The Van Buren press., 1875-08-10

r i
at good profit. Bought another and an
other, and sold them then got to takin.
them and money in exchange for new
ones, and one way and the other became
regular big dealer, as you see.
Hundred Why, new, second hand
and, with those being repaired up stairs
by the men, I've got at least three hund
red on the premises, while, if anybody
had told me fifteen years ago that should
be doing this, should have laughed a
him.
That pretty girl, showing and explain
ing the machine to customer? That,
Ruth, that is. Poor girl, always thinl
Of her, and the bread thrown upon tn,
waters at the same time.
Curious idea. that you will say. but II
tell you why.
In our trade we have strange people L
deal with. Most OF 'em s.rr.-poor, an,
can't buy \ machine right OF, bnt ar,
ready and willing to pay sc much week
That suits them, and il suits ms-if they'll
only keep up the payments to the end
You won't believe me, perhaps, bu,
some Of them don't do that. Some OF
them leave their lodgings, and l never
see them again; and the most curious
part is that the sewing machine disappears
with them, and l never see it again
Many one, too, that has disappeared
like that, do see asain-perhaps have /,
brought here by some one to be repaired
or exchanged for bigger. or fer one by
a different maker; for, il you lock about
here, you'll see I've got all kinds--new
and old, little domestics and big trades
there, you name any maker, and see il l
don't bring you out one Of his works.
Well, when ask these people where
they got the machine-for | always know
them by the number--it turns out that
they've bought it through an advertise
ment or at a salesroom, or maybe out OF
pawnbreker's shop
But Eve had plenty Of honest people
to deal with, too-them as have come
straightforward and told me they couldn' t
keep up their payments, and asked me to
take their machine back, when I'd allow
them as much as l thought fair, and it
would be an end of a pleasant transac-
ton.
The way I've been bitten, though, by
some folks, has made me that case hard
ened that sometimes I've wondered wheth-
or I'd got any heart left, and the wifc's
had to interfere, telling me I've been
spoiled with prosperity, and grown un-
feeling.
1t was she made me give way about
Ruth, for one day, after having my bris-
ties all set up, by finding that three good
sound machines, by best makers, had
gone, nobody knew where, who should
;no wo,n,n .l'@ shop but lady like look
weeds s ", She wanted "a sdfrx Machine for her
self and daughter to learn, and said she
had heard that would take the money by
installments. Now. just half an honr be-
fore, by our shop clock, l had made a
vow that Id give up all that part of the
trade, and l was very rough with her
Just as am, when I'm cross--and said,
No!
But you will, if the lady gives sccuri-
ty,' says mp wife, hastily.
The poor woman gave such woe be-
gone look at us, that it made me more
out of temper than ever, for l could feel
thai If Istoppcd | should have to let her
have one at her own terms. And so il
was; [; for, there. if didn't let her have a
first class machiuc, as good as new, she
only paying seven and six down, and un.
to pay halt. a-crown week and
than
To make it worse, if didn't send the
thing home withoat charge. Luke going
with it-for he was back at home now
keeping my books. being grown into
fine young fellow offive-and twenty; AND
sat and growled the whole Of the rest Of
the day, calling myselfa all the weak mind.
ed idiots under the sun. and telling the
wife that business WAS going to the dogs,
and l should be ruined.
You ought to be ashamed OF yourself,
Tom she said.
so am says l. 4 didn't think
could be such fool
Such fool as to do good, kind &C
ton to one who was evidently 4 lady
born, and come down in the world!
Yes says, to living In Bennett''
Place, where I've sunk no less than ter
machines in five years. ..
Yes, says the wife and cleared hun
dreds Of pounds. Tom, I'm ashamed oi
you-you, a man with twenty workmen
busy up stairs, a couple Of thousand
pounds worth of ste OK, and in the bank
a.
Hold your tongue, will your said
roughly, and went out into the shop to
try and work it all off.
Luke came hack soon after, looking
very strange, and was at him directly
Where's the seven and six?' l says
angrily. -.
He didn't answer. but put three half
crowns down on the desk, took out the
book, made his entries--date of delivery
first payment, when the others due, and
all the rest of it--and was then going in
to the house.
Mind l says sharply, those pay
ments are to be kept up to the day; an
to morrow you 60 to Rolly's, who lives
nearly opposite to EN-, and tell 'em to
keep an eye on the window, or wc shall
lose another machine
You needn't be afraid, father. he says
coldly; they're honest enough, only
poor.
Twas just in that humor that wanted
to quarrel with somebody, and that die
it
When ask you for your opinion