The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-11-20
K TIT Y'S w WAGER.

Parker Pelham, buttoning his pockets
and incllning his chair at an angle OF
fortv-iivc degrees against the pia2zs
railing. Taxes, taxes-nothing but
ltaXes.--G Government must suppos, q
man is made ofmoney; and then. right
OH top of that, every woman of your
acquaintance expects you to pay funds
into her private war.trcasury. It's
Iall nonsense--and |, for one, won't be
ivictimized! Besides, i, don't CON
slider it fair for us men to be blcd at
every pore, while the women keep
their own purse intact. lfyOu female
kind are so vitallv Interested in. the
hospitals, and all that sort of thing.
why don't yon lend helping hand
YOURSELF"
Mr. Pelham screwed up his lips.
tapped his fingers on the railing, and
nodded his head. as one who would
say, 81 guess you'll find that argu-
Imcnt unanswerable." Kitty Brace,
standing among the roses that shut
out the June sunshine, turned round
so suddenly, that the tinted petals
showered softly down around her like
a pink snowstorm. Parker instinct
lively moved his chair back, as he
caught the dangerous sparkle Of her
hazel eyes, and saw the crimson pen
non of defiance fluttcring across her
check.
please to explain yourself, Mr. Pei
! la : said Kitty, clasping spray of
roses very tightly in her two little
hands, lest they should descend wrath
fully on Parkcr's ears in spite of her
determination to be very proper and
dignihed. 'lIave we not spent time
and money both in this cause? Have
VIC not denied ourselves every unncc-
cssary luXury? Nay, have we not cv-
en- parted with our Jewels and trinkets
to send aii to those who suffer in our
country's behallI'
That's all very fne, said Parker,
turning up his nose in lofty disregard
Of feminine logic. Smooth sailing
smooth sailing! You may talk rs much
rs you like, Miss Kitty, but you'll new
cr persuade me you're in earnest un-
III 1 oNC y bu ihSNt SDtilt HtCflllcC WOIlIl
hoasting Of
Il don't want to boast" said Kitty.
indignantly; "but oh if were only
Il mau--if could only earn money =
"Yon'd do unhcard of things. I've
no doubt" said Mr.. Pelham. sarcas-
ticalIy. But you can earn money ii
iyou choose to try"
How, pray p
J well, for instance. those crimson
-spriakled strawberry beds on the side
! hill--a man would turn 'em into mon
cy quick enough, a woman don't choose
to take the trCuhle--it's easier to
iheg!'
Yes, said Kitty, taking no notice
Of the covert sncer, but nobody wants
Strawberries herc--thcre is no mar
kct for them.
/ There is in the city, suppose. All
yos--ihat's right, Miss Kitty-curl
your lips and toss your head Come
nowhere rs an eXempliiication Of my
assertion, that you shrink from the
/ slightest effort in this case. Yon OK
, pcct ~ TO do everything, while yon
are willing to do nothing. Now, lm
not afraid to wag n fifty dollars you
Iwoulda't sell five dollars worth OF
strawberries TO keep your soldier he
roes from want
Kitty was silent moment-thcn she
, drew ont her little morocco pocket
with solemn emphasis.
I'll call witnesses, sir, and the wa
ger shall he registered
Parker I'clham eyed the little hcau-
ty us if he scarcely undcrs lood her
"Mini, You are to sell them your
self Miss Kitty! no manoevering.
"Sct your heart at rest, Mr.. Pei
ham; all the conditions of your bar
gain shall he complied with"
But, Miss Kitty, have you reflect
ed? Such very unladylike thing
Il see nothing unladylike in en-.
deayoring to serve my country's de,
fcnders,' said Kitty, quietly, lam,
bent smile sparkled in her eyes as she
noted Parkers perturbed brow "Fif,
| ty dollars--it is a very neat little sum
And now ] must go to see about some
baskets for my berries-there's nc
time to be lost!'
Fifty dollars!' feebly muttered
Mr.. Pelham, as the light dress hutter,
ed down the garden walk. "What {
confounded fool / was! why couldn't
| have said five instead, But o
course I'm safe-she'll never do sucl
Il thing-neYer''