Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-06-14
ORI.INAL
A STRAWBERRY PICKER.
by RYE ROSSE.


Garland AZ she sat with her chin in her
hand and % disconsolate look in her
eyes. at has been quite two years
since we have had new dresses, and l
am positively ashamed to wear mine
any longer If papa only were rich or
else would allow us to earn some money
for ourselves! | am heartily tired OF
being so poor" and deep sigh attest
ed to the truth of this statement.
Well, 30 am |, chimed in a musl-
cal voice from the door step, where sat
Ida Garland, busily engaged in Smelling
peas. Ida was even prettier than May
and much more self-wiled and ener-
getic. "WelI, so am | but it is as you
say, papa would never listen to us If we
attempted TO bioach such subject az
selfsupport. The family pride, as
he calls it, would not allow HIM to per-
init us to 'demean ourselves ny work
ing for money. But it seems to me that
when people can't find means to clothe
themselves suitably, and are often at
loss to know what to get for the next
meal really it does seem as If family
pride should be secondary considera
ton" and Ida's scarlet lips clrled away
from her white teeth in little, sc0rn-
full smile.
"Wouldnt it be nice if some rich
aunt that we have never heard of should
die suddenly, and leave us all her
money 2" queried May, but withol any
thought of being mercenary.
Very nice indeed" returned Miss
Ida, laughing, but as we have only three
aunts in existence, and as they all have
children to inherit their property, what
you suggest is impossible.
Silence ensued for the space of five
minutes, during which time lda's brow
knit itself in puzzled thought, and her
white fingers turned the peas out Of
their soft, green pods more rapidly than
ever.
Then with bright smile she turned
to May, and said:
"May, have been thinking of plan
by which can make enough moneyto
buy new dresses, only you must pro
mise not to let papa know, for he would
never consent, never
May, who never thought for a mo-
ment of opposing anything that Ida
might propose, gave the required pro-
mise, and Ida continued:
"Well, you know Mr.. Barton has
large strawb berry field, and the berries
are very plentiful this season and the
pickers scarce; heard him telling Mr..
Haines so the other evening when |
went down to see Mrs. Haines about
that recipe for preserved gooseberries.
And MIR. Barton said he would give
three cents a quart to all the pickers.
l could easily pick thirty quarts day,
and that would he i've dollars and forty
cents IA week. The berries will last for
two weeks yet, and could earn nearly
eleven dollars. 1t will shock papa
dreadfully, if he knew it, but then he
need never find it out. He sits
in the library all day writing that
tiresome book, which know will never
be accepted by any publisher and if
he ever inquiries for me when am
absent, you can make some excuse and
he will be none the WISER" and Ida
gave a little, triumphant laugh as
she thought Of the success OF her
scheme.
eyes" said May slowly" but it does
seem rather dreadful don't ito he a
berry picker? And you will get your
hands so brown too; perhaps you had
better not do it, Ida ?'
"Nonsense May - retorted Ida,
are you troubled with family pride
too? can wear pair of gloves l sup
pose, and wide trimmed hat? At any
rate, am resolved to 60, and all you
have to do is to keep the matter secret. -
! When Ida spoke in that tone, May
always knew further remonstrance to
be useless, and never attempted it. So
hayward Ida had her way and the next
morning found her among the pickers
of the crimson fruit in Mr.. Barstow' y
strawberry field.
1t was quite an interesting sght-the
wide strawberry field, over which were
scattered the numerous pickers, all bus
lily engaged in gathering the red berries
from their stems among the dark, green
leaves. Far up the field under the
shade of several large trees was erected
the tent, where the Overseer kept ac-
, court of the number of boxes brought
in by each picker.
Poor Ida found that the task she had
set herself was no easy one. The sun
was often almost uncomfortable, and at
times her back would ache so badly
from STOPPING over all day long that
she was almost tempted to give NJ
strawberry picking and 60 home.
She had been picking Just one week
when one morning entering the tent
with her tray OF berries she was aston
ished to find IA new Ovtrseer.
Without meaning to be rude each
stared at the other. Ida, amazed tC
find in the place Of old, gray-haired Mr..
Barton with his large, brown hands and
blue overalls, young and handsome
| man, WhOse hands showed no trace OF
toll, and who was looking very cool and
comfortable in his suit of grey linen and
undermined hat.
The blue eyes Of the gentleman were
in turn expressing UNQUALIFIED admira,
ton of the pretty face and little round.
ell figure in the gingham dress, thai
stood before him.
: If Ida had but known it, she certain
ly never looked prettitr in her life, than
when standing there holding her tray OF
luscious fruit-her red lips slightly
parted, her cheeks flushed by exercise
her dark eyes shining under their curl
ed lashes and the clustering rings Of heI
bronze-gOld hair waving about her neck
and forehead.
You are to lake charge of the ber
ries, are You not"' inquired Ida at last
seeing that the young man made no at.
tempt at explanation or at relieving hel
of her tray.
81 am here for that purpose, replied
the gentleman, moving forward and
taking her tray that he might emp
ty it.
"Where is Mr.. Barton % asked Ida,
curious to know the reason for this I'M.
expected change.
"He has been called away from home
for a few days, and as have run down
here from the city for short visit he
has requested me to superintend the
T. berry-picking during bis absence. am
his nephew my name is Rex Travis.
You do not object to the change, dc
you?' he inquired, as a slight shade
that might have been annoyance. crossed
| 49,