The Republican journal., 1872-08-01
Summer SWeetlnqs.

NO : w mere uDtS size I'VE
''Folow the orchard wall. and turn
down Lovers Lane and it's the first cot
tage on vour lett-so the servants tell me
I've never been there"
Bert took the basket and followed di-
rcrtions, and lust Us he reached the first
cottage on the left the door opened and
out tumbled ten or a dozen children of all
ages.
'|Is this the widow Small's ?" he asked
of a dimpled young person who stood ust
inside watching the children's gambols.
"1 es," said the sweetest voice in the
world while two luminous eyes met his
Eyes, this is the widow SmaIrs"
"My mother Mrs. GreatereN. sends
her these summer sweetin@S."
''Oh. thank YOU. Tell Mrs GrcatereN
there is nothing | like 50 well as summer
swcetings"
''She sent them with her compliments -
said Bert tibbin@ awllwarllv. but feeling
that he owed an apology TO this vision OF
loveliness for having thought of hcraS an
old woman in a mop cap.
Your mother is very kind. Won't you
come in and see my flowers ?"
Yes. will. Are these your children ?'
he asked
They are my little schoIars. You
must have mistaken me for the Old woman
who lived in her shoe -
''Do you take care of all these fl owels
yourself?" he asked, while she pointed
ont her tavorites. '.What u poetic}l en-
plovmpnt ~
"Oh. it is not poetry, it is poverty that
moves me-" she replied. 81 make them
in bouquets TO sell. Let me- give you
these for your buttOn-hole"
Thanks; and will order II bouquet
Of YOU every day
''Oh, | shall grow rs rich As Cru, ,us
You are too generous One Of my little
scholars shall take it to you
e'No; if you please, will come for il
myself"
''Certainly. II is time for me to rne
my bell now; recess has been over these
five minutes"
II suppose that * hint for me to bC
gone. | wish I was a little chap in vou
primer class Good-by. you will see me
to-mOIrow.n
"Where have you been. Bert P" said
Caroline; ''the carriage has been waiting
this half hour"
II carried some apples to the widow
Small's," answered the guilty Bert
"Nlother sent Them
''Oh, did you? Has She any children ?'
There Were halt-a-dozcn or more
playing about the premises" answered
Bert smiling.
Poor folks always have such {, lot
Does she have to take care OF them her
seize"
"That seemed to be her occl;pation." d"
at must be disagreeable to be Old and
poor too; to lose your color, ana see vou
eyes retreating into your head, your skin
growing yellow and wrinlIed. and voul
hair getting gray. Is she an awful Old
fright Bert ?'
"You had better 90 aud see for your
self" laughed her brother, ''vour taste
is so different from mine That new
panler, for instance, which Won wore YES
terday, and thought 50 stylish, is simply
hidcous to me-
son no. hate the neighborhood OF
poverty and trouble; squalor gives me a
qualm. No; [ will send her some of my
old gowns-with0ut paniers-if Won think
she would like them, but don't ask me to
90 and see her" And then thcy drove
round and called on the Upton girls. an
Caroline lost sight Of the poor widew and
her large family in discussing the new
polOnalSe and the latest stvle of chignons
But Bert made amends for his sisters
shortcomings. All the time that he chatted
with Maria Upton, holding her scarlet
yarns and saying gallant nothingS, he
was comparing her with the widow Small
and finding flaws in her beauty and de
meanor. Only Yesterday he had thought
Maria Upton the prettiest Girl in the
world, with whom it would not be difficult
to get madly in love, but Just now She
seemed full of atf'cctationS.
"What is on your mind ?'' she asked,
suddenly. "Excuse me. but you don t
appear quite like Yourself
Nor you, either" he might have re-
piled. $50 much the better, perhaps" :"
he said instead
"Allow me to Judge about that. Come.
what good have you done since vestcr-
day ?"
''Good? Oh, yes; | carried a basket
OF summer sweetings to the widow Small.
Isn't that good ?H
Swee'ings are good. She is quite an
antiquity. this widow, aint she ?''
''Don't ask me; lady's age is sacred
subject"
GLOW considerate' Does she wear a
false front piece and glasses ?"
is that an index of a@e9 know 4
heap OF folks whom | never supposed
aged who wear false fronts. if i, means
that they smile when they woull rather
frown, and say 4 am glad to see YOU
when they wish you in the Red sea-
''Oh, how provoking You are. Mr.
GreatereX. But perhaps You will tell me
if this widow Small needs ;lssistancp--it
she wonld like TO % into the Old Ladies'
home which our society is about to cs
tabish ?"
"IIow benevolent minded YOU are Miss
Maria :" Bert laughed. 81 almost wish
myself an old lady to be provided for by
your charity; but | don't believe that Mrs.
Small would take kindly to it," And then
the talk wandered into other channels
Yesterday their Irritation had been in
danger OF falling into more tender strain
to-day the widow Small preserved their
equilibrium. But Miss Upton had no
mind to give up ground once gained. She
tancied that he wished to withdraw from
the halt conclusions Of the days before
the he desired to balance the past account,
which made up a pretty sum total OF
sugared speeches and half-uttered declar-
atlons, by credting them all to friendship.
There was an air OF Indifference about
him which she greatly mistrusted; but
she would not allow him to slip through
her fingers so easily. Publicity of private
affairs was the bugbear Of the Greaterex
soul had she not received enough fra
grant notes and letters from Bert to answer
her purpose Not that she would descend
TO the vulgar necessity of Il breach of
promise, but where was the harm of max
ing him understand that he was com
promised?
~ have been reading Madame Sevigne's
said she; land it strikes
me that you resemble each other in pos
sessing the secret of fine letter-writing
when most people run into twaddle."
Il don't know how to bear myself under