The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-12-27
A CHRISTMAS
BARGAIN " ~

Judy is my chief anxiety" wrote
Judy's mother, Mrs. Phoebe Follansbee.
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 to say that
Judy is still a little fiighty-very fond
of pretty clothes. and not so sensible
as the others. Judy must help, but l
don't know what she can do"
Judy FudgeI / suppose she means
Susan Jane" said Miss Pringle to her
self. well, / can't have her here. and
that settles it"
Nevertheless. this Is the letter that
made its way by the next days mail to
the small gray house. under the shadow
of a great bald-pate mountain. where
poverty had flown In at the door:
Dear Sister Phoebe: I have been
thinking that 1t 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 l may want to send her
to the city to buy goods. II you think
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 opin-
lon Of the family, but nevertheless II
was decided that Judy should 60.
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 II rs
long as the stage was In sight IIosy,
the only boy. who was lame. waved his
cap on the end of his crutch-
You're not pretty. and that looks
AZ IL you might have some sense" said
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.
OF course the new assistant made
some mistakes. But she rsarranged the
shop windows to the great satisfaction
of her aunt, who was inwardly con
scious that she herself was not tasty,
and lacked an eye for color And sh,
advanced several new ideas which Mis-
Pringle instantly recognized as i'm
provements.
Christmas was coming-an anxious
time in shopkeeping-and Aunt Jan,
was educating her niece up to a grea
undertaking She had long dreaded tn
necessary trip to the city for goods, OF
account Of the faintness that was ap
crowds. and now she was beginning Z,
think that she might trust Judy to g
in her stead
Judy's taste could certainly be trus,
ed and she was sslf-reliant and a read,
reckoner. With definite and exac
list of the articles wanted. Miss Pringl
decided that her niece could go to tn
city and buy the Christmas goods.
There are always Christmas novel
ties and attractive bargains" she said
II am going to give you $40 extra an
leave the purchases to your discretion
What would they say at home? Jud
felt several inches taller as she wake
to the station.
The list first. II was long and unir
teresting. Experience had taught Aun
Jane Just what kinds Of fancy soap
and candy baskets would sell bes
and those articles were all set down I
rigid detail.
But while she was making these III
exciting purchases. Judy's heart an
eyes were all the time wandering 1
search Of the fascinating Christmas nov
city, by which she meant to convinc
Aunt Jane of her business talent.
1t was when she was buying a piec
Of red cashmere that she caught sigh
Of brilliant parasol. A salesman r,
moved 1t from it's casing and suspende
1t conspicuously above the counter;
was of red silk with elaborate -four
cings of chiffon like loveliest gossame
Judy gazed upon it in breathless adm
ration.
Another parasol was suspended b
side the first; this was of palest blu
with white founcings. There was or
all of chiffon-"old rose," the cler
called the color dt was unknown
Crow HID. Its handle was of twiste
wood that gave out a faint, delicio,
perfume.
Selling at retail for a song. Don
want to keep them over because whi
is going to be the rage next year." q
planned the clerk to some one who r
marked that IL was unusual to see par
soils at Christmas. six and seven-dc
. lar parasols-all for a dollar and
half"
Judy tried to be practical-not to
her esthetic sense run away with b
} business bump" She knew her wea
, ness for a parasol and a fan; they h,
} laughed about II at home. But 9th
, people liked beautiful parasols. TIL,
, would add the touch of color and gra
that 1t was always impossible to obta
with Miss Pringle's sternly useful col
modities. She believed, too, that tn,
would stand her aunt's crucial test
! values, that they would SELL
q A crowd Of women was collectil
! round the parasols. which the Gle
q was still hanging up.
"T will take 13." said Judy. firml
and her heart beat like a trip-hamm,
. The crowd gazed at her: even the Gle
. looked astonished-
n "Parasolsi Thirteen parasols In I
dead of winteri Susan Jane Follan
bee. are you crazy?" cried Aunt Jar
shrilly. ct couldn't sell a parasol an
way unless 1t was a good. stout bla
: : one"
a But Judy felt that even the little u
braidings were not so hard to bear
= the gloomy silence that ensued VIII