The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-05-07
THE RUSSET APPLES.

A late March twilight, with ;
bitter frost in the air; the new moor
Just dipping its golden horn behinc
the maple swamp in the West, ano
the ground sounding crisply under
foot. We had just come in from
foddering the cattle-''we" sound:
rather singularly when you reflect
that it meant Kittie and |, two girls
of seventeen and nineteen; but you
see there wasn't any one else to dc
it. Father had been bedridden ever
since the last attack ofparalysis, anc
we could afford to hire no one tc
take his place about the farm
l don't pity them gals. Neighbol
Dyson said. They might sell the
horse and COW.
Neighbor Dyson had generously
offered us something less than hal
price for them, thinking, no doubt,
that we would be thankful to jump
at the chance. But Katie and |,
after taking the matter into consld
Grafton, thanked him and declined
politely.
We couldn't keep house without
old Mooley, could we Addy? said
my sister. There are so many nice
dishes We can make for poor father,
if we have good, rich milk and
cream. And the butter that we
should have to buy at Neighbor
Dyson's city prices would go far to
counterbalance the money we should
get for Mooley.
And as for the horse, said l, he
eats but little; and how on earth
could we get around the country,
even to the post office, such weather
as this, if it wasn't tor old Dobbin,
that we have have had ever since
can remember.
So it happened that on this
special March evening we had come
in from attending to the wants oi
our live stock
l was in great spirits, playing with
pussy, who came to meet us with
her plumy tail erect; but Kittie
leaned sadly against the wooden
mantle and looked into the fire with
lnournful eyes.
Kittie, cried l, at last, what does
make you SO dull7
To morrow is the sd OF March
said she gravely.
What of that? | demanded.
Don't you remember? The
interest on the mortgage comes due
~ ilASllo".
So it does, said !, my radiant face
falling faster than the thermometer
on freezing day. Thirty-five dol
lars! And we have nothing to pay
it with except the fifteen dollars
Laura Osgood paid for the ole
melodeon.
Perhaps Willis Avery would wait
suggested Kittie.
1 drew myself up, slightly.
| don't choose to ask him to wait,
said l.
Now it happened that Willis Avery
who held the mortgage on our home
stead, was the son OF a neighbor anc
an old playfellow and boy beau o
my own, who had gone, to the pros
porous young city few miles nortl
~ us and commenced business or
his own account, and l had par
ticular aversion % asking aid or hell
of him in any way: | might b'
poor, but l was also proGd' ane
Kittie was quite sympathetic enoussl.
to understand me.
But. then, what are we to do!
said Kittie.
sat down on the hearth rug
with my chin in my hands, and
stared earnestly at the big, cracking
black log. Pussy crept away anc
nestled down in the corner, as if she
knew by instinct that there was (
change of temperature.
Look here Kittie, said l, suddenly
Those russet apples |
Well?
We can sell them. There are
eight barrels at the least. Eigh
barrels at two dollars and fifty cent:
a barrel
My dear Addy, no one will buy
them at one-hfth the price. Apple:
are drug in the market.
Here, l grant you, but not in the
city. l will take them to Mapletor
and sell them.
You will, Addy?
And why nott Squire Dysor
would charge at least twenty pc
cent. commission, and make favor
of it at that. | can't afford eithe
the price or the patronage. Don
say anything about it to father. H,
would only fret and raise objections
What must be done, must be, and
| IL - l.