Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-08-06
Selling Strawberries.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

PITY Its all played out Your big fairs
may be all very nice, but people don't
como there because they pity the poor
they como because it's fashionable !"
Horatia Mere shook her pretty head.
"You sec, child" said Uucle Peleg,
taking snuff, "you're on the wrong plat
form ever to get peep behind the cur
tain. You're an heiress, and you're tol.
erably good looking, and have way that
people like, and therefore the world puts
it's best foot forward, so far as you arc
concerned. If you we're Mrs. Skies, the
washerwoman, or Betty, the orangewo-
man you'd see quite different aspect of
things"
Nonsense, nncle," said Horatia, still
unconvinced. "Be a good, darling old
Uncle Pelcg, and let me have the Triomphe
de Grandc strawberries in your south
garden border for my rcfrcshment table.
Remember, I'm to sell strawberries and
cream and l want my table to look the
best in the room."
"Who do you suppose will buy your
Strawberries, at the outlandish price you'll
put upon them ?" he demanded sourly.
"Everybody," Horatia answered sauci.
ly. Come, Uncle Peleg, be generous aud
graceful, and say shall have themw
Uncle Pcleg took snuff.
Son one condition you can have them"
Horatia clapped her white, rosy hands
/" And that"
"Just wait until you hear" said the
old man, dryly. "You can't have my
fifty quarts of Tri"mphc lie Grande straw
berries, each one AS big as pigeons egg,
until you have first sold dozen quarts
from door to door,"
Horatia opened her brown wondering
eyes like twin wells of hazel light
81. Uncle Pe!cg ?"
"You. niece lIoratia! And l am to
specify the houses where you arc to Co."
1T will be fun" cried Horatia with
gay laugh, I'D just as soou do it as
not
Perhaps it will be fun, perhaps it
won't said uncle Pclcg. "At all events,
l want you to get one glimpse, at least, Of
life through strawberry woman's eyes"
"And am to be disguised, Uncle Pc
lcgy
'To be sure you are. Miss Horatia
Mere would have no difficulty in dispos.
ing of her wares; but a friendless strawbcr-
ry girl is different"
"All the more delightful-a regular
tnbleou rirant!!" cried Horatia, merrily.
Well, uncle, where am to eo?"
"Ill write down a list of names for
you, that shall be culled out of your dearest
fricnds-Mrs Montague, Mrs. Dysart, Miss
Ferrars and the like"
"Thcy will all buy" Cried Horatia.
owen see," Uncle Peleg said. "Are
you willing to buy the Triomphe de
Grande at such a price as this. Horatia 2"
AT any price," the girl answered,
glecfully
"You don't know how disagrceablc you
may find it,"
1T will be perfect adventure ~ said
Horatia, recklcssly.
"But mind, you're to keep it a secret"
GAS the grave" his mi 'chicvous n;e:c
answered, with mock solcmnity.
Miss Horatia Mere would scarcely have
been recognized by her nearest friends,
when she was dressed for the curious part
she was to play for one day only" as
she declared A calico dress; thick boots
in which her tiny feet felt unwontedly
clumsy, a much worn waterproof cloak.
borrowed from Mary Ann, the cook, and
a worstcd hood enveloped in faded black
veil, aud basket hanging over her arm
these were the details of her costume.
"Strawbcr ries :" she cried, raising her
sweet voice to &c. above" "Oh, Uncle
Peleg. it will be such joke!"
And she tripped away delighted at the
prospect Of playing at the realities Of life.
Uncle Peleg looked after her rather
doubtfally, as he resorted mechanically to
his unfailing pauacea for all human ills Or
perplexities, the snuff box.
"Im almost sorry l sent her on such an
unpalatable errand," he said to himself /;
" but it's just as we'll she should learn to
see the world as it really is. Her life has
been all coxlexr dc rose, and no wonder.
The strawberries will be a dear bargain
after all :"
While these ecentric reflections, were
passing through the old mans brain,
Horatia Mere had already reached the
first house on her list inhabited by Mrs.
Montague, a lady who had always pro.
fesscd the sweetest and most saint.like
character, whose voice was soft and low.
and who spoke in six syllabled words Of
Websterian elegance.
Mrs. Montague herself was in the hall
as Horatia rang the door bell.
"If ye plase. ma'ma," said Bridget " it's
a girrel sellin strawberries-will W. buy q
qwrt?"
Strawberries indeed and at tho up.
per door !" shrilly cried Mrs. Montague,
in voice that for an instant almost com.
pellcd Horatia to doubt the lady's identity.
Don't you know better, girl, than to bring
your trumpery wares to the front door
What do you s'pose basement bells were
made for? Clear ont, this minute