Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-06-12
BrOGnls and BeaMX.

hailed horse car, settled myself III
a corner, and looked out on the shift
ting scenes on the streets. Two
young men, evidently book-keepers
or clerks, followed me in, and took
seats near me. They were friends,
ls.seemed and this was their con-
Versation.
"Who are you going to take to the
Walter Scott Society, this winter.
Joseph ?" asked the older and taller
of the two.
81 had intended to do myself the
honor of inviting Miss Nellie Staugh-
ton to 60 with me, hut yesterday l
changed my mind"
"How came that about ?"
"You will call ME whimsical if !
tell you"
"What if / do ? The wisest OF
men nave their whims. Out with
"Well then, yesterday a man
from the country drove into town
with a load of brooms which he
hoped to dispose of at the house
furnishing stores but not finding
market for them, and the roads
being SO lad, he determined not to
take them home again. He drew
up at TIE corner curbstone near our
store, and commenced selling his
Stock from the sleigh about the time
the people were going for their .
O'Clock mail.
They were good brooms. The
price was low and they went like
the FIRST hot cheStnuts of the sea-
son. Quite a group gathered around
him, and it seemed almost every re-
preventative of a family bought one
or more. EveI so many women
took one and walked along naturally
and independently with it.
Mr.. James, one Of the partners of
the house, where 1 am employee,
stood by my side looking out of the
window, with very evident enjoy
ment of the scene. All at once he
lodged out Of the doorway, and as
the southwind blew his grey hair in
every direction he ran across the
side walk 10 the cart, saying, 'They
are dirt cheap, give me half dozen.
They were handed out. He paid for
them hastily, anu turning around,
gave one to Biddy, who sweeps the
store, two to PdrSon Potter, aud
one to an old lame man who lives
with his wife in the alley back Of
the store. Just then Nellie and
Jane SLaughton and Kate Holt came
along. Mr.. James knows them all
well, aud he now greetS them cordl-
ally, aad in few of the pleasant
pat woris which are always on his
tongues eid, sent broom to moth
er Holt and TO mother Staughton.
They are both widows, you know.
Kate Holt took the one rendered
her, saying, d thank you gratefully;
we are just needing a new broom
sadly. Mother will be glad, bat l
viii appreciate it the most, because
You see. 1 do all the sweeping and
she tripPed up the street, carrying
the broom as indifferently rs if it
had been a roll of music.
The Misses StaughtoD, however,
hesitated about accepting the gift.
Neither of them offered to take it,
bat as it was held out to Nellie, and
she dared not offend Mr.. James,
who is superintendent of her Sab
bath school by refusing it, she car.
ried it little distance, looking ex-
actly as if shs had never seen a
broom before and supposed it to be
an insignia of dishonor.
And just then the two girls turn
ed :he corner and started down Fe-
derai Street, ran around to another
ro0m in the store to look at them.
MIR. James, who had just come in,
followed, chuckling, after me, and
we pe:ed through the closed shut
ters to see what they would do.
Nellie had laid the obnoxious article
against Ghc lamp-pOst. and was de
termined to leave it there. But
Jane would not allow that, and they
quarreled alb nat it, until some people
came u2, to wh1m they made their
excuses. Jane laughing, and nelr-
ly bending double, and covering her
face with her hands in paroxism
cf merriment, and Nellie giggling,
and holding that dreadful broom
gingerly in her hand.
After a while they compromised
the matter by locking arms, taking
the despised article between them.
covering the brush wi:h their drap-
cry, and mincing slowly away.
Little things test the character,
.;hucklsd Mr. Jlmes. The wife of
poor man who has got his way to
aake in the worll mnsn't be afraid
han,il- brl Ea.'