The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-05-26
CONFLICTING" A SHAWL FOR THE
MINISTER'S WIFE.

Our chapel is always more or less
chilly, but noticed that our new minis
ter's wife wore the same thin sacque to
the evening me lettings that she did on
Sunday, so 1 said to Mrs. Goodenough
e she is always first and foremost in all
good works
"Wouldnt nice, warm shawl be an
acceptable Christmas present to the
ministers wife?" and she jumped at the
idea in minute.
"Just the thing!' she said, looking as
pleased as if she was the one that was to
have the present.
"And if you'd like to have me, I'll go
round with you tomorrow afternoon,
and see how much we can collect to-
wards it,"
OF course I was glad of her company
and countenance, and we started out
bright and early, for our plan was to go
first to some dealer in shawls and see
what we would have to pay for one, to
start with.
"Where shall we go first p I asked.
There's Smart & Co. he's q member
of our Church, and will be likely to give
us o good bargain, seeing it's for the
minister's wife,"
Mrs. Goodenough shook her head
rather doubtfully.
"Perhaps he WILL" she said, drily.
"Anyhow''-a she chuckled to herself
-"Ill take care that he don't cheat us.
I've got some errands to do for my sis
ter in the country, and I'll see to them
first"
Smart was delighted to see us-he has
learned that it pays to be polite to every
body-and Mrs. Goodenough bought o
lot Of things for her sister, before she
began examining and pricing the shawls,
keeping up all the time running fire Of
Church gossip about this and that, and
at last she said, in very low tone, as If
it was some great secret
"What do you think of Mr.. Crowell,
over the way here, for Superintendent Of
our Sunday School next year? He's
young, to be sure, and hasn't had much
experience, but people like him he's so
liberal and free-hearted, which goes far
Their to make a man popular in his So
clety, you know, than almost any other
virtue"
Smart turned as red as turkey cock.
"Put O boy like him in for Superin-
tendent" he growled. "And as for his
liberality, what has he ever done, I
should like to know, more than other
folks?"
"Well, for one thing, he sold Mrs.
Service, the minister wife, cashmere
dress at first cost-never asked q cent of
profit: that was generous and kind, I'm
sure."
"No more than anybody else would
dol" burst forth Mr.. Smart, every hair
in his gray whiskers bristling with angry
jealousy. "I'd do as we'll by the minis
ters folks as that upstart Crowell, any
day."
$50 I told Mrs. Machem, when she
said should carry her custom to Crowell
ON account of this very thing" inno-
Gently remarked Mrs. Goodenough,
land that's why came to You to buy
this shawl for the minister's wife. l
knew that you would be as likely to let
MS have it at first cost rs comparative
stranger would
II ever YOU saw fox in q trap you
know Just how Smart looked at that min
ute. He glanced this way and that. as
if for q chance to jump, then he looked
down at the trade mark on the shawl with
lust the expression of that animal con-
templating his wounded paw, and at last
he tried to smile as if the whole thing
was really q most delightful piece OF
humor.
Now Mrs. Goodenough, you're really
too hard on us poor traders; you ought
to apply the rule of live and let live IN
our cases. I'll put the shawl down Just
as low as reasonably can, leaving the
smallest possible margin for profits, you
know, and" :,
Certainly, certainly" interrupted
Mrs. Goodenough, with her blandest
smile; "you have the right to do just as
Won please about it. Now, Iguess," turn
ing TO me, "we'll go over and see what
Mr.. Crowell will do for us before we de-
eide. ond then, if"
"You can have it ut first cost"
II was like signing his own death war
rant. bat the thought of his rival being
placed by his liberality in the position
he had 80 long coveted for himself was
too much even for his avaricious nature,
and he named price SO low that we were
secretly astonished to find how enor-
nous were the profits he had been max
ing upon these goods.
THANK you, very much," returned
Mrs Goodenough with miaChevious
twinkle in her eyes, that he was too un-
comforta BILE and excited to notice.
please put it aside for us, and We
will take it as soon as we can get the