Daily Republican., 1879-02-21
RRODNfS AND IsEAl'X.

One day while on visit to Baltl-
more, | hailed u horse-car, settled my
self in corner, and looked ont Oh the
shifting scenes on the streets. Two
young men, evidently ok-keepers or
clerks, followed me in and took seats
near me. They were evidently warm
friends, and this was their converse
ton:
Whom are you going to take to the
Walter Scott Society this winter, Joe -
asked the older and taller of the two.
II had intended to do myself the
honor of inviting Miss Nellie Steughton
to attend with me, but yesterday !
changed my mind. y
GLOW came that about ~
"YOu will call m. Whimsical il tell
you"
What if do. The wisest OF men
have their whims. Out with it,
well, then, yesterday a man from
the country drove into town with
load of brooms, which he hoped to dis
pos. of at the house furnishing stores;
but not finding a market Tor them, and
the roads being so bad, he det-rmin-
cd not to take them home again. tie
drew up AZ the corner curbstone near
our store, and commenced selling his
stock from the sleigh about the time
peopl. we're going for their two O'Clock
mall
"Thsy wers good broolns- The price
was low, and they went like the first
hot chesnuts Of the season. Quite a
group gathered around him, and 1t
seemed that almost every representa-
tive OF a family coming by bought one
or more. Ever 10 many women took
one and walked Oft naturally and good
naturally with it.
"Mr. James, one OF the partners OF
tn. HOUSE where Pm employed. and
who is a bachelor, stood by nysids
looking out of the window, with a
very evident enjoyment OF the scene.
All at once he lodged cut Of the door
way, and ~ the south wind blew his
grey hair in every direction he ran
across the sidewalk tothe broom dealer,
saying:
"Th-y are dirt cheap; give me hail a
Dozen"
They were handed out. He paid for
them hastily, and turning around,
gave one to Bidd Fvn, who sweeps the
store, two to Parson Potter, and one to
an old lame man who lives with his
vile in the alley back of the store. Just
then Nellie and Jane Stoughton and
Kate Holt came along. Mr.. James
knows them all well, and he now greet
I'd them cordially, and in few OF the
pleasant, pat words which are always
at his tongues end, sent broom to
mother Hslt, and ene to mother Slough
ton. They are both widows, you know,
and not overly supplied with this
world s goods.
Kate Holt took the one rendered her
saying, ~ thank you, gratefully; We
are just needing new broom sadly.
Mother will be glad, but shall appre.
ciate it the most, because, you see,
do all the swseping," and she tripped
gracefully up the street, carrying the
broom as indifsrently as il it had been
silk umbrella or roll Of music.
"The Misses Stoughton, however,
hesitated about accepting the gift.
Neither of them offered to take it, but
as it was held out to Nellie, and she
dared not offend Mr.. James, who is the
Superintendent of her Sabbath School,
by refusing it, she carried it little
distance, looking exactly as if she had
never seen broom before, and suppos-
I'd it to be an insignia Of dishonor.
"As soon as the two girls turned the
corner and started down Federal street
ran around to another room in the
store to look at them. Mr.. James, who
had lust come in, followed, chuckling,
after mt, and We peered through the
closed shutters to see what they would
do.
Nellie had laid the obnoxious article
against the lamp post, and was deter
mined to leave IL there. But Jane would
not allow that, and they quarreled
about it until some people came up, to
whom they made excuses. Jane laugh.
ng, and nearly bending herself double,
land covering her face with her hand
in a paroxysm of merrinent, and Mel
lie giggling, and holding that dreadful
broom girgelly in her hand
| AFTER awhile they compromised the
matter by locking arms, taking the de-
spised article between them, covering
the brush with their drapery.' .
Little things test the character, -
said Mr.. James. "The vile OF poor
man who has got his way to make in
the world mustn't be afraid to handle a
broom"
"Thank you, Mr.. James," said l..
&" All my interest in the Stoughton fam
| ily has vanished with the broom han
die. | think shall transfer my
attentions to Katie Holt
"Ah " said my employer. she's a
girl in tllousand-quiet, Intelligent
and lady.like. There she goes now.
Put on your hat and walk with her to
the bank here's draft to be cashed."
81 obeyed, and matters were settled
satisfactorily with Kate, as she walked
along by my side, broom in hand"
"Ha ha ~ laughed the tall young
man, "rm glad that your eyes are open
ed at last, Joe. ! was afraid you in
tended to throw yourself away upon
that bundle of Alterations, Nellie
Stoughton, and asked the question !
|dii for the purpose of giving you ad-