Maria's Two Vacations; Or, Principle in Pleasure (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. Maria's "skilful fingers" and ready taste, to say nothing of her kind, obliging spirit, did assist her cousins very essentially in their festive preparations. Her wreaths, her moss baskets and evergreen festoons were very much admired the next evening. The hall made a very pretty appearance, with the bright lights, the fanciful decorations and the animated company which filled it. On one side were ranged tables containing the articles which had been prepared for sale; and, if the young vendors who stood behind them had served at the counter all their lives, they could not have been more pertinacious in selling or more earnest in their bargains, although they might probably have been more exact in making change. "There is something due you; but of course you don't care about it?" was said so insinuatingly: --who could rebel? The most remote wants that could possibly occur to humanity professed to be supplied; and the use assigned to many of the articles by the young seller was often as ingenious as the workmanship itself. "How much have you made at your table I have taken so much at mine," those who attended the tables frequently said to each other. If you looked at an article it was almost sure you would be compelled to buy it; and if you did not look you were solicited to examine and take it. Nor need you suppose yourself safe if you steered clear of the table. Besides the sharp-eyed and talkative saleswomen, there were young ladies in attendance to be despatched in search of customers. "Jane, run and tell Mrs. White to come and look at this white satin handkerchief-case, --just the thing for her." "There's old Mr. Hobbs; I don't believe he has bought any thing this evening. Make him take this embroidered spectacle-case, Mary; tell him it wo...