The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-08
HETrY'S GRADUATING ESSAY
Aud the Story of the Pumpkin That Went
to the Fair.

shes writin' it," cried red as ne
lObbled In TO supper. Il came past her
Dom lust now and there Hetty was sittin
With lot q books I'm front OF her. 'HulO
betty / says. but she never looked up.
Her cheeks was just as red, an she was
Vritin for dear life. Bet cent she
yets the prize, too!
yet It," she said. II know she can write
good essay and the money would buy
hose books she's always talking about.
betty has a good head and WISH she
.nouid Keep along Till we've saved enough
o send her To ccllcgS for a year.
Ted's eyes and mOath grew round for
reply. but just hen his father came IN
% wash his hands. WHAT nonscHsc'
Hettys goin TO college. Hetty's TOO roma
Of her books now. and If had the money
10 spare / dunno as Ia send her
on come pa don't talk so. You re
tired tonight" said gentle Mrs. Brown.
THAT amt the point returned hct
husband. She ought to be down mere
now helping you TO get supper sud
settin upstairs with a book.
" 'Taint a book; its her gfaduatin
essay, pa" put in Ted.
Mr. Brown shifted audibly as ne sat
down TO the table; That's another piece
O. folly" he said. trying TO write big
about somethin she probably don't know
beans about. Have some mush, ma
Hetty. sitting IN her little room at the
head of tho stairs. had heard her lath-
and sat staring at the wall. Hetty was
an ambitious girl and she ala love her
books especially her algebra ana Beoh-
etry. Her cherished plan was 10 buy
hooks and study herself until she could
save enough money for year at col
lege But there was more in hetty
character than the love for DOCKS, ana
as she sat staring at the wall paper her
conscience gave her several sharp prlcks.
Fathers drcadfully cross she said
10 herself. rocking 10 and fro, very fast.
lSut even as she said II there
arose before her mind dozen
things she had allowed her mother
10 do for her that day. and. last
OF all. a picture OF little lame Teddy hob
bling away with his seed catalogue. be
cause Hetty was TOO busy TO bother
Her head went down upon the table
among the papers Father was cross,
she thought. aud do mean 10 so TO coli
lege some day. But i know what ne
means wei enough. / was getting TO be
selfish. but ] thing he's wrong about TIE
essay. Everybody writes graduating es-
says and they oughtnt TO be about com
mon. every day things.
Then Hetty went down 10 supper she
gave her mother a hug and kiss as they
did the supper dishes together, ana she
helped Ted 10 make out wonderful list
Of vegetables from his gay-cOlOred seed
catalogue. Teddy heaved great sigh as
they sealed and addressed the envelope
10 tho scotsman. "itH be the incest
garden IN Town. ne Sdlu lNu oman
have the FIRST radish. Hetty. because you
ike them So And I'm goin' 20 send
pumpkin To the fair.
That's right Ted" said Mr.. Brown
"I'u pillow. and you can SOW and do the
weedin' No reason why won shouldn't
have the best garden In town"
'reddys eyes shOne. DO you know
what my crutches say" he asked Hetty.
as they went out together. They say:
.Ted-dys pumpkin. Ted-dys pump
Kim " And he talked radishes and pump
k,ns to Hetty all the way upstairs. But
Hettv's thoughts were only half on the
earden. for her fathers words about her
essav kent lingering In her mind She
read what she had written before she
went 10 bed and felt dissatisfied with II.
Next morning she read II again ana
II believe fathers right" she said 10
herself. n don't know much ABOUT ihat
80 iect. and II does sound as II was
trying 10 write big. I'm going 20 write rte
shout something ] understand. ana
with a decided nod she tore up the sheets
she had written and threw them INTO
the waste basket. -. Ga
Now began serious work for ~etty. she
chose subject within her seaco' SOME