MOSES MAKES A BARGAIN OLIVER GOLDSMITH As we were now to hold up our heads a little higher in the world, my family thought it would be proper to sell the colt which was now grown old, at a neighboring fair, and buy us a horse that would carry single or double upon an occasion, and make a pretty appearance at church, or upon a visit. 66 As the annual fair happened on the following day, I had intentions of going myself; but my wife persuaded me that I had a cold, and nothing could prevail upon her to permit me to go from home. No, my dear," said she, "our son Moses is a discreet boy, and can buy and sell to very good advantage; you know all our great bargains are of his purchasing. He always stands out and demands a low price, and actually tires them till he gets a bargain." As I had some opinion of my son's prudence, I was willing enough to intrust him with this errand; and the next morning I noticed that his sisters were very busy in fitting out Moses for the fair-trimming his hair, brushing his buckles, and arranging his hat. The business of the toilet being over, we had at last the pleasure of seeing him mounted upon the colt, with a box before him, in which to bring home groceries. He had on a coat made of that cloth they call thunder and lightning, which, though grown too short, was much too good to be thrown away. His waistcoat was of green, and his sisters had tied his hair with a broad black ribbon. We all followed him several paces from the door, calling after him, "Good luck!" "Good luck!" till we could see him no longer. As it was almost nightfall, and Moses had not yet returned from the fair, I was wondering what could keep him so long. Never mind our son," cried my wife; "depend upon it he knows what he is about. I'll warrant we'll never see him sell his hen on a rainy day. I have seen him buy such bargains as would amaze one. I'll tell you a good story about it, that will make you laugh heartily. But, as I live, yonder comes Moses, without a horse, and the box at his back." As she spoke, Moses came slowly on foot, and sweating under the heavy box, which he had strapped round his shoulder like a peddler. "Welcome, welcome, Moses! Well, my boy, what have you brought us from the fair?" "I have brought you myself," cried Moses, with a sly look, and resting the box on the dresser. "Oh yes, Moses," cried my wife, "that we know, but where is the horse?" "I have sold him," cried Moses, "for three pounds five shillings and twopence." boy," returned she; “I Between ourselves, three "Well done, my good knew you would do well. pound five shillings and twopence is no bad day's work. Come, let us have it, then." "I have brought back no money," cried Moses again. "I have laid it all out in a bargain, and here it is," pulling out a bundle from his breast; "here they are a gross of green spectacles, with silver rims and shagreen cases." "A gross of green spectacles!" repeated my wife in a faint voice. "And you have parted with the colt, and brought us back nothing but a gross of worthless green spectacles!" "Dear mother," cried the boy, "why won't you listen to reason? I had them at a great bargain, or I should not have bought them. The silver rims alone will sell for double the money.' "A fig for the silver rims!" cried my wife. " I dare say they won't sell for above half the money at the rate of broken silver, five shillings an ounce." "You need not be uneasy," cried I, " about selling the rims; for they are not worth sixpence, for I perceive they are only copper varnished over." What," cried my wife, "not silver, the rims not silver!" "No," cried I, "no more silver than your saucepan." "And so," returned she, "we have parted with the colt, and have got only a gross of green spectacles, with copper rims and shagreen cases! Away with such trumpery! The blockhead has been imposed upon, and should have known his company better." There again you are wrong, my dear," cried I, "he should not have known them at all." "The idiot!" returned she, "to bring me such stuff! If I had them I would throw them into the fire." "There again you are wrong, my dear," cried I, "for, though they be copper, we will keep them by us, as copper spectacles are better than nothing." By this time the unfortunate Moses was undeceived. He now saw that he had indeed been imposed upon by a cheating sharper, who, observing his youth, had marked him for an easy prey. He sold the horse, it seems, and walked the fair in search of another. A reverend-looking man brought him to a tent, under pretence of having one to sell. "Here," continued Moses, "we met another man, very well dressed, who desired to borrow twenty pounds upon these spectacles, saying that he wanted money, and would sell them for one-third of their value. The first gentleman, who pretended to be my friend, whispered me to buy them, and cautioned me not to let so good an offer pass. I sent for Mr. Flamborough, and they talked him up as finely as they did me; and so at last we were persuaded to buy the two gross between us." dis creet', wise in avoiding mistakes. | sha green,' a kind of leather. OLIVER GOLDSMITH (1728-1774) was born in Ireland. "The Vicar of Wakefield," and "She Stoops to Conquer," are his best works. THE PLANTING OF THE APPLE TREE WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT COME, let us plant the apple tree! What plant we in this apple tree? Shall lengthen into leafy sprays; Boughs, where the thrush with crimson breast Shall haunt and sing and hide her nest. We plant upon the sunny lea A shadow for the noontide hour, What plant we in this apple tree? |