The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-11-02


over-handing. Mamma, busy at her
own sewing, looked up to smile COM
fortingly. II think you'll be through
by S o'clock, Bethy," she said. "You
know we must send it off tonight so
as to have it entered on time. You've
done beautifully, dear, and you de-
serve premium, whether you get it
or not"
Beth smiled back and decided that,
after all, it wasn't so dreadfully hot,
and S o'clock wasn't very far away.
"Do you think TIL get it, mamma r.
she asked, for the twentieth time.
"I don't know, dear. If mamma
was Judge you surely would, but they
haven't invited me to award any
prizes. You mustn't count on it too
much, for you may be disappointed
but your time has not been wasted,
even if you get nothing but the pretty
apron, and the pleasure of knowing
that you made it yourself, and very
nearly, too."
"What is all this talk hear of
premiums and nysteriesl" demanded
Uncle Ed, coming in from the porch.
It's the county fair next week,
Uncle Ed, and they've offered IS for
the best sewing under fourteen years
of age and I'm trying to get it," ex-
planned Beth excitedly.
(Which you surely ought to do,
for / can testify that your sewing is
considerably less than fourteen years
of age," declared the roguish uncle.
But Beth was too full of her subject
to heed teasing. Uncle Ed had been
away for month, and it was such a
comfort to find somebody who hadn't
heard the matter discussed over and
over again.
"I'm only eight, Uncle, but I've
been most as careful as fourteen, don't
you think 20 and the needle-rough-
ened fore6nger pointed to the tiny
hem. Uncle Ed hunted for his eye-
glasses, because / can't see the
stitches at all without" +" he declared.
"Ofall the ridiculously small stitches |!
Why, Beth, I'll be surprised if those
near r-sighted judges don't think you
have glued that petticoat together"
"It's an apron, Uncle Ed" ex-
planned the small seamstress, pa
tiently. Its very important, be-
cause if I get the money it's to go
into the bank to help my education,
so / can be a teacher, and mamma
won't have to work"
II see. And If you don't get it
you'll have to be an ignoramous all
your life. l should think it is inn
portant u
And then May and Billy clamored
at the window, and Beth set the last
careful stitch, and the clock struck S.
The county fair began as usual
just as if Beth's apron were not part
of it. 1t was too far away for mamma
and the children to attend, but Uncle
Ed went on the last day, and he was
to bring back word of the result.
Beth was certain she should not sleep
wink until he came, no matter how
late that was, but mamma insisted on
her going to bed as usual, and the
next thing she knew it was broad
daylight. Uncle Ed was down in the
dining room but he didn't say much
just looked over his eye glasses and
talked about premium pigs and now
ing machines and pretended he hadn't
heard word about aprons. Betty
crept away by herself. She under
stood-she hadn't gotten any pre-
mium, and Uncle Ed didn't like to
tell her. Well. if she couldn't ever
be educated she'd have to be dress
maker like mamma, and sew, no mat
| ter how hot it was.
And then breakfast was ready and
Uncle Ed called her to come quick
before he starved.
She slipped quietly into her chair
and slowly lifted her plate to release
an edge of the napkin and there
under it folded neatly, lay her very
own cambria apron with blue rib
bon pinned fast, and across ita smooth,
| gray green, fascinating SIS bill