A B C OF STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 95 



swer I said : " Now, my friend, come out and see what I have, 

 any way ; no matter about buying them." "Oh, yes ! I should 

 like to see what you raise," he said, coming out to the wagon ; 

 and didn't I enjoy the sudden change from utter indifference 

 that came over his countenance when I laid off the cover? 

 Now I will give you exactly all that was said. 



"Are these berries the same all through as on top?" 



(Wasn't I glad just then that they were?) 



"Yes." ^ 



" Then bring them in." 



It took perhaps ten seconds to make the sale after the ber- 

 ries were uncovered. I left as soon as possible, but not too 

 soon to see him measuring them out to customers as fast at 15 

 cents a quart as he could. Trade had suddenly stiffened ! Aft- 

 er that, Mr. Miller had our berries fresh twice a day through 

 the season. At the end of the season, Mr. Williams said to me 

 when settling up : 



' ' We never managed our strawberry business so satisfacto- 

 rily all around as we have this year. Everybody was pleased 

 and satisfied, and there was no waste or loss. We have made a 

 little something, and helped you to get a paying price." 



Now, this is an exact statement of how we came out in our 

 first attempt t get into the upper- story of strawberry- selling. 

 But not the half has been told, by any means. Those berries 

 were the talk of the town for some days, and ever so many peo- 

 ple spoke to us about them how choice they were, etc. , and 

 were anxious to know how long they would hold out. I couldn't 

 help but think of the old cry that the farmer has the price of 

 every thing he sells as well as what he buys fixed by the dealer. 

 This farmer fixed his own price once, that is certain. 



Please do not think I am telling all this to brag of what we 

 did. We have had our fill of glory and praise from our friends 

 here in town ; but I do want to show that it pays to practice ex- 

 cellence. And many others have done far better than we. A 

 friend in Indiana told, in the Country Gentleman last year, 



