The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-10


three or four punches of beets and
carrots and onions, and some celery
and parsley, every other day. You
could bring them down to my cottage
-Stonycroft, you know. Your vege-
tables would be perfectly fresh, and
it is difficult to get fresh ones here"
Charles eyes we're sparkling now.
What would Tom and Harry and Jim,
and even his older sister Florence,
say to this? Certainly, they would
never laugh at him any more. Only,
he would not tell them just yet.
Some day he would make their eyes
open in establishment by coming up
the street with brand new bicycle.
And he would buy more seeds, and
would not forget present for sister
Molly, who never laughed at him.
"Do you think you can spare
themi the lady asked.
ooh, yes'm! beg your pardon"
Charlie said, confusedly. IL was
thinking. You see, hadn't ever
thought of raising things to sell-at
least, not until | was man." He
hesitated a moment, and then added:
"And--and after awhile l expect to
have some nice beans and tomatoes
and caulifower, if you want some"
The ladv smiled and nodded, and
then motioned for her coachman to
drive on. Charlie watched her until
the carriage turned into Main Street,
then he went over his garden and
carefully selected the best beets and
carrots and onions he could find
These he washed and punched until
they looked almost exactly like the
punches he had seen in the village
market. Two days later he did the
same thing, and he kept it up until
the beets and carrots and onions gave
out. But by that time some of the
snap beans were ready to pick, and
over in the corner near the celery
four or five heads of cabbage were
beginning to feel hard. When Charlie
apologized for his scarcity of vegeta-
bles, the lady smiled and told him
not to mind, she would take what he
had to spare and get the rest from
her grocer-only she liked his best.
At home they did not seem to be
aware of what was going on. Tom
and Harry were at work in hotel as
bell boys, and Jim was on the streets
most of the time selling papers; and
one day when Tom reported that he
had seen Charlie going down side
street with basket of vegetables,
Mrs. Adams laughed and remarked
that he was probably trying to earn
something to pay for more seeds.
By the middle of August all the
vegetables were gone except small
patch of late turnips which he had
sown in July, and which we're not yet
ready to pull. Most of his spare time
was now spent in digging pit in
sheltered corner which he proposed
to cover with window sash.
In September he intended to plant
cabbage and lettuce and caulifower
seeds, and winter the plants in the
cold frame for early setting in the
spring. Before this was finished it
was time for him to begin school,
and then he only had such moments
as he could get from his chores for
his garden work.
Winter came early, and by the mid
die of November there was thick
layer of snow on the ground. One
evening as Charlie entered the kit
chen he heard his father and mother
talking in low tones in the sitting
room.
There! that will pay the rent and
buy the winters coal; and there will
be two or three dollars for cheap
dress for you. wish it was more"
"But your overcoat, dear?" Mrs.
Adams ex postulated.
"Never mind that. | have worn
my old one ten years, and it will do
for another season. And we must be
thankful that all the children are
we'll and we are out of debt. 1t has
been a good year. But here they
come"
Charlie lay awake for long time
that night. He had saved more than
half enough money for his bicycle.
Another year, and he would be able
to buy that and a nice overcoat for
his father. But somehow he did not
feel entirely satisfied when he went
to sleep.
They had breakfast at seven
o'clock, and few mornings later
when Mr.. Adams rose from the table
and went into the hall after his over
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