nk they're so smart), and we can do it, too, if
everybody will take a-holt and help. Well, we want all we can get. We
expect a pretty generous offer from you, for one. Man that has as pretty
and tasty got-up store as you have, and does the business that you do,
ought to show his appreciation of the town and try to help along....
Oh, anything you're a mind to give. 'Most anything comes in handy for
prizes. But what we principally need is cash, ready cash. You see,
there's a good deal of expense attached to an enterprise of this
character. So many little things you wouldn't think of, that you've
just got to have. But laws! you'll make it all back and more, too. We
cackleate there'll be, at the very least, ten thousand people in town
that day, and it's just naturally bound to be that some of them will do
their trading.

Thank you very much, that's very handsome of you. Good day. (What are
you growling about? Lucky to get five cents out of that man.)

The Ladies' Aid of Center Street M. E., has secured the store-room
recently vacated by Rouse & Meyers, and is going to serve a dinner that
day for the benefit of the Carpet Fund of their church and about time,
too, I say. I like to broke my neck there a week ago last Sunday night,
when our minister was away. Caught my foot in a hole in the carpet, and
a little more and wouldn't have gone headlong. So, it's: "Why, I've been
meaning for more than a year, to call on you, Mrs.--. Mrs.--(Let me
look at my list. Oh, yes) Mrs. Cooper, but we've had so much sickness
at home--you know my husband's father is staying with us at present,
and he's been in very poor health all winter--and when it hasn't been
sickness, it's been company. You know how it is. And it seemed as if
I--just--could--not make out to get up your way. What a pretty little
place you have! So cozy! I was just saying to Mrs. Thorpe here, it was
so seldom you saw a really pretty residence in this part of town. We
think that up on the hill, where we reside, you know, is about the
handsomest.... Yes, there are a great many wealthy people live up
there. The Quackenbushes are enormously wealthy. I was saying to Mrs.
Quackenbush only the other day that I thought the hill people were
almost too exclusive .... Yes, it is a perfectly lovely day....
Er--er--We're soliciting for the Firemen's Tournament--well, not for the
Tournament exactly, but the Ladies' Aid are going to give a dinner
that day for the Carpet Fund and we thought