The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-01-14

great-coat, instead of buying new one, anC
left off going TO church because my old CLOAK
was so shabby and | couldn't afford anything
better.
And oh, how did miss the Boggsvill,
lWerald!
"If | could only get little dressmaking tC
do" said to myself II would subscribe again
myself. But I can't bear to ask Obadiah tor
n cent Of his hardearncd money
! was sitting, very sad and lonely, one irceZ
ling February day, by the window, trying to
mend one Of Obadah's old walstcoats, 80 that
it should last few days longer when "a tray
cling pedler, with huge basket of china orna
ments on one arm and a bundle on hls Shout
der, Knocked at the door He nodded in an
insinuatng manner TO me rs | answered the
summons.
Couldn't sell you anything this morHing,
ma'am ?" said he, with a liberal display OF a
very white and even set OF teeth anything
in the way of elegant mantle vases, staucttcs,
decorated china, match boxes
Il have no money" said /, sprillessly. II
do not need any of your wares
! All, but you do not know what splendid
article | have here" he persisted looscnlng
the strap which passed across his shoulder,
and lowering the precious package carefully
to the floor. a pair of real Wedgewood
ltdioaceS. On don't shake your head, ma'am ;
| shan I charge yon anything for looking al
'em, you know. Pm certain you're an artist
all the ladies are born artists-and this Is
really something quite out Of the ordinary
| And with succession Cf mods and grins,
ne unwrappcd a pair Of really very pretty blue
vases nearly two feet high, and ornamentcd
with raised garIands IN white.
| "Only six dollars pair, ma'am,' sad he.
Dirt cheap. It's positively giving them away
at that price,
Il have no six dollars to spare said |, in.
differently.
IT'S very great bargain, maam,' he in
sisted.
81 do not want them" said |.
| He was silent for few seconds.
"I'm sorry, maam,' said he They'd be a
great decoration for house like this. But if
you really won't buy, II would be doing me a
great favor TO allow them to stand here until
tomorrow. I've long tramp before me, and
I'm not going to any place where think they
would be likely to buy anything of this sort
| I'll set 'em back by the chimney piece, ma am,
where they won't be in any ones way; and
I'm very tired with carrying 'em."
| felt sorry for the poor jaded wretch-so
made no objection And when he was gone,
the vases did make the room look wonderfully
pretty. could not but wish that they were
mine. Obadiah perceived them at once, when
he came home to tea.
"Hellol" said he, "what does this mean?"
SO told HIM, adding:
IL only wish that | could afford to buy them
they are SO handsome
Obadiah walked around and around them,
with his hands in his pockets, and his brows
knit thoughttully.
Eyes, they're pretty" said he. but they're
not perfect"
Not periect!' | echoed.
"Not by any means. Don't you see that
lengthwise crack down one? And the end of
the little raised rosebud Is clipped Off on the
other. | nope you didn't do it, JOSEF" with
a sudden glance of apprehension.
al? Certainly not!n | cried why have
not SO much as touched the thlngs!"
"Then dare say it's all right said Obadl-
ali. And he sat down to supper.
The next day, however, my friend, the china
vender came along, smiling and Obsequious
as ever.
There are your vases" said I, Just where
you left them"
But all at once he broke out into a storm Of
reprOach and oboquy. They had been cracked
and damaged in my care. They were perfect
absolutely perteCt-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 ialsehood; but what cOulu do?
was alone IN the house, and fairly cowed by
the terocty of the man.
"Iou must pay me for them" he reiterated
again and again, or | will have you arrested
at once!"
| burst into tears.
"IIow can pay you? said |. "The vases
were damaged when you lett them here. And
besides | have not five dollars-no, nor one
dollar--in the house" (Which, also, was true
enough)
While spoke he had been CHANGING furtive
ly around.
II don't want to be hard with you, ma'am,
SAID he. "Of course, a poor man like me has
got to save himself from loss, and If you'll let
me have that set of blue ana white India chi.
ma IN the dresser in exchange, I'll leave the
vases, and well say no more about IT.
1t went to my heart to part with the India
china, which had been relic of my mothers
housekeeping days, but was so cowed and
terrified by the mans bullying manner that |
believe | would have given him the house
from over my head If he had asked for it; and
he went away leaving the beautiful vases on
the floor How glad | was to see Mrs. Meggs
come cheerfully IN half an hour afterwards-a
good, motherly old soul with silver spectacles
and al elderly dimple still lingering on her
cheek.
"Why, my dear" said she, what is the
mattery"
And told her all.
But, my dear" said she, chow came you to
be so taken IN? There was an article in the
paper last week, warning everybody against
this same imposter Didn't you see 1t? It'll
was called The Vase Swindler.'"
colored deeply and hung down my head,
as l replied:
I'VE have stopped taking the paper. Oba
diah thought we couldn't afford"
And your beautiful old china, toon' said
Mrs. Meggs. "Why, there was halt column
IN the paper week before last about the value
OF old china just now. And by what is stated
your set of old India ware must have been
worth twenty dollars Mt least"
Twenty dollars! And had trittered them
away for pair of wretched, cracked, tawdry