Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-10-11
MISCELLANEOUS.

BY T. S. ARTHUR.

TO- THE BARGAlN'BUYE Elk,
BY T. S. ARTHUR.
Mrs. Hardcaste was very honest, conscen
tieus woman--ln her own estimation. She would
not wrong another for her right hand-if she knew
it, And vet she was an nveterate bargaln-buyer;
scarcely week passed in which she did not do
wrong to some one, as all bargain-buyers invara
bly do. moral dissection of one of this class of
persons would present "a very interesting case for
examination; but if we were to make such dis
section here, we might be thought too hard upon
the unntentional inurers, and thus fail in produce
ing the good effect we desire. We will not linger,
therefore, TO do work of questionable utility.
Mrs. HardcaStle, as we have minated, was a
bargain buyer Not, however, of that class who
buy thing merely because it is cheap, whether it
be needed or not. No; to get things at mini
mum price was not with her so much passion as
a principle. 1t was not because an article
cheap that she wanted it, but it was because she
had use for thing that she wanted it cheap. If
storekeeper stated very frankly that he on Y made
half cent profit on yard of goods, that was no
inducement for her to buy, even if she considered
the article very cheap. We put it to you at cost,
madam had little more effect. But, 1T really
cost US more money, madam, than we ask you for
it,, were strongly Influencing words If, after that,
one or two cents yard less would be taken, she
was sure to buy.
One pleasant, sunshiny morning, Mrs. Hardcas-
tie started out to buy a number OF articles for
spring wear. She first entered store where bon
nets were sold. She wanted one for herself, and
one for her eldest daughter, Margaret, a givl Of
fourteen, who accompanied her. A beautiful
Florence braid TOUCHED her heart at first sight.
what is the price" she asked.
SIX Ito lars, HnA'am.' .#...
Six dollarsp in tone of surprise. Oh, nos |
can't give any such price,
We have very fair article much lower, mad
am, returned the smiling shop-keeper, handing
down other bonnets. Mrs. Hardcaslle glanced al
Theses and then tossed them, with slight air OF
contempt, aside half mutterng as she did so,
Too common.
You will find this very cheap bonnet, resum-
ed the shopkeeper taking up the one his customer
had first selected
six dollars, did you say'
Yes, six is the price,
Dear enough, in all conscience
The Shopk eeper was anxious to sell.
'Perhaps can make the price to suit yOu,' he
Il don't know replied Mrs. Hardcastle whose
fancy was captvated by the bonnet, aud who, in
fact, thought the price quite moderate; woudn'
give any thing like what you ask
What would you give?'
Not over four dollars .-..
The bonnet fell from the hands of the shop.
keeper as suddenly as the smile fell from his face.
-Four dollars!' he calculated in surprise Bless
me, Ill buy as many bounets like that for five as
you can bring me-
Just as you like said Mrs. Hardcastle. with
dignity turning away from the counter, and leav-
ing the store.
mo doubt that woman thinks herself very hon
est muttered the disappointed shopkeeper, as he
restored the bonnets to their places the shelves
But don't see much honesty in seeking to rob
dealer of his profits. Profits! Precious little pro
fits wnnld she leave me. nr even cnSta | renen
her her of old. Last year sold her bonnet 70
four dollars, that cost me four and half, aud wa
richly worth five dollars of any body's money
showed her the invoice by which purchased, Il
satisfy her that the price had set upon the bon
net; four dollars and three quarters, was onl
twenty-five cents more than the bonnet actual
cost me. And yet, four dollars was all she woul
give me. | looked at her the next Sunday, j
church, piouSly bending over her pfdyer-book
and wondered if her conscience was not burdent
with the seventy-fve cents out of which she ha
cheated me. had heavy payments to make in
few days, and sacrificed my goods rather than nc
to sell at ALL
But we will leave the disappointed shop-keepel
and follow Mrs. .Harcase. After visiting neal
ly all the retail bonnet stores, she sated Thu
even Mt The price asked for the one that had a
first pleased her, twas the hest and cheapest III
coulget She consequently returned TO the stor
where she had seen it, aud after having hnugl
various articles that We're needed in the family
bur none of these were taken until it had been dc
cared that each was parted with at OF below cos
Let me see that bonnet again. said she, as sh
III to the counter.
lang and the shopkeeper bowed an
Ayery best grace. The bonnet wa
the customer.
y is MS fine as the one ofere
n aud haf' Mrs. Hardca
in an under tone, yet lou
of the shopman, fl
Aad oil the hon
10 favorab