The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-31
Copyright 1907, by Ellis Parker
 Butler

<<XO/HY, how do you dor" said
 W her door and saw the clerical looking little man with the sandy whisk- CTS on her front porch. Come right in. l suppose you are Brother Smith, that ia goin' to preach tomorrow, ain't you%
 "well, no'm," said Eliph' Hewitt apolo- getically, but walking into the parlor at the same time. "No'm, not exactly, though am spreading the good word, as l may say. My name is Hewitt, Eliph' Hewitt, and I'm selling in this neighbor- hood & work in one volume-''
 q don't want no books" said Mrs. Billup shortly, while her smile of grati- fled welcome changed to a frown. And l can't afford to buy none if I did feel like it." She glanced toward the center table as she spoke, and Eliph' Hewitt saw there new hat. as gorgeous as an autumn sunset. If there were any kinds of flowers, or any co1ors that were not worked into the composition of the hat, 1t was because knowledge of them had not reached Sandburr, Johnson county, Iowa. Miss Florilla Casey had made use of all that she had any knowledge of, and 1t seemed as If she had a rather wide knowledge.
 Easter comes early this year, earlier than usual,' said Eliph Hewitt, gently caressing his whiskers. "aome years 1t does, and some years 1t doesn't, but I don't know that ever saw richer look ing hat than what/th is. It must have cost considerable. Looks like 1t would be becoming to your complexion. Did you get it from Paris?"
 NO, I didn't" snapped Mrs. Bllup, ''and you needn't think to soft-soap me by praisin' up my hat. It won't do you no good, because when I say I won't buy book I mean 1t, and that is the end of ftp
 Now, If anybody had asked me l would have said that was a Paris hat said Eliph Hewitt, taking it in his hand for closer examination, but I suppose your milliner studied In Paris, didn't she?'
 No, she didn't" snapped Mrs. Billup again. "Florilla Casey ant ever studied nowhere but right here in town, and all the Paris she will ever see you could put in one eye. If you aim to sell books l guess you might move right along to the next house. You won't sell me none"
 Tt was the style of it made me think 1t was a Paris hat said Eliph' Hewitt, kindly. T should judge that that hat has fifty different colors on it, and I never knew any but Paris milliners put so many on one hat at one time and not make you feel that it was overcrowded. l can see that this hat has a sort of lavish- ness about it, and it ain't skinlped for trimming. That is the way I like a hat. Get big hat to begin with, and then put plenty on it. That is why I don't like New York hats. Now, you never see a hat like this in New York"
 T told you I didn't want any books, D said Mrs. Bllup, and I don't, and If that don't satisfy you I'll say right here that I can't afford none. l paid"-
 stop said Eliph' Hewitt; let me guess. I guess you paid s25 for it. maybe s9, but I'd say that was too much. Twenty-Five would be about right for a hat like that"
 Mrs Biiiup looked at the hat and folded her arms, but she said nothing. She had paid Florlla Casey 8 for the hat, and had been feeling that she had paid too much. but as she looked at the hat now if suddenly dawned on her that she had q bargain She smiled slightly.
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