Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1867-03-21


He will sell me dress for thirty dol
lars There's enough for couple o
dresses in the piece, and he says n,
could afford TO sell at a lower figure il
would take the whole Supposing
you buy half of it for your wife,
smith"
"My wife likes to select her own
dresses, sir. Don't wish to look nj the
article; SO lets be going"
Giving a signal 10 Lightfoot. we
ratified Off and soon left the noisy
streets in the distance. Then slower
pace suited Us and we resumed our
conversation.
"Give the money To your wife, Bcr-
wick, and she will buy what is needed
most, and that will afford her more
pleasure than u score Of stylish silks,
III warrant. | used to be famous for
surprising Mrs. Smith with new dress
es and that sort of thing. When | re-
turned from that trip TO Minnesota
some years since, went into a store
to purchase something to present to
her. The something turned out to
be a delicate silk, which the merchant
held up in lustrous folds 10 my admir-
ing gaze. After joyous welcome
from all, | tossed the parcel into my
wife's lap. Opening 1t, she turned u
look Of astonishment toward me and
said, Kate is only eleven years Of
age, and will not know how To take
care of such fancy dress, Mr.. Smith.
What it induced you to buy ii for hero
1t is not for Kate, il is for You,
Susan. There will be parties and so
forth, and this will be just the thing
for you
"'You have forgotten my good
black silk, Mr. Smith. I'm so sorry
YOU brought this home, instead of
substantial roll of calico or flannel To
make school-drcsses for the children.
There's that poor, leaky cistcrn too,
that gets worse every washing-day,
and I'd like to know where the money
can be obtained 10 have it repaired%
Soon after we sold the beautiful dress
to II lady Whose daughter fancicd il, 10
be worn nj her wedding
Summer came, and Mrs. Smith
talked of buying new bonnet. Pass
ing along the streets, | saw gay one
in shop window, and at once stepped
in and purchased il. True, il cost
more than | expected; but Madame
soothcd me by saying, III was an cX-
quisitc article and would please the
most fastidious lady took il home;
but it did not suit Mrs. Smith at all.
She declared she could have bought
five suitable bonnets for the price paid
for this medley of French flowers,
laces and ribbons. Soon after she
called ON Madame and exchanged
the exquisite article for suitable
bonnet for herself and Il hat for each
child besides.
"But this did not cure me of trafck-
ing in dry goods. Several months af-
ter the bonnet affair | happened To 20
into an auction room i'm town, Just as
the auctionecr was cXtoling the mer-
its of grand shawl. Mrs. Smith
thought of purchasing n cloak; and
the idea struck me that shawl would
Z T., 4 a
not get out of fashion rs soon rs a
cloak. The auctioneer was fluent with
cXpressins respecting the value
Of the article. Elegant CASH
mere shawl Just going. Going. Who
says thirty-siN dollars for this magnif-
cent shawl? | named that amount,
when foreigner called out, Il gif
lirty-siX dollar and one-half for him.
'Thrty-seven,' cried n man at the
loor. | shouted, 'Thirty-eight.' Ny
opponent said 'Thirty-nine, after
which we contested it hotly until IL
was suddenly knocked off to me for
forty-five dollars. On paying for 1t
"a grocer's bill, due that
lay, which designed paying with
that very money. Well, / called on
the grocer, made an apology for my
delinquency, and went home. The
elegant cashmere was duly handed
10 Mrs. Smith, who glanced vexatious-
" at it, cxclaiming, How provoking
YOU are, Mr.. Smith. Why, brochc
,hawl- of this style were old-fashioncd
wenty wears agon However. she
wore il hcroicly. one day ncighbor
visited us, whose handsome, comfort ]
lblc cloak quickly attracted my wife's {
attention. The lady paid fifteen dol {
ars ior the materials, and made il {
herself. That Mrs. Smith admired il ;
Perhaps the thought that her shawl
cost the price of three such cloaks was |
lppermost in her mind. 1t certainly .
was i'm mine, and the lesson was a sal )
Itary one. Since then ! have let ,
such spcculations entirely alone. Mrs.
smith attends To the purchase of all
Try goods necessary for the family,
md proves To be perfectly competent
or the task. Now, neighbor Berwick,
please hand the money you thought
# spending for that silk To Mrs. Ber-
wick. and il will lend an additional :
.harm to the JOY of your return. |
lave missed YOU from the neighbor-