The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-08-07
THE GREEN BURBERRY.

Once upon time there was a pool
little berry, who could not get ripe.
He lived on the blueberry bush, an6
on the bush hung q great many large
fat blueberries. and of course he ought
to have been like them; but be-
cause he grew too low down on the
bush, so that the sun and the air could
not reach him, or for some other reason
he certainly remained very green blue.
berry, although, to be sure, he felt blue
enough.
All the other berries we're unkind to
him, saying: mo one will pick you,
GREENE! We. being so big and fat. shall
all be picked and put and put into fine
pies and cakes; but no one wants to eat
hard green berries, so you will be left"
YES" SAID one very big one, laughing.
did you ever hear BURBERRY laugh?
They have such a soft, juicy laugh?
-"look at me, Greenie! Am l not q
glorious berry. 80 fat, 30 big, SO blue?"
The poor little berry looked up longingly
at her, when. putting herself up more
than ever in her pride, she-oh, what
do you suppose happened to herf-she
burst
A few days after this dreadful acct
dent, two little girls came to the blue
berry bush; and you can imagine how
glad they were when they saw it. In
very short time they had every berry;
and by mistake they had also picked the
green one, too.
The children's mother was delighted
when che saw the berries. I'VE will
have a pie, and we will have a short.
cake" she said to the cook; land,
Bridget. l will help you look the ber'
ries over" In doing this, she found
the green one.
"Why, Eleanor, Margaret" she said
to the two children, there is green
blueberry! We cannot have him in our
pie. can we?"
"Ha, hal" laughed the other berries.
"Of course you can't! Throw him away"
But the children's mother paid no atten-
ton to the rude little fellows.
Mamma" said Eleanor, that berry
is the very same color as Belinda Mar
ions dress; and l will have it for a
locketw She ran to her new work
basket which had been given to her at
Christmas; and from it she took a needle.
which she threaded with soft green silk,
Just the color of the berry. This she
drew through the berry. Next she
brought out most beautiful doll. with
blue eyes which could open and shut.
and with long curling golden hair, ana
wearing a lovely green dress which really
was the berry's color. The green silk
was tied around her neck, and the de-
spised berry was now hanging as beau
tiful locket in the place of honor; and
his little heart swelled with pride.
When the children's supper hour
came, Belinda Marion came to the table.
too, sitting in her own high chair; and
she was very well-behaved and quiet,
never speaking one word all through
supper-time. The children had for their
supper bread and butter, milk, and each
a small saucer of stewed blueberries;
and, oh, how surprised those berries
we're, when they saw what had become
of their despised Greenie! They almost
turned green themselves with envy. In
fact, one might say they we're almost
"eaten up" with envy. And the green
berry sat there in state, and saw them
disappear!
Nor was this all. The children soor
went to bed. first putting Belinda Mar
ion in her white crib, aud leaving her il
one corner of the dining room. Belinds
Marion shut her eyes directly her heat
touched the pillow. and was soon fas
asleep; but the berry kept his one littl
eye wide open all through the grow
peoples dinner, which followed tn
children's tea. When the dessert cam
| in, what should it be but the blueberr.
! pie! And the berries in the pie we're as
tonished to find what had become o
their green friend! But the berr,
smiled. and said nothing; and they. to-
we're all eaten before his very eyes
And he. the green berry, hung on Belin
da Marion's neck for weeks. and in al
probability in hanging there now. A
least the last time saw Belinda Marion
and her little mistress. he was still there
looking very comfortable, and, IL posi-
sible, greener than ever.-Erchan0e.