Smyrna times., 1870-08-03
MiSce IIun cons.
Two Rainy Days.

For many years there was an old-fasb;oned
booksellers shop in Little Marlborough street
London, kept by William Row, who has long
since been gathered to his fathers. His son
used to tell how he owed his luck to one rainy
day, and his life or his leg to another thus:
W hen my father first set up in business. he
took little shOpi Oxford street. II rained
down sudden y one morning, and lady ran in
and said to him: -
MAY | ask for shelter nnt;l tho ro;n :;
over2" '-- 'n' i"iu Is
You are quite welcome, ma am. Sitdown
IN TINS chair, out of the draught. Here is a
want to read" -
The lady smiled, and sat for some time. She
appeared uneasy at the protracted rain. and
frequently went to the door to look for signs Of
ITS abatlng. My father, seeing this, said to
a hackney coach p ~ ''"U i0i
Why, no, " said the lady; 81 only want
70 ' go aS TAR as Hlay,ward's" (about fifty yards
lower down. " to buy some lace
Ny father fetched his umbrella.
mere, ma am, IS bran-new silk umbrella,
at your service pray accept the loan of it."
\ ~, GU must be very kind person, indeed"
said the lady, Z" to offer me your umbrella I
am quite stranger to you"
m sure you'll send it back. Let me mt
II up Tor You; But, your shoes; have thew
double sOles2 No. Black satin SINNERS os
thin as dancing pumps Here, Jessey, nv
dear bring your pattens ny
Pattens in those days were rather formidable
affairs Clogs and g0loshes were not invented
FaftGns were pieces Of wood shaped and bol.
o"ed TO ut the foot mounted on circular iron
rings. '"' iio"
When my mother brought the pattens, the
lady looked at them in dismay.
L never wore pair of pattens in NV I;fa -
said she. p'''"' III my me-
~ Never wore pattens?" said nv father
Then pray get pair directly they will keen
your teet dry, and save you more than their
price In shoe-leather. " 'iO''
laughing. O"i'' ou'
Fray excuse me; they are so absurd. but
!, thlhK can manage to balance mvself: 80
thank you for your great civility, and I viii he
sure I 70 SEM you back your property as soon as
Week after week, until six weeks wero to,d
slipped away, and no tidings came of the Iadv
My father was nicely joked by the neiSbbors
about his new silk umbrella and nv mothers
pattens; but he always told them that he was
sure the things would come back some dav or
other. "' u
One morning, fine carriage, with a counle
OF tall tootmen behind, carrying gold headed
canes, stopped at our door. A ladv got ont
the identical lady to whom my father had lent
his umbrella.
" You must forgive me- said she, "for
keeping your umbrella so long but [ was
obliged to go to Spain to my husband, who is
with Wellington, and | returned only last night
Here is your umbrella-nOt the worse for wear
| hope-and accept my thanks for the loan of
It,. Pray let me speak word TO your good
lady" e0'U
My mother came into the shop, and the
lady, calling one of the fOotmen, asked him
Tor the parcel on the seat in the carr;oge
When it was brought and opened, it contained
my mothers pattens, and a beautiful Spanish
merino shawl, which the lady insisted on her
accepting.
And, here" said she, taking out a lone
strip of paper and giving it to nv father
" I've put down few things [ want Lord
GroogrOo has given me this other list. Please
send them to the addresses on these cxrds
Good morning; | shall not forget YOU"
And this lady proved no less personoce
than the Marchioness Crickcra3k
| afterward learned that Lady Crickcrack
when her purchases were completed, walked
over to her house in Dean street-Dean street
was then full of noblemen's mansions-and
there, meeting with a party of distinguish
ed people, told them the story of the umbrel-
la and the pattens. The pattens were order
ed into the drawing-room, and great merriment
was OccasiOned by the ladies present irving
their skill in walking in them.
Lady Crickcrack and Lord Groogroo not only
continued their custom, but sent US their