The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-06-05
The Scissors Grinder.


SIS he really SO handsome?" said
Eleanor May, incredulously.
"The handsomest man you ever saw
in your lifeP' cried Olive Satterly.
She was sitting on the back door step,
shelling peas, with great cinnamon
rose-bush showering its pink petals
down on her brown braids of hair, and
her hazel eyes sparkling beneath their
long lashes, while Maude, the beauty of
the family, lesned out of the window,
her pretty tresses screwed up in crimp-
ing papers, and a gingham wrapper
buttoned .carelessly at the throat, with
no ornamental accessories in tbe way of
collars, frills, or ribbon bows; for Maude
had been to party the night before,
and had slept late, scolded her msther
because the coffee was cold, and abso-
lutely declined any interference with
the household affairs that morning.
Exactly like a corsair" said Maude,
suppressing yawn. "Tall and dark,
with such a great diamond on his little
finger, and eyes like sherry wine. And
he was so surprised to think that I rec
ognized him through his disguised"
"What costume did he assume ?"
asked Eleanor May, who. not having re-
oeived an invitation to the fancy-dress
ball at Mrs. Pipington's, was naturally
exceedingly inquisitive on the subject.
IA Pirate" said Maude. "With
black velvet cap, you know, and scarlet
sash, and cutlass. And he declared
he would disguise himself 80 completely
the next time that couldn't possibly
identify him, and we wagered box OF
kid gloves on the question" ~
"Isnppose he means at Lizzie Hooker's
birthday party 2" said Olive.
"Of course" said Maude.
81 wish could go!" said Olive work
ing diligently away at the peas, that
dropped like emerald rain into the shin.
ing tin pan.
"Well, you can't" replied Maude,
shortly. "Mamma says she cannot afford
two fancy dresses, and I'm the Oldest"
Yes, know said Olive meekly.
"And Mr.. Medlicote danced only once
with you last night" added Maude, un.
able to repress her exultation, and he
waltzed with me three times, beside-
the Germanr v
Little Olive, looking shyly up at hel
sister, secretly wished that Providence
had seen fit to make her also beauty.
81 suppose" said Miss May, curio lsly
"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 AID white tulle.
"I wonder if ever shall be married p
pondered Olive, shelling peas faster thar
ever. 49,
"Who's that coming around the cornel
of the house?' cried Maude, with some
asperity. -"One of those everlasting
peddlers again? Oh, it's only scissors
grinder"
"And very fortunate, too," said Mrs
Satterly, a pale, over-worked l1ttl,
woman, with light hair and faded com
plexion; :" for my shears are so bad
can't cut with 'em. And there's tn,
embroidery scissors, and the pair tha
belongs to the mending basket, and
"How much do you ask pairW de
manded Maude, sailing out upon tn,
garden path, with her pretty feet thrus
into slipshod slippers, soiled wrappe
torn down one side, and her hair vet il
the losse, tangled curls, which had hun,
like coiled gold down her back the nigh
before.
The mani swart-browed, stoopin,
oreigner-srt hi, wheel upon the grass
b Jwei low, with smile which disclose,
teeth cleaning Whitley through hi
thick, bushy beard, and held up sil
fingers, in pantomimic gesture.
That's too much," said Maude.
He can't understand you," sai'
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 silver quarter of
dollar. r-.
The scissors-grinder smiled again, mad
an obeisance nearly to the ground, an,
assented to the bargain with numerou
mods and signs.
Isn't he funnyP' said Eleanor.
Horrid velveteen-coated fellow |!
said Maude. "Fo think that he belona
to the same humanity with my divin
Algernon!"
(" He looks tired and thirsty" sal,
gentle-hearted Olive. "Pve great min
to offer him cool drink"
"You'll do no such thing" said Maude
imperiously. "Pll have no sister o
mine running to wait on scissors-grind
ersl Mamma, is that chocolate read
yet~
'.Chocolate?' repeated p or Mrs. Sal
terly, with conscience-stricken air, {"
declare, Maude, l forgot all about il
But FL run directly and set it boiling.
Maude Satterly crimsoned to tn
! very temples.