The Slave Sculptor — page 73: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE OLD FEMALE PEDDLER. 76 will understand more fully what I have said; ’’ then, with a haughty air, he strode from the room, securing the door on the outside. —_——— Just before sundown on the following day, an old, gray-haired wo- man, with bent form and palsied limbs, was passing through Lord Abuitzol’s park. She leaned upon two sticks for support, and walk- ed with slow, measured tread. Her garments were clean and tidy, but of coarse material. Around her neck was a cord, to which was. attached a basket filled with light toys and ornaments, showing that she made her living by peddling these articles among families who had children. Having approached near to the palace-entrance, she sat down on & bench, leaned her canes against the seat, and commenced arranging the trinkets from the basket into her lap. She had not sat there long, when. Lord Ahuitzol came hurriedly from the palace. Discovering her, he paused an instant. He had, apparently, entertained a thought which quickly vanished, and he passed on, taking no further notice of her, or she of him; but, suddenly he halted, turned back, and in- quired if the articles were for sale? She replied in the affirmative, when he purchased several toys, during which time he watched her closely, then said : “* Do you live about here? ”’ ‘come from Tezeuco,”’ she answered, beginning to replace her merchandise in the basket again. “* Do you follow peddling for a living? ”’ ««T havé no one to look after me, and must live as well as you nobles; ”’ and she began to adjust the cord about her neck, prepara- to starting. ard airy ayn ay ye if I would pay you well ? ”” he eyed her closely as he spo “* Lam too old to labor, and need some one todo for me, rather than for me to do for somebody else,’’ she said, rather tartly. © ‘The work is easy,’’ he continued, growing more earnest; ‘in fact, there is no work to be done.”’ «¢ Jf there is no work to be done, there will be no pay;’’ and she rose to depart. | «« | will pay you in advance” he urged. * How much ?’’ « One qu'il of gold dust a week, and you shall have slaves to wait upon ycu.”” ° « What do you expect me to do?”’ | «< Be a governess to a young lady, who is insane, and who has to be confined in her room.”’ The woman shook her head and started on, but stopped short, and remarked : “Is she hard to manage? ”’ “ No —perfectly docile, and continues to assert that she is not erary.”” comfcbooks.com