Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-07-31
NO. 1873.
Gales amo skettbes.
THE SCISSORS GRINDER.

"lhe handsomest man you ever saw in
your life"' cried Olive Satterly.
She was sitting on the back doorstep,
shelling peas, with great cinnamon rose
bush showering its pink petals down on
her brown braids of hair and her hazel
eyes sparkled beneath their long lash while
Maude, the beauty of the family, leaned
out of the window, her pretty tresses
screwed up in crimping papers, and a
| gingham wrapper buttoned earelessly at
| the throat, with no ornamental accessories
in the way of collars, frills or ribbon bows,
for Maude had been to a party the night
before, and had slept late, scolded her
mother because the coffee was cold, and
absolutely declined any interference
with the household affairs that morning.
Exactly like corsair!" said Maude,
suppressing yawn. Tall and dark,
with such great diamond on his little fin
ger, and eyes like cherry wine. And he
seemed to be surprised to think that l rec
ognized him through his disguised
What costume did he assumed" asked
Eleanor May. who not having received an
invitation to the fancy dress ball at Mrs.
Pipington's, was naturally exceeding in
quisitive on the subject. ,.
"a piraie, said Maude,- viii, a hi!.a.s.al. hi!.a.s.al.
velvet cap, you know, and scarlet sash and
a cutlass. And he declared that he would
disguise himself so completely the next
time that | couldn't possibly identify him,
and he wagered box of kid gloves on
the question:" -.t .fst
~ suppose he means at Lizzie Hooker's
birthday party?' said Olive.
"Of course, said Maude.
Il wish could 60" said Olive, work
ing diligently away at the peas, that
dropped like emerald rain in the shining
tin pan.
well, you cant, replied Maude, short
ly. mamma saws she can't afford two
fancy dresses, and am the Oldest
Yes know said Olive, meekly.
"And Mr.. Medlicote danced only once
with you last night" added Maude, una
BILE to repress her exultation, land he
waltzed with me three times, besides the
German!'
Little Olive, looking up at her sister, Sc
cretly wished that Providence had seen fit
to make her also beauty t
II suppose said Miss May, curiously,
THAT he is very rich ?' q - ,iiHts
80 veryn' nodded Maude.
And Olives thoughts jumped at once to
the idea OF how beautiful her sister would
look in the regulation orange blossom and
white tule.
81 wonder if ever shall be married ?''
pondered Olive, shelling peas faster than
ever
''Who's that coming around the corner
of the house - cried Maude, with some as
perity. lone of those everlasting peddlers
again? Oh, it's only Il scissors grinder"
'And very fortunate too" said Mrs.
Satterly, a pale, over-worked little woman,
with light hair and faded complexion;
''for my shears are so bad can't cut with
EN-. And there's the embroidery scissors,
and pair that belongs to the mending
basket, and
GLOW much do you ask pair?" de-
manded Maude, sailing out ON the garden
path, with her pretty feet thrust into slip
shod slippers, soiled wrapper torn down
one side. and her hair yet in the loose,
tangled curls, which had hung like coiled
gold down her neck the night before.
The mana swart-browed, STOPPING for
eigner-set his wheel upon the grass,
bowed low with a smile that disclosed
teeth cleaning whitley through his thick,
bushy beard. and held up six fingers in
pantommic gesture. ~r
That's too much" said Maude.
''He can't understand you,n said Flea
nor, laughing.
Miss Satterly shook her head, stamped
the little untdy foot, held up six pairs of
scissors in various stages of diapidation,
and displayed Il silver quarter of a dollar.
The scissors grinder smiled again, and
made an obelsance nearly to the ground,
and assented to the bargain with numer-
Gus mods and signs.
''Isn't he funny ?" said Eleanor.
''Horrid velveteen-coated fellew - said
Maude. To think that he belongs to the
same humanity with my divine Al lgernon!"
HE looks tired and thirsty" said gen-
tle-hearted Olive. I've great mind to
offer him a cool drink
you'll do no such thing" said Maude,
imperiously. "l'll have no sister of mine
running to wait on scissors grinders,
Mamma. is that chocolate ready yet 20
"Chocolate repeated poor Mrs. Satter-
ly, with a conscience-s stricken. air, Il de-
clare, Maude. forgot all about it.
But I'll run directly and set it boil
ing"
Maude Satterly crimsoned to the very
temples.
''Forgot!n repeated She YOU'RE al
ways forgetting | never saw any one
like you in my life! No, won't have it
now. If you can't prepare my chocolate
when want it, you shan't prepareit at all.
| should think You might have thought of
al am very sorry, Maude, began Olive,
apologetcally for all that. think you
ought not to speak so GROSSLY to mamma. 3"
"Hold your tongue, /" said Maude. stamp
ing her foot again. "Do YOU suppose
am going to be tutored by you? i shall
speak as please, and so | give you fair
warning. Dear me, how that scissors
grinders buzzing makes my head ache"
And she swept into the house like fair
fury.
When Olive came in, few minutes af-
forwards with the six pairs of scissors all
sharpened and FURNISHED up to scientific
state of brllianey. her sister was lying ON
the sofa, with her face turned toward the
wall and her eyes resolutely closed.
.'Oh, dear me ~ thought Olive. ''rm
afraid she's in one of her sulking fits, that
lasts twenty-four hours at time.
And she took advantage of the circum-
stances TO pour out goblet of ice-water,