Gilpin observer., 1899-11-09
Sea Noses.

IF you go to college, Amelia, you
will have to settle your own bills" said
stephen Mcintyre, tipping back in his
chair. Times are hard and winter is
comm on, and it is all we can do to
meet expenses. Give it up, Amelia, and
have a good time here on the farm this
winter, and perhaps by another fall
things will take turn for the better"
Amelia Mcintyre was the head of
the little household, her mother hav-
ing died two years previous; since
then she had managed to prepare her
self for college by improving every
spare moment, hoping, forever hoping,
that when the time came for her to
go, her father would assist her. She
had relied much on this little inter-
view, and had broached the subject
at the most favorable time. but in
spite of her words. and. indeed, in
spite of her tears, her hopes had been
rudely dashed to pieces.
Nothing further was said in refer
ence to the matter for a week or
more, Mr.. Mcintyre being only too
anxious to avoid the subject, and
Amelia being too discouraged to hope
for better state of affairs. Even
optimistic Helen, Amelia's younger
sister, scarcely dared to predict good
ending.
The girl might he crushed for a
brief period of time, but it could not
last for long. Presently the silence
was broken.
Amelia" cried Helen one morning
while they were doing up the work,
Il have an idea Let's gather some
MOSES down among the rocks where
the tide comes in; arrange them pref
tily and sell them at Buzzard's Bay,
and, in fact, anywhere that people
are spending money freely. Give up
going to college for a year and next
year go with sufficient funds to meet
all your expenses; l will do ny share
of the work and all the profits shall
go towards it."
DO you suppose We could do it?"
asked Amelia, standing erect in the
middle of the floor.
I'VE can try" replied Helen, I'VE
do know how to gather and arrange
thSA ttStciuiiS, thc ouuLueE peOple
are always ready to buy something
that will remind them of the shore;
why not mosses?'
Seems to me that you girls are
pretty clipper this noon," said Mr..
Mcintyre at the dinner-table: you
haven't thought of way to settle
your bills at college, Amelia?"
Yes, father, we have" said Helen,
turning the tea; I'VE girls are going
to collect mosses at the point, press
them prettily and sell them at Buzz
cards Bay and such places when the
season Genes around again. We can
prepare lots of them this winter"
We'll, maybe you can DO something
with them" said Mr. Mcintyre, doubt
fully, but so far as I'm concerned l
wouldn't give three cents a hundred
weight for the notions"
THAT sounds just like you father"
said Amelia. laughing. but you must
remember that these summer folks
are curious people,"
The following afternoon, when the
work was finished in the house. the
girls went down to the rocks where
the sea formed one boundary of the
old farm. They carried nets for cap
turing the delicate MOSES that noated
In with the tide, and each carried q
pail in which to place them, for the
best ones could be easily injured by
rude handling.
1t was fascinating work. The girls
had done 1t before to decorate theii
own rooms. but now doubly interest
ing since now and then some extra
Ine specimen that floated within reach
meant so much money should they be
successful in selling them.
Are you fishin', girls?" asked
neighbor Hutchings from over the
wall separating the two farms.
Yes" answered Amelia, fishing
for mosses. and some Of them are hare
to catch"
"Mosses?" exclaimed Mr.. Hutch.
ings in an interested voice. what
do you press them on cards and put
them in shells?"
YES"
"And string the cards together sc
you can fold them up?"