The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-01-01

to the mountain and gather nc straw
berries. They must be very sweet and
ripe"
My God, whoever heard tI.at straw
berries ripened under the snCw!' cried
the orphan.
"Not word. If you 90 rot bring NE
the strawberries soon, We viii Kill you.
Remcmbec, you are warned. "
After this threat her stspinotEer seized
her violently and thrust her cut il the
courtyard, barring the door,
The wretc!:e:l orphan, her eyes filed
with tears, bcsan to climb the II ountain.
She already knew the way, and without
hesitation climbed rp the peak, where
the 10 months set round the fire, Old
January, as before, on Tie highest seat.
Men of God," lhe said, "let me
warm myself by ycur fire! am tsem-
bling with cold"
Old January lifted his head and ask
ed:
"Why have you come here and what
do you seek:'
"Ihave come to gather Strawberries, "
said Mary.
"It is now midwinter and strawber
ries do not grow under the snow" an
swered January
81 know it," said Mary sadly. "But
ny stepmother and sister have ordered
me to bring them ripe Strawberries. Tell
NE where can gather them. "
Old January rose slowly from his seat,
approached the month that sat opposite
him, and giving him his wand said,
Brother June, seat yourself on the
highest stone.''
The month Of June went and seated
himself Oh the stone that marked the
highest place. He waved his wand over
the fire and the flames rose to the sky.
In moment the snow was melted, the
ground covered with grass, while the
birds sang and the earth bloomed with
flowers in the forest.
Under the brushwood one saw innu
merable little white flowers, thick as
though one had sowed them, and as one
looked the flowers changed to ripe fruit,
and all this in few moments Of time,
so that Mary could hardly cross herself
before the ground was red with straw
berries, like sea of blood.
Quick, quick, Mary, pick them :"
said the month CT June.
Filled with JOY, she began to gather
them, and soon had a nice amount III
her apron, when, thanking the months,
she started ioyfully homeward.
Helen aud her mother were surprised
to see her come home with the straw
berries.
"But where did you find them?" ask
cd Helen sourly.
Cup on the peak Of the mountain.
They are rot hard to find under the
brushwood."
Helen took possession Of all the ber-
ries. A part she gave to her mother, and
devoured the rest.
The third day Helen, satiated with
tbs Strawberries, loDged fer fresh picked
red apples,
Mary" she called, "be quick and
nimble Go to the mountain and sceL
for red apples. y
my God, sister, you know that dur
ing the winter the trees are without
leaves or fruit !"
ugly lazy bones! Go, climb quickly
up the mountain and bring me back up
pies, or remember we will kill you!'
As usual her stepmother caught hcE
rudcly, thrust her out Of the house and
| barred the door behind her.
The poor orphan, weeping bitterly,
passed through the forest that led 70 the
mountain. She climbed up to tie peak
where the - months sat by TIE flaming
fire. They all sat r:oticnlcss Oh tac;1
stcnc seats, and Old Juuu2ry as usual On
the highest.
''Mc1 cf Gcd, lct n>c warm myself
by your dro! The winter wind freezes
me-" sho said.
Old January lifted his head and be-
gan to question her, why have you
come hero and what dQ yoq EQesF'