The Somerset reporter., 1894-09-13

Leaving Cathe with the big brother.
who took her out TO the garden while he
j planted some early peas. Alice strolled
/ down to her meadow. So fragrant and
fresh it looked, lying In the rosy light OF
early evening.
"Nou don't want to be- mortgaged,
said Alice. n she set her foot in little
winding path. ''Well, then, tell me how
| shall pay that old, crusty. fusty. musty
doctor"
"Gurgle gurgle, gurgle'" came in
reply.
1t was the brook running over tiny
dam that Cathie and me of her boy
friends had constructed.
"Oh. YOU dear little silver brook
said Alice, continuing her hrht of talk
ing to the lovely out-of-door compan-
ions.
Il have something to show you,a rip
pied the brook in reply. Gold, gold,
gold
oh" screamed Alice in a rapture
of delight. allow wish Cathie could
see, Dozens of dear little cow,lip buds
Just ready to open, Was there eyerany-
thing 81 pretty
Gold, gold, gold" repeated the
brook.
Gould | sell them for green's"
thought Alice. "Cowslips are good for
greens when they are in bud But, oh.
they are too, too pretty. See the yellow
streaks where the calyx is beginning to
burst. They are the brook dear, gold
en-hared children, dressed in shining
green frocks. And this Is their sweet
lite parlor, aud the birds are comp
any.
Alice picked some of the most forward
of the buds. and bound them together in
a little cluster for baby Cathie. And
still the stream kept murmuring
Il will give you gold. | will give you
gold"
As she walked along the grassy bor-
der. looking AT the gold-streaked buds,
sudden thought came to the girl.
She had heard somebody -ay at some
time that cowslps were fayorite flow
er with fashionable people in these days
Why not take some of these darlings of
the meadow up to the factory-owner's
daughters in the big house on the hill?
And why not make her little garden use
full in paying that dreadful bill: was the
next thought, growing out of the first.
Alice confided her plan to the brook,
aud together they decided that two or
three days later the coW>lip flowers
would be in perfect condition for mar
ket.
one charming afternoon Il tail girl,
with a covered willow basket on her
arm, walked along the violet-bordered
road leading from the "Nlacauley place
to the village. The sun was hot; and
the girls footsteps Jagged Il little, as
she climbed a steep hill, \ ''musty,
fusty, crusty, doctor came along in
his carriage, and accosted her.
won't you let me take you along
piece" he said, in pleasant voice.
perhaps he had been collecting "A large
bill just them Alice climbed up beside
him, feeling little shy and tongue-tied.
But, In spite of her shyness, the doc
tor managed to make her talk and, be-
fore he set her down at the door of the
great home, she had told him all her
plans.
''IIe wasn't crusty at all, she said to
Alfred afterward. Sand didn't mean
to talk about ourselves; but | couldn't
help it. You see he kept asking me
question after question till he found out
about the cowslips, and how much |
wished to earu money to save the dear
meadow
The ladies of the Manning household
received Alice cordially. When she I'M
covered her basket and disclosed its
precious contents. they lowered about
her with Explanations of pleasure and
surprise.
"What beauties. Did you get them
nearby: On your meadow: Oh, that
pretty bit Of green where the brook
runs! So that is your meadow, and it
grows cowslips?
"Sister,' remarked the elder Miss