The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-09-01

for a poor man in Australy.'
'I'm willing to go anywhere" answered
Pattie, $50 long as we can only manage to
stick together
The real and personal estate Of old Gels
worthy produced about twenty-five pounds
in cash-truly blessing to the extremely
impecunious, as any one will know who
ever had the bad fortune to stand in
urgent want of similar amount, and the
good fortune to come into it unexpectedly
Just in the hour of need. The last thing
disposed of was the heavy drab overcoat,
by private treaty with Mr.. Isaac Solomons,
dealer in anything.
"Well, what do you want for it?" in
quired Mr.. Solomons, after having turned
it over several times and regarded it sus-
piciously, as though it were an infected
garment.
Suppose we say thirty bob ?" suggested
Mark, tentatively.
'There's no harm in saying thirty quid,
so long as nobody parts with the coin.
No, my man; that there coat amt no use to
me-its too ugly; and my customers is
mostly fashionable inclined"
''But it's worth something. Look at the
qualityn'
equality! What's quality nowadays :?
Nothing. It's cut that's wanted and
there amt no cut about that there, not a
ha'porth.''
"What will you give? Gomez
"If I were to spec'late fifteen bob on it
[ should lose. Sthrike me! should lose
No; pom my honor, can't do it..
"Well, fork over It'sno good to me
it don't fit"
"It amt much good to anybody, as can
see," grumbled the Jew. But for all that
he forked over the fifteen shillings imme-
diately; and the coat became the property
of Mr.. Solomons.
If you had watched Mr.. Solomon trans
acting business in his own shop, you would
have wondered how, in the name of all the
common laws of finance, he contrived to
keep clear of the bankruptcy court. Con-
tinualiy to be selling goods without profit
is generally supposed to bring about very
unsatisfactory results. But to part with
them at an appalling loss-to have them
literally wrenched from you by greedy
public, heartlessly taking advantage of the
slackness of trade-ought to culminate in
disaster, speedy and complete. And yet
Mr.. Solomons was not submerged. He
contrived in some fashion to keep his head
above water, and his shoulders too, in spite
of the terrible sacrifices he solemnly pro-
fessed to make every hour of the day.
Perhaps it was grim joke, melancholy
satire, when he ticketed the coat acquired
from Mark for fifteen shillings as "tre-
mendous bargain-only two pounds ten
shillings.'
"Cost me three pounds-s'help me, if [
never speak another word p he exclaimed
to the pale and patient-faced young woman
who stopped to inspect it.
"It would just fit father nicely" she
said, more to herself than to the Jew; "and
very warm and comfortable; but rather a
funny shape, isn't it?"
Funny shape! Why, it's one of Poole's
latest styles, made expressly for a Markiss,
who only wore it three times, and then got
tired of it"
"What is the lowest you will take ?"
Lowest Well, if touch farden less
than two-ten; not if the Prince of Wales
was to 90 down on his bended knees. Ten
bob is enough to drop over one article
rather! !"
II am unable to spare more than two
pounds; in fact 1 have no more with me-.
If you cannot accept that, must go"
close a pound lose whole pound
Oh, shtrike me, l can't, | can't. What
with one and another of you, l shall be
driven to the workhouse," cried Mr.. Solo
mons, pathetically.
"Well, then, good day, sir. must try
and find something that will do elsewhere. ="
Don't go. Say two-fve-make it as
light as you can for me-say two-fve!" !" he
pleaded, seizing her by the hem of her
mantle.
"Impossibler' tell you have only two
pounds"
Solomons groaned, as in anguish of spirit
''Give us your money" he said, desperately.
II must try and make it up some other way,
l suppose"
So the young woman carried away her
tremendous bargain" :"
V.
The father reclined in an armchair by
the fire, smoking a too highly seasoned
briar-wood pipe. The daughter sat at a
small table by the window, coloring pho
tographs. The fathers face was of that
shrunken, bloated type, frequently observ-
able in drunkards when their usual supply
of alcohol has for some reason or other been
cut off. His eyes were heavy, expression
less and leaden; his lower lip was pendulous;
his chin was unshaven; his hands were
dirty. The daughter was graceful and
pretty. Her features were delicate; her
complexion pale; her expression sweet, sad
and patient. What did it matter to her
gin-swilling parent that she worked for
him, tended his wants, nursed him when
he was i'll, was robbed by him when he