The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-27
Goldsmith's "Vicar of Wakefield"

Goldsmith's "Vicar of Wakefield
 A the fair happened on the follow
 A ing day. l had intentions of going 4 A myself; but my wife persuaded me that I had got cold, and nothing could prevail upon her to permit me from home.
 .No, my dear,' said she, "our son Moses is a discreet boy, and can buy ana sell to very good advantage; you know all our great bargains are of his puf- chasing. He always stands out and hig- gles, and actually tires them till he gets a bargain"
 AS had some opinion of my sons pru- dence, I was willing enough to entrust him with this commission; and the next morning I perceived his sisters mighty busy in fitting out Moses for the fair' trimming his hair, brushing his buckles and cooking his hat with pins. The busi- ness of the toilet being over. we had, at last the satisfaction of seeing him mount ed upon the colt with deal box before him to bring home groceries in.
 As she spoke, Moses came slowly on foot. and sweating under the deal box, which he had strapped round ms 
 shoulders like a peddler.
 ..Welcome, welcome, Moses. Well, my boy. what have you brought us from the fair?"
 .I have brought you myself cried Moses with sly look, and resting the box on the dresser.
 "Ah. Noses" cried my wife, that we know: but where is the horse?'
 .I have sold him, cried Moses, flor three pounds. five shillings and two pence"
 well done, my good boy" returned she; knew YOU would touch them off. Be- tween ourselves, three pounds, five shil- lings and two pence is no bad days work. Come, let us have it, then" q have brought back no money cried Moses again; "I have laid 1t all out in a. bargain. and here it is.' pulling out a bundle from his breast ''here they are; one gross of green spectacles with sil- yer rims and shagreen cases. "A gross of green spectacles.' repeated my wife, in a faint voice. And you have narted with the colt and brought us back nothing but a gross of green, palty spec tacles?"
 Dear mother,' cried the boy why don't you listen to reason? l had them dead bargain, or I shoould not have bo,,ght them. The silver rims alone Will sell for double the money. "A fig for the silver rims.' cried my wife in a passion. 'I dare swear they won't sell for above half the money at th. rate of broken silver. five shillings an ounce"
 you need be under no uneasiness' cried l. about selling the rims, Tor they are not worth six pence, for l perceive they are only copper vanished over"
 .Iybatrr cried my wife, mot silver. the rims not silver" No cried l. mo more silver than your l saucepan"
 "And so," returned she," we have parted with the colt and have only got gross i of green spectacles, with copper rims and shagreen cases! A murrian take such trumpery! The blockhead has been im- posed upon and should have known his company better!''
 "There, my dear" cried I, you are wrong; he should not have known them at all"
 Marry. hang the idiot.' returned she. pto bring me such stuff. If I had them I would throw them in the fire.'
 There again you are wrong, my dear, cried I. flor though they be copper we will keep theh by us. as copper spec tacles, you know, are better than noth- inc