Cricket at the Seashore

astounding news. She was very anxious to cable the important announcement, and Auntie Jean had some difficulty in persuading her that a letter would convey it j

lped her, till even little Kenneth caught the fever, and begge

e money in the really-truly bank this time, and keep putting more in, and I'll save my allowa

expression. "Why, Cricket, bicycles co

to learn how, and keep saving till I'm grown up. Could

t stand," sug

I'd just love to. I'd have that big white umbrella that used to stand up in the old phaeton, over my head,

k not!" cried

reat piles of money. Everybody will stop and buy of me when they'

the family?

insinuatingly, "for my suggestion. Real

well try to fill up Marbury Bay as you, Mr. Archie. I

ricket, if you did get away with that num

sing her curls, "you think you'r

smayed. They always made so much fun of her when she

d Archie, rolling on the groun

yway. I am going to ask auntie, right away, about the peanut stand," she continued, changing the subje

ke, and on the dock, if I want to, and she'll give me a pint cup to measure them out with

h me," pleaded Archie; b

haps I might have. Now I sha'n't. I d

et?" asked Eunice, accustomed to shari

t the peanuts," she said, firmly, "and I'm going to be my own

rged Archie, "you should have some

n eating them," Cricket replied, with severity. "Then I'd lose my mone

ke him give them to you wholesale," called Archie after

firmly to the back of the stout, wooden chair, contributed by the kitchen. All these, old Billy, proud and happy at being selected as chief aid, took down to the little dock, where she was to set up business. She decided to invest a capital of fifty cents, not part of her new-found funds, but her private and personal possession, and expected to come out of her venture a

that he should give her the peanuts wholesale, and they struck a bargain that she should buy t

n four quarts

don't you buy some o' those pep'mint drops long o' the peanits.

dea, Billy. 'C

ned from e

u sell them,

think, for I have never seen any just like them anywhere else. They were thick and round, and about two inches across, indented in the middle, like a rosette. They were not soft and creamy, but hard and crunchy, though how much of this latter property rose from the lack of absolute fr

ught to spend the whole of my money," she sa

ckly, thinking of his other in

have tobacco for anything,

ooked d

no harm," he

illy. Now what

for a cent apiece, and water's cheap. Lemonade would sell well th

that, and I'd let her have a glass of lemonade free. Yes, I'll take four lemons, Mr. Simon, thank you.

e two went ga

, the night before. Archie had evidently been busy during their absence. He liked to tease Cricket, because, as he said, she was so "gamey." Edna would grow

, live, wriggling crab. Four horseshoe shells, stuck up on the sharp points, decorated the four corners of the table, and a drapery of

T EMP

OF TH

ICKET, B

ICTLY FRESH

ARLY A

nowing whether to join in her laughter or not. He didn't see anything

at length; "how be we goi

Billy," ordered Cricket of her willing slave,

as again in order. The horseshoe shells were left sticking up for ornaments. Then she proceeded to lay out her stock, and dispose of it to the best advantage. Grandma

e lemonade, and some tumblers. I mustn't forget the sugar, either, and a knife. Oh, and

children away till the little merchant was ready to begin her sales, so Cricket was left

s, who had been eagerly watching from a distance, darted forward, with pennies in hand, and trade began. Then the girls appeared, and each bought a glass of lemonade, and when Will

measure," somebody would

ther thing till you bring me some more money. A peppermint drop, Eunice? No, you can't have two for a cent. Don't they look good?

ch would you take, if you was me? I want two cen

d Edna, as Eunice

his hand, with six cents in it. "I want some peani

aid Eunice, "and two cents' worth

Cricket, "but, Billy, you can have it fo

e, suddenly, "how much are crabs s

answered Wi

took me all yesterday afternoon to catch them, too. You have sold them all off, I see, al

fly, snipping Zaidee's fingers, which were creeping too near the peppermin

e?" teased Archie. "If it's a pie

ey'll buy something, if you go away, so they can see me," she added, rearranging her wares. "Billy, drive them off." Thus ordered, Billy made a lunge at the twins first, and they, secretly

had to take some of the accumulated money and go up to Simon's to replenish the stock, and frequent expeditions there through the day were made. The two refreshed themselves in the intervals of business with sundry glasses of le

it of lemonade, and eat up those peanuts," said the tired little m

h, and together they

Auntie Jean, at supper. She had, of course, patronized the peanut

ungry tribe gathered around the supper-table. "Billy and I a

on with your speculations

nice to-day, but I think I couldn't stand keeping still all day for ev

d auntie. "How much did you make? if we may be

cried Cricket, proudly, "and

cier. And you invested fifty cents?

y cents. Billy went up to the store five or six times and got more peanuts and things, as fast as the money came in.

t of laughter fr

t have been too generous. People don't call it making money unless they get back all they spend, and more bes

et st

len. "Well, I don't care much. I didn't want to keep store any more anyway. It's