hope of making it look almost "as good as new," my cook entered and
said--

"There's a man down stairs, Mrs. Smith, with a basket full of the
most beautiful glass dishes and china ornaments that you ever did
see; and he says that he will sell them for old clothes."

"For old clothes?" I responded, but half comprehending what the girl
meant.

"Yes ma'am. if you have got an old coat, or a pair of pantaloons
that aint good for nothing, he will buy them, and pay you in glass
or china."

I paused for a moment to think, and then said--

"Tell him to come up into the dining room, Mary."

The girl went down stairs, and soon came back in company with a dull
looking old man, who carried on his arm a large basket, in which
were temptingly displayed rich china vases, motto and presentation
cups and saucers, glass dishes, and sundry other articles of a like
character.

"Any old coats, pantaloons or vests?" said the man, as he placed,
carefully, his basket on the floor. "Don't want any money. See here!
Beautiful!"

And as he spoke, he took up a pair of vases and held them before my
eyes. They were just the thing for my mantle pieces, and I covetted