Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-09-24

Just then a servant knocked AT the
door with basket and note.
"An old lady in Shaker bonnet and
one-horse wagon left it," said the girl
with scarcely disguised litter. "She
wouldn't come in, although ! invited
her"
Mrs. Gates opened the note. Hran, in
stiff, old-fashioned caligraphy, as II the
pen were an unwonted implement In the
writer's hand:
DEAR MuIY-The strawberries in the south
medder lot are Just ripe, where you used TO PICK
sem when you were a little gal; so Penelope
picked lot and we make bold to send them to
You, for the sake of old times, as Aunt Araminta
is going to the city tomorrow. We hope you Will
MARIA ANN PEABODY.
The tears sparkled in the brides eyes.
For an instant it seemed to her as if she
were merry child again picking straw
berries in the golden rain of July sun
shine, with the scent of wild roses in the
air and the gurgle of the little trout
stream close by. And as she lifted the
lid of the great basket of crimson, lus-
cious fruit and inhaled the delicious
perfume, a sudden idea darted into her
head.
Nov / will have money of my own !"
she cried out" money that l will earn
myself and thus be independent %
Half an hour afterward Mrs. Gates
came down stairs, to the infinite amaze
ment OF Rachel, the chambermaid, and
Louisa, the parlor-maid, in brown
bingham dress, white pique sun bonnet,
and basket on her arm.
won't you have the carriage, ma ann"
asked the latter, as Mrs. Gates beckoned
to passing omnibus.
"No, wontw said the bankers lady.
And within the city limits she alighted
and began work in good earnest.
"Straw berries! who'll buy my wild
strawberries" rang out her clear, shrill
voice, as she walked along-lightly bal
ancing The weight on her arm, and en-
joying the impromptu masquerade as
only spirited young woman can.
Mrs. Fowler bought four quarts for
preserving at twenty-five cents per quart.
"Wild berries has such flavor" said
the old lady, reflectively; land faint
often you get 'em here in the city. |
s'pose you don't come round regular,
young woman?"
+" No, don't, ma'am."
Because you might get some good
customers" said Mrs. Fowler.
Miss Seninthia Hall, who keeps board
ers, purchased two quarts; Mrs. Captain
Carbary took one; and then Millicent
jumped on the cars and rode YEARLY
down town.
"Pve got dollar and seventy-fve cents
of my own now, at all events" said she
to herself.
Strawberries! Nice, ripe, wild straw
ries! Buy my Strawberries"
Her sweet voice resounded through the
halls of the great marble building on
whose first floor the great bank was
situated.
1t CHANGED to be dull interval of bust
ness just then, and the cashier looked up
with yawn.
81 say, Bill James," said he to the
Youngest clerk, 81 have an idea that a
few strawberries wouldn't go badly. Call
in the woman!"
Billy, nothing 10th, slipped off his stool
with a pen behind each ear, and scam
pered out into the hall.
So Milly sold another quart.
AS she was giving change for the cash
ier's dollar bill the President himself
came in, bustling and brisk as usual.
"Eh? What? How" barked out Mr..
Radcliffe Gates. Strawberries? Well,
/ don't care if / take few myself. Here,
young woman, how do you sell them?"
Milly pushed back her sunbonnet and
executed sweeping courtesy.
Twenty-Five cents quart, sir, If you
please" purred she with much humility.
The President dropped his paper of
strawberries on the floor.
Mrs. Gatesl" he calculated.
"The same, sir" said Millicent.
"May venture TO inquire"
ttnI ao;J MILL Npu In
quire as much as you please. / needed
how much / have already!" and she
triumphantly displayed her roll of
crumpled stamps "The strawberries
were all my own, sent to me this morn
ing by old Mrs Peabody, and Pm selling
them to get an income of my own"
You, ma'am, selling strawberries
through the streetss"
Milly made a second courtesy.
Extreme necessities justify extreme
measures, Mr.. Gates" said she, saucily.
q earned my own living before l saw
YOU and / can again"
Mr.. Radcliffe Gates looked uneasily
around at the crowd of gaping clerks.
''James," said he, "call me hack.
My dear, let me take you home"
Strawberries" saucily retorted the young
wife.
Ell take 'em-at any price~ impa-
tiently exclaimed the banker.
"Cash DOWN."
"Yes; anything, everything-only come
out of this crowd"
So Mr.. and Mrs. Gates went home !;
and that evening the banker agreed TO
make his wife a regular allowance of SO
much per week to be paid down every
Monday morning at the breakfast table.
But We'll have no more selling straw
berries" said Mr.. Gates, nervously.
ITO be sure not" said Milly. "All |
wanted was a little money of my own"
And Mr. Radcliffe Gates respected his
wife all the more because she had con-
quered him in fair battle.
The Christian Brothers, or, more
g.. al tha Drnthar of fhp Christian