Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-01-12
Selling Strawberries.
By AMY RANDOLPH.

oeneVoience - plety - ts all
played out! Your big Fairs may
all be very nice, but people don't
come there because they pity the
poor: they come because it's
fashionable I"
Horatia Mere shook her pretty
head.
You see, child" said Uncle
Peleg, taking snuff, "you're on
the wrong platform ever to get a
peep behind the curtain. You're
an heirees and you're tolerably
good looking, and have way
that people like. and therefore
the world puts its best foot for
ward, So far as you are concerned.
If you were Mrs. Skies the wash.
erwoman, or Betty the orange
woman. you'd see quite different
aspect OF things"
"Nonsense, UNCLE" said Hora.
tia, still unconvinced. "Be a
good, darling, old Uncle Peleg,
and let me have The delicious
Triomph de Grand strawberries
in your south garden border for
my refreshment table. Remem-
ber, I'm TO sell the strawberry and
cream, and | want my taIle 10
look The pretriest in the room."
"Who do you suppose will buy
Jour strawberries at the Outra-
geous price you'll rut upon them?'
be demanded sourly.
"Everybody.' Horatia answered
saucily. Come, Uncle Peleg, lie
generous aud graceful, and say |
shall have them!'
Uncle Peleg took snuff.
"On one condition you shall
have them"
Horatia clapped her white, rosy
hands.
Sand that"
"Just wait until you hear"
said the old man driIy. You
can't have my fifty quarts OF
Triomph de Grand straw berries.
each oDe as big as a pigeons egg,
until you have first sod dozen
quarts from door to door"
Horatia opened her brown,
wondering eyes, like twin wells
of hazel light.
81, Uncle PelegF''
"You, niece Horatia And |
am to sp city the houses where
you are to g."
1T will be fun" cried Horatia.
with gay laugh. I'D just ar
soon do it as moi"
Perhaps it will be fun. per-
haps it won't" said Uncle Ptlrg
''Ai all events | want you TO gei
one glimpse, at least, of life
through strawberry womanS
eyes
"Am | to be disguised, Uncle
Peleg 2"
TO he sure you are. Miss
Huratia Mere would have no dif
ficulty in disposing OF her wares
d friendless strawberry girl lis
diff remit
"All the more delightful-a
regular tableau viyaHt T. cried
Horatia merrily, "Well, uncle,
where am ] to go?"
"Tll write dow a list of names
for you, that shall be called out
of your dearest triends-Mrs.
Montague, Mrs Dysart, Miss
Ferrars and the like"
They will all buy" cried
Horatia.
"We'll see" Uncle Peleg said.
Are you really willing to buy
the Tliomph De Grand at such
price as this. I1matia 2"
.At any price" the girl an
swered Gleefully.
"You don't know how disa-
greeable you may find it."
at will he a perfect adventurer'
said Horatia, recklessly.
"But, mind, you are to keep it
secret"
Gas the grave" his mischievous
niece answered with mock solem-
nifty.
Miss Horatia Mere would
scarcely have been recognized by
her nearest friends, when she
was dressed for the curious part
she was to play "ior one day only"
as she declared. A calico dress /;
thick boots, in which her tiny
feet felt unwontedly clumsy; a
worn water proof cloak, borrowed
from Mary Ann, the cook, and al
worsted hood enveloped in faded
black veil, and a basket hanging
over her arm-these we're .the)
details Of her costume.
..Strawberries = she cried, rails
ing her sweet voice &c. above"