154 THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 



" Oh, dear, no, thank you. I must hurry home." 



" We can't think of it. You must stay to tea. Come, 

 let me help you take off your things. We shall be de- 

 lighted to see more of you. You can tell us all the news. 

 We are very quiet here, and seldom know what is going on 

 in the world." 



In spite of her protestations the little widow found her- 

 self gently taken in hand, and treated to a most splendid 

 strawberry supper. She had never eaten so many nor 

 such luscious berries in her life. With most charming 

 persistence Mrs. Wellson and her daughters plied her with 

 good things, till she was forced to cry, " Enough ! " 



When the family rose from the table, there was still a 

 heaped-up plate of berries remaining. 



The surfeited widow departed, and the careful Kate 

 turned the surplus berries into a basket, saying gravely to 

 herself : 



" I suppose our looking at 'em on the table won't hurt 

 the sale." 



The days flew by, and the strawberry speculation pros- 

 pered. Everybody in the house took hold with a will, and 

 not a berry was lost. 



The season was drawing to a close, and the fruit grew 

 scarce. In a few days it would be gone. One morning, 

 as Johnny was trotting gayly home with his empty baskets 

 and singing his favorite melody, " Captain Jinks," he met 

 a young man walking leisurely along the village street. 



