Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-08-27

only pay dollar number SO little you
don't miss it, and
Eyes and there are sixty-six numbers.
and you pay sixty-six dollars for your BIZ
BILE. and it only comes once a month, and
it takes five years and half to get it all
and you take the Apocrypha that costs
fourteen dollars more, and then it isn't
b-b-bound ~ and little Mrs. Packer,
breathless from her long speech, broke in
to sobs at the thought of it all.
"Why. wife ~ exclaimed John Packer
utterly astonished at this outburst; ND
no idea you were so quick at fgures.''
81 found the paper in the coat you left
to be mended, and counted it all up this
morning. averred Mrs Packer from be-
hind her handkerchief.
ssOh!' said Mr.. Packer. 1.-THE agent
was very laxative, pleasant man, and
didn't seem to think of it in that way"
he continued smiling feebly ashe met Mrs.
| Packers eye. 81 thought you'd like it,
The freight glanced on the wall, bring
| ing out with the magic Of its flashes the
blue and gold and scarlet of those precious
words: "a soft answer etc.
"1ohn, DEAR said Mrs. Packer, going
over to her husband and dropping soft
little kiss on his forehead, II will like it;
was angry at first, but I'm almost sure
I'm glad now. But ism It it a great deal Of
money for us to pay 7"
s'Not more than can afford, dollar at
time;" and John patted his wife's pretty
head, feeling that some way that impercep-
tible cloud which had lowered between
HIM and her sweet face had vanished. But
man-like, he did not even dimly allude to
the tea set; and deep down in Mrs. Pack
er's heart thu disappointment ranked and
fretted till she felt as if she must speak;
for be had promised her the very first mon
ey he had to spare for that.
How glad she was that she refrained any
wife will know, when next evening John
returned somewhat earlier than usual from
business, accompanied by an expressman
and large box which, on being opened,
was found to contain the Identical blue
and gold set she had SO long coveted
sStevens had no afternoon delivery, and
I couldn't wait till tomorrow, so brought
it home myself, - said Mr.. Packer, BEAM
ing on his wife.
cob! you dear old John!" she cried, hid
ing her face on his shoulder. ''And was
so hateful to you this morning; giving you
your coffee, scalding hot, when you were
in such a hurry, in cup that hadn't a
handle when there was one that had. I
shall never enjoy them; never!'' letting her
eyes feast on the beauty of her new pos
sessions.
eyes, you will,' said John, gayly.-
"Youll begin and enjoy them this very
minute. Take these old wrecks off the
table; give me an apron and II wash these
blue things myself" The last helpless had
been dismissed some days before for an un-
usually fragrant smash. giving rise to the
brilliant and original remark from Mr..
Packer, that, s'amid. the ruin of nations
might now be included the downfall Of
China.' And when the table was finally
set with the new ''things" las John irrev-
erently called them), what a pretty sight
| it was to see little Mrs. Packer giving the
final loving pats and touches to the dishes,
whose brilliant blue her happy, bright eyes
rivalled!
The next morning early gentle and in
sinuating ring at the door interrupted
Mrs. Packers household duties. Even in
the midst of work she was a neat, trim lit
tie body as one could we'll desire to see; and
except that her cheeks were rather redder
than usual, and her pretty hair little
more fluffy, she showed no sign Of her Skin
mish with refractory range-fire as she
opened the front door in answer to the
bell. There stood well dressed, rather
professional-looking gentleman, who car
ried an irreproachable umbrella, and was
literally supplied with the purest of linen.
Behind HIM was knobby Il use the word
advisedly) angular boy, who had an odd
appearance Of being made up OF remnants.
His feet did not match his legs, his Shout
ders were entirely out of proportion to the
rest of his body, and his head did not
match any part of him, while his arms
were apparently only attached for the pur-
pose of carrying an immense square pack
age which he held up before him like a
shield-as it he were too much in the hab-
it of receiving blows and welcomed any de-
fence. His clothes did not fit his body any
better than his various members fitted
each other, and, if he had not been such
very thin boy the strain to which his ap-
parel was subjected, in order to make it
perform it's duty as covering, would have
been dangerous.
All this Mrs. Packers bright eyes took
in at glance, and her pity for the boy
made her at once antagonistic to the we'll
dressed, notwithstanding gentleman,
who now addressed her.
Mrs. Packer, believe, he said suave
ly. stepping within the door as if he had
come to stay, the boy following in wood
en-, stolid way, stopping beside the parlor
table, as if he had been wound up to 60
just SO far and knew nothing about it,
"What stupid boyl'' thought Mrs.
Packer, as the gentleman (who introduced
himself as Mr.. Bedford, and who was the
veritable pleasant, laxative agent who had
beguiled Mr.. Packer into subscribing for
the Rible) took the package and opened 1t
upon the table, saying hlandly,
''Here are the first twelve numbers of
Van Horen's Subscription Rible.'
"Twelve numbersW interrupted Mrs.
Packer, aghast. s'But we can't take SO
many at time. My husband said there'd
only be one month, and we don't want
them any other way" forgetting how she
had so shortly before inveighed against
that same monthly plan.
| However she was no MATCH in argument
for Mr.. Bedford, and he not only left the
tual.no n,,nohars but nrnmisad ten more ON