The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-06-17

charity !"
At the end of a week, when the train
came in, the amazed travellers beheld a
booth constructed of graceful boughs, with
few yards of bunting festooned across the
top. An ice-cream freezer stood in one cor
er,-splint baskets of fragrant wild straw
berries were piled up on the impromptr
table of boards, delicious coffee exhaled
the odor of Mocha, and delicate little cakes
were arranged close by. The plates were
of leaves pinned together by thorns,-the
cups of new and glittering tin; while be-
hind the counter stood Helen and Effie, in
aeat calico dresses and business-like white
aprons.
1t was a sultry day in late June,
ride from New Haven had been dusty and
hot, and there was general rush for this
shady spot Mrs. Pinkster, engaged to help
for the occasion, had oil she could do to
measure out the ice-cream and pour crystal
glasses of lemonade, while Nell and Effie
dealt out the strawberries, distributed cake
and made change NIL at once.
1t was the busiest half hour they had ever
spent, perhaps, also, the most profitable.
And when at last the long-expected signals
were displayed at the curve of the road,
and the train was gone, the three women
looked at each other with sigh of relief.
But really, though" cried Efie. sit
wasn't bad fun. Everybody was as polite
and pleasant as could be and some of 'em
were helped twice."
How refreshing it must be to them"
said Helen. g 1 wish we could afford to do
it for nothing"
Fiddlesticks ~ cried Effie. "They
wouldn't appreciate it half as much. The
ice-cream oil gone, Mrs. Pinksterp Well,
SO much the better; it couldn't be expected
to keep until to-morrow-and there isn't q
pint of strawberries left. You and must
get up before daylight tomorrow, Nell, to
pick some more. How much money have
we taken in2 Fifteen dollars II can't be
possible And OF least half of it will be
clear profit. Dear Neli," with an affection
ate hug to her sister, g see our way to be-
ing millionaires !"
q It sartinly is better idee than old Bet
sey's birch beer and ginger-snaps," sagely
remarked Mrs. Pinkster.
And we shall be earning our own liv-
ing" said Helen, exultantly. It's SO nice
to think of that"
The autumn frosts were unsealing the
prickly chestnut-burrs and rafting out theiI
shiny contents by the bushel, all over the
leaf-carpeted woods, when Mr.. Brown came
in one day where his wife was mending the
family stockings.
Guess whom am engaged to marry
next week." he said, laughingly. But
there you never would hit it right Little
Effie Moritz, to Mr. valliere, the conductor
on the Listfeld train. They must have
made love to each other over that aesthetic
little refreshment table by the lake, be-
cause don't know what other chance they
could have had"
dear ]" cried Mrs. Brown. "Then
little Effie will be married before her tall
sister"
81 am not altogether sure Of that" said
the parson. There's q young Mr.. Garlic.
ton at the cottage very often, from MI.
Haven, and rather think they intend tt
consolidate matters, and be married at the
same time"
They are very nice girls" said Mrs.
Brown; "and what is strange, they don't
seem to have lost caste, socially speaking,
by that strange experiment of theirs. Peo-
pole think as much as ever of them"
More, too, unless they are fools" re-
torted Mr.. Brown. +" never could under
stand why it should be any more socially
degrading for woman to earn her own
living. than for man to do the same
hing"
And they say" added Mrs, Brown,
that they have made two hundred and
City dollars clear profit out of their sum-
mer's work. What lovely trousseau that
that will buy them"
That's oil woman thinks Of" groaned
Mr.. own.---Shirley Brooae.