Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-06-10
A GOOD INVESTMENT.

wonderful boon. 1t was at least an
unusual request, for farmer Merton
laid down his paper, and looked at
her in amazement over the rim of
his spectacles.
money - he replied; what for?"
Eyes" her lips quivering in spite
of all her assumed bravery, "to buy
a new dress; | have nothing really
decent, and | wanted it for cousin
Jennie's party. l will get something
serviceable, please, father !"
Hum | need all my money to
buy bread and meat and necessaries;
new frocks for parties are not down
on the list" and he took up his hat
and strobe away.
''Oh dear Mother, it is just too
bad. My old dress is so shabby, and
and am | never TO have any thing
new like other girls ?" and again she
buried her face in her Bingham
apron and sobbed bitterly.
Couldn't you alter my gray silk
so it would answer ?"
"Your gray silk ~ with a look of
disgust; land besides it's the only
respectable dress you possess !
Mother = with red cheeks and
bright, indignant eyes, ''are we so
poverty stricken as father pre-
tends ?"
"Well-I don't know" said loyal,
tender-hearted Mrs. Merton. "There
is that bill of Rogers due this sum-
mer, and the crops last year, father
says, weren't over good"
Nonsense The crops were fine,
and the bill of Rogers is by no means
any reason why we should be shah
billy dressed the remainder of our
natural lives. It's what you call
fathers thrift, but what our neigh
bors name stinginess. However, l
suppose III have to give up the
party. Oh dear! If l only had
some way of earning the money my.
self.''
"Hetty." said her mother in a
serious voice, ''there are the straw
berries that father says don't pay to
gather, and refuses to do anything
with them this year. We cannot
! possibly use them all; if you can sell
them you are welcome to them, dear,
and Tom can help you gather and
dispose of them"
"Oh, mother! the very thing
How fortunate you thought of
them
And pretty little Hetty hastily put
| on a light print dress, tied on neat
white sun. bonnet and called to her
fourteen year-old brother, who was
wedding in the garden, and revealed
her plan to him and asked his assist
ance.
Good for you, sis !" he exclaim-
ed, tossing stone after a refractory
chicken. Eyes, I'll help; and l say
why not sell them to the Squire ?"
Hetty started, the sweet, rose color
deepening in her cheeks. The Squire
was a rich, new landlord of Glover
deem, the finest place in that country
round, and said to be very handsome
and immensely wealthy, and foolish
little Hetty had cherished some ro-
mantic notions in regard to him, al
Though they had never met, but
Toms advice had put them all to
blight.
Yes" she thought, closing her
her red lips firmly, why need | care.
His money will be as good as any
bne' s."
1t was a very beautiful mansion
Mat she paused before and regarded
With IA doubtful, trembling heart, yet
passed on up the graveled carriage
way, wise enough to go the back
door.
A portly-looking lady, in black
d Blk and gold earrings, looking up
from an account book she was glanc-
ling over, the maid ushered her into
the housekeeper's room.
"Well," said the lady interroga-
lively.
1--we have some fine strawber-
les to sell. DO you care to buy
Eny ?"
And the upshot of the matter was
city went home with light heart,
br the housekeeper at Cloverdeen
a. 40