Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-05
THE LITTLE LACE PEDDLER.


By II. II.
1t was a sultry afternoon in August. Jen-
ny Connard and her aunt, Mrs. Barrett, were
sitting on their vine-shaded piazza, looking
30 cool and comfortable that the very sight
OF them was tantalizing TO people who could
not afford to sit cool and comfortable on vine
shaded piazzas.
This was the thought which passed through
the mind of tired, dusty, overheated WON
an who opened the gate and with an irreso-
Lutte step and glance walked toward them.
81 don't believe they'll buy" she said to
herself. They look too comfortable for
anything sitting up there in their muslin
gowns, cool as cucumbers Oh dear But
may as well try"
And while the poor woman was thinking
this, Mrs. Barrett WAS saying in an under
tone to her niece Dear there comes one
of those peddling women. That's the worst
Of being out here in full sight of the street.
There's no escaping anybody that chooses to
open the gate aud walk in. do hope your
uncle III feel that he can build another piazza
on the backside Of the house before another
summer. It's Just like sitting on the side
walk to sit here; and for people that
cant even go anywhere in the summer, it's
too bad not To have nook or 3 corner TO
themselves out doors"
As she spoke the last words the dusty,
flushed stranger reached the foot of the pisz
"a steps and said, Can l show you some
laces to day, ladies2"
"Oh, laces, is it?" said Mrs Barrett. 81
thought you we're a book-ageDt II its laces,
you eau come up. l shan't buy anything,
but I'd like to look at them"
With a sigh of relief the tired woman sank
into chair, and said, "Well, I'm thankful
you would. I'd most made up my mind to
ask you to let me sit down here a few min-
utes, even If you didn't want TO see thing.
I've been walking all the morning, and the
heats something awful. Its heaven here on
this piazza"
At this Jenny smiled and looked at her
aunt. She was about to say, "You see, it
seems a good deal better than the sidewalk
to some people" then she changed her mind
and turned to the lsces. They we're exceed
ingly pretty some OF them valuable.
How do you get such laces as these ?"
asked Mrs. Barrett sharply.
The woman was too tired to be resentful
"Oh, she said, II only sell on commission.
get all my laces from a store in New York.
I've been travelling for them now for two
years.
"Travelling!' exclaimed Jenny. DO you
go farI'
"Well, haven't been out of New York
state till this year." she replied. Il did
splenddly there the first two years. / Just
took the towns right along on the railroads
aud sometimes I'd stop month in one place,
and go round to the small villages aud farms.
You wouldn't believe what nice things some
of the farmers wives IL buy. I've had the
best time goin round among them. do
love the country. can dressmske little
too, 70 they d get me to make a dress, or cut
aud fit, maybe; and I'd pay for my board
that way, and they'd always buy something.
did real well at Niagara, too, last year.
Hotels are frst.rate places. Travellers are
always getting short O. laces and collars and
such iIings. l sold over five hundred dol
lars worth at Niagara sold out once, clean
out, and had to send back to New York for a
new stock"
Jennys eyes were as big saucers. "Have
you been at Niagara p she gasped. Did
you have time to see it, besides selling your
thiDgs?"
"Oh lor. yes" answered the woman, 81
saw ell l wanted to of it, and more too. It's
a dreadful tiresome place enough to make
you deaf, the sound of the water. was glad
to get away
"Id give all I'm worth to see it just one
hour" exclaimed Jenny.
The woman looked at her curiously. "Well,
.
Jenny shook her head and turned again to
the lace box, over which her aunt was bend
ing with absorbing interest. 1t was pretty
assortment of all the numberless little dainty
articles Of lGce.wear, tempting when one
sees them spread on city counters, but how
much more so when they are suddenly dis
played to unused eyes in rural villages
Jenny, look at this pink Grape bow with
lace ends ~ exclaimed Mrs. Barrett. Would.
Mt that be lovely with my wine-colored gren-
adine would like it. But it's no use l
can't buy it.
ITS only two dollars-better take it," said
the sales-woman. They we're two and a
half, but Im selling the last at two, Or
here are some at one dollar, very similar"
Not half so pretty" said Mrs. Barrett
"Its the two dollar pick one l want Bot l
can't have it. You may As well put it up"
The woman fingered. 1t did indeed seem
to her like heaven on the cool shady piazza
Have you got much famy?" she asked.
"Ony myself and my niece now" answer
ed Mrs. Barrett, wonderngly. MY hus,
baud is in New York buying goods. He
keeps that dry goods store on Main street.
Perhaps you saw it,.
"Oh does he? Yes, was in there try
ing to sell some of my laces, and they said
the boss was away buying. They said bust
ness was dreadful duh here now"
Yes, tit" sighed Mrs. Barrett. 81 would
MT have minded buying that bow last year
this time, but my husband told me not to
spend q single cent could help, and | amt
going to. :"
"There's mighty few wives like that" re-
piled the sales woman, half .soliloquizingly
Say she continued, "if you want that bow
so bad, why don't you Just keep me over to.
m
thing to speak of, and I'll let you have the
bow for it. 1t does seem to me like heaven
on this piazza here'
Mrs. Barrett looked at Jenny, who nodded
approyingly, exclaiming, "Oh, do, aunt
She may sleep in my room, and welcome
and can sleep with you"
well" said Mrs. Barrett, "seeing my hus
bands away, you can stay. We haven't got
but the two bedrooms"
81 shouldn't care if l had a bedroom OF
not, it seems to me-" said the woman, "if
had such piazza as this. tell you, if you'd
tramped as much as l have to day you'd think
it was just heavenly. names Williams,
she added. 81 suppose you'd like to know
| something about me Harriet Williams.
was rorn and reared just outside of Canaan
daigua, New York, and I've got folks at home
very comfortable. l can go home any time
I'm mind to but l just thought I'd be in
dependent and Tn real fond of travelling
besides. At least l was. I'm about sick on
now. l reckon I'll stay at home this win
| ter"
Il think it's perfectly splendid way yol
do, exclaimed Jenny, who had been devour
ing every word she said. "Do you really
make money besides all it costs to travel
Uncle always says it costs frightfully to tray
el."
"well, it does, and it don't, said the prac
tical Harriet, who had taken of her bonnet
and was leaning her head back against tn
lattice. work wall of the piazza.
"It's all according to how you travel.
costs me mighty little. First place, get
commercial travellers ticket. That cut
down on the fares lot. Then l don't stol
at hgh-priced houses. l always find ou
some nice quiet boarding house. l neve
pay outside of dollar or dollar and hal
day and sometimes / stay week, or evel
a mouth in place, and pay all my expense
doing odd jobs of dressmaking nights an,
mornings. SO all l make on sales is cIea
gain. Oh yes it's a good thing. 1 clearet
three hundred dollars the first year but the
l took the typhoid fever in the fall, and wa
sick three months had it awful, and tina
pretty near used up all saved that year"
81 think it's the incest thing ever hear
of for a woman to do, to earn money" ex
claimed the excited Jenny.
"Mercy on us, said her aunt, "how yO
do 90 on You'll be starting out yoursel
with box the next thing"
"Thats Just what mean to do, Aunt Bar
rett rstorted Jenny, "You see II / don't