The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-11-29
MI / s @ O Ill a n O O u q.
Selling Chestnuts.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.


"There they come now !" said Miss Myr-
tilla Fulton.
She stood in the old farm house door.
with one hand shading her eyes from the
intense glow of the yellow October sun.
shine. Down on the orchard slopes the
apples were ripening in globes of amber
and crimson-the wild clematis in the
woods was drapng all the hedges with
clouds Of white floss. silk, and the Virginia
creeper on the walls was turning scarlet,
as if a magic pencil had painted all the
roadsides.
And as "they"-to w.t. Miss Myrtillas
two young half sisters-emerged out of the
woods, with autumn leaves twisted around
their straw hats, and trimming baskets on
their arms, the yellow sunshine seemed
to weave them about with braided glo-
ries.
II declare girls" said Miss Myrtilla, 81
thought you never were coming! |"
"Is it five o'clock yet ?" asked Justine,
the youngest.
"Oh, if you could only see how beautiful
it is in the woods !" cried Agnes, enthu-
siastically.
"Humphl'' commented Myrtilla. damp
grass, mouldy tree trunks-any amount OF
rheumatism I'm better off baking butter
milk biscuit in the Kitchen"
And Justine solemnly advancing. swept
the bright-colored maple leaves from the
top of her basket, and poured shining
cascade of brown, glossy chestnuts on the
floor at her half-sister's feet.
"Bless me !" cried Miss Myrtilla, reced-
ing pace or two. Why, there must be
half bushel of 'em, at the very least !"
"And they give twelve cents for them at
Chandos Lyun's store" said Agnes.
"And we could easily gather another
bushel If we went early tomorrow morn
ing, to be beforehand with the squirres,' y
added Justine.
"You wouldn't-sell 'em m said Myrtil-
la.
eyes would" protested Agnes. "Why
nots We don't want the chestnuts-and we
do want the money"
give dollars would get the flowers and
decently for fall" said Justine. "And oh,
they are so shabby"
81 hope" said Myrtilla, severely, "that
we're not reduced to selling our cEestnuts
yet"
"Other people do it," said Justine.
money is money!" added Agnes.
"We are Squire Fulton's daughters" said
Myrtilla. 1--WE are ladies born !"
"Poor and proud !" said Justine, shrug-
cling her shoulders.
"Genteel poverty" sighed Agnes.
mo, girls, no." pronounced Myrtilla,
1--WE can wear our old hats and turn our
dresses, and eat our dry bread without any
butter on it; but we are not reduced yet
to selling chestnuts for vulgar money at
the village store !"
And Justine, rather depressed in her
spirits, went down on her knees at Miss
Myrtillas feet, to gather the shining treas
ure into the basket once again.
agnes" said she, lifting her wistful
brown eyes to her sisters face, after Myr-
tilla had gone out, "it's too bad !"
$50 it is" said Agnes.
"Our hats are so shabby" declared JUS
tine.
$50 they are," assented Agnes, who was
a bright-haired girl with dimple in hel
chin, and deep blue eyes, like woodland
violets.
"If we could only sell these chestnuts.'
eve WILL" said Agnes.
Justine looked up in surprise.
but Myrtilla," said she.
"Myrtilla is neither the Queen of Shebs
nor the Grand Mogul of Tartary," nodded
Agnes. "She's our half-sister-and she