Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-02-20

ny CIIIipIlS pins anu Otncr ike con-
trivances) and said, "You know that
books and papers are an almost irresisti-
bic temptation to you, Faith, and when
you find one that interests YOU. YOU
forget every thing else. l think con.
fectionery and fruit would be a good
idea"
All, yes, said /, shaking my head
in turn but you know your weakness
is children, and you'd give away all the
profits gained through larger buyers to
the poor little things who had only a
penny to spend"
"Tm afraid should" confessed she.
with a smile, (mother has the brightest
smile ever saw, and the small, white,
even teeth it displays are II her own. !
How would millinery do?"
THAT requires some knowledge of
the business, and necessitates strange
women about u.s." said I. "The only
thing that can think Of as at all suit
able is fancy store, with great variety
of small goods. That am sure we could
manage, and make enough to support
us comfortably all our lives long; for,
of course, | shall never marry, being so
plain and sensible, as grandfather used
to say, and we will never, never be part
ed y and ! kissed her. and she kissed
me in return, with tender look in her
gray eyes mother has the softest and
tenderest gray eyes IN the world y and
the very next day we set about looking
for the store, and in less than week
had found it !: nice new little place in
thriving village few miles away from
grandfathers-I mean Cousin Etta's-
cottage, just completed the very morn
ing the agent sent us to look at it. The
street on which it stood was the main
one Of the village, and before the door
grew splendid old hickory-tree, which
made 1t less sad to part with our oak,
and directly opposite was large, COM
fortable-looking house, sitting we'll back
from the road, with half an acre of gar
den about it.
Well, that small store did look pretty
when mother mother has exquisite
taste, and knows just what colors 90
nicely together, and how to arrange
things in symmetrical shapes and forms
and put the finishing touches to the
contents Of the good-sized window, and
stepped out on the sidewalk to observe
the general effect.
1t was lovely, sunshiny summer
morning, and feeling singularly hope
full and cheerful after observing the gen.
eral effect, seated myself in the sit
ting-room at the back Of the store and
waited for my first customer.
Mother went into the tiny kitchen
and began making cherry tarts (mother
is an excellent hand at pastry for din
NERVE had an enormous cherry-tree
in the garden-and had just called to
me to come and see how splendid the
cherries were, when the store bell rang
loudly, and some one came in and shut
the door with bang.
went out as quickly rs l could, and
there stood rather stout middle-aged
gentleman, very red in the face, and
evidently in n very bad temper.
Look at that, ma am, look at that"
said he, as came forward, holding out
his hand, and directing my attention to
the buttonless wristband Of his shirt
sleeve. "No buttons, and l buy but
tons by the gross, and, by heavens,
there's never one in the house. You
keep buttons?'
Eyes, Sir"
"Tll take one-and you look as
though you would sew it on for me-"
with pleasure" said l, going for
needle and thread, with smile, for it
struck mo as being somewhat odd that
my first customer should want one shirt
button, and almost demand my services
rs seamstress, and it was with the
greatest difficulty resumed and kept a
demure countenance while sewing it on.
"Um," said the gentleman, half
aloud, as fastened the thread: "nice,
though not at all handsome, and would |
wear well, l should think
| looked up and saw his eyes fixed
upon crimson and green rose-and-bud |
tidy tone ofmother's prettiest patterns,
and thought that if it didn't suit him,
he must be hard to suit in the way of
tides.
After the gentleman had said Good
day, ma'am," to mother, who came into
the store looking as sweet as q rose (by
the-bye, he was jolly-looking, blue
eyed. rather handsome man when he
ceased frowning), and "Thank you,
miss to me, and gone away, we had a
dozen or more callers, among them two
dear little girls, to whom MOTHERHOOD
bless her gave the two biggest cherry
tarts; and altogether our first day of
shop-keeping was profitable one, al
though had refused to take any thing
for the very first sale had ever made
no, it couldn't have been sale either.
but it was the beginning of my business