Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-07-16

| "a N,
flock around like parcel of black birds, and
shall have to serve ell alike"
And Mr.. Shrewd snatched up a couple of
| bundles OF raw silk and went back to the busy
part of the store. The little pale clerk broke
out into smothered laugh, muttering,
GOOD, got come up with for once" and
then resumed his writing
| "There, ladies'" said Mr. Shrewd, return
ing to the counter with a face radiant with
smiles, here are some of the pieces We adver-
tised, and L am very sorry for your sakes that
the rest are all gone, but We may have more
in. You can call and see, you know, and tell
your friends too {"
ooh, certainly, replied Mrs. Grip, evil
IDENTIFY pleased with the bargain she was
about getting
"Why, this is a perfect love of a piece.
said Henrietta jerks, coming up, "you may
cut me off fifteen yards and send it up to PAS
counting room, he will pay for it -
ooh, certainly, Miss jerks; should be
very happy to," said Mr. Shrewd, inwardly
vexed almost beyond endurance.
- will take ten yards" said Mrs Grin.
I" for don fancy double skirts -
And L will take ten more" said Lucrc-
tia Barnes, timidly approaching the counter
| for great bargains.
| Lucretia was poor seamstress, and we'll
MIR. Shrewd knew that she would not have
bought it if she hadn't got it cheap, and he
reckoned her influence as nothing; but he
could see no way Of refusing, so he smother
ed his feelings and answered her as civilly a g
| the rest
And then came others until the silk was all
| gone but one dress pattern, and Mr. Shrewd
was in hopes to save that; but Mrs. Green
| who had anxiously waited for chance to get
| near the counter, now came forward as she
saw the others depart, saying that she would
| like to get that for her Sally, as she promised
| her hafn sba
MI. Shrewd was irritated to the highest
| pitch with his numerous cares and perplexi-
| ties, and when the old lady made her appear
ance at the counter for the remnant of rich
| goods he looked up and saw her plain unfash-
| lonable dress, and determined not to part
| with the silk at that price; so he said, rather
| pettishly, Il" L can't let you have that at TWEEN.
ty-fve cents yard. ma'am.
"Why not, prayn returned Mrs Green,
"yOu let them others have theirs at that price
| and amt my money as good as theirs? And
besides, you advertised silks at twenty-five
cents, and the old lady took from her pocket
one of the bills issu ed by the firm, and which
she had requested one of the clerks to give
her, and handed it to him, pointing out the
particular clause, adding q heard that Mrs.
Grip, as you called her, say, that your store
was all a humbug, and it overcome me a little
till l saw you bring out the twenty five cent
silk, and then thought you was honest, and
l hope now you amt going to disappoint
me, for want that piece of goods very much
for Sally"
Mr. Shrewd stood undecided what to do
be dreaded to offend the old woman for fear
she might talk loud and say something that
would attract the other customers to the spet
and after few moments silence a new idea
seemed to cross his mind. So putting on one
of his sweetest smiles he said
"Really madam, L should be very happy
n sall m hrrr -, 4. l..
In the piece, wish to make it a present to
my wife.
"Oh WE'LL if that is the case,'' said Mrs
Green, / won't say another word - and she
turned to look 1T the other goods, but after a
half hour search, she went out saying that
she couldn't find a thing any cheaper there
than she could down in the village near home
at old Mr.. Crompton's shop, and he never had
placsrd printed in his life
As Mrs Green passed other stores where
they were selling at less than cost, she looked
rather knowingly at the windows, and enter
ing an unostentatious, one-price store pur-
chased FIVE dollars worth of dry goods to take
home to her daughter Snlly.
The first leisure moment Mr. Shrewd could
get he went up into the loft and called Ste
phen to him The young lad felt that he was
going to be reprimanded. Conscious of hav-
ing done no wrong, with firm step he was
quickly at his employers side.
20 Stephen :" exclaimed Mr. Shrewd, giving
him chilling glance, "while you are In my
employ you must work for my interest, and
not when a customer comes in and inquiries
for an article, say we havn't got it nor never
had it to your knowledge, as you did the other
day"
"But was told by one of the clerks that
morning that you never kept such costly fa-
brics as she desired
"Well, know we never did but you mustn't
always expect the exact truth in a dry goods
store. You must answer to suit your employ
er's interest Now, when Mrs Grip or any
one else asks you if we have twenty-five cent
silks, say that it is all sold, and then If they
ask you when you will have more, answer TO-
morrow morning 1t is ten chances to one
that she will never call again, but she will
tell her friends and that will draw custom
Now, think if you will only mind what l
ray, l can make very good salesman Of you
after while, and then will give you more
wages and by and by perhaps you may be.
come a merchant yourself
"IfI ever should" ;" answered Stephen, tim
idly, Z" I think l should hire a small store
and begin business on n less expensive scale,
and then L shouldn't have to get out pla- |
cards and advertise things L didn't have, to !
get along"
Mr.. shrewd felt the rebuke keenly, but he |
didn't like to own it, and merely relied, THAT
The way it is, is to hire a great store and
make a great show; and to do that, Stephen, |
you must forget all the obsolete notions about !
honesty and integrity So you needn't go |
into the store again this afternoon, but take |
time to think over what L have proposed in |
regard to acting for my interest, and repeat |
it, if you will try to make everything appear |
to the best advantage in my store, will do |
we'll by you" And ere Stephen could reply, |
Mr. Shrewd was on his way down stairs.
AS the young man sat meditating upon what |
he had seen and heard since he entered the |
store of Shrewd and Quick, he looked through |
the small attic window, and the granite flu |
ger of Bunker Hill Monument in the distance |
pointing upward, seemed to direct his thoughts |
still higher, and he involuntarily placed his |
hand in his pocket that contained the little |
clasped Bible, the gift of his mother; and ta- |
king it out he opened the volume, and the |
first words that met his gaze were, " For what |
shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole |
world and lose his own soul :" Stephen read |
on for few moments, and then the cherished |