Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-08-16
THE BASKET SELLER.

"Well, / de arc!" said Mrs. Gibson
slowly and cmphatically. "What wi
happen ncxt2 There was the eclips
a Wednesday night, aud the carthqnaS
shock week ago, and Jane An
ShOrey's runaway match with Phil Pat
kinson last night; and swan to graciou
If here don't come along Emma Ellis
rldin' on top Of a load o willie
ware, j st for all the world as if she wa
mani"
Don't you want to buy clothes
basket, Mrs. GibsonT' calle out Emm;
Ellis clear soprano voice, as the stur y
sorrel pony came TO pause in ont o
the painted garden fence, where tn
young ounces were just beginning (,
assume shape and form among til,
downy, green leaves.
"a clothes basket9" repeated Mrs.
Gibson. "Thats just exactly what
do want. Cot any good, substan ial
ones, with bars o wood across the bot
tom to strengthen eng
BY way of answer, Emma Ellis swung
down a sol d looking willow reco ptacle,
springing after it herself, and lively
discussion ensucd
"Goin' into osoh'
I, III Z. II !. ght III see how liked
it" Emma answered, with a chccry,
good-humored laugh. do you like
this basketl Two got some capia' easy
rockers for the old grandmother here,
and a doll cradle that will exactly su t
the baby; and as for work baskcts-''
And she made triumphant motion
of her hand that expressed marvels.
"Well, I'd like 'em ALL" said good
Mrs. Gibson, "but l don't feel able to
buy nothin' but the basket this morn
ing. Sc lin on commission, ch2''
''No- out and out. Let me see; you
want two dollars anil nineteen cents
change, do your
And Mss Ellis opened her flat leather
pocketbook and counted out the money
in true business-like fashion.
"Wel-I-neverl" repeated Mrs.
Gibson, staring after the cloud Of dust
that followed the load of willow ware
in its progress down the street.
"Why, what is the matter2' said
Char'cs Borden, who Rad just stopped
at the gate to see if he could borrow
Farmer Glbson's moving machine for
the morrow.
''It's Emma Ellis" said Mrs. Gibson,
''drivin' a | al o wil,er- ware, and
sellin' baskets and bumpers and things y
''Nonscnsel' cried Borden.
II jest bought this ere clothes basket
Of herl" declared Mrs. Gibson. 81 tell
ye what, Charley Borden, she's been
d sappointed in the deestrick sch hool, and
the squire he must have com) p, umb up
agn snag in the marble mautel bust
ness, and as sure as you live Emma S
got to earn her own livin', with all them
genteel ways and piano lessons and
crayon picters o. hern. Myi what a
come-down it is for that familyi
don't see how Emma eau be so chirk
about it. Where's that Borden fellowl"
she cried, staring about her. "Gracious
me, if he amt cut across the mGddcr
guess most likely he's seen Gibson
there
And Mrs. Gibson tied on a green.
checked sun bonnet and ran down tho
street to Mrs. Dalrymple 10 tell the news.
Serves 'em right" said Mrs. Dal-
rympe. "a family O. regular goin
upstartsl l never did axe no stock il
Emma Ellis"
"Your son Oliver did though,
chuckled Mrs. Gibson, with meaning
glance.
"That amt neither here nor there, y
said Mrs. Dalrymple, sharply. 80 ivel
amt goin' TO squander on no girI th'
money that his father laid up. unless
she's real savin', hard workin
creetur' as will know how to take car'
of it,"
There she is nowp said Mrs. Glib
son. 'ctoppin' hercI' ',9''
'tNo-o-ol' bawled Mrs. Dalrymple
opening the window a mere crack
1--WE don't want nothiu'. No, l say ?
Emma Ellis smiled to herself as sh'
drove on, stopping next at the Border
farmstead, where, strange as it may ap
pear, Borden himself h.d already ar
rived, by means of the short-cu aero
the Gibson mead ows.
"oh, is it you, Mr.. Bordcnq' sh
asked, carelessly. "Won't you asl