Year: 1872

We lived far away in the country in
rustic district. My father was postmaster
of TIE little place. and kept Il few groceries
for sale. But he had enough to do to main
tain his family scanty and clothe them de-
Gently. was sixteen, and housekeepcr
my mother was dead, and was the eldest
Of us four children. The rest being young
er, l strovc TO do my best for them.


My one great trouble then was my
clothes. Other young girls of our station
that | associated with, dressed better than
| could, and it grieved me. Vanity begins
carlierthan that in the female heart. had
made up and remade every article of my
mothers wardrobe for the children or for
me, had worked up every shred TO the best
advantage; and now that was all gone, and
did need new dress for the coming win
ter. / made my shoes last as long again as
other girls did, for knew my father need
ed every siXPcnce he could earn, and |
dreaded wanting anything. Not that he
was ever cross, but he often sighed, and
looked so panied and sorrowful when I
asked for money, that tried to do with as
little as possible.


But here it was the last of October; my
summer dresses, poor enough at all times,
looked very thin and paltry now.


One Saturday afternoon l shall never for
get. 1t is what I am going TO tell of. My
work all done, the children at play in the
orchard, combed out my long brown hair.
put on my best cotton irock, selected
plain linen collar of my own making, and
pinned it round my neck with an old
breast pin, the only bit of iewely had cv-
er owned. With me l think it was an in
stinct to dress well. Not fine; only neat
Then, taking out my last winters best
frock, sat down by the window to see
what could do at renovating it, 1t was a
light blue merino-verv light indeed, now
and knew it was too short for me- "a
was still growing, and was very shabby.
But by turning and putting in a wide band
Of trimming which l had, I thought it
might be made to answer, 50 set to work
with a will.


The work was vexinG. l was trying to
do what scarcely could he done and as |
sat sewing and contriving, / let fit to cry
over our poverty. Just then the dog on the
doorsill set up loud barking, a1d look
ed to see what it was at. A man was COM
ing in at the gate with pack on his back;
travelling podder knew. lie smiled
and came in, although ! said did not want
anything; and the children seeing him,
came running in too.


81 cannot afford to buy indeed | can
not" kept saying. But the man only
kept on smiling, and opened his pack on
the parlor floor. And it was too great a
treat to me to see things to make great op-
position.


The first thing that came out was Just the
very thing most longed fora beautiful
fine French merino, of dark crimson color.
/ had once seen a dress OF this kind, but
none had ever been offered for sale in our
little place that could equal this in shade
or texture.


The peddler looked at me with his keen
black eyes as knelt down to feel the prize
l Lad no hope of winning. "The lady will
buy" he said but | shook my head, and
crossing my hands behind me, stood up
resolutely, trying hard not to long for the
much desired piere of goods.


"Not buyv he exclaimed in a broken
language of some sort, | could not tell
whether German or French and he looked
so astonishcd, even pitiful that I felt sorry
at once, and confessed that ! had no mon
ey, and coul ! not purchase.


"But the beautiful young lady have some
old silver-old icwclry-old silk dresses
inst good as money!" said he.


! laughed at the idea, but he only opened
another package to display the boys some
dumb watches with very gay chains, and
handing them each one, he took out a small
doll for my little sister, and told them to
run away now, "till sister bought her
dress" / mentioned to the boys to stay
near the doorstep, and then taking up the
much coveted dress piece, again cxamin-
ed it. Satan was tempting me, or some
vcxatious spirit that docs duty for him.
and never had been SO solely boset. How
could let ii so, yet how pay for it?


The black eyes never LETT my face, but
the fellow was respectful, only bowing low
or as he said, "You think it good?"


"oh, yes, l replied, 100 good for me-"


"Not So" he said. at suits you much,
and you shall have cheap"


81 tell you have no money"


mo matter, trust. You give mo some
thing TO keep for you, and como again"
he said.


"But have nothing" Il insisted. Still,
he only seemed more eager; said some
thing of hard times, of having to stay at