Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-07
WHAT YOU LIKE FOR A PENNY.
BOOmaladdies, Baseballers, Toys, Can
dies, Fireworks, Groceries, Etc.

There was kind-looking old woman seated
on little three-legged stool at the door of the
small shop, rapidly plying an indeterminate
number of knitting needles, as a Iiminutive
boy in knickerbockers rushed breathlessly up
and shouted: ''Got any Buffalo Bllls9"
"No," replied the propriesress of the estab-
calmly, "but I've got boomaladdies
and baseballers."
The youthful customer looked disappointed.
'No," he said gravely, ''those won't do. I'm
sorry, for wanted the Buffalo Bills very much.
But you may give me top and string and one
1awbreaker.
The old woman gathered up her work and went
counter, she handed out successfully top, a
top string with a wooden button on the end
and big piece Of candy. In payment for
these articles the small boy released three cop
pers from an unusually grimy paw; then he
distended one cheek with the piece of candy,
Pickle up the top and string and gleefully
skipped out the door.
1.-THE pennies Of the children pretty much
support this store" said the old woman with a
smile, in response to a question from STAR
reporter who had come in Just after the bow
I'VE try to have everything in stock that the
little people can possibly want to buy, and
there's not much that's lacking, a. you can see
for yourself"
Alook around the shop fully bore out the as
sertion, for every shelf and counter was heaped
with merchandise Of the most astonishingly
varied description. Nothing that could be
bought for penny seemed absent. There was
fairly endless confusion of kites Of the cheap
sort that never actually fly, popcorn Of uncer-
tain age, torpedoes. frecrackers, ten for q cent;
whistles, flags, candies OF all sorts, nuts, pref
zels,, honey cakes, jointed and other dolls,
wooden cannon, monkeys on sticks, trumpets,
oranges, apples, picked lines, beloved Of
school girls; everything imaginable, in short,
that gives inexpensive happiness to early youth
In the way OF toys and edibles. More costly
things there were too, such as hve-cent base
balls, paper-cap pistols, &C., adapted to the ex-
acting demands Of envied infantile capitalists.
"But see none Of the boomaladdies which
you said were in stock, }" remarked the newspaper
man, after surveying the goods displayed FOR
sale. pray, what are they?"
The old woman opened drawer and took
on which were printed in gaudy colors whole
files OF neutrality-suspicious. infantry.
"Boomaladdies are paper soldiers" ex-
planned the old woman. You see, the children
cut them out and paste. some of them at the
feet on little wooden blocks so they win stand
upright, but others are so made that part of
the paper they are printed on can be cut and
turned over for foot rest. We have base
ballers, too in the same way. Here are the
catcher and pitcher and all the rest Of the
players In the attitudes they take in the field,
80 that the boy can cut them out aud stand
them up in their proper positions ON table
and have an imaginary game all TO himself
any number Of games in fact-for only penny.
The Buffalo Bills include Mr.. Cody on horse
back and six bunaloes, but they have been very
much in demand OF late and we have run out
Of them. You see, there are fashions In chill
drens playthings as in everything else"
II notice you sell groceries and cigars also I"
Yes, indeed. Here are sardines, canned To-
matoes, olive oil, ginger, soap, crackers, Jelly,
pickles, pies and all sorts Of such goods. We
Keep them because 1t constantly happens that
when something il wanted In house one Of
the children will say, Why, mamma, know they
keep that at the penny shop And 90 We get
quite little Of such trade"
.'Dont you And IL rather tiresome selling
things BY the penny worth, " inquired the news
aNos ofssn," said The old woman. ..shoueh
somstimes cautioue little customer win come
here with cents and spend . whole af1ernoon
Looking about and making up his mind what
Clarisse--"0h, Lucia, I've been looking q
your lovely wedding presents. There are sew
Lucia-.T shall need them I'll, al expsct %
keep girl ~ Omaha World
mo" sobbed the widow, II shall never and
Johns eque!, but p.perhaps e-can and h-h-hia
equivalent "-AaTpr's Basav.
The man who tries = argue . woman into
loving him may succeed, perhaps, but ho must
nass long he and no Ifval.-6omayins JJlr-
nrs. Billus while giving Mr.. n curtain
LECTURE at late hour --nHarkI what's hat
hsar noise tn ths esllar. John, Tn safs 81
q; sii'ns lssseias go 4 ssd). srn a
N: Rtllas .vAas srs yes ssaas > q,