Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-04
The Strawberry Girl.

toners at the commencement OF the straw
berry season.
Come in, my girl, what is your price 2"
"a shilling a basket, Miss"
Nellie stepped into a spacious hall of
fashionable home in NJ street, where
young lady stood in her morning dress, with
flowers in her hand just gathered from the
conservatory.
"Well, they are worth that-so fresh and
ripe. Give me four baskets"
As the lady dropped the four shillings, as
she supposed, into Nellie's purse, the smile
with which it was received penetrated like |
sunbeam into her heart
"You seem very happy" said Miss Min
ME Hamilton, for that was the young lady's |
name. ado you earn your living 10y selling |
strawberries ?"
Yes. miss. In the summer | sell ber
ries, and in the winter go to school part of
the day, and help mother the rest of the day."
And what makes you so happy Can
you tell me the secret ?"
"Niother says that we ought to be bright
and happy because we have so much to be
thankful for"
Minnie Hamilton looked at the strawberry
girl with amazement With all the wealth
and luxury of her home, she was often dis
contented and unhappy. How poor girl
who had TO work hard for her living could
be happier than she was, puzzled her.
" How does your mother support herseltf'
she asked.
"She takes in sewing, miss. Sometimes
she sews half the night through"
"Then what in the world has she TO be
so very thankful for p exclaimed Miss
Hamilton.
Nellie smiled again sweety, as she an
swered
Z" Some people, as good as we are, have no
home, and have nothing to eat. But mother
and have little room to live in. She sings
at her work all day long, because, she says,
God is so good to us. We have bread and
potatoes every day, and Sundays we have
meat. Don't you think, miss, that is some
think TO be thankful forY
A deeper tint gowed upon Ninnie's
cheek. "Yes, yes" she anwered nervously;
and then followed pause, during which she
stored away in her heart, like hidden treasure,
the lesson which Nellie had taught her. and
which was to be reperused often, in after
years, when discomfort caused her to muir
muir at some little cloud, real or imaginary,
that hung over her destiny. You are hap
pier far than . may God forgive me !"
Minnie Hamilton was an only daughter,
petted and idolized by her parents. Indul-
gence had injured, though it had not spoiled
her. So fully had every wish of her heart
been gratifed from her birth, that she re-
garded it as privilege peculiar to her con-
dition to murmur If the slightest shadow
came between her and the fulflment OF her
most extravagant desires Poor Minnie
poor, although Astounding in riches "One
thing thou lackest, one thing, which wealth
cannot purchase-the joy of a contented
heart.
Yet Minnie had noble qualities gener-
osity and active benevolence, with strong
moral and lgious principles. One shadow,
the shadow of discomfort clouded them all.
Nellie had put her little purse into the
pocket of her apron and now she issued
into the street again and recommended her
strawberry song, till she was summoned by
another customer, who purchased largely.
As she was about adding the payment she
received to her little store, she discovered
small rent in the purse, and, sitting down,
she emptied the money into her apron to
examine it. As she did so, she discovered a
gold coin, which had evidently been given
her by mistake by the first purchaser.
81 will go right back with it, thought
Nellie.
She waited, however, to rearrange her
basket; and, while doing so, the Tempter
came, with evil thoughts, to test her strength
of principle.
@Why 60 back with il ?" said the wicked
voice perhaps the lady meant TO give it"
"But do not know that, said the tender
conscience of Nellie.
"Well, you can do good with it, said the
voice, appealing artfully to her filial love
| a.. \. Co..
mother. She works hard enough for all she
has and this will buy her neat dress to
wear to church."
Suddenly the smile died away on Nellie's
lip her step was less light. There was
weight at her heart. 1t was the burden of
guilty thought She had parleyed with
evil and its shadow was on her path 1t
had dimmed the happiness of her heart
Now, happily for Nellie, Conscience, that
voice OF God in the soul came powerfully
to her aid. 1t recalled wildly the previous
Sabbath evening, when her mother sat with
her at the window, just as the sun was sink
ing and after their scanty supper had been
disposed Of
" Nellie" she said as she laid her head
upon her knee aud smoothed back her dark
hair. "you could not 90 TO the Sunday
school to-day, because you had no shoes to
wear. Perhaps we can earn pair before
another Sabbath; but | will teach you the
commandments. Then Nellie repeated them
after her. All were vivid now TO her mem
DRY but especially, and as If written in let
tiers of fire, stood forth the eighth "THoU
SHALT NOT STEAL"
Nellies heart sank within her. Had she
listened and obeyed that evil voice, what
might she have become-a breaker Of Gods
holy commandment Nellie waited not a mo-
ment, but, terrified at her own thoughts,
she rushed back, lest that evil voice should
speak again, aud rested not till she reached
the home of Minnie Hamilton.
"You made mistake, miss. You gave
me this" holding up the gold coin, " for a
shilling"
did /? Well it cas a mistake am
nearsighted; but you are honest, and shall
have 1t as reward
"No, miss, thank YOU I'd rather have
the shilling"
." You would ?"
" Yes, miss, if you please"
"What singular girl. Tell me 'chy you
would ratherY"
" Because-hecause- would remind
me" Nellie burst into tears and covered
her face with her hands
"Of what Tell me-"
How was tempted TO break the eighth
commandment, miss"
"And to keep the money, do you mean p
" Yes, miss"
But you resisted the temptation, as God
gave you strength. Now tell me your name
! must remember IL"
"Nellie Townsend"
There is no sin, Nellie, in being tempted
The sin consists in yielding to temptation
Now that you have resisted, you will fine
yourself strengthened in might TO oyercom,
evil. Only resist the FIRST promPiings TO do
wrong-resist demand all will be well
Nellie, you were not aware OF it, but to-da,
you taught me lesson of contentmen
which shall not easily forget and 20,
shall have the happiness OF knowing tina
you have been minister of good 10 me
And you must let me reward you. Yol
must keep that money TO remind you o