The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-05-04
ACROSS THE WATER.
How Our English Cousins Go Shop
ping.

The Obliging young man in the iron
mongery shop had never done anything to
offend the school girl of fifteen, who was
gazing meditatively into the shop window.
He had never even seen her before.
He hopes now that he VIII never see her
again.
She entered, looking shyly around her
took the seat to which the obging young
man waved his hand, and sighed.
Il should like she said, Ito see some
cOrkScreWS.'
This brought out all the young man 5
best qualities. He suave in his reply
deferential in his smile and quick with his
fingers. AS he unwrappad parcels and let
loose different breeds of cOrkscrews, one
after another he inquired if she had a
preference for any special kind.
Yes she said. the corkscrews l want
to see are patent oorkscrews; those with
dodge, or trick, or catch. or lever, 10
make the cork come out easily
Certainly, miss. Quite So said the
young man, intelligently. Il have several
neat little inventions of the kind, mostly
American. Surprising what a number Of
these things come over from America
Now, this one, you will observe, is SIM
plicfty itself. No pulling, no violence re-
quired Screw into the cork so. turn the
handle so, and the cork comes out. We
sell great many of these
Il can quite understand that" said the
girl, lit looks very clever Is it very
dear?"
'One and ninepence, miss. We have the
same thing in better quality at"
"Oh, thanks" said the girl II think
the quality Of this is beautiful May l
see another one?'
Certainly, MISS" said the young man
Now. this is very clever little thing Oh
the lever prncple-no pulling OF violence
required. You just"
MAY try it,"
She nv had LOOKING OIL RI
and though it was stretching point the
assistant drove an old cork into an empty
bottle and allowed her to draw 1t out again
Yes the girl said that is charming.
like that much the best. What price is it?
This is a little dearer- Two and four
Wen say two and three. as l see a very
slight spcck of rust on the handle, which
however. will easily clean off"
He began to. wrap it up in paper brskly.
The girl lo6ked'at him with sad, wonder
Why are you wrapping it UP like that?'
she csked.
We'll. miss,fI supposed that you'd soone,
carry it wrapped up. If you Like to take !
as it is and slip 1t into your pocket OF
II don't think ought to do that" said thu
girl. You see. it's not my corkscrew
don't think YOU bought to suggest that
should steal your employers goods. It's not
very honest, Is it? OF course. 1 don't want
!
but"
Here the young man broke in very frigidly
buy 1t without Seeing it? 1t doesn't seem
to me to be the usual way of doing business
but l dare say you know BEST
The young man )sighed.
You can fse ANY article which you are
intending to buy.
well, yoT shodad have said that before
You contradict yourself you know. l want
a packet of that blue gray Silurian note
paper, with envelopes to match, and some
chocolate nougat.
You'd better get out of the shop said
the man. You know perfectly we'll that
this is an ironmongers. not a stationers."
You really are much too hasty," said the
girl I'm only following your own drec-
tons, and you can't buy chocolate nougat
at a statiOner's. There's card in that
window which says, If you don't see what
you want in the window, kindly step inside
and ask for it. I didn't any Silurian
note paper in that window so l kindly STEP
ped inside and
"Will you go?" said the young man, losing
his self control.
mot Immediately. If I've been misled it $
your fault, for putting notices in the window
which you don't mean. Why do you do 1t