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Show The Peddler's Parting Shot. He rnntr the bell of a Laurel avenue residence and.ou the appearance of the servant, begged to bo presented to tha lady of the house. "But she has no use for peddlers,' replied the girl. "I was recommended to call here by a prominent society lady a few blocks below, and Oh, yes," as the matron of the household appeared to reinforce-the reinforce-the servant, "allow me to call your attention at-tention to one of the most iugenious-invention? iugenious-invention? of tho age." ; "What is it?" inquired the lady. '- "It is a patent reversible door-mat. You will observe, manlam, that it contains con-tains two slides, the one reading 'Welcome,' 'Wel-come,' the other 'Not at homo.' Now, then, these slides are worked by two cords extending into the front room. The trap can bo set, or, in other words the mat can be arranged to display the word 'Welcome' on such days "as you are prepared to receive company, and at such time as you are indisposed 3r otherwise engaged, the words 'Not at home' can be made to stare the would-be would-be caller in the face at your own convenience. con-venience. I have already sold quitt a. number of them on the avenue." "I wouldu'thave such a thing around the house." j "You wouldn't?" j "No, sir. It's a gross innovation Bid I should consider it also a gross iin propriety. pro-priety. Take it away." j "hut. madam, quite a Dumber of ur nolghbors have already secured tbijm ana they aro bound to become quit fad. I Hsanre von 11 I "Take it away." "Remonstrance is useless?" "Quite so." I 'Be careful, nudam.orvou will emi-pel emi-pel me to make a confession." j "That is entirely unnecessary, flist take yourself and your mats away, and it will be all right." T "Madam, you defy me. All rifJit, then. Your neighbor right across the street just purchased one and said fat the had but one reason for doing i." "And what was that?" j "She said, mentioning your nAe, that she wanted just such a mat on Jhe front steps that she could use to leep you from running in every hour orto to gad and gossip about your betrs. Good day, madam, 1 really think f oo. should have just such a mat as th ia self-defence." Pioneer Press. j |
