San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-16
THE OLD CLIO MAN.

"Oh, such pretty vases, mamma" said
Fanny, nearly throwing herself out of the
window, in her eagerneSs to look after an old
clothes man, who with his bag upon his
shoulder, and his basket of brittle ware upon
his arm, was just that moment passing the
door. such pretty. pretty vases! DO let
me have one, mammal
Now, ! never, on any account, encourage
one of those people have hitherto made 1t
q positive rule never to allow one of them to
cross my threshold Yet, somehow, Fanny's
eyes-they are just like Psalter's-looked so
coaxingly into mine that, before had taken
a moment to consider about it, | opened the
doom: and the minute did So. of course, the
old clothes man came straight up the stairs,
with his "Old clo old sheen! Eny tings to
change dis morning, atyf
As | had opened the door, | thought it
could do no harm to humOr Fanny, just for
once, you know; SO, telling the man To wait
a moment, and bidding Fanny, in whisper,
not to leave the hall until came back tor ]
was afraid the man might NEEDLE with some
thing while was gone, | ran up stairs and
was soon engaged in inspecting the contents
of a musty old wardrobe in the lumber room.
There was an old office coat of Psalters terri
bly, out at elbows an old vest of brother
Johns, totally destitute Of pockets; little
frock of Eanny's, whieh>she had outgrown
year before; and brocbe shawl of my own,
which had been spotted with rain, and which
| had placed in the wardrobe in a fit of i'm
patience, pretending to myself that it was
utterly ruined
1t was the only thing of any value there,
and, in fact, it was so good that hesitated
about producing it on the present occasion.
turned it about and looked at it over and
over again The center was the only part
which was stained. ! could rip the border
off and have it dyed, and my shawl would be
as good as new again. But then it was so
much trouble, and had very pretty shawl
and a cloak and beaded wrap besides So
did feel afraid that it would be wrong to dis
pose of it for next to nothing.
While was celebrating on the subject, l
heard some one beside me say, why don't
you come, mammal" and there, if you'll be-
lieve me, stood that disobedient child, not
withstanding had told her not to leave the
hall on any account There she was, and the
old clothes man was alone down stairs.
declare | had half a mind to shake her well.
! ran down stairs immediately. There
stood the peddler Just where had left him,
looking so steadfastly at nothing that he
really seemed to have a cast in one of his
eyes and squint in the other Ughl what q
villainous looking face he had-it absolutely
made me shudder. He lifted the coat from
the chair upon which had laid it, and held
it at arms length with a superCilOus air
"Ahn' he said. dat is goot for nothings
Iaty Dat ish not goot for rags. got very
,oI1
clos, old Shoes-anyting else, laty' Little
laty want pretty tings out Nv my basket:"
Here's frock," said Fanny, land vest
of Uncle Johns, and shawl OF mas
"Ah!~ granted the man. The fTock is no
g0oI-uot worth nothings. The vest was no
use mit me The shawl was leetle peter,
laty Vot you want for him!"
Il want pretty vase" said Fanny
All leetle laty," said the peddler, Il
makes no monish NIT you-you too hard on
me Veil, veil, | takes de clos. Dey ish
worth nothing, most nothing, laty, and
give you dis vase. | make myself poor bar.
gain, leetle laty Ughl make no moash
NIT you" and with innumerable jerks and
moves and gesticulations he thrust a little
vase, with very gaudy pattern printed on
the front, into the chiids hand and began to
gather up the dFllCFS lTOlA the FOOT Wlere
he had dropped them.
Just then happened to glance through the
window, and saw to my chaGrin two of my
most fashionable acquaintanceS coming up
the street, and really, for the moment,
would not have cared how much the man had
cheated me, SO that | got him out of the
house before they came up He did go at
last although he came back after they were
in the hall to say;
Next time you has peter tings, aty; then
we make peter bargains, make no monish
NIT you this day laty. Good-by | come
next week-den you hash peter tings."
At which speech Mrs. JaPoRica rolled up
her eyes and asked me what the man meant;
and Miss Coyneiia Japonica wondered |
didn't move nearer Fifth avenue, where |
would not be subject to the intrusions of such
people,
The Japonicas stood good whae and talk
Cd away about all manner Of fashionable
nothisgs-the last concert and the last party
at Mrs Highhyer's-how sweety Screecho-
un sang, and how elegantly Niss Wilkins
Wa dressed the other day. By the time they
went Clara and Rosa ami Dick were home