is of great size, and ranks
among the most important in New York. It was not so well filled
when Mrs. Hoffman entered as it would be later. She was directed
to the proper counter, where she presented the order, signed by
Mr. Preston. As he was a customer of long standing, there was no
difficulty about filling the order. A bundle was made up, which,
as it contained the materials for twelve shirts, necessarily was
of considerable size.
"Here is your bundle, ma'am," said the clerk.
Mrs. Hoffman's strength was slender, and she did not feel able to
carry the heavy bundle offered her. Even if she took the car,
she would be obliged to carry it a portion of the way, and she
felt that it would overtask her strength.
"Don't you send bundles?" she asked.
"Sometimes," said the clerk, looking superciliously at the modest
attire of the poor widow, and mentally deciding that she was not
entitled to much consideration. Had she been richly dressed, he
would have been very obsequious, and insisted on sending home the
smallest parcel. But there are many who have two rules of
conduct, one for the rich, and quite a different one for the
poor, and among these was the clerk who was attending upon Mrs.
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