Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-12-20

IL do not want them"
He was silent for few moments.
I'm sorry, ma'am said he. They d
be great decoration for a house like
this but if YOU really won't buy, i!
would be doing me a great favor to al
low them to stand here until tomorrow
I've long tramp before me. and I'm
not going to any place where | think
they may be likely to buy anything OF
that sort. l will set them by the Chin
ney piece, ma am, where they wont be
in any ones way. And am very tired
with carrying them"
| | felt sorry for the poor jaded wretch
so | made no objection. And when
be was gone, the vases did make the
room look wonderfully pretty. | could
no, but wish that they were mine.
Obadiah perceived them at once when
he came home 10 tea.
Hello :" said he, "what docs this
mean -
So l told him, adding:
Il only wish could afford to buy
them-,hey are so handsome.
Obadiah walked around and around
them, with his hands in his pockets and
his brow knit thoughtfully.
Yes, they're pretty" said he, "but
they are not perfect"
Not perfect :" echoed.
Don't YOU see that leng,hwise crack
down one ); And the end of the little
raised rose bud is Clipped off on the
other hope you didn', do it, Josie"
with a sudden glance of apprehension.
~: Certainly no, ~ cried.
"Why, havn't done so much as touch
the things"
Then dare say it will be all right"
said Obadiah. And he sa, down 10 sup
per.
The next day, however. my friend,
the china vender came along smiling and
obsequious as ever.
There are your vases" said |, lust
where you lef, them"
But all a, once he broke out into a
storm of rep,oach and oblOquy. They
had been cracked and damaged in my
care. They were perfect, absolutely
perfect when he left them there the day
before. had worked the mischief, and
was Of course responsible for the value
Of the articles. OF course knew that
the rascal was telling a falsehood. bu,
what could do: / was alone in the
honse, and fairly cowed by the ferocity
Of the man
You must pay me for them" he re-
iterated, again and again, "or | will
have you arrested at once -
bGrs; into tears.
"How can pay you" said |. The
vases were damaged when You left them
here. And besides, have not FIVE dol
lars-no. nor one dollar-in the house. "
Which, also was true enough.
While spoke he had been glancing
/ furtively around.
u don't want TO be hard with you.
ma am, said he. "Of course, poor
man like me has 90; to save himself from
loss. and il you let me have that set Of
blue and white India china on the dress
er in exchange, I'll leave the vases, and
we'll say no more about It :.
Il went 10 my heart to part with the
India ware, whica had been a relic Of
my mothers housekeeping days, but !
was so cowed and terrified by the mans
bullying manner that believed | would
have given the house from over my head
| If he had asked for i, and he went away
leaving the beautiful vases on the floor
How glad | was to see Mrs. Meggs come
cheerfully in. half an hour afterward !!
good. mo,herly old soul. with silver
spectacles, and an elderly dimple still
lingering on her cheek.
"Why. my dear" said she, what's the
matter =
And told her all.
But, my dear" said she, show came
YOU to be taken in; There was an ar
ticle in the paper last week, warning
everybody agaist this very imposter.
Didn't YOU see it Ii was called The
Vase Swindler!"
colored deeply and hung down my
bhead.
1--WE have stopped taking the paper"
said l. Obadiah thought he couldn't
afford
And your beautiful old china too ;"
said Mrs. Meggs, "Why, there was half
a column in the paper week before last,
abou, the value Of old china just now.
And BY what it stated. your set Of old
India ware must have been worth $50
at least"
Twenty dollars And had frittered
them away for pair of wretched, crack
ed tawdy things, of the very sight OF
which | was already sick"
MY dear" said Mrs. Meggs, "your
ideas ofeconomy are altogether misplaced.
You should read the papers.
Obadiah went and subscribed for the
| Boggsrille Herald that very evening.
And in the first number he saw an ad-
vertisment for hands, at new steam
factory in the neighborhood, which offer
ed steady work and wages third higher
than he was then receiving. And In
serted a modest little Dressmaking
Wanted and it was answered within a
week, and am making my own snug
little income now. thank heaven F! And
if anybody tells US now that we can't
afford to take a paper, We tell them'
obadiah and that we CAN'T afford to