Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-12-24
A CHRISTMAS
BARGAIN X x

Judy is my chief anxiety,,p wrote
Judy's mother, Mrs. Phoebe F~ollansbee,
to her sister, Miss Jane Pringle- Just
as soon as we knew that the bank In
which we had deposited our little all
had failed. Ethel went to work in the
straw factory and Hetty Is learning
dressmakIng. | am sorry torsay that
Judy is still a little fighty-yefy fond
of pretty clothes, and not SO sensible
as the others. Judy must help, but !
| don't know what she can do" av.sl
Judy! Fudge, l suppose she, means
Susan Jane" said Miss Pringle to her
self. well, | can't have her here, and
that settles It." II Nus's y
Nevertheless, this is the letter that
made it's way by the next days mai TO
the small gray house, under he shadow
of a great bald-pate mountain, where
poverty had flown in at the door:
Dear Sister Phoebe: have been
thinking that it would be handy to
have a spry young girl to help me IN
the store. But she must be sensible
and have good judgment, besides being
spry, because | may want to send her
to the city to buy goods. II you thinl
your youngest, Susan Jane, can learn
to do as | want her to, send her along"
Sense and good judgment! Why,
Judy won't dol" exclaimed Hetty, with
sisterly frankness, when she read the
letter. This seemed the general iopin-
ion of the family, but nevertheless ii
was decided that Judy should go..s..8
They don't think | am good for any
thing" said Judy to herself, But they
shall see"
She looked back through the blind
ing tears at the little gray house. There
were handkerchiefs waved from 1t as
long as the stage was in sight. Hosy,
the only boy, who was lame, waved his
cap on the end OF his crutch. 1T
You're not pretty, and that looks
as If you might have some sense" sale
Aunt Jane, by way of greeting. But
the parrot was polite and entertaining
and the little dry goods shop fascinat
ing, and Poppleton's main street was
gay. Slowly, but surely, Judy's spirits
rose. fta F.
OF course the new assistant made
some mistakes. But she ~rearranged the
shop windows to the great satisfaction
of her aunt. who was inwardly com
scions that she herself was moi. tasty"
and lacked an eye for color. And She
advanced several new ideas which Miss
Pringle instantly recognized as i'm
provements. j
Christmas was coming-an anxious
time in shopkeeping-and Aunt Janf
was educating her niece up to a grea
undertaking. She had long dreaded thu
necessary trip to the city for goods. or
account of the faintness that was APT
( to come upon her when she was in
, crowds, and now she was beginning tc
think that she might trust Judy to &c
in her stead.
Judy's taste could certainly be trust
ed and she was self-reliant and a ready
reckoner. With a definite and exacf
, list of the articles wanted, Miss Pringlt
3 decided that her niece could go t the
city and buy the Christmas goods.
There are always Christmas novel
ties and attractive bargains" she said
81 am going to give you 500 extra ane
leave the purchases to your discretion
What would they say at homer. Judy
J felt several inches taller as she walked
5 to the station.
The list first. 1t was long and unin
teresting. Experience had taught Auni
, Jane just what kinds of fancy soap.
, and candy baskets would sell besf
, and those articles were all set down il
rigid detail.
, But while she was making these un
: exciting purchases, Judy's heart ant
+ eyes were all the time wandering ii
search of the fascinating Christmas nov,
/ city, by which she meant to convinc,
1 Aunt Jane of her business talent. a
1t was when she was buying a. piec,
of red cashmere that she caught sigh
of a brilliant parasol. A salesman re
moved it from its casing and, suspended
2 it conspicuously above the counter; j
was of red silk with elaborate fioun
t cings of chiffon like loveliest gossamer
o Judy gazed upon it in breathless admi
' ration. as34a
/, Another parasol was suspended be
!. side the first; this was Of palest blu,
: with white f1ouncings, There was on
all Of chiffon-"old rose," the clerl
called the color Git was unknown t
Grow HID. Its handle was of twisteI
wood that gave out a faint, deliciou
perfume. hat.,t.
a Selling at retail for a song. Don
= want to keep them over because whit
! is going t. be the rage next year ex
: planned the clerk to some D who re
. marked that it was unusual to see para
! soils at Christmas. six and seven-dol
f; lar parasols-all for a dollar and
q half"
Judy tried to be practical-not to. lie
her esthetic ems run away with he
business bump" She knew her weak
ness for q parasoI and a fan; they ha,