The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-05-20
A GOOD INVESTMENT.
"Father, can you spare me a lit

"Father, can yon spare me little
moneys"
Hetty Merton spoke in depre-
eating. pleading tone, as if asking a
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, ITO buy
a new dress, l have nothing really
decent, and / wanted it for cousin
Jennie's party. will get something
serviceable, please, father"
"Hum! / need all my money 10
buy bread and meat and necessaries ;
new frocks for parties are not down
1 n the list. ana He to0k up HIS fssi
and strobe away.
"Oh dear! Mother it is just too
bad. My old dress is so shabby, and
and am l never to have anything
new like other girls ?" and again she
buried her face in her gisham apron
and s0bbed bitterly.
Couldn't you alter my grey silk
so it would answer?"
"Your grey silk! with look of
disgust ; '"and besides IFS the
only respectable dress you possess p'
"Mother," with red cheeks and
bright, indignant eyes, "are we so
poverty-stricken as father pretends?"
"Well-I don't know" said loyal,
tender-hearted Mrs. Merton. "There's
that bill of Rogers due this sdmmer,
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
boris name stinginess. However. /
suppose Pll haye to give up the party.
Oh, dear! If / only had some way
of earning the money myself"
"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 light print dress. tied on A
neat white sun-bonnet and called to
her fourteen-ycar old brother, who
was wedding in the garden, and re.
vealed her plan to him and asked his
assistance.
Good for you, sis J" he explained,
tossing a stone after a refractory
chicken. "Yes, I'll help, and say
why not sell them to the squire ?'
Hetty started, the sweet rose color
deepening in her cheeks. The squire
was rich new landlord of Clover
deen, the finest place in all that coun-
try round, and said to be very hand
some and immensely wealthy, and
foolish little Hetty had cherished
some romantic notions in regard to
him although they had never met
but Toms advice put them all to
flight.
Yes" she thought. closing her
read lips firmly, 'why need care.
His money will be as good as any
ones"
1t was very beautiful mansion
that she paused before and regarded
with doubtful trembling heart, yet
passed on up the graveled carriage
way, wise enough to go to the back
door.
A portly-looking lady, in black.
silk ano gold earrings. looking up
from an account book she was glanc-
ing over, the maid ushered her into
the housekeeper's room,
"Well," said that lady interroga
lively.
Give have some fine Strawberries
to sell. Do you care to buy any 2"
And the upshot of the matter was,
Hetty went home with light heart,
for the housekeeper at Cloyerdeen
had promised to take all her fruit at
an excellent price.
1t was hard work picking them in
the hot dewy mornings, and not al
together pleasant carrying them over
the field every day to Cloverdeen, but
Tom proved valuable assistant, and
the work progressed smoothly until
one day as Hetty was passing out of
the squirrels grounds, she was met by
handsome dark-eyed Young yentle-