The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-01-10

Hlghridgo, my sister Clara put the
money into mothers purse. and said
that II was q $40 Dill. and that Il was
all the cash that there was IN the
house. Mother knows Of her own
ls10wledge that there was Just $40 left
last night after they had paid the coal
BILL II Is utterly impossible that there
should be any mistake The fault lies
here"
Mr.. Highrldge looked at Mrs. BroTa
and smiled a little indulgently. Il am
very sorry that you have had this trou-
bic Mrs Brown. / win give you an
order for IS. You can get It cashed at
the window there. Let me say, how
ever, for the sake Of the establishment
that It is utterly impossible under our
system Of change making that a mis-
take Of this kind should occur"
Mrs. Browns eyes snapped. 1T can't
be impossible Mr.. Highridge. Here is
a perfectly plain case Of error. You
study up your system a little, and you
VIII find that there is room somewhere
for lots Of mistakes" Mrs. Browns
temper was making her forget herself
little, because she was so absolutely
certain Of the ground upon which she
stood.
Mr.. Highbrldge made out an order
for IS and handed 1t to his visitor.
She forgot to say Thank YOU" be-
cause his last words were, though Civ
en- in a tone Of kindly consideration.
Mrs. Brown, assure you that under
our system Of change making mistakes
are impossible"
Phyllis Brown shot one indignant
look into the managerial face, cashed
her order and went home.
The look of relief in her mothers
face as she handed her the So amply
repaid Mrs. Brown for the unpleasant
ten minutes she had spent at Mead
ow's That afternoon the mother went
home.
Two days later Mrs. Brown received
a letter that sent a flush of blood up
into her face, and then left her feeling
as i'll as did her mother two days be-
fore This was the letter:
Dear Phyllis-You can't imagine my
modification and almost horror when,
on arriving home and telling them of
my city experience and of your visit to
Meadows, when Clara broke in with
We'll, mother, it was a 50 bill and not
$40 bill that 1 put in your purse. I
was certain that it was $40 myself I'M
til after you had gone. Then Geral-
dine told me that she had taken the
$40 bill about an hour before you left,
and had paid the butchers bill with it,
a 50 bill in change, which she
put back into the drawer
CLARA did not look at the bill when
she put it into my purse, and Of course
thought it was $40. Isn't it awfulP
How can you ever face Mr.. Highridge?
But, Of course, it must be done. Take
the IS back right away, and 1 will re-
pay you the next time I come in. Your
loving and mortified MOTHER" /
Phyllis Brown put on her bonnet and |
went downtown again. She walked
around Meadows store three times be-
fore she finally screwed up her courage
to go in. She went to Mr. Highridge.
He saw her coming, and a half amused (
smile spread over his face.
Il am sorry, Mr.. Highridge. 1 can't
express my modification in words suf-
hciently strong. 1t was a 50 bill and
not a $40 bill that my mother gave
your clerk" Then Mrs. Brown ex-
planned matters, and gave back So into
Mr. Highridge's hand.
He thanked her, and, as she was
about to leave, twinkle came into his
eye and he said: Il assure you, Mrs.
Brown, that under our system of max
ing change mistakes are impossible"
And then when he saw the tears
which had gathered in Phyllis Browns
eyes Mr.. Highridge wished he hadn't
said it.-Edward B. Clark. in the Chi.
cago Record Herald.