hat aud
cape, her tidy white apron and cal'co
lrock just fitting her perfect little figure,
with her bright, beautiful, though Ter
Ty brown face, her lovely smiles and
buoyant step, without stopping to look
back, particularly the gentlemen who
were going to their places OF business.
She, however, did not heed them, for
she thought only of selling her straw
berries aud getting her new hat and
when one young ultra dressed gentleman
caught her eye and thought that he had
made conquest of the pretty strawberry
girl, she was at the instant calculating
how much eight quarts Of strawberries
would come To al thlr,y-one cents per
quart which she AT length found would
enable her 10 get hat that would cost
81 48 cents.
Strawberries fine ripe straw-ber-
rios who'll buy p
slow do you sell your strawberries,
my pretty one p asked a respectable
middle.aged gentleman, with al eye for
female beauty, who came out OF Il
house just before her; and while lifting
the fresh green mulberry leaves ,ha,
covered them bunquelIing on her rustic
beauty.
two and sixpence-thlrty-on cents
quart, sir she said dropping her eyes
nodesly, for she saw he had been look
ing into her face, instead OF the bas-
ket.
They are very nice looking he said,
taking one aud eating it with a zeN /;
but you are too respectable and pretty 10
sell strawberries, my dear
My father, has told me, sir, that
whatever is honest, is respectable, said
Fanny firmly.
But it will lead you astray.'
'Sir !" asked Fanny, with great SIM
plicity.
Nothing you 60 to that door which
hos the blind open, and they will take
some Of Your strawberries. Where do
you live =
AT home SIR,
'Ob, all. yes-I dare say = stammor-
cd the gentleman, quite thrown of his
self possession by the righteousness ol
her character, which he did not expect
10 discover in one Of her pursuits for
there are many gentlemen, side OF this
gay Lo,harlo, who have conceived an
idea TINT young aud pretty girl, who
has 10 work for her subsistence, is ever
ready To exchange the hardly earned
pittance Of honest industry, for The temp
ting wages OF sin. But such persons
are often ioiled To their cost. Such a
one was the respectable looking lawyer.
Fanny's beauty had attracted his eye
and he stopped her under the pretence
of looking at her strawberries, to see
whit prospect there was of becoming the
possessor OF such prize. Fanny, un-
consciously, met his art by Ignorance,
and the empter shrunk from his purpose
and as he left her he felt that shame OF
conscience which vice always experien-
ces in the presence Of the virtue 1t
would have contaminated.
Fanny however was too innocent Of
evil to be conscious OF his intention,
though she had, on seeing him survey
ing hei with peculiar look, experienced
dislike towards him nevertheless she
went 10 the door he had pointed out, IN
which she saw, peeping after the gentle
man, a lady who had been once hand
some, dressed in white morning robe.
As Fanny ascended the spacious brown
sione steps, the lady threw open the
other half blind, and said 10 her in a
quick, suspicious tone, and with a look
10 match it
What did my hus--I mean that
gentleman, say to you, girl =
TO come here with my strawberries,
madam answered Fanny respectfully
tho she wondered at her way oil speak
ing to her.
Didn't he chuck you under the chin =
No. responded Fanny, laughing at
tho ldoa and AT the lady.
Didn't he ask you any questions y
lie asked me how ! sold my straw
berries, and told me if brought them to
this house, the people would buy some. ,
lhe Iady eyeC her very s'eauhy
moment after she had answered, and
then smiling good naturedly, said
We'll, well-let me see them. They
arc very nice looking Did you pick
them yourself ?
Yes, madam, in my fathers garden
al Weehawken.'
'Thcy have. a delightful flavor -
Here, Betty, bring dish here. | will
take two quarts, girl. Tell your father
he shouldn't trust such a child as you
are to sell strawberries about the streets
j sold them before | was thirteen,
madam, answered Fanny.
Il don't mean that mean you are
too old then 7 How much do you ask
quart 2
'Thriy-one cents answered Fanny,
smiliug-for she always smiled when she
answered a question.
You are altogether too pretty, child
How fragrant Thiry-one cents -
You must take thirty
'lt is very early in the season, and !
mnst get thirty-one, answered our straw
berry yitl not unimpressed voung ms