The San Francisco call., 1899-05-28

~ HE children We're in the kitchen
frolicling with Biddy, when the
dOorbell rang. AS she went to an
sWeC it they. trooped after her.
Biddy opened the door to a pale
thin little man. with flowing light halr'
who was holding a calico bag. o.,
is the lady of the house at home
,swelled from him so that Biddy was
fled off her feet. That is, she says
>5he was AS she weighs over 200 pounds
his voice must have been po"Sl.
Anyway, it scared little Rosy so she
had to hide her face in Biddys S ski
before she felt safe.
shes out answered Biddy.
can I sell you some of my cement
1t viii mend anything in chinaware, II
is called the Great Parmenian; ana mas
taken every first prize in the state.
With this he held up small pollie
containing a thick, white mud mud J., the
There is nothing broke III ti9
house" said Biddy.
oh, Biddy. there Isl" cried Tom. L
was playing by the kitchen WINDOW
after mamma went out and heard you
break that plate When l looked in
Won were on chair putting it away
on the highest shelf in the closet.
You are always around when you
should be somewhere else spoke
Riddy heatedly. And 1 was only try
ing to find a safe place for it"
At this the children Clapped their
hands; for well they knew Biddy. Then
there is my wash pitcher that YOU
broke the handle from only yesterday"
THAT was so long ago, l forgot"
said Biddy, with a wink.
"Ho. no, Biddy, there is nothing
broken in the house, is there?" teased
Ned.
Here he tried to hug her: but her
f-+ 1oy 80 ha hr1oOod hpr
arm instead. The children loved Biddy.
Their mother loved her. too. even if she
was hard on the dishes.
This wonderful cement is only 25
cents" doomed the delicate little man..
twenty-five cents?" echoed Biddy.
in scorn. Twenty dollars!"
1t viii be worth more dollars than
that if you use it. Just let me go in
and show you how 1t works"
Never" cried Biddy.
DO let him show US, Biddy." begged
Lucy. Perhaps it will mend my china
doll"
Yes do, Biddy," urged Tom. "Think
Of that plate and the wash pitcher.
Besides-there may be others"
Biddy turned pale. Then. as she
will have it, she hardly knew what she
was about before that cement man was
in the kitchen, trying the oven.
This oven is just warm enough" he
- :
So Lucy brought her doll and the
pitcher. And Tom climbed after the
broken plate to find it was keeping
company with a broken platter and a
broken saucer He introduced the plat
ter and saucer to Biddy as her dear de-
parted forgotten ones. when Biddy got
red and bade him hold his tongue. Five
minutes afterward the mended articles
We're in the oven. and, as Biddy said,
looking for all the world like new.
Now they are on their legs" said
the man to Biddy. But be sure to
keep them in there an hour and not let
water come near them for day. Then
they viii stick together till eternity. 1.
am pleased to tell you 1 charge moth
ing for my time"
He drew a fresh bottle from the bag.
And Biddy became the owner of this
after paying twenty-five cents.
When the hour was un Biddy took
out the mended articles carefully. But
the dolls arm fell off at once. Next
day the dishes and pitcher fell apart as
soon as water touched them. But
Riddy kept on trying the cement un-
til she got tired. Nothing would stay
mended Then she vowed she would
give that cement man a piece of her
mind If ever she caught him.
A year afterward the family was re-