Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-11-17
sELLlNG sIRAWsERRIts.

-Iill lit tll played out. \ our big
fairs may be all very nice. bat people
don't come there because they pity the
poor; they come because its fashion
abler'
llorltid Mere shook her pretty head.
"IOu see. child,' said Uncle Peleg.
taking snuff. you're on the wrong plat
form ever Co get "a pee p behind the cur.
tain. You're an hriress. and you're
tOlorbly goId looking aud have 4 way
that people like. and therefore the
world puts i,8 best foot forward, so far
as you are concerned. II you were
Mrs. Skies. the washerwOman, or Bet.
W. the orange woman. you'd see quite
% different aspect Of things"
"Nousense, uncle" said IIoratia.
still unconvinced. "Be % good, darling
old Uncle Peleg. and let me have the
delicious TTiomphC de GUHd strawber-
ries In your south garden border for
my refreshment table. Remember I'm
10 sell The Strawberries and cream. and
want my table TO look the prettic5. in
the ROOM"
"WhD DO you suppose viii buy your
strawb rries at the outrageous price
you'll rut upon them?' he demanded
sourly.
Everybody" Horatia answered
saucily. Come Uncle Pelcg. be gen.
erous and graceful, and say l shall
have them"
Uncle Peleg took snuff.
"On one condition you shall have
them"
IIcratia olapped her white. rosy
hands.
"And that
"Just wait until you hear" said the
old man dryly you can't have my
nifty quarts Of TTiomphe do GaH,i
strawberries. each one rs big as n
pigeons egg. until you have FIRST sold
dozen quarts from door to door"
Iluratia opened her brown. wonder
ing eyes, like twin wells Of hazel light.
81, Uncle Pelegy'
"Nou. nCic0 lloratial Am / TO
.ra-ify ihc houses v'crc you are to
gog"
"it will he fun" cried IIoratia, with
a gay laugh. I'D Just as soon do II rs
not"
Perhaps 10 will be- fun. perhaps il
WON'T said Uncle pelcg. at all
events. l want you 10 get one glimpse,
at least, Of life through q strawberry
wOman's eyes"
Am ! TO be disguised, Uncle
pelegY
"TO he sure you are. Miss HOratia
Mere would have NO difficulty I'm dis.
posiugof her wares; n friendless straw.
berry girl is different
"All the more delightful--a regular
tgblc0u rir1Ht" cried IIOratia merri.
~. "Wcll. uncle, where am TO goE7
"lll write down list Of names for
you. that shall be culled out of your
dearest frieuds-NIrs. Montague. Mrs
Dysart. Miss Ferrar5 and the like"
"Thpy will all buy" cried IIOratia.
"Wc'll see" Uncle peleg said. ".ArC
you really willing to buy the Triomph,
dc can't, at such price rs this, Hora-
tiaY'
at any price," the girl answered
gleefully.
"You don't know how disagreeable
You may find it."
1t will be u perfect adventure
said lloratia rccklessly.
But mind, you're to keep 1t Sc
crct."
"As the grave" his mischievOus
niece answered, with mock sOlemnity
Miss IIoratia Mere would scarcely
have been recognized 10y her nearest
friends, when she was dressed for the
curious part she was to play "for one
day only" rs she declared. A calico
dress; thick boots, in which her tiny
feet felt unwontedly clumsy: wori
waterproof cloak. borrowed from
Mary Ann the cook, and n wOrstet
hood envelOped I'm faded black vail
and basket hanging over her arm
these were the details Of her costume
"Strawber-Tics" she cried, raising
her sweet voice TO &C. above" "Oh
Uncle Peleg. II will be such n joke!"
And she tripped away. delighted al
;he prospect Of playing at the realities
of life.
Uncle Peleg looked after her rather
doubtfully rs he resorted mechanically
to his unfailing panacea for all hu.
man Ills or perplexities, the snuff-bOx
I'm almost sorry sent her on such
an unpalatable errand," he said to him.
self; "but it's just as well that she
should see the world as IL really is.
Her life has been all couleuT de rose
and no wonder. The strawberries
will be n dear bargain, after allr
While these reflections were passing
through the eccentric old mans brain.
Horatia Mere had already reached
the first house on her list, inhabited
oy Mrs. Montague, lady who had al
ways professed the sweetest and most
sMntlke character, whose voice WAS
soft and low, and who spoke in civ.
syllabled words Of Websterian els.
gance. e'e-
Mrs. Montague herself was in the
nul rs horatiarang the door bell.
III ye plase, ma'am" said Br;doat
ITS girrel sellin' strawberries~wiIII
we buy quartz ~
strawberries, indeedl and nj the mn.
per door, shri1y cried Mrs. Montso,,,a y
IN voice that for an instant aIr,sos,,
compelled Horatia to doubt the ' IadS,'
identity. "DOn't you know better 80
than 10 bring your trumpery wares h
the 'front.' doorr What do You s'pos,
basement bells were made forP CIes,
ont this minutel What are Won siand
ing staring there forY Don't you hen,
what sayY' ''
And she took hold OF Horatia's arm,
and assisted her progress with visar
0us push