Griggs courier., 1898-05-06


ing OF man. Tim did not sweep the
berries off level with the top of his
measure. Far from it! They rose in
great mound from the middle of the
box, and when he turned them into the
lady's brown earthenware dish they ac-
tually spilled over the sides.
He 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
iMo the wagon and sang out boldly,
with florid variations of his tune:
"Nice ripe blueberries yeer-three
quarts for quarter!"
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 a 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 boy did not seem to deter them
in the least.
For asweek he did not venture to ped.
die in his own neighborhood. But one
evening, as he was driving home, stray
customer tempted him, and his call was
heard by some schoolboy acquaintances,
whose curiosity was aroused.
"Hello, Tim! Where's Dineen?"
"This isn't Dineen's team"
'Whose is it?"
"Mine."
The others raised their elbows before
their faces, which, being interpreted
meant: "Get out"
"It is, tool" said Willy, on the wagon.
seat.
where did you get it?" MI
"His mother bought it," said Willy,
"Did she? Aw, you can't jolly us!"
II amt trying to- u
"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 compliments.
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 flex''
of his mouth to emit the full fortissimo
of his splendid lungs, you would not
believe that he could ever say, 'I s-saw
your advertisement for b-boy," in
such half-audible whisper that the
employer quite mechanically doubled
the volume of his stentorian "What 2"
His whole air is fearless and prosper
Gus. The very horse realizes 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 customer, stamps him
as an independent proprietor.
To be sure, all he owns is peddler's
wagon; but it is well 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 a
chat of several minutes, at the end of
which Tim politely but firmly dismissed
his old employer in order to serve a
customer.
Of course there's nothing he would
not do for Nelly Gray. Their good un-
derstanding continues. In fact, they
meet every morning and evening. But
Nelly has grown singularly shy lately.
If anything happens between them, it
will have to be Tim who takes the in
itiative.-Youth's Companion.