206 THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE STRAWBERRY SHOW AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 



THE Wellson kitchen. Mrs. Wellson, Johnny, and 

 Mary, busily sorting and arranging heaps of ripe straw- 

 berries. The table is piled high with fruit, and a huge 

 hamper stands loaded by the door. All is activity and 

 bustle. A most tremendous crop of fruit, and the entire 

 village wild to purchase it. Out in the garden two young 

 girls, hired by the day, are picking as fast as their fingers 

 can fly. In the village street are four private carriages 

 drawn up in line, and just outside the back door, in the 

 yard, is a broad table, made of boards supported on barrels. 

 A white cloth is spread over it, and everything is as nice 

 as a new pin. The blooming Kate, "activity itself, is wait- 

 ing upon half-a-dozen impatient people, who present 

 baskets and tin kettles to be filled with the luscious fruit. 

 Kate measures it out, a piled-up quart, at a time, and gives 

 it to the various purchasers. Soon all the fruit on the 

 table is gone and she runs to the house for more. Burst- 

 ing into the room, she extends her hands stuffed with scrip. 



"Give me your money-box. Sold out. Some more 

 berries, Johnny. They are going like hot cakes. " 



