Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-08-12

aStraw-ber-ries. Straw-ber-ries! Whe
will buy! Who will buy1"
The musical voice Of Nellie trilled the
words so sweetly, that the memory OF the
tones fingered with the passer-by, as be
went to his daily task, and haunted him
through the long hours, like the remem.
brante of a joy that had psssed away. Hell
ROSY face, too, was worthy of place IN the
memory; with its sunny smiles and dim'
Piles, shaded by the careless natural ouris;-
and it's soft, black eyes, large and ful: and
dreamy. 1t was not beautiful only, but SC
indicative of goodness and purity, ana sil
that we must love to cherish as heart P,c-
ture of CHILDHOOD!
: Many an eye turned to look after Nellie,
as she tripped along in the bright June
morning, in her neat pink calico, and white
apron. and large straw hat shading her pref
" ,ace; while her little baskets Of fruit,
covered with dewy fresh green leaves, were
strung piciuresquely over her arms and
shoulders; and her hands contained each a
large basket, filed to overfowing with the
EmuileI Oucs- OuC zoe 81 hcok ohe es~aeSs
i've in her aspect, that many who would
have passed others by unheeded. stopped to
purchase the tempting fruit of Nellie, who
WIS well known, as she came with the
ether beautiful things ofsummer, and trilled
her little song like bird beneath the open
windows: "Straw-ber-ries! Strawberries!
Who will buyl Who will buy!"
"Come in, child; what is your price."
"Ten- pence q basket, Miss"
Nellie stepped into the spacious hall Of a
fashionable house in Montague street,
where young lady stood, in Eer morning
robe with flowers in her hand just gather
ed from the conservatory, and surrounded
with all the appliances of wealth and luxury.
well, they are worth all of that-so
fresh and ripe. Give me half dozen bas-
kets. Here, Mary" And while Mary
emptied the baskets, she drew out her
.portmonnaie,' and dropped the sixty cents,
in fves and tens, into Nellie's little purse
MOI into her hand, as the young reader
must remember; for this apparently trivial
act was the pivot on which turned the moral
event ofthe day and of our story.
The smile with which she received the
money and thanked her for it, penetrated
like sun-besm into the heart Of Minnie
Hamilton, for there was coldness there
the chill of disco ntent and disappointment,
W hich finds their way, sometimes, even iD-
to luxurious homes; and the association of
poverty and conte ntment seemed very in
cougruous to one born in affiueuce, as she
had been.
You seem very happy she said, respond
ing to Nellie's smile. "Do you earn your
living by selling strawberries"
aYes, Miss. In the summer cell berries;
in winter 60 to school part Of the day,
and he 10 mother the other part"
"And what makes you SO hnPpy' Canyo
tell me the secretp'
"Mother SAYS that we must De bright and
happy. because we have 30 uuch to be
thankful for"
Minnie looked at her in amazement. $50
much to be thankful for!" thought she, 'and
in their position. How does your mother
support herself, child!"
"She takes in common sewing, Miss
Sometimes she sews half the night"
"Then what in the world has she to be
so very thankful fort" she exclaimed; and g
silent self-reproach came stealing up from
her heart, that she had SO often murmured
over some evil in her own lot,which certain.
ly sstmed bright one in comparison.
Nellie smiled again sweetlY, as she an,
swered: "Some people, as good as we are
have no home. and have nothing to est.-
But mother and have little room to live
in. She sings at her work all day long
because, she says, God is good to us. We
have bread and potatoes every day, and on
Sunday " have meat. Don't you think
Mss. that is something to be thankful for,
she asked simply.
A deeper tint glowed upon Minnie.
cheek: ayes, yes, child" shs answered ner.
vously; and then followed . pause. during
which she stored away in her heart, like
hidden measures, the lesson which Nellie
had taught her, and which was re.perused
often in after years, when disco1ten1
caused her to murmur at some little cloud
real or imaginary, that hung over her des'