THE GENIUS OF PERSUASION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2059, 17 September 1885, Page 4

THE GENIUS OF PERSUASION.

The other «lay, when Bridget the valiant was engaged, Mis Jones answered the ilooi-bell heiself and found a glib, silvertongued agent had taken possession of her step-, and was checking something in his memorandum book w lien she answ ered his fluent ling. "Is jour mamma in, Miss?" lie abkeri, with a pensive smile Mrs .(ones was rather taken a back. She was so accustomed on such occasions to the steieotyped question- "Is the lady of the house at homo?" that she hardl> knew what to say. " I see she is not," continued the stranger, with a look of keen disappointmint overclouding his face. "I had wihhcd to see her in regaid to a cosmetic I sell. You, with your fresh, youthful complexion, would haidly need it." "You can't sell any thing beie," said Mis Jones, teeovenng heisulf; "we never buy from agents." " No ! Well, I'm sorry ; for consumption has claimed me for its own," said the man, with a melancholy congh. "Are you neatly out of Bibles? I'm trying to do a little good in the world befoie I leave it by selling the best and cheapest ltvision of the saeied ." "No! I don't want any Bible*,," snapped Mrs J , " and I'll be much obliged to you if you'll take your things of the step so I can close tlio door." "Certainly, certainly, Mi«s —youth and beauty ; and yet there is a sad, dic-im.) look tn.it tell-. of billiousness; now these liver pills " " Will you qo 9 " exclaimed Mis .Tone", as she tried to get the door closed. " Oh, if I only had a bioom." " Broom ' broom '" cried the stranger, with a dramatic gesture; "whosajs br r-ooiri ? Not tins young and lovely being in the heart of a great city. Blooms, my dear joung lady, belong to the dark ages. You never, never should wield so common an implement. Let me sell you a caipet swcepei — an invention that w ill remove the dust of age*, without fatigue 01 discomfort to youiself:a patent hinged, self-guiding, nickel plated, pieniiuin medal carpet sweepet. Lovelj cieatuie, don't disfiguie those gtaeeftil hands with a broom, wlien, for a few paltiy dollais, you can bu> a caipct sweeper." "I couldn't help it, Jephtha," explained Mrs Jone««, when hei husband fell over the carpet sweeper upon his return home 1 didn't want it any moie than a cat wants two tails, but jon ought to have heard the cieatuie tal\. I believe I'd a bought a eani( li opaid if he had had one for sale and as-kcl me to ; he just talked me into it." But she never told •Jones what he "•lid. — Detioit Tost and Tnbnoe.