Evening journal., 1897-12-21
AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE.

AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE.
In some papers belonging to Mrs.
Sarah p. Mason, which were recently
presented to the Historical Society OF
Delaware there is one which tells a
strange story, but, unfortunately, the
name of the person who had the
strange experience is not given, and as
Mrs. Mason is dead it will doubtless
never be known. The paper containing
the story is yellowed by age, and bears
every evidence of having from three
quarters to a century to its credit 1t
says:
Il went to my store, made fire and
sat down behind the counter. 1t was
nearly daylight. 1 would here state
that in my window there hung, as
show set, an antiquated set of silver
ware of English make, very heavy,
having the English coat-of-arms en-
graved on it. 1t had been owned by
my last employer for some twenty
years, by me for several years. No one
ever asked its price. 1t was simply in
the window for a show. AS the day
began to dawn 1 heard the creak of a
wagon, and on looking out l perceived
an old-fashioned gig drive up and stop
when a tall and venerable-lOOking man,
whose locks were almost as white as
the snow that lay on the ground,
stepped down and after looking in my
window for a moment, entered the
store and Immediately asked the price
of the silver set in the window. l told
him, with a faltering voice, $500. He
asked me, with benevolent look, if l
had box that would hold it, and on
my answering in the affirmative, he
told me he would take it. In a few
minutes it was safely boxed and put
into his gig, the money in gold paid
down, and he, with a smile, drove of.
No one was ever able to tell from
whence he came, or whittier he went,
nor have / ever been able to tell to this
day. Suffice to say, procured good
horse, mounted him, and few min
utes before 3 o'clock was in Philadel-
phia, paid my notes and returned the
next day to my family, strong in faith
giving glory to God. j. H. L."
The fact that the person who had
this strange customer mounted his
horse to go Philadelphia proves con-
clusively that the incident occurred be-
fore there was a railroad down the
Peninsula and possibly before regular
stage lines had been established.
THIS COUPON BUSINESS.
"The giving of trading stamps ol
coupons has become so common thai
the doctors and undertakers will soor
have to go into it." remarked a bust
ness man who is unalterably opposed
to innovations of the trading stamI
kind. "It is going to ruin Legitimate
trade and legitimate advertising unless
a stop is put to it. L will shut up my
place before l hold out such lottery
inducements to my customers. WheI
1 sell goods l am entitled to fai
profit, and do not propose to share Il
with some outside trading-stamp com
pany which sees fit to set the wOmeI
crazy by Offering premiums which ar
really not worth the trouble expended
to get them.
GARBAGE CONTRACTORS PLANT
1t was a garbage contractor VIII
spoke-one of these poor, abused gar
bage contractors who are blamed 70
every unpleasant breeze which blow
in Summer. He said: Il have come L
the conclusion that there is little
any use of sending out the wagons o
a Summer afternoon. 1t is impossibl
for the men to get more than two
thirds of the slop on a route for tn
reason that women take advantage o
Summer afternoons to go out callin
or to stay in sleeping. They almos
invariably fasten the gates and tn
garbage collector cannot get in to tax
the stuff out and there it stays unit
the wagons go around next time. Blu
while we fail to get it, you may depen
upon it that those who are misse
through no ones fault but their ow
are quite prompt to report the matter
and many of them are indignant whe
told that if they would remain at hom
or leave the garbage where it could b
got in their absence they would hav
no cause for complaint. Our wagon
usually make four trips in Summe
and two of them are made in the after
noon. Next Summer / think that
shall have my wagons do all the wor
in the morning, thereby making tn
collections more satisfactory to tn
housewives and very much easier fo
U.S."
WHERE THE MISTLETOE GROWS
On saturday AFTERNOON q lIlenu
the Wayfarer's gave him a small spri
of mistletoe and he pinned it on th
lapel of his coat Some hours later
was in a Market street store, and Oh
of the young women behind the couI
ter asked him where he got it, an
where it grew. The first part Of II
question was evaded and the secon
part answered by the simple statemel
that it was a parasite which grew @
certain kinds of trees, principally II
apple and oak. She laughed at Il
idea and declared that it was nonseni
to state that it did not grow from Il
ground like any other plant. In fac
she refused to be convinced, and pro-
ably still regards the statement as
piece of nonsense.
No doubt there are hundreds of 9th