Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-07-10
Laure1's Strawberries.
BY z. MURRAY POWERS.


pick the strawberries for lunch"
'FWhere is she, indeed? I'm sure I don't
know now, but she has been crying in the
corner all the morning because papa has
discharged old Donald"
And Miss Martha Sinclair busted plaques
and shook up things vigorously.
So provoking to have the housemaid
sick, and young Vivian Winters coming to
Finchwood! Just now she regretted the
absence of old Donald, too, who had been
Squire Sinclair's gardener and man-of-all-
work for fifteen years; he was so good-na-
tured and accommodating in an emergency
would turn his hand to anything, ard put
everybody in good humor with his drolls
cry.
But Donald was growing old, and the
squire needed young man on the place.
Old Donald would remain oaly to instruct
John Jenkins in his duties, and foolish Lau-
rel, the young sister, was crying because
her old friend and comrade was going away
from Finchwood.
"Well, she must pick the strawberries, f."
said Grace, the beauty. "There's no one
else. Pm sure can't go out in the sun
with my complexion, and I've only time to
dress and do my hair before Mr. Winters
gets here. Is there plenty of jelly for the
cold chicken? And did you make the mac
aroons, Martha? p
"Don't you worry about my part" said
Martha, fourishing her feather duster.
Sec that you do yours as well, y. with q
significant look.
Grace blushed little. Of course she
was going to her cap for Vivian Winters
He was agreeable and rich; she had already
hsd a bit of Irritation with him in New York
the previous winter. He had promised the
squire to pay visit to Finchwood in Sum-
mer, and now he was coming. She knew
he thought her pretty; she meant to be as
charming as possible. If anything came of
it, everybody would be delighted.
Ten minutes afterward, a young girl
walked rapidly down the garden path with
a n-pail in her hand Itwas eleven O. clock
a. M, and fervid heat was pouring down
on her pretty, white sun-bonnet.
Excused from my lessons to pick straw
berries for Graces beau, under such sun
as this!' Pdquite as lief be reading French
with Miss Meek in the school-room. So
much for being the youngest! Why can't
Grace pick her own strawberries, I'd like
to know? Oh, dear? don't mean to be
cross, but everything goes wrong lately.
Dear old Donald, who taught me to walk,
and who has always made me swings, and
fixed my garden beds, and cheered me up
when l was in trouble-he must be sent off
for hateful old John Jenkins! know he's
young, but l shall call him oldi And now
this other strange man-Grace's beau-will
be here, and Pm told to keep out of the
way and Miss Meek and I must skulk
away to the school-room, while he and Grace
take up the whole of the housel suppose
| he's nice, though. I should like to see him.
Ny! how fine the straw berries arer'
| Laurel had reached the strawberry-bed,
which lay unshelterd by bush or tree, its
great, crimson berries ripening sweetly in
the glowing heat.
| Pushing back her sun-bonnet, she knelt
down among them. The tendrils of her
chestnut hair chung moist about her young
forehead. Her checks were flushed by the
greas warmth; her round lips as red as the
| beautiful fruit over which she bent.
She worked with energy for awhile, but
at last paused and surveyed her pail, which
was but third fnll.
ooh. dear, what slow work land how
hot it isl shall never get this pail fullp'
I She took off her sun-bonnet and famed
her red cheeks.
Just then she espied young man, lying
under tree near the roadside.
''There's that old John Jenkins now! and
Pm going to set him to work. Come here!'
she called, authoTitatively.
The young man rose quickly from the
green grass and approached the imperious
young lady.
"You may help me pick these strawber-
ries. You will have to cork if you come
here, can tell your'
The young man bowed, and went down
1obediently upon his knees in the strawberry
bed
Papa don't allow any sbirkin9l You
Icanat dress like that here, either" added
Mis- Laurel, surveying the attire of the new
gardener. which seemed to be of too good
cut and fine quality for person in John
Jenkins station of life.
'Indeed!"
s'No. Old Donald was in his shirt-sleeves
and overalls, early and late, ever since
can remember He's been with us fifteen
years, ever since I was baby, and he's
been faithful" said Laurel, with some
thing very like a sob in her voice. "Dc
you know anything about gardening 2''
Something"
s'Well, you'll have to know everything.
Papa is very particular, especially about his
young trees. He'll be sorry for sending
Donald off-see if he isn't concluded Lau
rel, talking to herself as she wandered to
the other side of the bed.
Whatever else John Jenkins might fail il
he could pick strawberries very rapidly anG
nicely, and surveying the fast-flling pail,
Miss Laurel condeseended to be more gra.
cious.
"Thank you! guess I'll let you finish
you get along SO nicely. Perhaps you will
please pa. l think very likely she added
with sigh.
Retreating short distance to the shade
of an apple tree, she famed herself with
her white bonnet, and surveyed the pros
pect.
John Jenkins, looking toward the apple
, tree, saw patch of lapis lasul sky, bough
of emerald hung with pale green spheres
! and beneath them, graceful, weary ittl'
, figure, in dress of gray linen, with abun
dant chestnut hair shading pretty face.
! In a few minutes he came up with tn
pail.
"Have you done 9' asked Laurel arous
ing herself. ooh, dearl I'm SO glad that