Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-10-27

OBSERVATIONS FROM MY WINDOW
By ALICE CARY.

1t was near evening, and Saturday, so
that the clerks were all engaged; for
most Of us require some trife Satur-
day night for the convenience o. the
day on which purchases can not be
made. What trifle my exigencies de-
manded I remember not, and it mat
ters not, my story hanging more on
the circumstance Of my being in a dry
goods store than the particular object
which called me there.
As stood at the counter, waiting
the leisure Of the salesman, | noticed
near me, and engaged in making pur-
chsses, man of kmiddle age and a
child Of nine or ten years of age. l
supposed them to be father and child,
not so much from personalresemblance
as from other things which | shall pro-
ceed to state.
My attention was first fixed by the
care-woin expression Of the man; he
seemed bewildered and weighed down
with perplexities. His hat. something
the worse for wear, was covered to the
top with faded Grape, fastened on with
white pins. He wore no neck-cloth.
for he was not q fashionable man, and
the weather was warm, and the soiled
collar Of his shirt was buttonless and
awkwardly fastened with pin. Sun
dry uncomely spots on the collar of
his coat and red waistcoat, for he was
not in full mourning, indicated a care
less supervision of his costume. The
little girl beside him was no less shah
billy dressed. A heavy wooden shawl.
sufficiently ample for the needs Of her
grandmother, il she has one, was wrap
ped about her puny shoulders. and
dragged back along the ground as she
walked; her frock was of coarse mate
rial and lily made. her shoes down at
the heel, her stockings full of holes,
and her gloveless hands not over
clean. Her bonnet and veil were good
in their kind, but altogether unsuited
to her; and the money which had evi-
dently been paid for them, would have
dressed her comfortably and prettily
for the entire summer, if it had been
expended by careful and judicious
friend.
/ came to the conclusion that the
persons before me were not only faith
er and child, but that they were wild
over and orphan as well.
1t was near night, as said, and the
shop was so dim that a practiced eye
could not have judged correctly of the
goods; but the man and child were
evidently little accustomed to select
ing goods in any light, and, therefore,
required the advantage Of light, and
also of an honest clerk; and he who
served them. it panied me to see, was
less conscientious than he should have
been.
"Have you any mourning calicoes
or ginghams?" asked the sad-looking
man Of clerk behind the counter.
eyes, sir, any quantity; step this
way if you please" and the young
man brought forward twenty different
patterns OF coarse material, and turn
ed them over, expatatingall the while
on the beauty and durability OF each
and all.
"Do you see anything that you like,
Caty?" said the father, looking at his
watch. The child hung her head and
said nothing.
30 you must find something to
please you in all this variety; don't
this suit? it makes up very handsome
ly. My wife has dress of this, and
she thinks more of it than she would
Of silk. Shall cut you pattern Of
this. sir. for your little daughter"-
And taking the scissors the young
man made a pretense ofcutting.
"Do you ike that, Caty?" asked
the father, rubbing the thin stuff
through his fingers; sit seems to me
of poor quality; it isn't like your moth
er used to buy, is it CatyP"
ono. SIR" answer Caty, "and |
don't like It,"
"She don't like IL ehg ahl well, let
me show you something else; we have
the largest stock Of these goods to be
found in the city, sir. and We don't ask
anything for showing them. About
what price would you like TO giyeY"
30. | don't knowl 1 want TO ret
my girl something that she likes and
that amt very dear"
"Precisely so, and am sure we
can suit the young lady's tast. What
do you fancy, Miss--stripes, ploids, OF
figures"
The little girl whispered TO her faith
or something which | thought meant
she didn't know I'LL she saw, for he
replied, "Show Ma what you have,
and may be we'll see something that
suits u.s."
"There, sir, is very pretty thing
that goods cost US more money, sir,
than we ask for IL; IL looks splendid
over white. have sold sixty yards
Of this very article to-day, and not =
yard for less than four shillings; but
want to please you, and II you TAX,
ten yards, say In put II down Vt three
and sixponee. There, sir, that's q
bargain; shall | cut tit?"
"No. sir. guess not;it looks lik,
vail stuff almost, it's 80 thin; my littl,
girl tears all her clothes to pieces any
how. Caty, you wouldn't like that
would youg" But Caty evidently die
like Il; for she spread II across the mus
lin and looked at II admiringly,
"Ah, that is her fancy precisely
better let me cut the dress"
Caty looked beseechingly at he
father, who continued to regard th'
articles as OF too frail fabric, and no