The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-12-21
The Scissors Grinder.

Ihe Scissors Grinder:
'Is he really so handsome7" said
Eleanor May, incrcdulOusly.
1.-THE handsomest man you ever saw
in your lifei'crled Olive Satterly.
She was sitting In the back doorstep,
shelling peas, with great cinnamon
iose.bush showerlng Its pink petals
down on her brown bralds of hair, and
her hazle eyes sparkling beneath their
long lashes, while Maude, the beauty of
the family, leaned out of the window,
her pretty tresSes screwed up in crimp.
ing papers, and gihgham wrapper
buttoned carelessly at the throat, with
no ornamental accessories in the way of
collars, frills, or ribbon bows; for
Maude had been to party the night
before, and bad slept late, scolded her
mother because the coffee was cold, and
absolutely declined any interference
with the household affairs this morn
ing.
Exactly like corsairl" said Maude
suppressing yawn. "Tall, and dark,
with such a great diamond OH his little
finger, and eyes like sherry wine. And
he was so surprised to think that re.
cognized him through his disguised"
"What costume did he assune?"
asked Eleanor May. who, not having
received an invitation to the fancy
dress ball at Mrs. Piplngton's was ma.
turally exceedingly lmpulsive on the
subject.
"a Pirate" said Maude. "With
black velvet cap, you know, and scar
let sash, and cutlass. And he declar-
ed he would disguise himself so com.
pletely the next time that couldn't
possibly.identify him, and we wagered
box of kid gloves on the question:"
II suppose he means at Lizzie Hook
er's birthday party?" said Olive
"Of course" said Maude.
81 wish I cJuli go!"said Olive, work.
ing diligently away at the peas, that
dropped like emerald rain into the
shining tin pan.
"WeIl, you can't" replied Maude,
shortly. Mamma says she cannot
afford two fancy dresses, aud Pm the
eldest"
"Yes, l know" said Olive, meekly.
"And Mr.. Medicote danced only
once with you last night" added Maude
unable to repress her exultation, land
he watzed three times with me, besides
the Germanr'
Little Olive looked shyly,up at her
sister. Secretly wished that Providence
had seen fit to make her, also, beau
ty.
81 suppose, said Miss May, curious
ly, "that he is very rich"
"Oh, veryl' nodded Maude.
And Olives thoughts jumped at once
to the idea of how beautiful her sister
would look in the regulation orange
blossoms and white tulle.
II wonder if l shall ever be mar
ried2" pondered Olive, shelling peas
faster than ever.
"Who's that coming around the cor
ner of the house?" cried Maude, will
asperity. Zone of those everlasting
peddlers again? Oh, it's only scissors
grinders"
"And very fortunate, too," said Mrs
Satterly, pale, over worked little wo-
man, with light hair and faded CON
piexion; "for my shears are so bad
can't cut with 'em. And there's tht
embroidery scissors, and the pair tina
belongs to the mending basket, and
"How much doyo ask pair?" de
manded Maude, sailing out upon th,
=. garden path, with her pretty fee
thrust into sip.shod slippers. soilet
wrapper torn down one side, and heI
hair yet in the lose, tangled curls whicl
/ had hung like coiIed gold down he
back the night before.
The mana swart,bIowned, stOop
t ing forelgner-set his wheel upon tn
grass, bowed low, with Il smile which
disclosed teeth cleaning whitel
through his thick, bushy beard
: and held up six fingers, in pantomimi
gestuf6.
"That's too much" said Maude.
"IIe can't understand you," sal
!, Eleanor, laughing.
Miss Satterly shook her head stampe
the little untidy foot, held up six pair
of scissors in various stages of dilapida
tion, and displayed a silver quarter of
. dollar.
The scissors grinder smiled agair
made an obeissnce nearly to the groun
and Assented to the bargain with nun
erOus mods and signs.
Isn't he funny" said Eleanor.
/, "IIorrld velveteen- coated fellow |!
. said Maude. "To think that he belong
to the sane humanity with my diyin
I AlgetnOnl"
s "He looks tired and thirsty" sal
gentle hearted Olive. "rve a gtes
II mind to offer him a cool drink"
"YouIl do no such thing" sal
u Maude, imperiously. "I'll have n
O sister of mine running to wait on scis
sors grindersl Mamma, is that choco
= ate ready yet?"
n "Chocolate?" repeated poor Mrs
Statterly, with conscience stricke
air. ~ declare, Maude, forgot a
Il about it,. But I'll run directly and Sc
=. n hoiiinu -