Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-12-04
The Cheap Jewelry Man.

alu leaned against the TAIL iron post, on
whose summit at night glared the sharp
electric light. He was rather a shabby
looking man, and his face was crimson
red. Not that he found himself in an
embarrassing place, and SO he blushed
continually before the great crowds
passing up and down the sidewalk, but
the sun at every opportunity did its best
or worst at scorching him. He held in
one hand an umbrella, and that signified
that while the morning might roast
him, the afternoon might drench him.
lie wore low, round topped felt hat that
had been worn much already. His
blouse was blue, and his trousers were
black, and though around his neck went
no linen or even paper collar, there was
q gaudy little ornament pinning to-
gether his sEirt-front. That was kind
of advertisement of what he sold; for
in his right hand, extended beseeching-
ly to the crowd, was a piece of card
board glittering with the wares he ped
died. For ten cents you could have
bought an elegant 0ooking) scarf-pin,
Or pair of sleeve buttons.
1t was very hot day when our sto-
ry opens. Why did not the man spread
the umbrella he carried, and shield
himself from the roasting fire of the
sun? He would gladly have done SO,
but he had his tormentors, not flies,
though they could fly, and he could
protect himself better when the UNI
brella was folded up than when it was
open. 1t was a roof in one case, but
rod in the other. All, he had a tor
mentor that day!
He was crying: "Only ten cents,
only ten cents Your choice for ten
cents!"
Two boys were coming down the
street.
ooh, look!" said Joe Bagley, the old
er pedestrian, pointing at the tall
lamp-post and the jewelry man. Joe
was long, lank boy of twelve, his
body wriggling snake-like as he walk
ed, and his eyes were black and cold,
but they had sharp light in them
when he was thinking of mischief,
which was very often.
Look at that mani" said Jimmy r.
wing, boy of eleven. with eyes that
smiled pleasantly when he looked at
you. Just the boy of whom to ask,
Can you tell me where So-and-so
ives?" Jimmy carried brown paper
bag in his hand. He had just brought
it from the market.
Now for fun, JIMMY"
"Oh. NONSENSE"
"Why not? There's the jewelry man.
Good chance!"
mo, sir, I have got an Uncle Billy
in England, and 1 have heard father
tell how hard Uncle Billy worked MAX
ing jewelry, and 1 never see anybody
like that poor man holding out his
jewelry, but think of my Uncle Billy.
l am not going to trouble the man."
"Uncle Billy" exclaimed Joe, with
sheer. I'm goin' to call you Grand
pa Billy"
Don't care if you do"
Uncle Billy! He the man that folks
say is comm over from England?"
Eyes. His family are all dead, and
so he's a-comin' here"
"Well, when he comes, you can buy
some jewelry of him, but I'm gon' to
make purchase of this man."
Joe stealthily approached the golden
ware dealer, careful, though, to APP
proach on the side of the man opposite
that where his umbrella was on guard.
Here, Mister" shouted Joe, "Pll
take two! Here's your changed"
While the dealer was endeavoring to
detach two of the fascinating orna.
ments Joe heavily struck the cardl into
which the ornaments were pinned, and
away they went! The man did not
dare to chase Joe, for other rascals
were close by, grinning as they watched
Joe, and preparing to share in any
plumber that might result.
"Too bad!" said Jim, sympathetical.
~. STOPPING to help pick up the orna-
ments. THAT was means
The man said nothing, but looked
very sorrowful, and that only intensi-
lied Jimmy's pity.
Take some of these!" said Jimmy.
opening his bag and displaying some
ruit that, if less perishable, would
nave made handsomer ornaments, sus-
pended about the person. than those of
The street peddler Cherries" said
Jimmy. "Take some!"
The man looked ct the honest, kindly
lace before him, and smile spread over
MS features like the light breaking out
rom cloud and sweeping across the
ky:
hco. bHduhee! SAID tne man.
Good boy"
Jimmy left him standing at the tall
ron. post, his shining goods in ono
aand, the umbrella in the other.
Ten centsi Your choice Cor ten
.ents!" Jimmy heard him crying out as
10 turned homeward.
Joe Bagley escaped without any in
Jury, and yet, can we escape the con-
sequence of wrong-doing? In some
way thereis sure to be penalty. This
was the form it took in Joes case:
Having escaped the umbrella of the
cheap jewelry man, Joe was embold-
ened to try his hand at teasing man
selling shoe-strings at the next corner.
I'll take pair" said Joe, trying
to snatch two from the hand of the
dealer.
mo, you won't!" shouted the nimble
peddler, clutching Zoe by the coat col
lar. did you want to steal shoe
string? III let you have the shoe with
out the string!"
Here he lifted his foot, and Joe lifted
his "Ow-ow- Another time, said
the man, you buy the whole article
and not the shoe-part.
A day passed by, and Jimmy was 60
ing home at night. As he reached the
door of his fathers house, he stopped
in the entry, for he heard the voice OF
stranger talking with his father.