Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-05-04

crossing over to the old woman's SIDE,
she purchased a few apples, and then
| yentured to ask her what was the
matter.
sob, it's only my rheumatic, bless
We" said the old woman. SIT twinges
in my shoulder dreadful this damp
| weather. It pears now as if should
have to give up business for to-day,
| but if did heaven knows where jimmie
and I'd get our dinner and supper. |
! paid the last shilling I had for rent last
night. jimmie, my daughter is poor,
sick creature, and can't do nothin."
s'Let me take your place" said lilly,
| eagerly ss'twould be real fun for me,
and know that should sell quantities
of apples. It's going to rain you know
and that will make your rheumatism
worse"
The old woman looked at her with
surprise. and shook her head, bat
lilly was not to be put off ia that way.
$50 you are afraid to trust mo with
your apples said she, looking up into
the old woman's face with her winning
smile.
sBless your heart! No, dear" said
the old woman; 81 wouldn't be afraid
to trust anybody that had a face like
yours. But what would your ma say !
1t isn't the place for little lady like
you"
81 bavnt any mother" said lilly. 81
live with Miss Snip, and she doesn't
care what I do; and if you please, Tn
not little lady. I'm only an errand
girl but to-day I'm going to have to
myself-a whole holiday. wish you'd
let me take charge of yonr apple stand.
/ understand trading; Miss Snip lets
me wait on her customers sometimes,
and I'd like to sit here all day, because
l could look at the water and the ships
all the time"
''But you'd Spite your pretty clothes,
and maybe get i'll yourself, sitting ont
here this showery day"
"Ob, no, indeed | >houldn't Your
great umbrella would cover me all up,
and it will only rain little while at
time, anyway. The san is trying to
come out now"
The old woman rubbed her aching
shoulder and remainedsilent few snin-
utes, apparently considering what it was
"Well, DEAR" she said at last, 'ssince
you are so kind, I don't know but !
shall give up my business to you, for
my shoulder is powerful bad, and if |
should get cold now | should be laid up
for weeks p'raps, and Heaven only
knows what would become of Jennie
and me. But you'll get tired out before
long, l know, and when you do just
beckon to me I live up in the fourth
story of this building pointing to a
dingy row of houses opposite, ''and I'll
see you and come down"
And after enlightening lilly with re
gard to prices, with many thanks and
blessings. she hobbledaway and left the
little girl alone in her dignity.
lilly liked it. 1t wasn't very nice
place to stay in, to bssure, but rather
dirty and dark, with great shipping stores
and wharves on every side; but she had
a view of the water where she sat, and
great many sailorswere passing up
and down the street. She put on Dig
niied, business air, land sat up very erect
and prim, ready to receive the customer.
And plenty ofcustomers she had as
sure you. The sailors especially SEEM
ed to be highly pleased with the dainty
little apple woman; and business men
made the purchase Of her pippens an
excuse to speak to herit was SO out of
the common course Of things to see
such delicate, fairy ike little girl pre-
siding over an apple sand.
Before noon she had sold out nearly |
n
all her little stock; and taking what few
she had with her, shewent in search OF
the apple woman, to make her eyes glad
with the great heap IF pennies that had |
accumulated in her box, and urge her
to replenish the stock for the afternoon
sale. But the old woman wasn't able
to 60 out and purchase any more apples
and was wiling to leave everything to
lilly, who was highly pleased with her
commission. So she made nice bar
gain with fruit DEALER up the street,
and by one o'clock lad established her.
self again as an apple vendor at the old
stand.
The sun came ort in the afternoon,
and business was even more brisk than
in the morning. j was growing late
in the afternoon, md Tillys stock was
almost exhausted again, and she sat
looking somewhat weary her head on
her hand, when some one came up on
the other side and said: "Busina4 has
been good to day hasn't it my little wo~
mani see you are nearly sold out"