Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-02-01
Women who Wan. Scrap. of Goods.

Women who Want Scraps of Goods.
The girls clothes were neat and her
face was pretty. but she looked rather
out of place in an ultra fashionable
and high priced Broadway dry goods
store. One would expect her to do
her shopping in another quarter of the
town where the stores are more
crowded and the fabrics not so costly.
Her air showed entire self-possession.
however, when she STROBE up to !
cloth counter.
Have you anything to match this?"
she asked, turning up the sieve of her
coat
Hum. let me see." said the man
behind the counter How much
would you WANT"
Only a small piece" said the girl
promptly. This is my winter jacket
and I've got to wear it another sea
son. It's worn little on edge Of
the sleeve there" pointing to the
frayed part, Il want just enough
to make new cuffs for it. | thought
maybe you'd have a scrap that you
had no use for"
l see,' said the clerk, eveing her
in no unkindly way. How would this
do?" and he showed her strip OF
cloth which he took from box on the
shelf
The girl laid the fragment on her
coat and made critical comparison.
That's the very thing want" she
said finally But there isn't quite
enough in this piece"
Are you sure it wont do?" asked
the clerk.
Yes" returned the girl looking
wistfully at the cloth, I" I'm sure it's
not enough"
The clerk leaned over the counter
and glanced keenly up and down the
aisle Then he pulled down roll
of the goods which matched the girls
coat and cutting off about q quarter
of a yard. handed it to her.
Take it along. Miss" he said good
naturedly Il guess you've got enough
now for the cuffs"
The girl thanked him, smiling
brightly, and FASTENED from the store
with her prize.
do you have many calls like that?
asked a woman who was buying dress
goods at 81 a yard.
"Oh. my. yes. returned the clerk. "A
good many. And We always try to
accommodate them It's only by help
ing each other that We get along IN
this world That girl is a dressmak-
er's messenger. Her wages are small.
very small. yet she has to keep herself
looking neat. OF course We don't
make a business of giving away our
goods. That would hardly do. But
in store OF this kind the clerks in
charge of important counters have
privileges not enjoyed elsewhere. We
have a stock CT odds and ends on hand
at times and we are allowed to give
them away If we see fit
Don't you ever make a mistaken"
asked the customer bending 10 exam
inc the sixteenth roll of cloth sub
mitted TO her inspection.
We'll yes. now and then We do get
fooled" replied the clerk. Sometimes
to pay for all they need come begging
for a scrap of this or a fragment OF
that. but they don't ir rest us now
as much as the rich women who come
to buy small pieces TO patch their hus
basds clothes. You'd scarcely believe
it. would you? Well. it's so. just the
same. Take Mrs. - for instance.
and the clerk named the wife of
very rich man. She often comes to me
for small pieces OF lining and other
cloth to repair her husbands gar
ments. And she never makes any
fuss about telling me what she wants
the stuff for either. There are others,
too. could name. some of whom have
accounts running into the thousands
every year"-New York Sun.