RRY GIRL.
PART I.
"Why, Phebe, are you come so soon,
Where are your berries, child?
You cannot, sure, have sold them all,
You had a basket pil'd."
"No, mother, as I climb'd the fence,
The nearest way to town,
My apron caught upon a stake,
And so I tumbled down.
"I scratched my arm, and tore my hair,
But still did not complain;
And had my blackberries been safe,
Should not have cared a grain.
[Illustration: Phebe and her Mother.]
"But when I saw them on the ground
All scattered by my side,
I pick'd my empty basket up,
And down I sat and cried.
"Just then a pretty little Miss
Chanced to be walking by;
She stopp'd, and looking pitiful,
She begg'd me not to cry.
"'Poor little girl, you fell,' said she,
'And must be sadly hurt'--
'O, no,' I cried, 'but see my fruit,
All mixed with sand and dirt!'
"'Well, do not grieve for that,' she said
'Go home, and get some more:'
Ah, no, for I have stripp'd the vines,
These were the last they bore.
"My father, Miss, is very poor,
And works in yonder stall;
He has so many little ones,
He cannot clothe us all.
"I always long'd to go to church,
But never could I go;
For when I ask'd him for a gown,
He always answer'd, 'No.'
"'There's not a father in the world
That loves his children more;
I'd get you one with all my heart,
But, Phebe, I am poor.'
"But when the blackberries were ripe
He said to me one day,
'Phebe, if you will take the time
That's given you for play,
"'And gather blackberries enough,--
And carry them to town,--
To buy your bonnet and your shoes,
I'll try to get a gown.'
[Illustration: Phebe and Billy going to School.]
"O Miss, I fairly jumped for joy,
My spirits were so light:
And so, when I had leave to play,
I pick'd with all my might.
"I sold enough to get my shoes,
About a week ago;
And these, if they had not been spilt,
Would buy a bonnet too.
"But now they are gone, they all are gone
And I can get no more,
And Sundays I must stay at home
Just as I did before.
"And, mother, then I cried again,
As hard as I could cry;
And, looking up, I saw a tear
Was standing in her eye.
"She caugh
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