Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-05-08
The Leisure Hour.
4 DAYS EXPERIENCE.

Good morning, sir how many straw
berries do you want TO buy this morning ?"
"Why, really, don't believe I'll take
| any. There are going TO be good many
| donated TO the society, and l should not
feel justified in buying any before noon, at
least"
stood aghast at this reply and had Just
enough strength left TO walk to the door
without iainting. You see it was this way.
We had quite a crop of berries, and fat her
had, heretofore attended TO selling them.
Mr.. Allen was one of the managers of a
strawberry festival, to be given the COM
ing night. Two days before Mr.. Allen had
said to him, "Mr. May, wish you would
bring over large lot OF berries on Thurs
day. shall want all can get for the fes
tival." Father had been suddenly called
away on business, and l, as the eldest, had
to look amer the berries. My fruit was safe
ly stored in the cellar OF friend and, clad
in faultless attire, was prnmcn aiding the
streets as il for shopping. Mr.. Allen was
quite late in coming down town, but had
been assured that he was taking all the
berries he could get. / had been watching
for him an hour or two, expecting that he
would al once send up an express wagon
and deliver me OF my charge.
AS he marched into Floral hall, with both
hands full of plants, / confronted him with
my question. He had listened kindly and
answered politely. Doubtless he had for
gotten about what he had said to Mr.. May,
and even If lie did remember how was he
TO know that l was Barbara, Mr.. Mays
4 1.
the time being? lie had never seen me
be o e, and did not explain. How could
~
/ stood a minute at the door, blankly
| staring into the street, quite overwhelmed
with my misfortune. Forty quarts of
straw berries, and l had to peddle them,-
peddle 'emH Yes, peddle them, about the
streets. Some long ago dead ancestor had
transmitted 10 me very aristOcratic notions.
| Among them was the idea that 4 peddler
was hardly man, with no fine feelings or
| Instincts; of race apart, fiji subjects for
derision. Shopk eepers were only a step
above. Theoretically, l had more respect
for the man pounding stone in the street
than for the one handing pins and shoe
strings over counter. Practically. of
| course, always courtesied to broadcloth
and ignored the presence Of jeans. could
not afford to live up to my principles.
As to women, they might write or teach.
That was quite correct. AT 0, a woman
might keep book store. 1t must be ra-
ther nice TO have all the new books 10 read.
But a milliner or dress makerl could al
ways distinguish one of them in a crowd
by certain air Of shop which pervaded
their dress. They are a very useful class,
and we could not get on at all without them,
but the idea of one of them being any body
was absurd.
And how was I, Barbara May, with all
these high and mighty sentiments, TO sell
strawberries-peddle Strawberries on the
street2
Not that really believed all these things.
No, indeed these were only instincts, and
was firm believer In woman's rights,
especially in her right to follow any profess
sion or business or trade that she chose to,
And now, when Time had come for put
ting my opinions 10 practical test, could
not surrender without an effort. dared
not throw away my berries, as was tempt
ed to do, for fear of being laughed at Be-
sides we needed the money, and that was
an argument could well appreciate.
Where to go next had not the slightest
idea, but, as stood in the doorway, gaz-
ing vacantly into the street, l noticed the
sign of the "Sedgwiclk house." few blocks
below, and remembered that father hao
sold berries there. With an involuntary
gasp for breath, turned in that direction
AS came up to the door man came ou
whom knew by sight, and I asked him 1
Mr.. Sedgwick was in.
II don't know, I'll see," and he turned
back into the office, whittier ] followed
him.
There was no one In but clerk, Mr.
Sedgwick was gone up town. Now or new
er 1t must be done. The clerk was waiting
to hear my errand. Farewell, shades ol
genlilltyl
How l got tho courage cannot tell, bu
did manage TO say;
"Would you like some Strawberries thi'
morning"
! The clerk did not look In the least sur