, "do you call that a recommendation?"

"Certainly, Miss Julia, you look so well that nothing on airth could
make you look batther, and by way of variety, I've gone to the Well
o' the world's end to get something to make you look worse. God knows
whether I've succeeded or not, but at all events, we'll thry."

So saying, he produced a very handsome shawl, together with a rather
large assortment of jewelry and other matters connected with the female
toilet, of considerable taste and expense.

"Here," he added, "are some cotton and silk stockins'--but upon my
profits, it's not to every foot an' leg I'd produce them. I'm a great
coortier, ladies, you must know, and am in love wid every purty girl I
meet--but sure that's only natural; however, as I was sayin', it's not
to a clype or a pair of smooth-in' irons I'll produce such stockins' as
these! No, no, but a purty foot an' leg is always sure to get the worth
o' their money from the Cannie Soogah!"

"Well done, Cannie!" said the proctor, "dix me, but you're a pleasant
fellow--come girls, you must buy something--handsel him. You got no
handsel to-day, Cannie?" he added, winking at the pedlar to say no.

"Barrin' the first foundation in the kitchen within," he replied; "for
you must know that's what I call my breakfast, handsel of any kind
didn't cross my palm this day."

"In that case, the girls must certainly buy something," added Purcel.

"But we've no money, papa."

"But," replied the pedlar, "you have what's betther--good credit with
the Cannie Soogah--och, upon my profits I'd rather have one sweet
coaxin' smile from that purty little mouth of yours, Miss Julia, than
money in hand any day! Ah! Misther Purcel, darlin', isn't it a poor
thing not to have an estate of ten thousand a year?" and here he looked
wistfully at the smiling Julia, and shrugged his shoulders like a man
who knew he was never likely to gain his wishes.

"I would buy something," said Mary, "but, like Julia, I am penniless."

"Never say so, Miss Mary, to me; only name what you'd like--lave the
price to my honesty, and the payment to my patience, and upon my profits
you won't complain, I'll go bail."

"Yes," observed Julia, "or what if papa would treat us to something?
Come, papa, for the sake of old times; let us see whether you have
forgotten any of your former, craft."

"Good, Judy! ha! ha! ha!--well done! but Cannie, have you nothing for
the gentlemen?"

Now, we must pause for a little