Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-10-12
Selling Strawberries.

"l on see, chlld, sulu tuclc Greg "hlhg
snuff, You're on the wrong platform ever to
get peep behind the curtain. You're an
heiross aud you're toerabIy good looking
and have a way that people like, and there
fore the world puts its best foot forward, so
far as you are concerned If you were Mrs.
Skies, the washerwoman, or Betty the orange
woman, you'd see quite different aspect OF
things
"Nousense uncle said llorato, still I'M
convinced. BE good, darling Old uncle
Peleg, and let me have the delicious Try
ompbe ne GraHd strawberries IN your south
garden border for my reireshment table Re
member, I'm to sell the strawberries and
cream, aud ! want my table to look the pref
test in the room
"Who do you suppose will buy your straw
berries at the outrageous. price you'll put
upon themY' he demanded sourly.
"Eyerybody,' Horatia answered saucily
"Come, Uncle Peleg, be generous and grace
full, and say shall have them!'
Uncle Peleg took snuff.
"On one condition you shall have them
Horatia c)apped her white rosy hands.
"And that
"Just wait until you hear said the old
man dryly. "You can't have my fifty quarts
Of Triompte de Grand strawberries each one
as big as pigeons egg, until you have first
sold dozen quarts from door to door
IIoratia opened her brown, wondering
eyes, like twin wells of hazel light
al, Uncle Peleg2'
You, neico Horatia And I am to spec
ify the houses where you are to GO
" 1t will be fun, cried lloratia, with a gay
laugh. I'D just as soon do it as not
Perhaps it will be fun, perhaps it won't,
said Uncle Pcleg. At ali events, want
you to get one glimpse, at least Of life,
through a strawberry woman's eyes"
Am | to be disguised, Uncle Peleg2"
"To be sure you are. Miss Iloratia Mere
would have no difficulty ia disposing of her
wares friendless strawberry girl is differ.
emit"
All the more delightful IA regular tab-
| Tenn riraat :" cried Ioratia, merrily.-
"Well, Uncle where am ! to 90 ~
I'll write down list of names for you
that shall be culed out Of your dearest
friends-Mrs. Montague Mrs. Dysart Mis-.
Ferrars, and the like
"They will all buy cried llorata.
Wen see" Uncle Peleg said. Are YOU
really willing to buy the Tri0mBhe de GraRd
at such price as this, Horatia 2"
At any price," the girl answered gleelul
ly.
." You don't know how dsagreeablo you
may find it,"
1t will be a perfect adventure 70 said 10
rata, recklessly.
But, mind you are to kemp it secret
&C. As the grave his mischieyous necc an
swered.
Miss lIoratia Mere would scarcely hav,
been recognized by her nearest friends, whol
she was dressed for the curions part she wa
} to play for one day only" as She declared
J A calico dress thick boots in which he
tiny feet felt unwontcdly clumsy a worn wa
ter-proof cloak, borrowed from Mary Ann
the cook, aud worsted hood enveloped in
faded black vail, and basket hanging owe
her arm-these were the details Of her COS
, tune.
Strawberries % she cried, raising he
sweet voice to above Oh, Uncle Pc
J leg it will be such joke =!
: And she tripped away, delighted at til
prospect of playing at the realities of life.
Uncle Pclcg looked after her rather doubt
) fully, as he resorted mechanically to his uu
failing panacea for all human ills or perplex
tiles, the suull-box.
I'm almost sorry sent her on such a
unpalatabe Grand he said to himself
" but it it's just as well she should learn t
o see the world as it really is. Her life ha
Q been all colGpr de rose, and no wonder
| The strawberries will be dear bargain, al
/ ter all !"
: While these reflections were spassin
b through the eccentric old mans brain, Horu
r tia Mere had already reached the first hous
G on her list, inhabited by Mrs. Montague,
lady who had always protested the sweetes
!, and most saint-like character whose vote
: was soft and low and who spoke in sx-sy
=, tabled words Of Wobsterian elegance.
o Mrs. Montague herself was in the hall d
lloratia rang the door bell
S If ye phase, maam," said Bridget, " it
L. girrel sellin strawbroes, will We buy quartz
Strawberries, indeed and at the uppe
I door ;" shrilly cried Mrs Montague in
b voice that for an instant almost compellc
3 Ilorata to doubt the ady's identity. " Don
e you know better, glrl, than 70 Drlng you
n trumpery wares to the front door, WhI
It doyou s'pose basement bells were made for
Clear out this minute : What are you stanC
ing staring there for Don't you he;
what say?"
And she took hold of Iloratia's arm, an
il assisted her progress with vigorous push.
is Mrs. Dysarts came next an elegant wi,
h ow, with an ivory pure complexion cur
g like the tendrils of grape vine whose oil
|. stinate rings she was always amenting. Tn
e time our heroine knew better than to 60
|. the front steps and made her way meek
Q to the area bell
/, I" Strawberries, is in" said the little q
!, who came to the door. " I'll ask the missis
e " Mrs, Dysart herself presently came to Il
1t door, and foratia started to see the maryC
lous dissimilarity between the Mrs. Dysart