The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-12-23

ware, the nlneteen-yedT-Ol son OF Inc
president of the Agricultural Society,
was in charge of the entry books in
the administration building. The sec
rotary who usually attended to the
matter, was busy experimenting the
erection of new bandstand, the old
one having at the last moment unex-
!. pectedly collapsed.
\ There were seven books open, upon
the long counter in front CT Gilbert.
Near them a stack Of entrytage waited
to receive the exhibitors numbers, the
names of their exhibits and the class
es to which they belonged Each en-
try book contained long list OF ar
ticles for which premiums were Of
fered, with blank spaces for the eX-
n hibitcrs' names. 1t was really very
&simple arrangement, and for the first
hour, when the exhibits arrived slowly,
W1ilbert had no trouble. But ten
O'Clock found his table piled high with
cucumber pickles, crocheted bed-sllp-
pers, cut flowers, dressed dolls, fruit,
works of art, cabbages, and canary
birds in cages.
A score OF impatient exhibitors were
demanding exhibition tickets, calling
attention to the merits OF their es-
pkcial brand Of potatoes, and insisting
Upon being attended to at once. some
Of the men were making pathetic at
tempts to give names to the articles
of fancy work entrusted to them by
their womenkind.
"One at a time." pleaded Gilbert,
pressing his hands to his head. Its
this mans turn Your name, please?'
"Olaf Oleson." Number two hundred
and twenty-five. What have you?" as
ed Gilbert, writing the name. Apples
winter cabbage, some yelly and yam for
my vomans, some sewing work, some
-" Hold on! Let's tend to the apples
first. What kind-Duchess Of Olden-
burg?" "Yaw" They look like Bald
wins" objected bystander. They're
Baldwins, aren't they?" "Yaw," as
scented the Swede. mo, they're Red
Astrachans," said q second obJecter.
"I've got some just like en-" well,
fix it up with the head OF that de-
apartment. I've entered 'em plain ap-
tples. What's this cloth thing?" Sew
ing work.. My vomans, She" Eyes, yes!
But what's it's name? Is it knitted,
embroidered or hemstitched? Is it
Itable-cloth, rug, or sofa pillow!
he Yaw," replied the man obligingly.
81 must have help!" cried Gilbert,
springing UP and making for the door.
"I'll be back presently"
He looked up and down the road,
but the prospect was not promising.
The working force was inadequate
the heads of the departments were
already overburdened, and the fair
grounds were three miles from town.
There were people enough, to be sure,
streaming in at the gates with more
exhibits for Gilbert to enter, but he
saw none who were likely to make
valuable assistants. Suddenly, how
ever, he caught sight of a girl VINO
was flying up the road on bicycle,
with small parcel dangling from her
handlebars. He recognized in her a
classmate, and one of the brightest
girls in the high school,
20 Virginia" he shouted, wait a
minute" did you call me?" asked
the girl, springing to the ground. yes.
Could you help a fellow that's in a
peck of trouble? You don't need to go |
home, do you? l brought lunch enough
for two. Mrs. Bailey is going to make
coffee over the popcorn mans fire,
and we're all to- have lunch in her
building. | need you awfully to help
me with the entry books. | can't see
how woman can work for year on
a piece of sewing and thep not know
what to call it when it's finished"
"I'll do what l can," laughed Vir-
ginia, with the prospect of one of
Mrs. 3ailey's good lunches to cheer
me-" I'm your friend for life!" said
Gilbert, lifting the bicycle up the
steps.
Virginia promptly separated the
sheep from the goats-to be accurate, |
the pumpkins from the Battenberg |
lace. When the secretary looked in an |
hour later things were going finely,
the piles of entry-tags had been materi-
ally reduced, and the crowd of waiting |
exhibitors had dwindled to a few |
scattered individuals.
"Now that was a bright idea,' said
the secretary, catching sight of Vir-
ginia. ut takes a feminine mind to
grapple with works of art, fancy-work
and homegrown preserves. Hope you'll
stay right by us, Miss Virginia"
Virginia worked all the afternoon
and promised to return the following
morning. She would need to come, any
way, she said, to enter some things