Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-01-05


make him miserable if he CHANGED to stay
beyond his allotted time. ,7isaa-t 1@-
.. . CHAPTER V.
.... THE GROCERY.
A little child put up its red hand over the
counter, and little voice asked for pen.
ny's worth of salt The grocer's boy smiled
at the lisping sound, apd began to banter
the little maid, whose brown curls were all
of tangle.
Don't trouble her, Horace ; said hand
some, portly man, looking out of his Office
door. always wait upon the children as
quickly as any one else. All 10 their turn,
Horace-all in their turn -
The voice was,so cherry so full of heart
music ! In twinkling, the salt was in the
chubby fingers of the little girl, and she had
gone
A damp, but not unpleasant sweetish
smell, filled the precincts of that corner
grocery. 1t was trim, neat place. = The
floor always looked moist, as if it and the
scrubbing cloth were on the best of terms:
1t was always clean-sanded, and on the shi.
ming counter, not a weight was out of place
not scrap of paper. disfgured its entire
length. Casks and barrels were noted for
their strict propriety Of position-their uni
formity of expression. The basket of clothes
pins always stood in one place, on the left
of the door. The barrel of pickles never
presumed to move from the end of the
counter. There was charming air of Or
der, of graceful utility, diffused over the
whole place. The harmony everywhere
shortened long faces, and brighten
ed up short ones. Lawrence Hamilton sell
dom had any but smiling customers-he
was always laughing himself. His very
shop seemed to smile on passengers as they
went by, and drew men in sometimes, when
they didn't think of comipg-and the smile
would penetrate to their pockets ; so that
they would be sure to carry home something
good from Lawrence Hamiltou's shop, that
would set wives and babies smiling. So
there was general smile all round-(not
that wicked smile which sends men out
staggering where they walked in straight
and sober and people liked to trade at
Lawrence Hamilton's grocery-liked to
pass by of evenings, when it was fairly
laughing with light
No sooner had the little red-6sted, chub-
by child, with tangled curls, gone out, than
iu an opening near the centre of the shop,
shone another face. 1t was cherry, SUM-
shiny, happy, social little face, with wavy
curls, floating off from heathful, rosy cheeks.
1t had two specks ofpink ribbon belonging to
a gauzy little cap, tied under the chin-its
eyes sparkled as they scanned the precincts,
to see if any body was near. Two hands
we're deliberately wiped on wide, white
linen, well-aowered apron, that enveloped
all the prettyfgure-then the hands, clean
ed of their clean soiling, smothed, or tried
to smooth, the floating, glossy curls.
tLawrence-Oh! Horace !'-to the shop
boy-'you're there. Please hand me lit
tie soda will you. Why Lawrence !+how you
startled me ? and with musical laugh she
drew back at an explosive sound, the result
of the grocer's blowing up paper bag and
striking it against the wall. ...
well, little woman, what are you after
nowT A blushiug of pride and happiness
made his handsome face still handsomer,
as Lawrence Hamilton stood on the inside
of his counter, leaning negligently against
it. -
Soda, dear, I'm all out. Sis May6eld
came in to see TiDey, and take tea with her.
So nothing would do, but must make some
of my soda-cakes. Thank you, Horace !;
that's nice package-it will last me year.
supper will be ready in half an
hour. Do see me with a fowered-apron
over black silk-dress ? and with light,
pretty laugh, she retreated, while the smile
stayed by the lips of Lawrence Hamilton, as
he bent again over his ledger.
Mary, happy wife and mother, tripped
into her great kitchen, that shone with sun
light, like the shop, and was as neat and
tasteful. A vivacious red.white fame sprang
up from the dry wood in the fire. place. A
oquacious kettle, whose very spout had
character, sang chorus to the swapping
fuel. A white cat with black set of stock
ngs, blinked drowsily at the fire.
'Bilba,' said the mistress, Il think you
mad better be getting the table ready. Put
IN one of the damask cloths-it pleases the
children when they have company. The
little things like to be treated as guests,
oo.'
Bilba, was stout and good looking hand
naiden-a Flemish girl. Her face was mot
led with white and red-her sandy hair
vas carried smoothly back and tucked un.
ler linen cap. A free and easy gracious
less twinkled in her blue eye, and sat on
Ter large, but not unhandsome mouth.
'I'm sure I'll never be tired of doin' up
hem things for such children said Bilba,
lurrying to the side-board drawers, and ta-
ring out an armful of linen. I'll set the
Extra leaf of the table, too, Miss Hamilton,
hould you say so, and put on fruit cake
'Yes use your own judgment Bilba. IT,
ley may want her china tea.things on her
ide of the table. If she says anything a.
'out it, let her have them She is such good
,irl, and enjoys her little company so
nuchv