Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-08-21
STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM
BY GILLETTE NJ. KlRKE.


tired of searching after the unattaina-
colony of them behind that much
wrinkled forehead. Come, if you have
thought of any possibility, tell me-"
The two girls were sitting n cham
Der of an old-fashioned rose-wreathed
farmhouse, situated at the end of a
long, struggling street. Maud. tall,
fair-haired. blue eyed beauty of 20 years,
occupied low rocker by the window,
while saucy, vivacious Grace. three
years younger, was swinging her feet,
in schoolgirl fashion, from her perch
on the foot of the bed. The girls had
just graduated at the academy in a
neighboring town, where they had been
sent with the expectation of college
course when prepared; but talk with
their parents had shown that this was
impossible and sent them upstairs to
form plans for the future.
Mr.. Harris, the father, had been all
ing for several years and obliged to hire
all his farm work done; his doctors
fees had been large, and the girls eX-
penses at school added to the burden,
till he had been forced to mortgage his
farm. Matters went from bad to worse !;
the interest could no longer be paid,
and foreclosure was threatened. This
disclosure was painful surprise to the
girls. They had been away from home
nearly all the time for three years, their
vacations having been spent among
relatives in distant towns, and had no
knowledge of the true state of their
fathers affairs. Now they were eager
to help lift the burden which their ex-
Mrs. Harris had all she could do to
care for the invalid andtthe household. 1t
was clear that the girls must be bread
winners, if there was to be bread in
the mouths of the family.
''If it was only autumn we might
teach," sighed Grace, but something
must be done at once. What shall it
be2',
This question caused long silence,
broken by Grace's impatient well,
Maud, what snail we do ?' with which
this story opens.
'l've thought of something, Grace,
but whether it is possibility or not
don't know" replied Maud, slowly.
"Well, what is it? How slow you
are ~ cried Grace, slipping down from
her perch to the floor at her sisters
feet. Are we to turn poultry mis-
tresses and bring in sixteen or eighteen
eggs dav from four hens and a rooster,
as Mary Lane did in How One Girl
Made Money? Or shall we be dairy
maids, and peddle milk and butter at
unheard-of prices, to the summer
boarders? | am afraid my powers of
miracle-working are not far enough
developed to make either plan a sue
cess"
Maud laughed, bnt provokingly kept
silent.
"Oh, Maud, am in despair Tell
me quickly what is your idea.
me?"
"I'll promise anything if you'll only
tell me-
'Well, Oracle, I don't propose that
thing very similar. You know we have
always sold strawberries at the market
and at the hotel. | suggest that we sell
them here instead. We can set little
tables out lnder the trees, and serve,
strawberries and fresh cream, and per-
haps make little money"
"Ohi oh!'' cried impulsive Grace;
"and Well be strawberry girls! Then,
the Harris peaches are famous; why not
sell them. too, when they are ripe :?
And we have raspberries aud black
berries, and blueberries, too. Why,
Maud, it's an inspirationi'
IAN inspiration which means hard
work, Miss Butterfly as you'll find out
before the summer is over, if mother
consents to our trying the scheme.
Come. let's ask her about it.
She started up as she spoke, and the
two girls ran down stairs and out to the
hammock where their parents were sit
ting. Grace began with the question:
ooh, mother, can we have straw
berry festival all orr own ?''
Maud, seeing the grieved look which
fitted across her mothers face at the
thought that the girls were planning
new pleasures so soon alter the i'm
pending ruin had been disclosed to
them, FASTENED to explain her plan and
ask if it was practicable.
sit ia such a pleasant place cut under
the elms; and then, mother, you know
berries freshly picked never taste like
those which have been standing
awhile" Grace urged.
"And we might have ice-cream, too"
added Maud. "You know Brookfeld is
such quiet place; I'm sure the city vis-
itors must get tired of doing nothing
sometimes, and perhaps would be glad
of the Dratext for a little walk -