The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-09-12
UNCLE PELEG'S STRATAGEM.

II
don't come there because they pity the
poor they come because it's fashioua-
BILE v
Horatia Mere shook her pretty head.
You see, child" said Uncle 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 toll
erably good looking, and have way that
people like, and therefore the world puts
it's 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"
Nonsense, uncle" said Horatia, still un-
convinced. "Be good darling, old Uncle
Peleg, and let me have the Triomphe
de Grande strawberries in your south
garden border for my refreshment table.
Remember I'm to sell strawberries and
cream, and 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 7" he demanded
sourly
Everybody" Horatia answered, sauci-
ly. "Come Uncle Peleg, be generous
and graceful, and say Ishall have them p
Uncle Peleg again took snuff.
Con 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 Triomphe de Grande straw
berries, each one as big as pigeons egg,
until you have first sold dozen quarts
from door to door," ... u
Horatia opened her brown, wondering
eyes like twin wells of hazel light ~
81, Uncle Peleg?" "iI.
You, niece Horatia And l am to
specify the houses where you are to
60" .ar n
i" 1t will be fun," cried Horatia, with a
gay laugh, "Pd just as soon do it as
not"
"Perhaps it will be fun, perhaps it
won't" said Uncle Peleg. "At all
events, want you to get one glimpse, at
least, of life through strawberry woman's
eyes"
"And I am to be disguised, Uncle
Peleg?"
"To be sure you are. Miss Horatia
Mere would have no difficulty in dispos.
ing of her wares friendless strawberry
girl is different"
AL the more delightful-a regular
ta6leau riuant!' cried Horatia, merrily.
"Well, uncle, where am l to go?"
"Ill write down list of names for
you, that shall be culled out of your dear
est friends-Mrs. Montague, Mrs. Dysart,
Miss Ferrars and the like"
"They will all buy p cried Horatia.
"We'll see," Uncle Peleg said. " Are
you willing to buy the Triomphe de
Grande at such price as this, Horatia ?"
"At any price," the girl answered,
gleefully. ~
"You don't know how disagreeable
you may find it."
1t will be perfect adventure !" said
Horatia, recklessly. ,a9
But mind, you're to keep it secret"
"As the grave" his mischievous niece
answered with mock solemnity.
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 unwonted clumsy, a much-worn water
proof cloak, borrowed from Mary Ann,
the cook, and worsted hood enveloped
in faded black veil, and basket hang
ing over her arm-these were the de-
tails of her costume.
Strawberries p she cried, raising
her sweet voice to &C. above" "Oh,
Uncle Peleg, it will be such joke p
And she tripped away delighted at the
prospect of playing at the realities Of
Uncle Peleg looked after her rather
doubtfully, as he resorted mechanically
to his uniailing panacea for all human ills
or perplexities, the snuff box.
Pm almost sorry sent her on such
an unpalatable errand," he said to him
self; {" but it's just as we'll she should
learn to see the world as it really is. Her
life has been couieur de rose, and no
wonder The strawberries will be dear
bargain after all y
While these eccentric reflections were
passing through the old mans brain,
Horatia Mere had already reached the
first house ON her list inhabited by Mrs.
Montague, q lady who had always pro-
fessed the sweetest and most saintiike