Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-07-20

The Book agent.--As the sun was set.
ting, after one of those sultry days in July,
when the thermometer rose to 80, tall,
lantern jawed, gambrel shank'd fellow en-
tered the village Of, in the old common
wealth OF Massachusetts. He was dressed
in the peculiar costume of Yankee back
Notwithstanding on his head q squirrel
skin cap, and on his feet double soled cow
hide boots, which would laugh out of coun-
tenance a Kamschatkan winter. On his arm
was carefully folded butternut colored
frock coat, and in his hand was an extra
shirt and dicky, tied up in cotton flag
handkerchief. On his entrance into the
village he inquired for the clergyman, and
being told where he might be found, start
ed post haste for his residence. Arriving
at his house, he found him enjoying the cool
of the twilight, in his garden. Stepping up
to the fence he inquired if the Rev. Mr..
lived in that neighborhoodl The cler-
gyman told him he did, and that he was
the individual to whom he alluded.
81 am dreadful deaf" said the fellow,
"you must rise your voice, or can't hear
word you say."-The clergyman put his
lips to his ear, and repeated the declaration
that he was the person for whom he in
quired, and asked him the object of his call.
@Tis bin an awful hot day." said the trav-
eller, "but it grows little cooler as the sun
goes down." The clergyman again inqui-
red his business, on the top of his lungs.
81 thank you thousand times, said the
stranger, 81 reconed to have got to the tav-
ern by sun down, but hav'nt, and as am
prodigiously tuckered out, I'll stay, and
thank we into the bargain" following the
clergyman into the house. The clergyman
handed him chair, and after laying down
his coat in the corner of the room, and fam
ming himself while with his cap he took his
seat. The clergyman, in loud voice, ask.
ed him to what part of the country he was
travelling?-"Any thing that comes handy"
he replied, 81 am farmer when at home,
and not much used to ncnacks-I can eat
any thing but cold pork and cabbage, and
that never could eat, since was boy
but don't put yourself out of the way at all
about supper" The clergyman inquired
again, in a still louder voice, if he was from
Vermont?
'1'm getting subscribers" said he, "for
valuable book-its the work of John Bun
yam, or Jonathan Bunyan-I don't remem.
Der exactly which; but I'll see," pulling out
his prospectus and handing it to the clergy
man. The clergyman, after looking at it
hsi,s,,ed il back, and remarked, that he did
mr. 81, 20, no ba, oil
81 always carry pen and ink with me find
a great many folks that don't keep such
things in their house," pulling out his pen
and ink and offering it to the clergyman.
The clergyman raised his voice to the high.
est key, and said he must be excused from
subscribing. "Just as wells" said the agent
81 write the names of half my subscribers
myself" entering the name Of the clergy.
man in his book.
The clergyman, despairing of making
the fellow hear any thing, concluded to ge
rid of him in the easiest wayhe could. He
therefore furnished him with good supper
and bed. In the morning he told him, in
as loud a voice as he was master of, that he
did not want the work, and should not take
it. "Don't give yourself any uneasiness
about it," said the agent, 81 never forget
subscribers, and especially ministers-you
shall have it in due time" Thanking him
for his kindness and hospitality, and bidding
him good morning, he trudged off as fast as
his legs could carry him.
About month after, as the clergyman
was on his way to visit brother in the
ministry in neighboring town, he was no
a little surprised to meet his old guest, the
deaf book agent. He was dressed mucl
in the same manner as before, but was seat
ed on box, in the fore part of a one horse
wagon, drawn by horse that would require
stall feeding to make much of show
Coming up with him, he jumped out of hi
wagon, shook him cordially by the hand
and said he was going directly to his house
with his books. The clergyman said tina
he must be excused from taking them, a
he had set already on hand. "No matter,
said the agent, ''I'm going right by you
house and can leave the books and take tn,
money from your wife," getting into hi
wagon and driving off. The clergyman
fearing his family might take the books il
his absence, put about for home, and arri
we'd just as the agent was driving up. Sec
ing the clergyman had returned, he said
"you came back for fear of rain, 'spose
and it does look as though we were goin
to have long Storm" taking the book
from his box and carrying them into til
house. The clergyman told him as lou
as he could, that he did not want the books
and thought he was insulting him by forcin
them upon him. The agent said he inter
ded to have got little further before tn
storm, but if he could not conveniently pa
him then, he must accept of his invitatio
and stay till the storm was over. The clcl
gyman finding that he must take the book
or keep the fellow three or four days, pal
him the money, as the easiest way to get ri
|, ofhim.