Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-09-02

great favor to allow them to remain here until
tomorrow. I've long tramp before me, and
Tn not going to any place where Think they'd
Be likely to buy anything Of this sort III set
them back BY the chimney piece, uia'ana, where
they won't be IN anybody's way I'm very
tired with carrying them -
I felt sorry for the poor jadcd wretch--so I
made no objection. And when he was gone
the vases did make the room look wonderful
pretty. could not but wish they were mine,
Obadiah perceived them at once when he
came home to tea.
Hello, what does this meaufn he aslled
So told him, adding
''I only wish that / could afford them-shey
ara 90 handsome"
with his brows knit thoughtfully and his handa
10 his pockets.
Eyes, they're pretty" said be. "But they
are not perfect
mot Perfect7" echoed.
mot By any means Don't you SEQ that
lengthwise crack down one2 And the end Of
the little raised rosebud is Clipped OFF on tho
other. hope yon didn't do It, Josie7" with
sudden glance Of apprehension,
''l2 Certainly not" cried. "Why, Thaveu't
60 much as touched the things
Then I dare say it's all right, said oba-
diah
And we sat down to supper.
The next day. however, my friend, tho china
vender, came along, smiling. and obsequious
as ever.
There are your vases, " I said, ',just uhore
you left them"
But all at once he broke ont into storm Of
reproaeh and obloquy. They had been crack
ed and damaged In my caro-. They we're per
fect--absolutely Perfect-when he left them
there tho day before. I had worked the mia
chief, and I was of course responsible for the
value Of the articles.
OF course knew that the rascal was telling
falsehood but what could I dof 1 was alone
in the house and fairly terrified by the feroclty
of the man.
'sYOu must pay for them,s he reiterated
again and again, 'or VIII have you arrested
at onco."
burst into tears,
How can pay youg'I said The vases
were damaged when you left them here = AiHd
beside, [ have not e5-no. nor eI-in the
house, which was true enough
While spoke he had been glanclne fnrtiye-
ly nround,
II don't want TO be hard with you, na'am. ("
he sold. "Of course poor man ilko me haa
got to save Almself ron Ioss. nnd if yoali let
me have thai fol blue and white Ihdla oliibE
in the dresser i'liisavo iht yasss, aud waIl
say no NOR about Il"
It went.to nF heartfo pari wish lie fndsa
ware, which ned boon reiic az my moshar's
daya, but was so ierfiaed by
the mIn'q bhiiyiag manner that I believe I
wopld have slysn lin the house over my head
ifhe had aslied for Il, and he went away.
Having the autiiil vase on the door.
5How glae was % see Sire. Mogga come
cbeerfnIly in Half hour aftsrwara--a gobd
..l,.S an eidesFiSf dIlIIm5 lzss aaas3sgle
: Why. my apss, sltas is &c uaiteFS, shs
asked
I told her oil
But. my d. sbo said, tiliosF c6rBe ,sof i,s
be 80 taken in2 There was an article IA iba
paper last week warning everybody against
this very imposter Didn't son 600 10 h ,gea
called The Vase swindlcr.s'
colored deeply and hung my head.
1--WE have atoPped taking. the paper, II said.
"obadiah thought We couldn't aford.--e
"And your beautiful chiua. too snld Nrs.
Meggs. "Why, there was half cnlaynn IN tha
paper week before last, about the value Of old
china justnow. And by what It stated your set
India ware must have been worth at least
go"
Twenty doliarsl And had irittered them
wy iof 2 pair Of wretched, cracked, tawdy
vases Of the very sisht OF which / was already
Ny dear, said Mrs. Megg5. "ycur idens Of
economy are altogether misplaced. You ahouid
read the papers"
Obadiah went and subscribed for the Boggs.
Vile Rerdldthat very evening. And in the 6rst
number he saw an advertisement for hands ct
. now steam factory 10 the neizhborhood,
which offered steady work and wages third
i1gher than he was now receiving. And In
serted modest little ''Dressmaking Wdnted,"
and am now making my own snug little in
cone, thank heaVenl
And e anybody tells us now that we can't
afford 70 tAks paper, We tell them, Obadiah
aud l, that We cant atlord 70 10 without ono.