Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-07-22
HAR2IET'S HUCKlEBERRIES.

iii of scandal in country village.
oS What ails you this morning?"
cried Polly Tanning, as her elder sis
ter banged the tins about the buttery
with an apparently unnecessary clatter.
Harriet poked her head around the
door. Her thin cheeks were flushed with
excitement and exertion, and her
thoughtful brown eyes were unnatural
ly large and bright.
I'm looking for pails,' she replied
"We used to have lot of them"
"PailsT echoed Polly, in amazement.
"What do you want with pals? The
big eight-quart is up in the garret. l
filed 1t with water and put it there for
a fire extinguisher. The six-quart is
down in the cellar. full Of tomatoes"
A few moments later loud swash of
water from the attic was followed by
q howl of Indignation underneath the
parlor window, and small boy, wrath
full and dripping. tore into the kitchen.
WHO done it?'' he yelled, jumping up
and down before his astonished aunt.
"WhO done 1t, say"
Il didn't, Ellis; it must have been
your Auul pOuT6u pan
Of water on you by mistake, 1 guess.
It's too bad. Come, I'll help you change
your things. Why, you are not very
wet after all. 1t sort of spattered you"
Pm soaked through and through"
protested the boy, bitterly. I'm most
drownded. Oh, amt she mean, thought
''She didn't intend to, Ellis. Don't be-
gin to cry now. Get a doughnut and
run out in the sun-you'u dry off in a
few minutes
'It'l take two doughnuts to dry me
off," said the eight-year-old, looking
more cheerful; three, maybe" he add
ed, rather dOubtfully.
well, you may have two small ones.
Remember, I'll trust you to pick them
out, Ellis"
The abused one presently sneaked out
Of the woodshed, tightly clutching the
two largest cakes the pan had con-
tanned. Il wasn't goin' to pick 'em over
to find the little ones," he remarked to
.,Ns easily soothed conscience.
''What Is the matter with that boy?''
asked Harriet, descending. II certain
~ neard him scream"
You doused him, that's all. He is
all right now. Do sit down and tell me
what Is going on-a picnic?"
Picnic! No! Business! Huckleber-
riesr' calculated the other, sitting on
the dresser and breathing fast. ''Tnere's
no time to lose, either! The pasture lot
is full of them-just right to pick. and
nobody knows 1t. found 1t out this
morning coming back from Savage's.
/ want you and Ellis and Gal right
away. We can get oceans Of them by
night"
Polly's mild blue eyes, so like her
mothers, opened wide as she looked
searchingly at her sister.
"You crazy thingw she said. 'Go up
yourself, and get two or three quarts
that's all we can eat"
Eat burst out Harriet. I'm not
going to eat them. I'm going to sell
them, Polly"
Sell them!" gasped her companion, In
CONSERVATION. "Oh, Hattie, you can't
peddle berries"
Harriet hopped off the dresser. 81
canr she said, decidedly. "And what's
more, I'm going to! You are going with
ME, too. We need every cent we can
pick up-you know that, Polly Tanning.
Think Of mother. and what she needs.
Think Of all we can get for a few dol
lars. Put your pride in your pocket,
the same as have, and start right in.
II am willing to do 1t, you should be-
Goodness knows" she stopped and
swallowed. with tears in her eyes.
( ,-.I'll CO." said her sister. quickly
Eou are a better woman than 1 am.
Harriet" She stepped over and kissed
the now streaming cheeks. III get
Mrs. Dabney to stay with mother, and
hunt up Gal He Is over in the mead
ow haying, but he can leave It We can
be ready In half an hour.
Harriet tossed her head and felt for
her handkerchief I'm a fool to cry
but I hate it just as much as you do
Mother needn't know. She would be so
upset Let's bang right along and not
mind. We can pretend it's fun. 1t will