THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 143 



and mother says we may try once more, and if we succeed 

 we are to ask father's permission to sell them all." 



" Sell our strawberries ! Who ever heard of such a 

 thing ? I should be ashamed to be seen on the street, were 

 we to do so. It will be the town talk, and all our friends 

 would cut us forever." 



"Let'em," said Johnny. u Who cares? I'm for sell- 

 ing the berries and giving the money to father to pay the 

 coal-man's bill." 



"And stay where we are," said the practical Kate, 

 1 i and not be obliged to move into some little house in some 

 back street. For my part I'd rather pick berries all day 

 than move away. Who is to know of our doings ? No 

 one can see us, and Johnny is to sell the berries before 

 anybody is up." 



" I am afraid we shall have to pick a long time before 

 we get a hundred dollars," said the despondent Mary. 



U I don't know about that. There are heaps of 'em; 

 and then there are the grapes, we can sell them too. 

 Anyway, we will try." 



. And so they did. The shallow wicker baskets, opening 

 wide at the top, were soon filled, and Kate and Johnny, with 

 each two baskets, started to carry them to the house. Mary 

 offered to bring the rest, and lingered behind. Shortly 

 afterward, she could have been seen dreamily sauntering up 

 the path, with a far-away look in her eyes, as if she had 



