The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-10-30
SELECTED.
THE BASKET SELLER.


"Well, l declared said Mrs. Gibson,
slowly and emphatically. what will
happen next? There was the eclipse a
Wednesday night, and the earthquake
shock week ago, and Jane Ann Shorey's
runaway match with Phil Parkinson last
night; and l swan to gracions If here
don't come along Emma Ellis, ridin' on
top of a load o. willer ware, jest for all
the world as If she was. a mani"
Don't you want to buy a clothes as-
ket Mrs. Gibson?" called out Emma Ellis
clear soprano voice, as the sturdy surrel
pony came to a pause in front of the
painted garden fence, where the young
ounces were just beginning to assume
shape and form among the downy, green
leaves.
"a clothes basketY repeated Mrs. Glib
son. That's just exactly what do want
Got any.good, substantial ones, with bars
o wood across the bottom to strengthen
emp
By way of answer, Emma Ellis swung
down solid-looking willow receptacle,
ipringing after it herself, and a lively dis
cussion ensued.
Coin into the peddlin' business, eh?"
said Mrs. Gibson.
''Well,I thought I'd see how liked it,
Emma answered, with CHEEKY, good hui
mored laugh. "Do you like the basket2"
I've got some capital easy rockers for the
old grandmother here, and doll cradle
that will exactly suit the baby and as for
work baskets"
And she made triumphant motion of
her hand that expressed marvels.
well, I'd like 'em all. said good Mrs.
"but don't feel able to buy moth.
in but the basket this morning. Sellin'
On commission, eh?"
"No-out and out Let me see; you
want two dollars and nineteen cents
change, do your
And Miss Ellis opened her nat leather
pocketbook and counted out the money
IN true business-iike fashion.
"Well-I-never repeated Mrs. Glib
son, staring after the cloud of dust that
the load of willow-ware in its
progress down the street.
"Why, what is the matter2" said Chas.
Borden. who had just stopped at the gate
20 see If he could borrow Farmer Gibson's
moving machine for the morrow.
"Its Emma Ellis" said Mrs. Gibson,
'drlvin' load o. willer-ware, and sellin'
baskets and hampers and things"
'Nonsense !" cried Borden.
81 jest bought this ere clothes-basket
If her !" declared Mrs. Gibson. II tell ye
what, Charley Borden, she's been disap-
pointed in the deerstrick school, and the
quire he must have come plumb up agin
snag in the marble mantle business, and
IS sure as you live Emma's got to earn
Ter own Twin, with all them genteel ways
nd piano lessons and crayon picters O.
fern. Myl What come-down it is for
or that family! l don't see how Emma
an be so chirk about 1t. Where's that
Borden fellow2" she cried, starting about
er. "Gracious me, If he amt cut across
he medder guess most likely he's seen
iibson there"
And Mrs. Gibson tied on a green check-
d sun-bonnet and ran down the street to
Irs. Dalrymple to tell the news.
"Serves 'em right" said Mrs. Dalrym-
lie. A family o. regular goin' upstarts
never did take no stock In Emma Ellis"
Your son oliver did though" chuckl-
d Mrs. Gibson with a meaning glance.
THAT amt neither here nor there"
aid Mrs. Dalrympe, sharply. "Oliver
int goin' to squander on no girl the
money that his father laid up, unless
he's real savin' hard workn' creatur' as
viii know how to take care of it,
There, she is now !" said Mrs. Gibson.
Stopping here!'
"No-o-ow bawlcd Mrs. Ds!rymple,
pening the window mere crack. 1--WE
on t want nothin'. No, say"
Emma Ellis smiled to herself as she
rove on, stopping next at the Borden
armstead, where, strange as it may ap-
ear, Borden himself had already arrived
" means of the shortcut across the Glib
on meadows.
"Oh, is 1t you. Mr. Borden7" she asked,
arelessly. "Won't you ask your sister II
he requires anything in my ware this
But, Miss Ellis, what does this meanY"
exclaimed the amazed young farmer.
at means-willow-w ware" Emma an
,wered, composedly.
Has anything happenedf"
Things are always happening, said
Emma, reaching across the load for
pretty market basket. 81
hink she will like this, Mr.. Borden"
"I'll buy 1t for her," said Charley, reck-
essly.
And scrap-basket shaped like little
,arrel, don't you see," persisted Emma,
for your own room? It's cheap-only
lollar."
an buy that, too" said Charley Bor-
len. "And this hamper and this pair of
title baskets for Hates boys to go black
errying with, and"
"0h, stop, stop" merrily cried Emma.
You mustn't buy all my stock in trade, or
shall have nothing left for anybody
lse."
ooh, but really want that big rocker
or the porch" persisted Mr.. Borden.
That's necessity"
1.-THE big rocker, them" said Emma,
"but beyond that, absolute
= nothing more"
But you'll promise me one thing2"
at depends very much upon what 1t
g."
"If you have anything left unsold at
he end Of your trip, you'll give me q
hancea' said Charley, imploringly.
Wicker goods always come handy you
Emma only laughed and touched up the
Id horse.
~ make NO promises" said she.
That day. on the high seat, among the
askets and rockers, the wash-tubs and
lothes- horses, TO Emma Ellis was quite
new experience. The chatting at
hady farmhouse doors with busy house.
wives, the counting Of change, the dis
ussion of qualities and the pefsisten.
tandlng up against the general disposi-
ion to beat down prices and haggle for
i'd cents, the various views Of human
lie which she now obtained for the nrst
lime from her aerial perch, the odd sensa-
Ion Of being "in trade" the conscious
less that she was looked upon with pity
" some Of her friends and scoru BY
,thers-it was altogether strange con-
,lomsration Of feelings.
Toward the close OF the days work, -
he was retaining homo with her wagon
Dad considerably depleted, and her parse
,omswhat better furnished than it had
been, che CHANGED 70 come face 70 face
NTH handsome Oliver Dalrympls, trot-
ding along on the Morgan mare, which
onoe had been The pfide Of ~ eldes
Dal1ynp,s's hsast 81 looksd NJ fan