The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-06-17
One Days Shopping.
By CLARA AUGUSTA.

conslderatlon the recherche taste OF the nine.
teenth century. ....-....
Harry is country shopkeeper-a grocery
dealer, mean; that lie, he sells pork, beef,
fish, oil, moiasses and such articles upon one
side of the store, and calicos, de LANES,
sheetings, muslins, and a very few silks upon
the other side.
Harry's custom was very extensive-a
handsome young man in dry goods store
is, in himself, sort of q sign, and good.
looking clerk is worth hundred dollars o
year more than an ugly one. It is a lament.
able fact, and am sorry to record it; but il
Is 30.
Last summer I was up at uncle Johns
visiting. Harry and my cousin Jennie
were the chief attractions at uncle Johns;
but the fine strawberries and rnepberries
with which the kitchen garden abonnded;
were not usually despised by me.
One morning, Harry received an urgent
sGmhi6hs to attend the county court in a
heighbofing town, as witness in an i'm.
poftaht case. He was obliged to 60 off in a
hurry, and having no time to look up sub.
stitute in his store, he appointed me to the
dignity.
"You can't fail to do right, Charley" said
he, patronizingly; "the goods are all marked
in plain fgures-that is. the dry goods; and
then moiasses sells for fifty cents per gal.
lon-sugOr ten to fourteen cents; butter is
worth one shilling, store payi and mind you,
Charley, eggs are twenty cents dozen; bu,
don't take any unless they'll sink readily in
cold water-they may be rotten, you know;
and the butter, too, don't take any without
putting fork into each ball to try tit
might be rancid; and above all, my boy, be
polite ID the pretty girls. ood.bye"-and
Harry put the big brass key of the store (my
insignia of authority into my hand, and leap.
ed into the cab which was TO take him tU the
depot.
| felt somewhat dignifed-as it were pro:
NOTED from the rank of private to that d
a captain-and l went up to my room, al
uncle Johns, for a survey Of my toilet. I'm
rather good looking fellow myself, though
some straight,laced people might think i,
vanity in me to mention it, but all the girls
say SO, and it is generally conceded that
they are competent judges.
BY way of enhancing my personal attrac-
tons, added to my less pair OF wrought
wristbands, (don't laugh unfeeling reader;
they were embroidered and presented to me
by lady iriend,) and giving u parting twis'
to my moustache, sailed out.
The morning was fresh and Gair-no
clouds cast their boding shadows over the
earth-and all promised fair for my success.
| arranged myself behind the counter and
waited for customers.
Customer No. l entered. She was o
middle uged woman, to buy de bege for her
"dartef's gownt,n
was all alacrity to fulfill her commands.
piled the counters with what supposed to
be debesc, sort of thin, glossy, rnttling stuff;
and with all my eloquence expatiated on
its wonderful merits.
"There's silk in it, amt there,' dueried
the old lady, putting on her spectacles for q
closer examination; "Miss Moss, our dress
maker, said So" .......
"Silk to be sure there is,' said I, i'm.
mediately taking my cue, (t ,dosen't
do to contradict lady,) "silk why it's all
silk. the real, fine Italian boiled silk-sew.
ing silk, marm, imported expressly for your
daughters wear +! It'll last an age"
swell, she'll want it to wear pretty
good spell, reckon; body can't afford to
buy gownd every day. you know"
"Of course not, marm; Of course not.
But this will look sweetly on your pretty
daughter; no doubt she's pretty-.esemb les
her mother, dare say" had heard it said
that little judicious aattery never comes
amiss with the ladies.
"Law bless your heart, sir, Sally amt no.
wise handsome she amt nigh as good-look-
ing as was in my younger days! her nose
is too crooked, and her hairs red; but then
Sam jackson thinks she's splendiferous;
that's what he says, any way"
"No doubt, marin, but Mr.. Jackson is a
man OF taste--probably connection of An
drew Jackson, the patriot and president J.
How many yards would you like!" and /
fourished the yard stick with a professional
air, which would have done credit to cousin
Harry himself.
doh, stop mint; | ain't decided to take
it yet. What's the price!" .e -.
Very true; there must be a price ] sup.
posed, but had forgotten such a contingen-
cy. However, there would be no difficulty
about that for Harry had said the goods were
all marked in plain figures, so turned COM
placently to the card attached to the cloth.
"Y. b. &C. a." ..r.
Very explicit. Like tie Hebrew Bible
to me, but took a moment to consider
I'D put it low enough, I thought to ifidGce
her to trade; and 1t wouldn't do to appear as
il ! didn't understand my business. ! might
lose caste with the old lady.
"Weil." said I. "though it's agreat sacri.
fce -reslly giving it awsy -I'll let you have
it for one shilling per yard! Dit cheap,
but as it is for your pretty daughter, I'll pa,
IL down below cost. ] Iwouldn't do IT," said
i, leaning over the counter close to The old
lddy's green cSlaslsf---sdT WotIdn,s Z d. il fol