Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-09-04
A SHOPPER By PROXY.

Practical Love Story.
They formerly lived in Madison
square, and moved in the best New
York society. The father, Wall street
man, lost his money, and the wife, two
sons and two daughters lived on the
east side, and the best society knew them
no more. Isolena, the youngest of the
family, had accepted the situation with
becoming fortitude. She had three
trunks laden with the spoils of Saratoga
and Newport. They would keep her in
clothes for two years, and so long as the
spoons held out to burn, to her board
ing house fare she could return. After
the crash the father did nothing in par
ticuiar, and the mother took to her bed.
The sons, never having done anything
during their prosperous days, now kept
sternly in that noble path, The elder
daughter, in fit of desperation, threw
herself away on a bookkeeper with eight
hundred year, and was buried in Jer-
sey. Isolena Van Rensselaer,, being a
person of sense, sold the silver and Jew
elry a bit at time, paid the family
board bills, and so kept the wolf away.
Weeks passed, and the store of spoons
faded slowly away. How much longer
could they live on silverware9 The wolf
had already bayed the gas lamps in
Third avenue, just around the corner,
and the sound kept her awake in the
night.
One day there came a letter inclosing
check for one hundred dollars. Her
hand shook as she unfolded the crisp
paper, and sudden tears filed her eyes.
Were the family miseries and poverty SO
wearing upon her that the sight of a
check shook every nerve2 And how had
Heaven raised such friends in their hour
of need2
1t was only letter from Cousin Mary
Pelham. Cousin Kitty was to be mar
ried, and Mary wished to furnish one
room in the new home. Would Isolena
be so kind as to do some shopping in
the city nice chamber carpet, and
have it sent up by express2 Glad to
find something to divert her mind, Iso-
lena went shopping among the carpet
men, selected what she thought would
please and fit the prescribed measure,
paid the bill, and returned home tired
out and minus fifteen cents paid for car
fare. Two days after came letter say
ing that 81 the carpet was lovely, and we
are all so much obliged"
The next day Isolena counted the
spoons and figured out their position.
There was just enough plate to pay the
board bills for exactly six weeks. She
appealed to her father. He, poor man,
had trouble enough on hand. The wife
and mother was dying. For time the
lesser griefs were lost in the greater
and then the mother crept away to peace
and her grave, weary with the miserable
disasters of the family.
The day after the funeral Isolena ask.
ed her father for her portion, and he di-
vided his living among them ALL Iso.
lena's share was the spoons and some
diamond rings. The family was broken
up and ruined, and each selfshly looked
out for himself. The men went to. the
bad generally. The elder daughter fur.
nished her parlor with her share of the
wreck, and Isolena sold diamond ring
and put an advertisement in the papers
Then she found another and cheaper
boarding place, and sat down to await
results, or starve.
Within week a million people read
this advertisement
Mademoiselle Isolena, purchaser O
dress goods, gloves, hosiery, and mil
linery. Persons at a distance desiring
to purchase dry goods, ETC., in New
York may address Mademoiselle Isolena
Every kind of underwear and small
wares bought, goods and colors matched
and the best selections made at the low
est prices. Terms five per cent. AL
orders must have the money inclosed
Goods sent by express or mail at pur
chaser's expense Address 492 Yves
Twenty-fourlh street, New York. Ref
erenoes: Arnold, Taylor & Co.; Stew
art, Lord & Kinsey."