The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-07-30

stuff; and with all my eloquence l expa,ia-
ted on its wonderful merits
"Ihere's silk in it, amt there 2" uuerried
the old lady, putting on her spectacles for
closer examination, "Miss Moss, our dress
maker, said SOP
"Silk! to be suro there is !" said i'm
mediatcly taking my cue, Gt doesn't do to
contradict a lady,) silk! why it's all silk,
the real, fine Italian boiled silk, sewing silk,
marm, imported expressly for your daugh-
ter's wear !! It'll last an age !"
"Well, she'll want it to wear pretty
good spell, reckon; a body can't afford to
buy gown every day, you know!'
'Of course not. marm Of course not !!
But this will look swcetIy on your pretty
daughter, no doubt she's pretty resembles
her mother, dare sdy" I heard it said
that little judicious ha'tcry never comes
amiss with the ladies.
Law, bless your heart, sir, Sally amt
nowise handsome! she amt nigh as good
looking as was in my young days! her
nose is too crooked, and her hair is red
but then Sam Jackson thinks she's spIendi-
ferrous! That's what he says, at any rate"
NO doubt, marm, but Mr.. jackson is a
man Of tase-probabIv a connection Of
Andrew Jackson, the patriot and President
How many yards would you like !" and l
hourishcd the yard stick with professional
air, whichwould have done credit to cousin
Harry himself.
ooh, stop a mint, amt decided about
it yet. What's the price {"
Very true; there must be price, sup
posed, but had forgotten such a contingent
cy. However, there would be no difficulty
about that, for Harry said they were all
marked in plain figures, SO turned COM
placentIy to the cald attached to the cloth
~. b. Z. q"
Very explicit. Like the Hebrew Bible to
me, but took moment to consider. III
put it low enough, thoaght, to induce her
TO trade; and it wouldn't do to appear as
if I didn't understand my business. Knight
lose cast with her.
"Wc!!," said !, 'tlouyh it's Il great sacri.
flee, really giving it away-I'Il let You have
it for one shilling yard. Dirt cheap; but
as it is for your pretty daughter, I'll put it
down below cost! l wouldn't do it," said I,
leaning down over the counter close TO the
old lady's green calash-"I would not do it
for another person in the world"
My answer seemed to please the old lady,
and she turned the fabric over. felt of it up
on both sidcs tried the strength of its tex
ture with her thurb and finger, and at last
gave the order:
Eight yards and half, good measure,
and silk to sew it up with"
1cut off the desired quantity, folded six
skeins OF sewing silk inside it !; the lady paid
for it i'll odd ninepences and sixpeuces, and
bowed her out Of the store
Enter customer No. 2. A seedy-looking
man, in a grey blouse, to get two cents
worth of black snuff.
searched around awhi lie among the mys,
terious boxes and barrels, and at last pit CHI
ed upon the strong smelling articles. Wrap
ped up couple of ounces; delivered it to
my customer, and received in return two
coppers, which Noah might have coined in
the ark while waiting for dry weather.
Customers No. 8, were two pretty, red
checked girls-oue with butter to sell, the
other with pail Of eggs, destined for the
same purpose as the butter. remembered
Harry's injunction about the eggs, butter
cold-water, and fork'prick!ng but for the
life Of me, couldn't recollect which was to
be applied to the butter or which to the
eggs. However, wanted to oblige the
pretty girls, so took both butter and eggs
into the back store, determined to do some.
thing with them.
After few moments consideration, Il pro.
cured fork, and pierced each and all of the
eggs separated y-and the result was aston
ishing! out Of two dozen, six were positive
ly in state of decomposition thirteen
were occupied by remarkably well grown
juveniles Of the fowl race; and the remain
ing five were smelling decidedly old.
The butter wouldn't sink in the water
do all I could, pop it would come up to the
surface again; and I was obliged, though
reluctantly, to decide that it wouldn't do tc
take either the butter or eggs. So returned
to the front part Of the store again, bearing
the pail Of mutilatsd eggs in one hand, and
the butter in the other.
II am; sorry-ahem that is, L regre
that the eggs are too-too old for our pur.
pose; and the butter-we don't take butte,
now !"
You should have seen the pretty young
'adies' faces blaze up! The one with tb'
eggs muttered something about "citv green