“Just like those evil-minded policemen,” he said. “You remember how they lock up our old friend Abrahamson? So help me gracious! sent that good old man to prison, just because he buy two gold watches and two pairs of gold spectacles and an ivory-handled knife and two empty pocket-books and two silk umbrellas and a seal ring and two bunches of keys and two black wigs from a red-headed laboring man; they say he must know that two old gentlemen were robbed of that personal property.”
But here his attention was diverted by the sight of two men, seamen to appearance, who were looking into the show-window.
“I like so much,” he said, “to see the public enjoying themselves in my window; it give them so happy pleasure to see those lovely things; and often they comes in and buy somethings. This young man,” he added, after a pause, “seem to admire those broad neck-wear; he look at both those two,—the Four-in-hand and the Frolic.”
“I think he look most at de Frolic,” said Mrs. Isaacs; “I think he would come in if you go outside and take him by de arm like a true frient, and bring him in. My broder Moses walk outside de whole day long, and take each man when he go by and talk to him like his own broder, wid tears in his eyes, and make dem come in and buy somedings.”
But Mr. Isaacs only wrapped the long coat more closely about his linen garments, and watched the younger man as he turned his eyes away from the Four-in-hand and the Frolic and bent them on the trays in which were glittering tiers of rings and pins, and rows of watches labelled “Warranted genuine, $14;” “Dirt-cheap, $8.75;” “Doct's Watch, Puls-counting, $19.50.”
“He look like he had some money,” said Mrs. Isaacs. “Perhaps he would come in and buy a watch if you go out and pull him in. How can he buy someding through de glass? My broder Moses say, 'So many folks is bashful.'”
But at last the men, after talking awhile, apparently of the goods in the window, came in.
“What's the price of some of those ear-rings in the window?” said the younger. “Let's see what you've got for a couple of dollars or so.”
“So help me gracious!” said Mr. Isaacs, as he took from the show-window three or four cards of plated ear-rings. “I knew you would come in to buy somethings. When I saw you look in—the very first moment—I say to my wife, 'There is a good young man that will give a present to some lovely young lady.' Yes, sir, the very words I said to Sarah.”
“What's the price of this pair? I haven't got any girl to treat, but I 've just got paid off for a whaling voyage, and my lay figured up a twenty-dollar bill above what I expected, and I don't care if I do lay out a couple of dollars on my wife besides what I 've brought home for her.”