Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-07-05

lister didn't think / could get along"
she added, proudly, "but have. | have
as much as can do all the time, and
sometimes even have orders ahead. All
make leave at Mr.. Pritchard's fancy
store, and he sells them for me. | told
the minister that the Lord would pro-
vide customers, and He has. You see
| knew the Lord better than he did"
went away wondering, for Pritch-
ard s was very fashionable and exclu-
sive establishment indeed, where moth
ing, supposed, was ever sold that was
not of the very best. He made a
specially of thigh art" needlework
and such matters; so / was not little
surprised a few days after-happening
that way-to see in his elegant window,
among the beautiful placques and pan
els and embroidered fabrics, the iden-
teal tidy all askew as it was, and la
beled with the price.
hardly know what impelled me, but
| had the curiosity to go in. Not being
able to afford much in the way of
"high art" | seldom purchased any
thing of Mr.. Pritchard; but go there
very often with friends who do, and
Mr.. Pritchard is always exceedingly
civil.
"Oh, that! that tidy in the window
do you mean?" Then he began to
smile. ~ don't suppose you want to
buy tide youP"
"No.n
81 thought not. Very often people
inquire about the things in that corner
of the window. The fact is, his voice
fell, 'there is story about that tidy
and lot more of similar things. 1t
isn't known, and | shouldn't like it to
get Quit might lose me custom you
know-but will tell you in confidence
how it happens. "Of course"-Mr.
Pritchard's tone was a little contemptu-
ous-''no one in hers senses would pay
three dollars for thing like that, I'M
less perhaps-in this case-for whim.
Well, over six months ago an old woman
came in here one day with some things
to sell. | was very busy. | was wait
ing upon lady, one of my best Gus
toners, and it annoyed me to be inter-
rupted. The old woman stuck and
, hung; as they say, wouldn't take no
for an answer. After awhile the lady
began to take an interest. She looked
over what the woman had in her bas-
ket--the queerest things you ever saw
and actually insisted upon buying a
pincushion and a white rabbit made OF
} flannel with bead eyes. She made out
to the old woman they We're just what
she wanted for her children. Then
Mrs. Van Arsdale started, there! |
didn't mean to tell her name!-please
don't mention it-Mrs. Van Arsdale
took me aside, and made me promise
to take what the woman had, to sell on
| commission. told her there would be
t no market oh, yes, said she, there
D will be market, for all you can not sell
t / will take and pay for myself. There
never is any accounting for a rich
= woman S whims, continued Mr.. Pritch.
t ard, ruefully Every body wonders
why let my window be cluttered up
: with such stuff; but the fact is
: can not afford to affront Mrs. Van
: Arsdale. It's amazing how much that
= old woman contrives to do, and she
/ isn't satisfied either unless she gets a
: good price. Once put the price of a
toilet set she made, cushions and three
A little ridiculous mats, at a dollar. She
, keeps sharp watch of the window, and
t next day she came in very indignant al
my asking so little. You see thought
= it an imposition on Mrs. Van Arsdale
The price for the set, said the ole
4 woman, Ought not to be a cent less
than four dollars. They took me every
1 bit of four days 10 make. Now yot
y put up the price, said she, independent
: as you please, or I'll go to some Other
1 place.! That was cool, wasn't itP
A told Mrs. Van Arsdale, but all she ha(
r to say was: Let her fix the price t.
: suit herself III make it good. Send tn,
e things to my house, but be careful sh,
a never knows"
= / have thought of this story many
. times since heard it, and perhaps, il
h its way, it is worthy of being jottet
Y down. | have been careful never t,
speak of it and the names are of cours,
changed, but the story itself is true.
v 1t does seem, after all, as if Mrs
d Richmond was right in the faith sh,
d had that, while her own fingers pro
|. vided the fancy work, the Lord would
n see about the customers. First an,
q last by this time Mrs. Van Arsdal,
v must have paid several hundred dollar
q for what some might consider foolisl
= whim; but when hear of her at New
r port and Saratoga, and people say sh
i is fond of society and frivolous, cal
Il not held remembering Mrs. Richmond
q e. 1. Cerrts, in Chicago AdUdnce.