The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-05-21

to Nelly that he had bought Dineen's
old horse and wagon; and the look in
her eyes was friendly once more. 1t
had been hard work to persuade his
mother TO advance so much money;
but if boy cannot persuade his own
mother. what hope has he of moving
the world outside?
Tins first investment was stock OF
blueberries. Columbus, journeying
westward, in momentary peril OF fall
ing over the world; hansen, pushing
north, nearer and nearer to the pole,
but farther and farther from kin and
succor-neither of these heroes could
have felt more yenturesome than Tim
Tighe, daring to drive his newly-paint-
ed wagon through strange city streets,
and to send into the cold ears of resi-
dents and passing pedestrians that loud
clamor of his:
"Blueberries-all ripe-three quarts
for a quarter!'
The first time he shouted the sound
of his own voice startled him; he
seemed to hear the words thrown back
in derision. But Willy, Nelly's ten
yearold brother. who sat on the wagon
seat to mind the team" seconded his
effort with such a shrill, CHEEKY chirp:
"leer they are-blueberries-a ripe!"
that Tim felt ashamed OF his timidity.
They had resolved to experiment in a
distant quarter of the city. For fully
Is minutes their cries were unan-
swered; but at last a neat old lady
called Tim to her doorstep, inspected
his berries, and ordered three quarts.
That three-quart order was the max.
ing of man. Tim did not sweep the
berries off level with the top of his
measure. Far from It'll They rose in
a great mound from the middle of the
box, and when he turned them into the
Iady's brown earthenware dish they ac-
tually spilled over the sides.
lie counted out the change in his left
hand with new feeling of importance;
and the very horse started with excite.
ment when he tossed the measure back
into the wagon and sang out boldly,
with aorid variations of his tune:
Nice ripe blueberries yeer-three
quarts for quarteri
At dusk one great box of berries was
empty and another we'll followed in the
middle; Willy was hoarse, and Tim, who
did the walking, was tired, but his
pockets were heavy with silver. which
he jingled for Nelly's satisfaction
she happened to be at the gate again
and counted out on the table for his de-
lighted mother.
Next evening the return was larger.
Gradually customers began to watch
for him and he for them. His cry was
warning signal which in quiet quar-
tiers could be heard block away. It
distinguished itself sharply from other
peddlers' cries. Really it was like a
song, compared with theirs. Perhaps
that was why the nice old ladies called
him so often to their doorsteps His
being a boy did not seem to deter them
in the least.
For a week he did not venture to ped
die in his own neighborhood. But one
evening, as he was driving home, a stray
customer tempted him, and his call was
heard by some schoolboy acquaintance,
whose curiosity was aroused.
Hello. TIM Where's Dineen?"
This isn't Dineens team"
"Whose is it?"
"Mine."
The others raised their elbows before
their faces which, being interpreted,
meant: Get out"
at is, tool" said Willy, on the wagon
seat.
"Where did you get it?"
''His mother bought it," said Willy.
"Did she? Aw, you can't jolly u.s."
81 amt trying to-"
Gee! You've got the cheek"
A week before Tim would have wilted
at this contempt. Now, his views had
changed; he knew it was a compliment.
1t was their way of saying he was en-
terprising.
The period of his awakening was va
cation time, one year ago. This sum
mer Tins stock included all kinds OF
fruits and vegetables in their season.
If you should see him, reaching over
the tailboard to fill peck-measure with
tomatoes, you would hardly recognize
the desolate saunterer who used to
stop so often at the store windows.
Watching him expand the "orbic feX''
of his mouth to emit the full fortissimo
of his splendid lungs, you would not
believe that he could ever say, 81 s-saw
your advertisement for a b-boy," in
such a half-audible whisper that the
employer quite mechanically doubled
the volume of his stentorian "What?"
His whole air is fearless and prosper.
Gus. The very horse realizes a change
The mere way in which Tim shouts
Get up" or snuggles down a loose
end of the blanket, or pulls Dobbin's
ears under the strap of the feed-bag
or hops up on the seat and stands there
shaking the reins, his eyes alert in all
directions for a customer, stamps him
as an Independent proprietor.
To be sure, all he owns is a peddler's
wagon; but it is we'll painted, not lop-
sided like some, and as tidy on top as
any fruiterer's stall. And though Tim
gives good measure. and knows that IT
pays" he has learned that such waste
full generosity as that with which he
heaped the measure for his first sale
depresses his bank account.
The other day he met Mr.. Dodd, the
lawyer, on the street. and the two had q
which Tim politely but firmly dismissed
his old employer in order to serve d
customer.
of course there's nothing he would
not do for Nelly GRAY. Their good n.