Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-05-25

TO himself, bitterly-shone from his
neighbor's window.
Poor fellowl That gorgeous window
completely eclipsed his own, and he saw,
with beart-ache, the people pass his
door day after day and enter the more
attractive store of "Bright & Co."
A week went by, during which Mr.
Lynde refused the loan of hammer
they had mislaid theirs--to his neighbors,
kicked their cat (it was very gentle
kick, and intended more for hint than
anything else) when she chased flying
rat into his store and under his counter,
and Fred had rough and-tumble fight
with their boy, "cause he swept all the
dirt off of his own sidewalk on to ourn."
Then, one uncommonly bright and
pleasant Monday morning, as Rufus, re.
| freshed by the Sabbath rest, was coming
down the street, humming an old hymn
tune which bis mother-good old Meth
odist-was fond of singing, and happily
forgetful for the moment OF all life's
cares and vexations, his eye was caught
by an unusual glare at the very top of
Bright & Co.. s" building. A mammoth
sign had been placed there, calling at
tention, In enormously fat letters of the
giltiest gilt--large enough to be seen at
least half mile away-to the business
of that wonderfully and aggravatingly
go-ahead firm; and that sign trespassed
at least two inches on his own premises.
Rufus ceased humming, scowled,
quickened his steps, entered his store,
seated himself at his desk, flung his hat
on the floor, ran his fingers through his
sanguinary locks until they stood up like
an aureole around his head, seized pen,
paper and ink, and dashed off the follow
ing note;
Mr. Lynde's compliments to Bright q Co.,
and begs TO call their attention TO the fact
that their last and biggest sign exceeds the
limits allowed them by law,
This, with snort of delight, as war
horse that scenteth the battle afar, did
Fred receive and hasten to deliver next
door, to return with an answer equally
concise, written in a large, bold, but
rather scrawly hand;
Bright Il Co. are sorry that the sign maker
should have made such mistake; but unless
Mr.. Lynde wishes to put upa similar sign
they are at loss to see how so slight an in
fringement can interfere with him.
ooh, indeed" said Rufus, his face
almost as fiery rs his hair. What re-
mark-a- bic GOODNESS the fellow hasl But
I'll let him see he cant completely over
shadow his humble neighbor;" and forth
with dispatched another note:
"Mr. Lynde demands the instant re-
moval of the before mentioned sign, or
Mr.. Lynde's lawyer will wait on Bright
4 Co. this afternoon"
To which came the short but pertinent
reply;
Bright & Co. as soon as Mr.. Lynde
| chooses"
But it happened that Rufus couldn't
| get away from the store that day. Some
great festivity, to take place that even
ing in the vicinity, sent all the boys and
young men in search of masculine neces-
stiles and adornments, and the overflow
from Bright b Co.'s alone was sufficient
to keep Rufus and his only assistant ex-
tremely busy. But as soon as night had
fairly set in and the rush was over, he
sent Fred-a delighted messenger-with
q communication to young lawyer
friend, and with resolution and defiance
written on his brow, and hands firmly
claspcd behind him, he began slowly
pacing backward and forward, his de-
termination to fight it out with his neigh
Dor growing stronger and stronger every
moment; for, " in the first place, it was
downright shabby to set up in the very
same line right next door," he repeated
for the twentieth time. "Icouldn't and
wouldn't have done it; but, no doubt,
this Bright is some selfish, grasping,
cold-hearted, unpleasant fel ow, not car
| ing who he shoulders out of the way, as
long as he" when suddenly the door
flew open, and the roundcst, plumpest,
prettiest tot of a woman flew in.
She wore dainty white apron, with a
bewitching bib and two charming pock-
cts, and the pockets were adorned with
scarlet bows, and the bib had bit of
scarlet geranium pinned at the left cor
ner, and a saucy small hat, turned up on
one side and trimmed with scarlet ber-
ries and green leaves, was perchcd in
securely on the top of her satin smooth
black head.
"Mr Lyndet" said she, in voice that
implied I'm not to be contradicted un-
der any circumstances whatever" as she
confronted Rufus.
Rufus replied, 60 At your service, with
a smile. He'd have been more than NOR
tai if he could have looked at that bright
face, with its frank, fearless gray eyes,
cunning pug-nose, dear little mouth, and
general air of cheerful independence,
without smiling.
Z" l am Bright & Co."
"And rightly named" flashed through
Lynde's mind and then his face betrayed
the great astonishment he felt, but he
bowed and said nothing.
q" You look surprised" said the little
woman.
~ dns," said Rufus. "I thought
mean Twas sure-thatis, supposed"
| No matter what you supposed" in
terrupted Bright q Co." in manner
that in any one else would have been
rude, but in her was decidedly charming
"Pm Bright-GRd Co., and l want to
know why, in the name of pins and
needles, you're so awful hateful about
that sign' 1t can't hurt your house-if
it is yours-or you, extending only that
far" (holding out two tiny foreingers,
with nails like wee pink shells, about
half an inch from each other) "beyond
my house-it is my house-and you kn0tS,
if you have one grain of common.sense,
il can't"
She paused, but Rufus said never a
word.
" suppose" the little woman went on,
shaking her pretty head SO emphatically
that the saucy hat nearly slipped off,
just hanging on her back hair in a man
ner that suggested to Rufus the days of
his boyhood and the Sailors Hornpipe, I"
"yOu think have injured your business
If have, didn't mean to. The build
ing next door was left to me by an old
aunt, and the store was stocked from the
wholesale establishment of an old uncle.
Now couldn't set up millinery shop,
or a flower store, or a confectionery,
with shirts and socks and collars and
cravats and suspenders and such things
could II"
"0f course not" replied Rufus. 81
see no way in which they could be con-
verted into bonnets, bouquets. or candy"
"Just So" said Bright q Co., putting
her right hand into her pocket and drum