The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-11-14

way place. Mails are dilatory, or come
in patches.
"What Go you know about my mail?'
asked Mrs. Bland, the little wrinkles
.ghening her forehead.
"Why, Mrs Bland" replied, eff -ou
do not receive many letters, at least you
have famous collection OF newspapers
coming to you every day-at least a
dOze'.''
"How do you know that2"
"The only grocery man in the little
town, who sells me tish-rooks, is the
Postmaster. I go there early in the
morning, before the mail is sent to the
hotel. The grocer generally runs the
whole mail, before me, into a busbel
asket, prior to handing me my occa-
sional correspondence. l see Mrs. Agnes
Bland on ever SO many journals. Have /
the honor OF addressing lady correspond
ent--a literary wOman?'
"Nonsensa Wat an idea! Ny husband
>enGs ne papers to me. It is delicate
attention on his part. In reading them
time passes away during his Absence
fher there IS q Mr.. Bland, said to my
self
81 expect Mr.. Bland will be here in q
lew days. l hope you will like him. He
is great fisherman. Nov, notice you
carry a tishing-pole to the water side
every morning and bring back nothing.
Ny husband has sent his fishing tackle
down, SO If you want hooks or lines [
can spare you some. You come hete
every season, do you not:"
| tsN,. frfc f.n fire. f1r,a NV, 1;f,
Good morning, Mrs. Bland. and thanks
for our offer"
Good moraing, sir: but excuse me a
moment. VI oulc you kindly look at this
Dill OF mine the office clerk has sent me:
am al idiot aDcut accounts. Here are
some items which have no doubt are
correct, with the express charges on some
'runks and things paid for by the office.
and the string OF figures puzzles me
Then the handwriting is SO bad. Would
you, now, just make the addition for mel
OH! | ain t afraid ct you looking at the
bill. There are no sherry cobblers on
he account, ana enc does not crust mus
i'll dressas to sea side washerwOmen.'
Mrs. Bland had hanging from her neck
a delicate chain, and among numerous
rafting appendages there was q dainty
gold pencll. With as pretty dimpled
white hand as ever saw. she lent oyer
aud offered the pencil.
The ca cuation was so simple that
ran il over in my mind without the use
n tie pencil, and gave the total 1t
Uttered a few cents, the advantage being
in Mrs. BANDS favor.
1T is a trltic in error, Mrs. Bland. bu,
the people arc honest. 1t should be $28.-
81, instead of % Co.
II never could remember the figures
pray set them down. 1t Will give MIR
3 and SO much pleasure to know that my
oill is exactly right. He is such strlc;
man of business
"Wlilingly,' I replied, and ! wrote al
the ioot Of the bill, '$2S 81. Kprrect
Thanks Sail Mrs Bland. a'What q
wonderful head you have for figures
She scrutnized the bill closely. And q
queer way OF making sevensl'
"Oh, in the bank am in I do little
else than add UP figures for hours on &
stretch. There is nothing queer about
my ssvens. | always cross my scvens
Then they do not look like ones. In s
great manv ban king houses in New York
that is the rule. scientific calculators 81.
wavs use the crossed seven"
"Ah, indeed. If you want to see g
.udlcrous 5 or 3, look at mine-suct
wormy, twisting things. Look" anG
Mrs. Bland drew the numerals.
They are quite ludicrous. indeed"
said. There. make your this way, ano
don't bring the tail of your 5 below
the line, hike French s." and made the
figures.
Thanks, for the lesson. I will detain
you no longer I must go now and pay
nv bill $aS.67, you say.
With a bow | left Mrs. Bland. and. hur
ryng to the water-side, got my boa, and
was of after blue fish. had better luck
than usual, and brought home that after
noon some fine blue tish and weak fish
had the best fish cooked for supper, a
portion OF which | sent to Mrs. Band
who seemed To partake OF it with relish
| was not idiot enough to think, though
II was three years ago, that the lady vas
Especially pleased with me for the atten
ton. but III the evening, fine mooui;
one, Mrs Bland fingered on the veranda
was smoking cigar, seated al the bot
tom OF the steps, within speaking dis
tance OF her
You very kindly offered me the use oil
Mr.. BANDS tackle. Now. you have no,
congr stulated me on my lack" I said
Il do, do" said Mrs. Bland quickly
with q certa amour, of expansiveness
She rose from her chair and held out her
hand and ii fairly trembied. was sur
prised. WHAT possible sympathy could
ther" exit between usl did rot care to
have passing fiIrtatian with her. How
tie deuce had Inv fish called for so marked
an expression on Mrs. Bands partf
Five blue tsh, which would weigh so
pounds, not counting toe weak-fsh. and q
dab or So" said In the most common
plsce way.
Yes, yes" sid Mrs. Bland. apparently
absorbed.
Il have broken my s1uij, my hcss one,
ana | would really like to borrow hook
or so from You to make smother. Could
you really lenG me some hooks until
seaa to New York;"
Willingly. Wait here a moment" and
Mrs. Band rose and went down the hall
10 her rom. Juss then David. the colored
waiter. came in with a teler-rauhic mes