Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-07-23
Isl c ELL A Y. .
THE LITTLE STRAWBERRY GIRL.
by MISS z. W. BARNES

bi MioS e. W bAhNE-'
''Straw-ber-ries Strawberries Who
will buy? Who will buy?'
The musical voice of Nellie trilled the
words 80 sweetly, that the memory of the
tones fingered with the passer-by as he went
on to his daily task, and haunted him through
the long hours like the remembrance of
joy that has passed away. Her rysy face,
too, was worthy of place in memory, with
its sunny smiles and dimples, shaded by care
less natural curls, and its soft, black eyes,
large and full and dreamy. 1t was not beau
tiful only, and all that we most love to cher
ish as heart-picture of childhood.
Many an eye turned to look after Nellie,
as she tripped along in bright June NOR
ming, in her neat pink calico, and white
apron, and large straw hat shading her pref
ty face, while her little basket of fruit, cover
ed with dewy fresh green leaves, were strung
picturesqucly over her arms and shoulders ;
and her hands contained each larger basket
filled to overiowing with the smaller ones.
She was 80 neat and attractive in her aspect,
that many, who would have passed Others
by unheeded, stopped to purchase the temp
ting fruit of Nellie, who was we'll known, as
she came with the other beautiful things of
summer, and thrilled her little song like IA
bird beneath the open windows;
"Strawber ries Strawberries Who
will buy? Who will buy ?"
"Come in, child; what is your price ~
"Tenpence basket, miss.
Nelly stepped into the spacious hall Of a
fashionable house in Montague street, where
young lady stood in her morning robe, with
flowers in her hand, just gathered from the
appliances of wealth and luxury,
tWell thew ara worth oil that-so fres II
and ripe. Give me half dozen baskets.
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 lit
tie purse-not into her hand as the reader
must remember; for this apparently trivial
act Was the pivot on which turned the moral
event of the day and of our story
The smile with which she re ,eyed the
money and thanked her for it, penetrated
like a sunbeam into the heart Of Minnie
Hamilton, Tor there WIS coldness there-the
child OF discomfort and Disappointment, which
ind their way, sometimes, even into luxur.
ious homes and the association of poverty
and contentment seemed very incongruous t
one born in affiuence, as she had been.
"You seem very happy" she said, respond
ing to Nellie's smile, .'Do you earn YOU
living by selling Strawberries?
eyes, miss. In the summer sell berries
in the winter go to school part of the day
and help mother the other part.
And what makes you 50 happy? Can
you tell me the secret?''
4" Mother says that we must be bright anc
happy, because we have 50 much to be thank
ful for.'
"Minnie looked at her in amazement ''SC
much to be thankful for,' thought she
"and in their position How does you
mother support herself, child ?"
''She takes in common sewing miss. Some
times she sews half the night"
"Then what in the world has she to be 5,
very thankful for?'' she exclaimed and
silent self-reproach came stealing up from
her heart, that she had SO often murmure'
over some evil in her own lot, which certainl
seemed a bright one in comparison.