THE Eastern housewife must needs go forth to do her marketing,—to the grocery with eggs and butter, to the market with meat and vegetables, to the fruit store with fruit and berries. "John" (in California) brings fruit and berries and all manner of vegetables, known and unknown, to one's doorstep. The asparagus is so young and fresh, and tied in such dainty bunches. The peas squeak when you touch them; spinach, that discouraging mess of tumbled leaves and stems, is in little bunches too, with the pink root ends sticking out most sweetly. Everything is in clean sacks of foreign appearance, shaded and guarded from the dust. He opens each and beguiles you with vague accents—names that need the visible object to illustrate; but the object is there—and you buy it! You cast discretion to the winds; you resolve to get the crisp pink and white and green and cream and orange beauties, cost what it may. "Yes," you nod to him violently; "yes"—some peas, some palagus, some callot, some onion (you are newly set up here and must lay up for the future—it may snow!), some "spinny-chee," some celery,—no more, no more!—but he throws in some lettice that breaks if you touch it, and the fattest, reddest little radishes, that fairly kick they are so fresh. He bring it all in, and you cast about hastily for some sufficient receptacle. The biggest dishpan offers itself, and he piles it up. "Two bits," says John. Two bits is $.25—a "quarter." He sees your amazement, and hastens to justify himself. "Fi'cent" for this and "fi'cent" for that; and these others, it appears, are thrown in out of sheer profusion and good will. He smiles bashfully and repeats, "Two-bit," evidently thinking you find him extortionate. So you produce the two bit and he goes cheerfully away, with the invariable, "Good-by!" You are left to revel in your stores; and before they are gone—or are as wilted as the "store vegetables" of Eastern cities, lo! he is with you again—twice or three times a week the whole year round, and always with fresh vegetables.—From The "Vegetable Chinaman," in Housekeeper's Weekly.