The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-12-28
The Man with the Brooms.


One Of the old men who go from
house to house selling two shilling
brooms is a very fine old man, and he
has uodd streaks'' running through
him. He doesn't seek TO enter house
by the front door, but softly and quiet
" slides around to the side door to
greet the servant girl.
/" No brooms to-day!" she Calls out
as she opens the door.
"Ah! my dear, but / have no brooms
to sell. have lGve-letter for YOU.
She pricks up her ears at that, swings
open the door and he walks IN ana SITS
down.
"Ah-why-ah!' - he calculates as ne
feels in his pocket for the letter. Gan,
I now remember. The gentleman
was going to hand it to me, but decid-
ed to mail it, fearing that / might de-
liver it to the wrong lady,"
"What sort of looking man?" she
asks.
"Ah! Katy dear, you rogue! just
as ii he wasn't perfect gent, with a
diamond pin, gold watch, lots of mon
ey! But you are worthy OF him. my
worthy of any GENT
ssI don't know any such man." she
unused, but the old chap strikes in:
"Ah! you beautiful deceiver! OF
course you won't let on to me, bat |
know q thing or two. He ought to be
proud of you, for finer face is not in
Detroit. And such beautiful hair!
And such rosy lips! And such form!
Why, if you were only an inch taller l
should believe you were the Empress
Eugenie?''
.'Oh! go'long!'' replies the pleased
girl, trying hard to blush. If she is
cross-eyed, stoop-shouldered, freckle-
faced and pug-nosed, his fattery pleases
her all the more, and the firmer is her
belief that he is speaking nothing but
the solemn truth.
"No; I don't care about selling these
brooms," he remarks, picking up the
dozen. 6 You are of course acquainted
with all the aristocratic families on Fort
Streetp To be sure, you are. And you
must know all the incest folks on La
fayette, Jefferson and Woodward Ave-
nues, because they call here on your
aristocratic missus."
The girl won't commit herself, and
he goes on:
ssThis forenoon, while l was selling
a dozen brooms to that heightened Mrs.
-, on Woodward Avenue, she asked
me as great favor to her to call on
your dear missus, who is one of your
warmest friends. I said would. and
with one of her sweetest smiles she
added: and don't neglect to see that
dear, darling girl in the kitchen, whose
beauty is only equaied by her modesty
and culture That's what she said -
"Oh! pshaw!" replies the girl, her
eyes sparkling like stars.
"More than that,' said he, "but /
have not time to relate it. called at
her request and here am. You might
see the missus and bring her reply. My
dealings are entirely with the aristocra-
cy. and | shall be happy to put the
name of this family upon my book. -
The girl goes in, represents the need
of new brooms in the strongest possible
light, and sale is instantly effected.
"And now, my darling, 'says the old
man, as he is ready to depart, "that
love letter will probably reach you to-
day. It doubtless contains proposal
of marriage. You will accept, a dia-
mond ring will be forwarded, and your
home and fireside will fairly howl with
joy forevermore-good day."
After days of patient waiting for
"that letter" the girl slowly but GER
tainly concludes that the old man is a
horse-thief and liar, and she stops
trying to look like the Empress Eugene
or any one else.-Detrott Free Press: