Of course Mrs. ---- took them, went home in great glee, and told her
better half she'd never trust him to go shopping for her again--for they
always cheated him. When the husband came to scrutinize his wife's
bargain, lo! he detected the self-same gaiters--merely with a different
quality of lacings in them! He, like a philosopher, grinned and said
nothing. That illustrates one phase in the character of some people who
"go it blind" on "bargains" and now, for the pith of our story--the way
some folks have of going round "Robin Hood's barn" to come at a thing.

The other day we stopped into a friend's store to see how he was getting
along, and presently in came a rural-district-looking customer.

"How'd do?" says he, to the storekeeper, who was busy, keeping the stove
warm.

"Pretty well; how is it with you?"

"Well, so, so; how's all the folks?"

"Middling--middling, sir. How's all your folks?"

"Tolerable--yes, tolerable," says the rural gent. "How's trade?" he
ventured to inquire.

"Dull, ray-ther dull," responded the storekeeper. "Come take a seat by
the stove, Mr. Smallpotatoes."

"Thank you, I guess not," says the ruralite. "Your folks are all
stirring, eh?" he added.

"Yes, stirring around a little, sir. How's your mother got?" the
storekeeper inquired, for it appeared he knew the man.

"Poorly, dreadful poorly, yet," was the reply. "Cold weather, you see,
sort o' sets the old lady back."

"I suppose so," responded our friend; and here, think's we, if there is
anything important or business like on the man's mind, he must be near
to its focus. But he started again--

"Ain't goin' to Californy, then, are you?" says Mr. Smallpotatoes.

"Guess not," said our friend. "You talked of going, I believe?"

"Well, ye-e-e-s, I did think of it," said the rural gent; "I did think
of it last fall, but I kind o' gin it up."

Here another _hiatus_ occurred; the rural gent walked around, viewed the
goods and chattels for some minutes; then says he--

"Guess I'll be movin'," and of course that called forth from our friend
the venerated expression--

"What's your hurry?"

"Well, nothing 'special. Plaguy cold winter we've got!"

"That's a fact," answered the storekeeper. "How's sleighing out your
way--good?"

"First rate; I guess the folks have had enough of it, this winter, by
jolly. I hev, any how," says the rural gent. "Trade's dull, eh?"

"Very--very _slack_."

"Dullest time of the year, I reckon, ai