The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-07-31
CHERRIES
They Saved Her
From Herself
By CLARISSA MACKIE


In April Miss Alberta Ely looked at
the snowy bloom of her big cherry tree
and sighed anXiously.
at looks as If there was going to be
a sight Of fruit this year If the pesky
birds don't eat 'em all up" she said to
herself Then aloud she suddenly
shrieked Here, you, boy; don't you
dare touch them blossoms"
Il was only picking a few flowers,
ma'am," he apologized. 81 wanted
them for my mamma"
"Those are not flowers" returned
Miss Alberta severely. Those would
have been cherries in July if you bad
left them alone. One, two, three-um-
nine cherries you've picked off my tree.
young man"
The boy looked from ber lined and
careworn face to the fragrant snow Of
blooms over his head. There's plenty
more flowers, ma'am," he said wtst-
fully, extending the crushed twigs be
held, "but ] suppose you better take
these. They're yours"
Miss Alberta snatched the blossoms
from his hand and tossed them toward
a little mound of wilted dandelion
roots she had been digging out OF the
turf. Hasn't your mother taught you
it's wicked to stealT' she demanded.
The boy WINGED, but he squared his
shoulders and answered stur1ity: "Of
course she's told me that ma'am. It's
me-myself-that did it. She wouldn't
prove of me doing it,"
"Well, l should hope not" ejaculated
Alberta, with a fleeting glance toward,
the roof of the little brown house next
door. when did you move in, boyy"
Yesterday" he answered, -and my
mammals dreifle tired today"
"What is your namer
Duncan Fearly Bartlett. That's my
papa's name too"
April passed into May May into
June-and then came July, sultry and
hot, with the rich odor of overripe
fruits in Alberta's shrubby garden.
Faster than she could convert the ber-
ries into cans of amber and ruby tint
ed preserves they dpened on the
bushes, and pirate robins swooped to
that crowded the nests.
"Scat." Alberta would cry, waving
her gtngham apron at the feathered
robbers
"Oh, wee-wee-weeeeee" the robins
would answer saucily as they dashed
away, only to return later and repeat
the foray.
'Drat 'emr' and Alberta would
whisk indoors to rescue the Scorching
sugar from the fire.
IF the cherries had only waited a
little loneer!' she groaned one hot day
as she hooked from the kitchen win
dow into the branches of the cherry
tree, where the rich red fruit hung
in thick clusters. "If I can only get
this currant tell off my handy
do you want a boy to pick cher
ries r. asked Duncan Bartlett from the
doorway, where he stood hat in hand
''My mamma says l can pick on shares
II you want me to and I'm careful not
to fall"
Alberta booked at him suspiciously
HeIwas seven years old and small for
his age, but he was strong and wiry
and had an open, chubby countenance
that made him look still younger. He
wore clean suit of operalls, and his
brown feet We're bare.
81 don't like TO have my fruit picked
on shares she said sharply, "but III
tell you what you can try. You can
pick 'em on quarter shares. Out of
every four quarts you can have one for
yourself"
'All right ma'am," he said, with
some disappointment in his tone. "If
you'll give me pail and a rope I'll be-
gin now"
Alberta provided a pail and a rope
and a long ladder and watched the
small cherry picker carefully climb the
rounds until he disappeared among the
green branches.
Just before noon Duncan appeared at
the door staggering under a pail Of
luscious cherries. Perspiration stream
ed down his sunburned nose and cher
ries stained his lips.
How many you got there-eight
quarts? Well, you get two quarts out
of that" Alberta measured a scant
two quarts from the brimming pail
and dumped them in a paper bag.
"You coming back after dinner"
IF you want me to-
Come along. Somebody's got to pick
'em. Well, 1 declare, you've been eat
ing somer' She pointed an accusing
finger at his reddened lips.
Duncan flushed proudly. 81 only ate
some the birds had pecked," he con-
fesSed.
Hes gritty" she murmured as she
emDtied the cherries into a basket and
set the pail outside the door.
BY @ O'Clock Duncan had picked fifty
quarts Of cherries, and Alberta reluc-
family paEed from twelve quarts
1t was gfter supper that Ellen Snive-
ly's face appeared at Alberta's kitch-