The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-12-16

ed more heavily on his spirits in this
busy mart, than when surrounded by the
woods and fields in the country. She
looked up with pleasant smile as she
answered the question he had asked
relative to some heavy clusters of purple
grapes she was taking from her basket.
She kept her eye fixed on him moment
after she had ceased speaking, and then
said, interrogatively:
=" You have never been in the city ="
81 never have. l came yesterday
about dark, for the first time"
I" You have relatives here--somc
uncle, aunt, or cousin, l suppose 2"
NO, ma'am, / have neither. / am
not acquainted with single person in
the city"
"And did you come alone Did nc
friends come with you :"
L have no friends.'
mo father, nor no mother Z"
Ronald shook his head.
Poor child ~ said she compassion
'atcly " and what do you think of do
ing"
81 want to do some kind of work to
earn my living"
cit is doubtful whether you can get
anything to do"
Oh, don't say so, ma'am."
YOu have no money, of course :"
" None but these two gold pieces /;
but l have particular use for them. l
must not spend them to live on"
He then told her how he came by
them that he intended to be a rich
man some day; and that he was going
to keep the two half-eagles to start with
"What do you say to laying them ou,
in fruit : said she. "There is not day
passes, but that l could sell great deal
more than I do. Somehow, people like
to come to my stand, especially the
children. There will be room for it,
and it will sell at very fair profit. In
return you can do my errands, which l
now have to hire DONE"
"Oh! should like it very much :"
said he; "but should l not pay you
something, besides doing your errands ?"
eve will see about that, all in good
time. Are the clothes you have on the
best you have :"
"They are all I have. Mother was
sick good while, and could not buy me
any new ones"
Well, you must have a new sui
right away, that is certain for those
you have on are wore out. You shall
go home with me to-right, and to-mor-
row morning when purchase fruit for
myself, / will buy five dollars worth for
you, which will do for beginning. Now
you can walk round little, if you like.
My name is Williams and if you lose
your way, step into some shop, and ask
to be directed to Mrs. Williams fruit
stand"
The streets began now to assume a
lively, bustling appearance, and occa-
sionally some of the juvenile pedestrians
would loiter as they passed the stands
where MELONS, peaches, grapes, and all
the fruits of the season, were temptingly
displayed. Ronald fingered to see Mrs.
Williams deposit in the basket of Gus
toner couple of musk MELONS, golden
as the sunbeams in which they had been
basking during the long summer days
and quantity of luscious looking peach
es, and then telling her should not 90
far, left the stand.
I" Be back in season for dinner" she
said, calling after him. 81 have plenty
for both of u.s."
"What handsome, bright looking
boy be is," said she, looking after him,
as he walked away. If he was only
dressed up in some good clothes, he
would be beauty. The richest mer-
chant in the city might be proud of him."
"Who is he 7" said Mrs. Larkin, the
woman whose stand was next to hers.
"a poor, friendless boy, without
either father or mother, brother or
sister"
"I'm not so sartain of that" said
Mrs. Larkin. "If all were orphans
that pretended to be, fatherless and
motherless children would be plenty as
blackberries.
"Well, | know there are good many
impostors about but Ronald eastwood
is no impostor. kind of pride myself
in telling what people are by their looks |;
and if that boy don't turn out to be
something, shall be greatly mistaken,
and that is all l have to say about it,"
You know that don't pretend to