The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-12-16
At TIE rAwNRROkER,s.
Seeking ia Raise Little Money by Pawa.
ing Things.


Stand near the door of any one of thes
shops and watch the men and women VIII,
so in and out. 1t is not very strange, bu
1t is an index to the character of the place
the fact that the greatest number of custo
mers come just about dusk. They dislik,
to 60 in in open day, when they may BE-
detected on the steps and neither do the,
desire to enter at night, when the lights in
side make them conspicuous from the street
1t IS dreary and gloomy procession that
enters the portals under the gilded balls
Want has brought the great majority OF
them there and poverty has stamped theii
features How familiar are the types OF
restitution, and how hackneyed their de.
scription sounds. A woman with pinched
and saddened features, wearing faded
shawl and carrying underneath its folds q
package done up in newspaper, enters the
door with which she is too familiar, and
goes up to the end of the counter where a
big man of Semitic cast of yisage stands
serene aud majestic in his shirt sleeves. A
younger man, whom nature has stamped as
his son, is at his side. The woman draws
the package from under her shawl and LAYS
it on the counter. Father and son pay her
40 attention, but continue conversation
relative to the respective merits of the black
cigars they alternately place between their
lips and then withdraw to contemplate the
color of the ash at the end.
The woman opens the paper and discloses
4 neatly folded brown dress of some woollen
material, and then waits YEARLY until the
younger man suddenly jerks it toward him
and inquiries
" How much you want ?"
" Can you give me dollar ?n she asks.
Fifty cents, " says the older man, Will
one glance at the garment.
The younger man looks at it more care.
fully, and then says; Forty cents.n The
old man mods approvingly and turns to his
papers.
" All right" the woman says, knowing
from bitter experience that no amount of
pleading can make one penny's difference
in the result.
The young man losses tho dress to one
side, makes out two tickets at the desk, pins
one to the dress, reaches into drawer that
sounds an alarm bell when it is opened and
losses the other ticket and 40 cents on &c
the counter
A young man is the next customer. He
has sauntered up the street whistling, with
mn nvarooot ny, b;o or,,, "a, 10 "A -.
warm to wear it, though the air is sharp
md biting. He stops carelesly Mt the pawn
brokers' window and looks in at the triple
row of watches, whose hands, all pointing
to different times of day, give an air of
recklessness and improvidence to the inter
ior that seems well suited to its dismal
usages The young man looks in for some
time at the window, not because he is un.
decided what course to pursue, but in order
to whit until the other young man who
seems interested in the scrutiny OF pair OF
duelling pistols has COMO away Then the
young man with the over coat glances hasii-
ly about and enters the door. He throws
he oyercoat down at tho nearest end of the
counter and waits for one of the black eye
proved gentlemen to come and look at IL.
He waits for several minutes and then car
lies it up to their end of the counter Il il
obviously his first experience with the mon.
ey lender. The young man with the promi.
nent nose looks carelessly at the coat and
says, Two dollars"
Oh, no" says the other young man with
forced smile, with which he intends Ia
convey the idea that he is not to be taken
in. paid 1896 for that coat, and I've
only worn it little while. want So ON
it,
The young man behind the counter gives
The garment push toward its owner and
turns calmly away. The other young man
waits two or three minutes for him to turn
and take it back, but as no indication of
any such action is eyinced, he inquiries
mildly.
Well, how much will you give? ?"
He Of the prominent nose turns and says
hastily; al told you 80. If you don't
want to take it, pick up the coat an git out
Of the shop"
The young man does pick up tho coat
and walks rapidly toward the door. He is
biting his lips, and can it be possible that
he is trying to keep back tears weak, eff
Terminate tears ? He stops at the door with
his hand on the knob, and then turns about
and walks back to the counter.
Couldn't you give me $3?" he asks
timidly.
" Did you hear me say only give you
~ ?" demands the pawnbroker's son.
" All right, responds the other, meeltly,
md the same rapid transfer of tickets, cont,
md money is made as in the former in
stance.