The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-01-21
AN ICE CREAM
BY MYRTLE E. WHITTEMoRE

in lavender negligee she sat in the
little sewing room on the north side
of the house croeheting. 1t was the
| 31st of July with the thermometer
registering 81 degrees in the shade.
No wonder Miss Charlotte was finding
difficulty in concentrating her mind on
her pattern.
"Oh,' how l wish l had an ice
cream, She sighed But it's Sadie's
| afternoon off, and surely nobody else
wants to go out in this terrible heat"
Mechanically she resumed her work.
"Oh, Elizabeth" she called Are you
going down town.
"Would you be willing to bring me
some ice cream?" she asked
Elizabeth smiled her sweetest. I'll
be glad to-" she said, I'm going over
to Grace's to tea and can't promise
when I'll be coming home"
Elizabeth repeated her offer, but it
was declined. So in all the vivacity
and gaiety of her youth she skipped
down the street, while Miss Charlotte
lazily picked up her crocheting.
Three open, two closed and three
open," she murmUred to herself but
her hook failed to keep pace with her
counting. Suddenly an idea came to
her. Laying her work in the basket
'Ill ask Mildred to bring it." she ex-
claimed as she reached for the phone.
"Give me 49," she called. Hello
Miss Corey? I'm simply roasted up
here on the hill and am dying for an
ice cream. Would you bring it up
when you come. The last day
Of the month? Why, so it is, Mil
bred. l didn't think about your work
ing late tonight. That's too bad. E.
Thank you just the same. I'll get
along somehow"
Resignedly she leaned back in her
rocking chair.
Suddenly she was reused from her
mapping by knock at the back door.
On the piazza stood little boy about
nine years old.
"Want to buy some blueberriesY he
asked. They're high bush and just
picked"
won't you come in?" she asked
kindly. 81 can use a quart, 1 guess.
How much are they?"
"Twenty-five."
you look dreadfully hot" she con-
tinued, as she brought a small dish
Did you have to go far for the ber-
cies?"
"Yes'm, way down to Beaver Ponds
where the best berries grow. Twas
some hot walking up to town, believe
lGe."
Miss Charlotte went to the pantry
again and returned with a larger dish.
"Do you want to let me buy what ber-
ries you have" she asked, "and I'll
have Sadie put them up tomorrow"
The little boy grinned all over his
face as he filed his measure again
and again. AS he picked up his empty
pail, Miss Charlotte had clever
thought.
"Would you like to do an errand for
me downtown" she asked.
"Sure; what is it?"
Miss Charlotte counted out the
change while she explained. 81 want
some ice cream. Go to Lanes and ask
for a pint box of dry-packed Harle- |
quln. Can you remember all that?"
"Sure," again came the prompt re-
ply as he repeated tie errand before |
starting out the door
Not five minutes later the door |
ha11 NJ 10 how =.
Charlotte saw Elizabeth
1--WE brought you the ice cream"
said the girl. 81 came home early as |
/ hated TO think of you sitting here
all alone"
"You dear child" said Miss Char
lotte. You'll stay, of course, and help
me eat it, won't your" and she has
tened to set the table with her pretty
glass dishes.
Just as they had begun TO eat. the
dOorbell rang again. Greatly amused
by this time, Miss Charlotte ushered
in Gertrude Corey carrying a small
box in her hand.
Mildred told me you wanted some
ice cream" she explained.
you darling!" exclaimed Miss
Charlotte. Elizabeth has brought me
some, too. Won't you come 10 and
join us? We've got lots more than we
can eat" So Gertrude sat down TO
the table. delighted to. eat with her
elders.
II seemed only a moment later when
they were Interrupted by knock at
the back door.
That's my little BURBERRY boy
Miss Charlotte excused herself. He's
brought me some cream, too"
She laughed as she confronted the
BOY with the package. "Well. my lit
lie man, II looks as though you would
have to eat all that cream yourself.
'or I have had two boxes brought me
already"
The child's eyes grew as big as
"HOnestT' he asked doubt
'ully.
"Of course. Come in, and See" and
The opened the screen door. The boy
,eeped into the dining room and was