The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-04


almost ike the son her father had always
wished for, she thought; Shut can dc
my best. l have an education. am
church member. read good deal.
think can talk little on a subject
understand. And amongst so many
booksn-she glanced at the shelves
II certainly should find the employment
cougenial; only must go out of town
every night.
"That would be very easy" said the
gentleman. s'You could arrange youl
hours to suit yourself. You are exactly
the person we want. see in your face
that expression look for in vain in SC
many faces-intelligence." The gentle
man gave little leap on his chair and
spread his hands abroad. HVivacityp '
He repeated the action. "And with a
fine personal appearance. You are the
very woman we need I speak in a
purely business way. We must think OF
these things. You suit us"
Could it be2 Could it be? Phoebe
trembled with joy. Fifty dollars week
her dreams realized-her father happy
Meanwhile the gentleman arose from his
seat.
This" said he, taking thick vol
ume from a shelf, sis the volume"
Phoebe looked at it with a happy
smile, and waited for more.
"Have you ever taken subscriptionsln
asked the gentleman.
''No, said Phoebe; "but l."
'sAh, yes, yon will be very successful,
am sure" said the gentleman. "We
give you list of streets, numbers, names
of residents. You call with the book,
ask to see Mrs. So and So or Mr.. So and
So;. send up your name; your card is
preferable, You rise when the person
enters, say; How do you do, Mrs. So
and SOB l feel that you would be in
terested in this work, and called to show
it to you You then talk in such man
ner that the person subscribes for the
book. On receiving the mouey, we
give you the percentage. You seer"
Eyes, " said poor Phoebe, who, under
the revulsion of feeling, was on the verge
of fainting fit. eyes. 1t is like the
man with 'Dosem's Family Medicine,
and the other books, who come to our
house sometimes. But you give fifty
dollars week2'
FIFTY, dear madam" cried the man,
laughing, and rubbing his hands gayly.
cat ten cents on each book, you can
easily get hundred subscribers a day
six hundred a week; sixty dollars for
the six days work. With your mesmeric
power-T see it in your eyes-you will
make more"
Poor Phoebe began to feel better. 1t
would be terrible work; not at all what
she supposed; but-anything, anything
for father and the homestead
'.This is a specimen copy" said the
gentleman. "You buy this little book
for your names. It has a pencil at
taehed; twenty-five cents. And you
leave one dollar deposit for the book"
as that necessary asked Phebe.
"Well, we exact it of all, said the
amiable Mr. Cozzen. ''What would
you havel We can't make exceptions;
we should offend Others
Phoebe paid the dollar and quarter,
TOOK the book, and walked away, glanc-
ing at the outline of her cheat, which
was far up town.
The book was a collection of receipts,
advice to youth, selections from Bryant's
poems, and fun from old Jest books.
Poor Phebel she hoped against hore,
as the street cars took her uptown, and
still cherished much more OF that COM
forting emotion than could have been
expected, when her feet touched the red
hot iagstones of Fifty-seventh street,
and the tall residences stared down at her
with half their doors closed with those
wooden barriers, they say to all who
look, "FamiIy gone to Europe" But
yet there were steps that might be
climbed, and Miss Mumford climbed
them patiently.
She saw a sweet, old lady, who
beamed on her and said:
EsWe've such a large library now we
can't really add to it. There's not room
in the house for another book"
She saw a sarcastic lady who said:
"Greatly obliged for the attention. 1t
is wonderful book-wonderful, but
couldn't understand it. 1 have to read
lighter things. My brain, you know,
won't bear too much. "
She saw a contemptuous young lady, |
who simply shook her head and ran for
footman TO "show this person out"
Then she saw grandpapa, with a
dyed moustache and an eye-glass, who |
was gallant aad offensive. Then she re-
ceived many ''not at homes" from angry
who knew her errand well, and
felt that they had been troubled to open
the door unnecessarily. After many
long, hot, wasted hours she found that |
her next number was drug store and
entered it, Handful for its cool shadow.
She was hot, thirsty, wretched. She
Ionged for glass of the ice-cold soda
water, but had only little change, which
must serve for fares, in her pocket.
She stood before The counter and re
peated her little story-her talk about the
book. The druggist smiled as he glanced
at the volume.
~ would not half such drash in mine
house, he said. ''You waste your dime
nit book like dis"
sit seems worthless to me, said
poor Phoebe, signing.
"You get dock in, like some oder
peoples, NIT dem rascals, " said the Ger
man. .sYou lock dried, madame, and
not veil. Go home and rest atvlse
you as doctor"
A customer, who had been looking at
her, threw down the price of a tooth
brush he had bought, and Selling his
purchase, followed Phoebe out of the
door.
'sLet me see your book, madam" he
said. Every nice; I'll subscribe. Give
me your book. I'll write my name and
residence"
He did so. Phoebe thanked him, and
tried toread it, but the letters danced
before her eyes. Her head was so hot,
so heavy, she must 60 back to NJ. Coz
zen's, get her dollar, give in her sub
scription, tell him that she had failed.
She would feel better after she had
rested. she thoupht-better. How kind