Year: 1874

]
through the door into a rear apartment
could hear him say, "Mrs. Sedgwick, do
you want any strawberries? There's q
young lady out here wants to sell some"
and her reply, mo, have enough for sup
per-"


The clerk repeated her words to me very
respectfully and turned TO go out. The
man who had como in with inc made some
| indifferent remark about the weather, just
as he might have done had my errand been
anything else In the world. replied with
a calmness that astonshed myself, and
passed into tho street. Everything looked
| just as it had done before I hazarded that
fatal question, that must iorevormore class
me in the ranks OF common people.
As walked on the words of Shylock
came into my mind, "llalh not a Jew
eyesH' and, looking up at the cloudless
June sky overhead, was forced TO the
conclusion that had no need to be blind
to the beauty above my head, and beneath
my feet because, forsooth, peddled straw
berries.


BY the time had walked half a mile /
felt equal TO another attempt, and went in
to n restaurant where we had had some
dealings. A young man sat beside the
door and asked him If he belonged 10 the
house. He said "yes," and asked him If
he did not want TO engage some strawber-
ries. "Oh-ah-I-I only board here, you'll
find some one inside"


marched into the unknown interior and
found pretty girl setting a table. She
"did not know whether they would want
any berries or not, and Mr.. L. was gone
down. He would be back In half an hour
would cali again ?"


Out on the street again, the sun shone
with fierce heat and, seeing a hotel sign on
the shady side, turned my steps thither
Neither did this man seem at all surprised
at my business, but he surprised me by
asking how many had and what sort they
were. "Were they wild or what were they?'
Did look so rustic as that? Thank for
tune knew the names OF my commodi-
ties and answered promptly, "Wison's AL
bany and Agriculturlst. and have forty
quarts


"Humph that's good many; what do
you ask for them?'


If there's anything in this world that |
do hate It Is setting price, il is so pebian.
But told the man what thought ] ought
to have. "Well, II you will bring them TO
me and they are nice, I'll take six or eight
quarts"


Nice Of co Irse they were nice. Had not
I set out the original plants myself, and
hoed and tended them with loving care? I
was not afraid TO work or ashamed OF II. 1t
was taking pay for my work that CALLED
me-to be obliged to take. pay In order to
live was the trouble.


called next at an ice cream saloon. The
youth who sat behind the counter was fair
faced and pleasant. He asked me whether
my fruit was in quart or bulk ? "In bulk"
told him, and he said that lie could not
afford to buy them in that shape. II" had
had several lots spoil on his bands, and
then there was great waste in emptying
them from one thing 10 another.


was interested and asked some ques-
lions, and he gave me some Information
which may be found in any manual on
Strawberries therefore ! will not repeat it,.


Invent OH, tired bot courageous. Since
had descended the social scale, in my own
estimation, at least, might as well be thor
ough 10 my work aud make what money l
could. My next call was on a lady ac-
quaintance, and at once made known my
business. She was oh SO glad to see me.
Certainly she would take some. She
thought Mrs. Smith would like some, too.
Had been there? and when 1 said "no,"
she ran 10 the door and called across the
street, MRS. Smith, oh Mrs. Smith do on
want some Strawberries ?"


The lady came hurrying over. She was
very pretty woman, and 1t was real
pleasure to look at her. We had pleas
ant chat together and left them feeling
much couIlorted, for now had the virtual
endorsement Of two ladies' Of position in
society.


The next thing was 10 deliver the berries
already engaged and thus relieve my mind
of part of its burden. | did not mind
carrying them through the streets. That
was nothing.


On my way back called again on Mr.. l..
He was standing IN his d oor aud as l came
under the awning that shaded it, he spoke
up: "Good morning, Miss May" Horrors
how did the man know me? He had new
er seen me, except once before, that / knew
OF. He was very sorry. but he made other
some next day. told him that / should
not come TO town next day, and he answer
ed: sob, well, any time when you come,
just come here" A man standing by in
qured how many had, and, when told
him, asked how long it took TO gather
them.


could not answer that exactly. gath
cred awhile and then rested awhile. He
had been in the business himself like to
listen to man that can really ''talk sense
10 a woman, and stood talking aud listen
ing till the fear of Mrs. Grundy, or sense
of propriety reminded me that it was high
ly improper for a young lady to loiter on
the street talking TO a stranger. He want
ed couple OF quarts and told me where he
lived. Then, empty pail in hand, I plod-
| ded on toward the house OF an acquaint-
anco who, was sure would patronize me,
] found tho door shut and locked. / hid
my pail under some rose-bushes and went
on, determined to sell that fruit If such q
thing was possible.


My next call was on the keeper Of an eat.
ing house. He was out in front OF his
house putting down stone for walk. He
had as many as he wanted. "What was ]
selling for1" told him. "Ah! ha There
was lady here this morning who offered
me all l wanted for six cents"


Six cents l would have thrown my be-
loved but perishable property into tue riv'
err first; or what wonld have amounted to
the same thing from pecuniary stand
point, donated them 10 the festival.


Itrudged en- with renewed vigor. al
ways had liking for adventure and now
ceased plying myself aud began TO won