The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-08-22
A SHOPPING TALE.


ask YOU" He thinks he's the whole thing.
Woman customer (who has been trying L
catch the blue eye, timidly)-Are you busy
SaleswOman No. with an awe-strucl
expression) NO, you didn't say that TO him
Saleswoman No. IL didn't! Well,
guess yes. And he didn't have nothing tC
saw to me. He's new an he thinks h
knows il all. He came in on the Christmas
rush. There he goes now. Look at the walk
Don't he give you pain!
Woman customer - Are you busy
please?
Saleswoman No. What was it thai
MYRTLE said TO you just now, was wait
ing on somebody and didn't hear.
Another woman customer with an ag
gressive nose and a decided voice)-Nlll
you wait on me when you have finished your
conversation!
Saleswoman No. ignoring the impolite
tone and language and with chill hauteur)-
What was it you wanted!
Aggressive woman-0uting hanned
Saleswoman No 1-Outing flannel second
aisle to the left, near the north entrance
She said something about Freddy, but
didn't hear what it was.
Saleswoman No. ? (giggiling)-0h, that!
Yes. she said she was a-goin'-
First woman customer with feeble i'm
itaton of the tone of her aggressive sister,
will you kindly wait on me?
Saleswoman Ne. with an aggressive
air)-Something you wantedg
Meek woman customer-1 es, please, i
want five more yards of-where is that sam
pie? | thought l had it. (Searches through
shopping bag)
Saleswoman No. 2 with a repetition OF
the giggle)-You told the woman second
aisle to the left, near the north entrance,
and it's the third to the right at the south.
Saleswoman No. What was it she was
looking for?
Saleswoman No. 2-Outing flannel
Saleswoman No mo she wasn't; she was
looking for trouble. l knew that by the
way she talked. Both giggle.)
Meek customer-There! l knew l had 1t
l want five more yards, please.
Saeswoman No. 2-Freddy was a-goin' to
take somebody that had some style about
her the next time. l think it was mean to
tell her She looked s if she'd been cryin'
about it.
Meek customer observation-disclosures wait
on me. want five more
Saleswoman No. (briskly)-Haven't got
it in stock.
Meek customer-But I got it here only
yesterday think you must have it.
Saleswoman No. Might lind it down in
the basement. Look who's coming now
Don't pretend to see him.
Meek customer think you must have it,
Won't you look, please?
(Saleswoman No. | turns her back and
casts a perfunctory eye along the shelves.
From the shelves she turns with radiant
smile to a youth with a wilted Carnation
in his buttonhole and his hat tilted on one
side)
Youthful like bolt of cheesecloth tc
bolt up some imburger. if | don't bolt it
up it breaks out every time. How are you,
Eta?
Delegated ggge from the saleswomen.,
Meek customer (persevering)-l think
that's ton the second shelf. NO, not
that; the piece below. Yes, that's it.
Saleswoman No. spreading the goods
out on the counter)-D'jer say half yard!
Meek customer (biting her lip and speak
ing with some frmness)-l said | wanted
five yards.
Saleswoman No. Ito the youth)-D'jer
want anything else besides the bolt?
Youth (smartly) -You might give me a
lock of your hair and that'd make ita cinch.
Saleswoman No. You must "a been
eatin' pickles. To the customer: Three
yards?
Meek customer-Fve yards, and | want
it sent.-Mrs-
Saleswoman No. Ito the youth)-Where
was Won Thursday night?
Youth-At home mindin' the babies.
How about you?
Meek customer (anxiously)-Arent you
cutting off three yards?
Saleswoman No. Didn't you say three!
Meek customer with some sprit)-l said
five yards-three times.
Youth (sotto voce)-Three times five are
fifteen. Break off fifteen yards. CHE sales
woman giggles and cuts the goods.)
Saleswoman No. with an attempt to
smother her mirth) Eighty three cents.
Cash!
Meek customer-Mrs. H. D.
Saleswoman No l trapping strenuously
on the counter)-Cash! Cash here.
Cash girl lin high falsetto)-Twen-ty'
eight.
Saleswoman No. Here you are. Eigh-
ty -three-a dollar. Hurry, now! The lady
doesn't want to wait.
Meek customer (interposing)-l said that
/ wanted that delivered. (Saleswoman signs
Mrs II. ID. Peters
Saleswoman - Whatsideerthcity?
Meek customer-West side.
Saleswoman No. 1-Hous 'rhat?
Meek customer-Flat. Mrs. II. ID. Pc.
No, not A. F., H. d. H. d. Peters 1853 Ell
dorado avenue Eldorado, not Colorado
Saleswoman No. 10, pshaw!
Meek customer--Therc, | guess you've got
it right now.
(Saleswoman No. ! dispatches the cash
girl with the parcel and begins an animated
with the youth of the carna'
ton. Meek customer signs and seats herself
on a stool. The minutes pass.)
Meek customer (rising)-1asn't that lit
tie girl got back with my change YETI
Saleswoman No. l toblivious)-Io did,
too. / can prove it by Eta. Didn't he say
SO, Eta?
Youth-Etta, you are friend of mine,
remember. If you throw me down there's
a snap in the golden chain right here.
Meek customer with heightened color)-
Will you see about my change, please? I've
been waiting her for five minutes.
Salaswoman No I with an eypresson oil