The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-02-28
OLD MISTER RALPH

"I'll take them," said Jessie Fetch
er, promptly.
She stood by the snowily-scoured
table in the little sunbright kitchen,
and swung her pink sunbonnet by the
strings.
81 think you must, DEAR" consented
her mother, a gentle, careworn, little
woman. 81 was afraid when jimmie
was so restless in the night that ne was
on the verge of illness, and now he is
-eally sick-quite sick.''
~ can deliver the baskets, Of
course" declared Jessie, with decision.
Next time jim may take them, as
usual--for he is never long sick,
you know. Now III run and braid my
hair"
Chow the child heartens one up"
murr1ured her mother, with smile, as
she went on packing the two long wll-
low baskets that stood on the kitchen
table.
One she lined with large, fresh cab
oage leaves, and that she filled with
pungent, curly, dark green pepper
grass. The bottom and sides of the
other she deity covered with twigs
from the lilac bush, and that she
heaped with long-stemmed sweet peas,
which looked like swarm of brilliant
butteraies-pink, purple, azure, rose
and pearl. Over the contents of both
baskets she sprayed water and tied a
damp paper cover down over each.
II don't know what we'd do without
our garden, mother" said Jessie, gaily,
rs she came back.
She had brushed her long dark hair
and plated it in two heavy braids, tied
on white apron over her trim ging-
ham gown and put on demure straw
hat in place Of her usual pink sunbon-
pet.
"Nor I, dear. When your father
died five years ago and left me with
you, child of ten, and Jimmie, q
sickly lad OF seven i hardly knew where
to turn or what to do. But had always
been 50 successful with plants, l decid-
ed to buy this little place with the few
hundred dollars left me, and try raising
flowers and vegetables for sale. To Ger
tain extent have been successful, but
it it has been hard and tedious work.
JeSsie's bright fac5 grew grava for a
moment. It was delicate, pretty
face, with deep, blue eyes, miIk-white
complexion and thin, scarlet lips.
"Well, III be done with school next
summer, mamma, and then I can help
you ever so much! Now, which of
these is for Gales and which for Sex
ton's?"
Her mother tied a string around the
handle of one Of the baskets.
s'The sweat peas for Mrs. Gale are in
this. You won't forget, Jessie-the
5owers IN the basket with the string on
the handle. And the pepper grass for
Mrs. Sexton, who keeps the fine board
ing house, IN the other"
''I'll remember. I don't wonder they
are willing to pay we'll for the things
you sell. They are always the best OF
their kind, and you put them up so
7aintily!"
She hastened into the sitting-room to
ay an encouraging word to poor, fever
sh Jimmie, kissed her mother, took up
he baskets-cne in each cotton gloved
aand-and started off.
1t was balmy, blue-skied, odorous
summer morning. The due was not yet
iried on the wayside grass. Meadow :
,arks and robins sang in the hedges
md Jessie enjoyed her walk in from the
title cottage in the suburbs to the big,
oussling, prosperous town of Blooming
ION.
She easily found the tree-embowered
home CT Mrs. Gale, who was an invalid,
md one of her mothers best customers
:or flowers. Three times week Jimmie
aad been accustomed to bring them in
% her.
On the doorstep she hesitated.
sIIet me see-what was it mother
said? Oh, yes, I remember now! The
pepper grass IN the basket with the
,trlng on the handle, and the flowers
N the other. Good morning. as the
servant opened the door. "Jim was
not well, SO I brought in the sweet
oeas."
ssI'm glad of that, said the girl, as
Mrs. Gale was asking for them min
ate ago. Here's the basket that was