The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-10-21
AMY'S ENTERPRISE.

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"Oh," cried Amy Drake, II am so
wretched-so unhappy"
"Be you?" said a curious. squeaky
voice, out of the tangle of dark-brown
vines and scarlet rose-hips that hid the
rude stcne wall upon which she leaned.
"Ain't that a pretty bad lookout for a
gal O your years."
1t was a still, overloaded day, in
early autumn. The b~lackberries were
drying up on the vines; here and there
acluster of of blue asters shone along
the edge of the wood. and the clamo-
rous voice Of the little stream was he
ginning to be mufled in falling leaves.
Amy had come out across the apple
orchard, to a place where she could be
quiet and alone. But it seemed now
that she was not alone. For down
among the scarlet berries sat Old Man
Of1ey. eating his dinner of thick slices
of bread, sandwiched with cold corned-
beef, and drinking with infinite relish
out of teacup filed from the brook.
At least that was what they called
him. If he had a first name or a mid
die name, nobody knew it. He was
only known as Old Man Omey, as he
journeyed about the country with his
basket Of shoe laces. porcelain-buttons,
pins and cheap cotton pocket-handker-
chiefs. He had no relations, no friends,
and apparently he vas quite happy
and independent.
"Oh, is it youT said Amy, a little
ashamed Of her outburst. II didn't
know anybody was here. But, after
all. l don't care, I am wretched"
Whats it all about? o. said Old Man
Omey, munching contentedly away at
the bread and cold corned- beef.
fIt's Aunt oriana," sighed Amy,
s'She says I ought to be earning my
own living; she says Uncle Bemis can't
afford to support me any longer. But
/ don't know what to do. They don't
need any more women at the carpet
Factory; and it isn't nice to work on
cigars, now that they have imported
those Bohemian hands. And I've
lost all my music-practice since I came
out here. where they have no piano,
and every district school situation is
full. I do wish / knew what to do r"
Old Man Ofiey turned his tin cup
upside down to dry, and folded up the
red bandana handkerchief which had
Served at atable-cloth.
"For them as wants to works" said
he, epigrammatically, "there's always
plenty to do"
"What is there for me to do" asked
Amy, inerednlously.
"Wal," said Old Man Ofley, az
hain't made a bad thing ofit peddlin'
mind don't say as aver I got rich
ut the business, but I never starved at
st, neither"
amy COX at him In grave surprise.
II doat mean buttons and shoe.
backing" said Old Man Ofley. "Law
bless you, child there's enough Of that
business already; and I don't want no
more oppositions set up. But there's
lots OF nice NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. as the
dnes ladies' would buy IL they had them
bf0lIEa " their doors-laces, you
know, andcTochay works, and pattern
books, and Law bless you i once /
was at 9 place when some one had got
cut, and what q hollerin' there was for
court-plaster None nearer than the
drug store In The post Office, i've miles
away. And cologne water, and hair
grease. and hafr-pins, and all sorts 8
tfack. When was down In York
State seen two yonng ladies d tramp.
I'M mp and down the road with big,
knotted sticks and their man4seryant
shs came after with one-hoss shay
and the trunks They was i waikins
Tor pleasure hearn tell. Why
shouldnst you wax Tor proashsy