he house.

"A sailor, Wool--a sailor with foreign goods for sale? I am very much
afraid he's one of these smugglers I've heard tell of, and I'm not sure
about the right of buying from smugglers! However, I suppose there's no
harm in looking at his goods. You may call him in, Wool," said the old
lady, tampering with temptation.

"He do look like a smudgeler, dat's a fact," said Wool whose ideas of
the said craft were purely imaginary.

"I don't know him to be a smuggler, and it's wrong to judge,
particularly beforehand," said the old lady, nursing ideas of rich silks
and satins, imported free of duty and sold at half price, and trying to
deceive herself.

While she was thus thinking the door opened and Wool ushered in a stout,
jolly-looking tar, dressed in a white pea-jacket, duck trousers and
tarpaulin hat, and carrying in his hand a large pack. He took off his
hat and scraped his foot behind him, and remained standing before the
housekeeper with his head tied up in a red bandana handkerchief and his
chin sunken in a red comforter that was wound around his throat.

"Sit down, my good man, and rest while you show me the goods," said Mrs.
Condiment, who, whether he were smuggler or not, was inclined to show
the traveler all lawful kindness.

The sailor scraped his foot again, sat down on a low chair, put his hat
on one side, drew the pack before him, untied it and first displayed a
rich golden-hued fabric, saying:

"Now here, ma'am, is a rich China silk I bought in the streets of
Shanghai, where the long-legged chickens come from. Come, now, I'll ship
it off cheap----"

"Oh, that is a great deal too gay and handsome for an old woman like
me," said Mrs. Condiment.

"Well, ma'am, perhaps there's young ladies in the fleet? Now, this would
rig out a smart young craft as gay as a clipper! Better take it, ma'am.
I'll ship it off cheap!"

"Wool!" said Mrs. Condiment, turning to the servant, "go down to the
kitchen and call up the house servants--perhaps they would like to buy
something."

As soon as Wool had gone and the good woman was left alone with the
sailor, she stooped and said:

"I did not wish to inquire before the servant man, but, my good sir, I
do not know whether it is right to buy from you!"

"Why so, ma'am?" asked the sailor, with an injured look.

"Why, I am afraid--I am very much afraid you risk your life and liberty
in an unlawful trade!"

"Oh, ma'am, on my soul, these things are honestly com