THE RAGGED PEDLAR

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1028, 19 July 1930, Page 31

THE RAGGED PEDLAR

Who Carried a Magic Tray

One sunny morning Christopher Lugard, the tailor, sat stitching and sewing behind the bottle-glass glass of his little shop window. He was making a coat for the duke out of silver brocade, with a l.ning of apple green silk, which looked so soft and delicate that every now* and then the tailor found himself stroking it with his wrinkled Jiands. But there was no time to waste, for the duke was to be fitted at noon and the work was not nearly finished. Snip, snap, went his scissors as the tailor cut and trimmed the stiff brocade. Then, as he paused to take up his needle again, he heard a sudden snap. It was his last needle, and it had broken right in half.

“Now what shall I do?" he said to himself. “I’ve no more needles, and there is only half an hour left to finish two seams. Was ever a man so unlucky?” Just at that moment a shadow fell across his work, and, looking up, he saw a strange man standing in the doorway. He had the merriest eyes that Christopher had ever seen, but Tiis clothes were dusty and ragged, and round his neck there hung a tray laden with all kinds of pedlary. “Good morning, Master Tailor.” he said pleasantly, “is there anything you want today?”

“Bless me.” cried old Christopher, “you haven't any needles on that tray of yours, I suppose?” “Needles?” laugjied the pedlar. "Of course I have, and pins’ too—little delicate pins, that would not tear the daintiest silk.” “Then may I have some quickly,” said the old tailor, “for I’ve just broken my last needle, and in half an hour the duke comes to be fitted.’’

The pedlar handed Christopher two small packets from his store. “No,” he said, “I don’t take payment for such trifles. Keep your money, my friend, for I see that a new' tailor has opened his shop across the road, and

I dare say you find it more difficult to get customers now.” nodded sadly. “That’s true.” ho sighed. “They say I’m old fashioned and that Jacob Marlow is better. Maybe he is. for my eyes are not so good as they were. Now if only this coat would go well, ii might bring me more customers among the Duke’s friends.” “Well, good luck to it,” smiled the pedlar. “I must be off to sell m> wares to other needy folk.” And so saying, he picked up hi? tray and went out into the sunshine and down the street, singing this quaint little song:— “Needles and pins, needles and pins. if anyone harms you. they’ll stick in his shins!” “A queer fellow." thought Christopher. “I wonder what he meant by that?” But he scarcely had time to think much about the pedlar before the church clock boomed out the twelve strokes of noon, and the rattle of coacn wheels over the cobbles showed that the Duke was arriving to have his ,oat fitted. Unfortunately he was not in a very good temper, for his gouty foot had been worrying him all the morning. But no sooner did he see Christoper than he shouted:— “Well. Lugard, is that coat nearly finished ?” “Nearly, my lord.” answered the old tailor, “I have only to finish the buttonholes and the pocket Haps.” “Hum.” grunted the Duke. “Bring it to me, and I’ll try it on.” Christoper helped him into the coa: as gently as he could, so a* not to hurt the gouty foot. But all the time the Duke grumbled and fussed as he hobbled to and fro in front of the large mirror, until the old tailor thought he would never be satisfied. However, at last he said that the coat fitted him well enough, and that he would send his servant to fetch it at six o’clock that evening. “Be sure that it is ready,” he said as he climbed slowly back into his coach. “If my servant is kept waiting, I’ll ask that tailor across the road to make me my next coat. Do you hear?” Christopher did hear, and his face fell, for he doubted whether he could finish the coat by six o’clock, as there was a good deal to alter and the lining was full of pins. He waited until the Duke was out of sight, then he went sadly back into his shop. ‘Til do my best.” he said to himself. “but I get a bite of dinner first. I’m nearly famished.” j And so saying, the old tailor hurried out to get something to eat, leaving the new coat lying spread out on the bench. ; Scarcely had the echo of his foot- : steps died away before Jacob Marlow, I his rival, came out of his shop across the road. From his window he had heard everything that the Duke had said, and, of course, he would have liked nothing better than to get him for a customer. ! ‘T wonder how far old Lugard has got with the coat," he thought to himself. “Why, if he hasn’t left his door ajar! I will go in and see for myself.” Pushing open the door of Christopher's shop, Jacob crept in. On the bench lay the brocade coat, with its apple-green lining all pinned out ready to be sewn. For a moment Jacob could only stare at it with admiration and envy. “1 didn’t know the old man could work so well.” he muttered. “Still, there is a lot to.be done, and If he lias not finished by six o’c!«.ck tfco Duke will come to me next time.” Then Jacob stopped, for % wicked plan had come into Ids mind. IvookI Ing round to see that nobody was , watching, he carefully took one of I the Pin** out of the green silk lining. Instantly there was a shooting pain iin his leg. as though a hundred pin* ! and needle* were running into him. “Oh, oh!” he cried, dropping the coat back on to the bench and hugging his I leg, “Oh. my leg! my leg!” Jacob’s cries soon attracted the at- . tention of the people who were passing i in the street, and they all came crowding into Christopher’s shop to sec what hadhapponed. “What is the matter?” they asked “Oh. my leg!” roared Jacob, no caring who heard him. “All the pins and needles are in it! Take them out quickly!” “I can’t see any pins and needles There.” said Christopher, who had come running back from his dinne- to see : what nil the noise was about. “There aren’t any.” said the others. Then suddenly the pedlar’s song came back into Christopher’s mind: “Needles and pins, needles and pins. If anyone harms you, they’ll stick in his shins!” “You must have been trying to spoil my work,” said Christopher, looking down at his rival through his speci tacles. It was useless to deny it. so Jacob told the old tailor what he had tried 'to do. And when the people heard j the story they were so angry that they turned Jacob out into the street again, howling as he was. so that Christopher ■ could go on with his work undisturbed. As six o’clock struck the coat was , finished, and when the Duke saw it he [was so pleased that he told all his j friends that Christopher was the best * tailor in the town.