Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-07-16
EVENING STAR.
SELLING ATLESS THAN COST
Or, A Peep Behind the Counter.

reading from card the words that made
known the fact.
81 declare will patronize this store, for l
know that the owner is a real philanthropist,
or ne wouldn't hire this great shop and pay
every year for the rent Of it as much as we
gave for the whole farm right out They may
say what they've a mind to about the city
| felks,-I believe there are some real good
people living in Boston, for this isn't the first
| store have seen to-day since l came in town
| that Is selling of for the good of the public
only think OF it ginghams that cost them
yes actually cost them a shilling yard. they
are selling off for six and quarter cents,
ty five cents yard the same kind exactly
| that they used to sell for a dollar Well I
declare they must either have made q great
| deal of money or else they are getting behind
hand now. But bless me, how cold il il
| standing here on the corner, and everything
seems In such confusion too, that L guess il
go right In and get warm; and then if make
| a few purchases how shall surprise Sally by
carrying her home a nice silk instead of a cal.
| leo, and it won't cost much more either
Won't you walk in ma am said clerk
| opening the door and stepping back to give
Mrs. Green ample room to enter
"Why,' thought Mrs Green, how very
polite he is and am an old woman too. and
| not got my best clothes ON either, for it spoils
| clothes to be riding round in them. 4" And she
replied:
THANK you, sir, don't care if do. I
have got few dollars to spend, and I sup.
pose may as we'll spend them here as any
where"
"Oh certainly, certainly, ma am, walk right
in; you will find my employers, Messrs Shrewd
and Quick most excellent men to deal with
We are selling off goods remarkably cheap as
you will see by our bills'
yes, l have been reading them outside
, there till | was almost froze. Won't YOU be
| so kind as to show me where the stove is? L
would like to warm my feet little"
Clerk No. at the door glances at No 2 be-
hind the first counter, and then taking from
his pocket a scented handkerchief to wine
away the mirthfulness from his face, politely
invites Mrs. Green to be seated at the register
Although Mrs. Green, who belonged to "the
rural district" had heard of furnaces, she
was not very familiar with this modern mode
OF sufOcatlop, and she stood Just within the
door awaiting more explicit directions Clerk
No seeing that the old lady was a novice in
modern Improvements walked quickly down
the centre Of the room giving curious glanees
at Arabella Tompkins, Henrietta jerks, Lu
cretia Barnes and others, and then called TO
an idle brother employee to come and wait on
this lady.
When Mrs Green was seated, she looked
think that all the noise wasn't outside after
all. The urbane Mr. Catch was standing at
the door with one eye to business and the
other on the girls as they passed up and down
the street With feathers and ribbons floating
in the breeze.
Clerk No 2 had returned to his post and
was using all the supcrlatives in his vocabu-
larry to convince Miss Arsbclla that his de-
LANES at twenty cents yard were of the best
quality and latest style, and selling at an
enormous sacrifice, though she assured him
that she had been offered some at the next
door just like them for a shilling
Just opposite the old lady was a perfect py-
ramid of fabrics Of every hue and shade, and
after arranging her glasses to the best adyan
tage, Mrs Green turned her particular atten-
tlOn to the mass and those who stood around
g want to see some of your twenty five
cent silks, Stephen" said pompous, bursting
woman Stephen blushed little, and pre-.
tended to be very busy folding pieces from
among the chaotic mass; but Mrs Grip was
determined not to be foiled, and she repeated
her request in a louder tone.
Mr.. Shrewd was standing on the opposite
side of the store, and Mrs. Green didn't see
him give Stephen the look that made him
turn pale, and answer quickly
"They are all sold, a'am. We sold the
last piece this morning -
And when will you have some more"
Stephen hesitatei a little, and then an
swered, I" do-do"-
lie did not finish the sentence, for he again
caught his employers eyes and saw the mo-
tioa of his lips, and then he answered nerv-
Ously, "To-morrow morning, ma am
9 To morrow morning." repeated Mrs Grip
ironically; andithen added, @ at what time?'
As soon as they come in," said Stephen,
so confusedly that he hardly realized what he
was answering. But he was soon brought to
his senses by the cutting remarks of Mrs
Grip
~ don't believe a word of it! It's all a
humbug from beginning to end You get out
your great flaming advertisements Just to get
people in here, and then after they come you
try to palm of old musty shop worn and auc-
tion goods on them that were almost given to
you"
Stephen sailed back against the empty
boxes, and wished that there was a theatrical
trapdoor beneath his feet that he might dis
appear from view. And old Mrs. Green grew
very nervous, and felt inclined to hitch her
stool little nearer that she might catch the
words more plainly.
say, had not the polite Mr.. Shrewd stepped
across the store, and after giving Stephen an.
other private glance, and ordering him to 90
up to the loft to unpack boxes, he very
blandly inquired what was the trouble; and
then remarked that Stephen had not been
with them but few weeks, and did not un-
derstand where they kept the cheap silks
This reply seemed to pacify the irascible Mrs.
Grip, who again asked for the twenty-five
cent silks
owe have but few pieces left, ma am,;'
answsd Mr.. Shrewd, /" but if you will just he
so kind as to wait moment, will step down
to the lower end of the store and bring them
up"
"I won't put you to that trouble, sir; I can
just as we'll 90 down there as to have you
bring them up here"
But Mr.. Shrewd was seized with sudden
deafness, and suddenly disappeared behind
an arch that was draped with chintzes, plaids,
&C., while Mrs. Grip stood statue like to await
his coming. Mrs Green seemed to lack elm
ployment, she took three or four extra pinches
of snuff, and planting her feet more firmly on
her o. n iron work fOotstool, waited patiently
for the -eappearance of the master spirit Of
all this display and confusion
"Where are those dollar yard raw silks,
John? ?" said Mr. Shrewd. in no very pleasant
l. E-@-