e business into
your own hands, my little women? Ah, this is a progressive age! Walk
in--walk in."

Prudy blushed, Dotty smiled, and Flyaway took off her hat, as she
usually did when she did not know what else to do.

"Take some seats, young ladies," said Mr. Bradley, placing three
chairs in a row, and bowing as if to the most distinguished visitors.
Two or three men, who were lounging about the counter, looked on with
a smile. Dotty was very well satisfied, for she enjoyed attention; but
Prudy, who was older, and had a more delicate sense of propriety,
blushed and cast down her eyes. She had thought nothing of driving a
wheelbarrow through the street, but now, for the first time, a feeling
of mortification came over her. If Mr. Bradley would only keep quiet!

"A fine morning, my young friends! Rather warm, to be sure. And so you
have brought rags to sell? Would you like the money for them, or do
you think we can make a trade with some articles out of the store?"

"Grandma said we could have the money between us, we three," replied
Dotty, with refreshing frankness, "and buy anything we please except
red and yellow candy."

"I want a _music_," said Flyaway, in an eager whisper; "a music, and a
ollinge, and a pig."

"Hush!" said Prudy, for the man with a piece of court-plaster on his
cheek was certainly laughing.

Mr. Bradley took the bag into another room to weigh it. A boy was in
there, drawing molasses. "James," said Mr. Bradley, "run down cellar,
and bring up some beer for these young ladies."

There was a smile on James's face as he drove the plug into the
barrel. Prudy saw it through the open door, and it went to her heart.
The cream beer was excellent, but Prudy did not relish it. She and
Dotty had been whispering together.

"We will take two thirds of the rags in money, if you please," said
Prudy, in such a low tone that Mr. Bradley had to bend his ear to
hear.

"Because," added Dotty, who wished to have everything clearly
explained, "because we want to have our tin-types taken, sir. We saw
a saloon riding on wheels, and we thought we'd go there, and see if
the man wasn't ready to take pictures."

"And our little cousin may use her third, and buy something out of the
store, if you please," said the blushing Prudy.

CHAPTER IX.

TIN-TYPES.

Mr. Bradley said he did not often allow any one behind his counter, as
all the boys in the village could testify; but these young ladies were
welcome