The Cecil Whig., 1882-12-02
SILAS' TRIP TO THE CITY.

81 don't see why you are SO anxious
about me, Aunt Lydia" said SilaS Nane,
as he sat at the tea table the night before
he was to set out for New York on
shopping excursion for his aunt and half
dozen neighbors. 1t was the custom
in that rural district, when anybody was
going down to the city, to have the neigh
bors flock in and intrust him with sun
dry commissions, varying in value from
twenty-five cents to as many dollars. 1t
was hard on the shopper, but nobody
thought it would be much trouble -, just
to get few yards of trimming to match
that particular shade of dress goods
Or 10 buy cheap coach for the baby, or
a big doll for a Christmas gift, which
should not exceed quarter of dollar
in price, - and SO on i'll an endless chain,
at least il seemed endless when it came
to executing the commissions.
Silas had over a hundred dollars in the
big pocketbook he carried in the inside
of his cat, and it was about this that
Aunt Lydia felt so anxious.
II should feel less afraid, Silas. she
said, 'if you felt little more so. You
do not know much about the deceiving
ways IF city sharpers by experience,
however much you may have read about
them
Siias smiled as he helped himself to
another slice OF boiled ham. He knew
bis aunt meant we'll il she could not
place unlimited confidence in his worldly
wisdom. He assured her that he should
be always on the lookout. and should
make it rule to trust no stranger. AS
for the big pocketbook. it would be per-
fcctlv safe where he carried it, with his
coat buttoned over it.
So. with unlimited faith in himself,
and full reliance on his own penetrations
in detecting an offcions rogue at the first
| glance, he set out in the morning in high
| spirits. The long ride, so tedious to
those who went over the road every day,
was full of interest and incident to Kim.
| But as he neared the great town a sense
Of loneliness began slightly to damp his
spirits, and he half wished for one OF his
old cronies to share the excursion with
him. lust then cheerful looking young
man. rather stoutly built. and dressed in
a rough coat and broad -brimmed hat
walked in and took a seat before him.
He was evidently from the country. aud
SilaS felt his heart involuntarily go out
towards him as lie turned and asked him
some tritling questions respecting the
journey.
"You see amt much uscd to going
to town. and feel kind of lost like. and
all mixed up in snch :. crowd, said the
stranger, cnntidentiaily.
Slas smiled, and kindly resolved to as
sist the young rustic all lie could.
" Yen see father sells milk to one of
these city chaps. and he has cheated him
like sixty. and am going down TO tend
to it. | have a cousin living in the city.
and | am going there. | expect she is
kind OF set up since she married store
keeper II yuu have a mind to, you can
come right along with me, and it won't
cost You a cent. They are we'll off and
! clever. if they are citified,' he added.
after little further conversation.
Poor foolish Si!as was glad of a chance
to stop with a private family rather than
at a hotel, though he insisted that he
should pay for his fare just the same
He went with the Young milk dealer
to his destination. and found that the
,'c0usin y was out, but her husband -
was all hospitality. and plenty to eat and
drink was set before him. \ deep sleep
followed. and the next he knew he was
wondering about next day coatless, with
an old pair OF slices on his feet and a
worn out hat on bis head, his money,
his baggage and his friend all flown. and
he with no guess at the street or the
house where he bad been swindled -
| When his aunt sent down suit of clothes
and money for his return. lie Went back
in the first train. a sadder AID wiser boy.