The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-23
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Observation-Disclosures

IN lHNhWNlt t1'Htf'
II win trade of some OF those shop
worn goods on the working people,
he thought to himself
Alasl misguided man that he wasi
The sun rose bright and smiling.
When the vendor arrived at his post
the street was cleanly swept. The
shop windows were still covered with
their shutters, and only a few wagons
went rafting by. The vendor whistled
cheerfulIy 70 himself.
All Of a sudden the sound Of many
feet attracted his attention.
Confused cries of Catch himl Catch
himi" broke upon his cars.
He turned and saw a crowd of poo
pic. Some had canes and some brooms
Here was a man with the fire shovel,
there one flourishing the tongs Some
were without hats; some were strug-
Cling into their coats,
Catch himl Catch him. was the
cry Of all.
ssGentlenen, gentlemen" cried the
vendor, spreading ont his arms. But
one Of his own aljectives, whizzing by
his ears, warned him that expostula-
ton was vain. He seized his pack and
ran.
Catch himl Catch himt' cried all
the t~ownspeopie.
Down the narrow streets he lodged,
threw the broad streets he flew, pcited
from behind, painting for breath. But
the vendor was still a man Of resource.
He had now got fairly out OF town
lie spied a vacant marshy plot close BY
the road. Into it he few, and set his
goods before him in the amer Of a
stockade, until only his head appeared
above the top thereof,
The vendors conduct fairly took
away the breath OF the townspeople.
How strangely he looked peering over
his adjectiyes.
"Gentlemen, : he said, lam 4 peace
able man. In what have 4 offended2'
There was a confused murmur, and
then one man stood forth to act as
spokesman for the rest, He was an
erect gentleman and prfm also, al
though at present somewhat rufied by
his late exertions.
you have made o jabbering goose Of
my daughter" said the gentleman.
And of miner
And Of mine shouted voices from
the crowd-and the vendor was obliged
to dodge down behind his stockade to
avoid the ndjectiycs that descended
upon him.
The gentleman waited for him to APP
pear.
And q gibbering maniac OF my son."
he continued.
Here the uproar was so great that
the prim gentleman seized d broom
and waved the townspeople into order.
The vendor, leaning his head upon
his hand, observed the enemy with his
bright eyes.
How much will you take?" said the
vendor. finally.
Take his head, . said one voice.
Take his money said another.
Take his pack" said a third.
His tongue" said q fourth, and all
the townspeople spoke at once.
The prim gentleman lost his temper.
lie laid about him with his broom. But
for every blow he gave he got one in
return.
The vendor saw his chance. He
seized the whole stockade with both
his hands and hurled it al the enemy.
For Q moment the sky was. darkened.
Catch him! Catch himf' cried the
townspeople. But their voices became
mutiied and they were bent to the very
earth; they were bcwildered and
blinded by the shower Of ~adjectives.
II was some time before the rrim
gentleman, passingshis hand across his
forehead, stumbled to an upright posi-
ton.
Where am | at? Where am / at?'
be said, family.
At his feet all manner of broken OBJ
jects, false and true, fair, fantastic,
sharp, blunt, curved, straight, short
and long, lay g~littering in the morning
sunlight. Around his neck he found .
twisted chain. Observation-Disclosures
licious-daisy-papa,n said the chain;
there's the sweetest ham for break
fastlv
The prim gentleman turned stifiy In
b direction Of home, whittier indeed
b chain seemed to lead him. Once
only he paused on the road.
did we catch him2n he questioned
of a neighbor.
did we?' said the neighbor.
Did we?' cried another and another
and still another, as the question
PASSED on down the line Of the return
Ing citizens,
Not u could answer. but a gay and
mocking laugh rang through the air.
The whole company looked up and
then down. and to thisaside and to that
side, and ven backward. Nothing
was to be seen.
1T is the wind blowing from the
west" said the prim gentleman. why,
breakfast hour is at hand, and SO say
ing he FASTENED home.
As 70 the adjective vendor, whittier
he went, and how, twas never known.
We know the wind was blowing from
the west, and we know that whether
BY land or by water. whether on foot
Or wing,<the vendor was a shifty man.
-Margatet Newcomb, in Springfield
(Ma5s Republican.
Judge waxem's Proverbs.
Thar's more polEticks in honesty,