The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-06-27


boy who looked bcegar, though he felt a
mon.-Elias was in dilemma; but he
fancied that he heard those ths, were alone
dear to him on earth, moaning for bread,
and the poor house stared him in the face.
Necessity is the mother of inventions"
and Elias fell upon plan which appeared
10 hlm TO disSipate all the evils which
threatened 10 crush him. He determined
Ia make himself Iutle wagon with wooden
wheels, (hc was To poor 10 buy iron,) and
then with strap lhrown across his shoulder
he could haul il uboat the county, and iawk
his goods among the neighbors. His reso
ioiion taken, he began the work, and being
aided by benevolent wagon maker in the
vicinity, the little machine, about the size
of market basket, was constructed aud
equipped for a trip among the farmers
But now an obstacle, the most trying to
Elias's sensibitics, had occurred, aud hs
must overcome il, OF all his labor and all
his hopes must vanish forever. He war
well aware Of the disadvantages under
which he labored lie knew very well that
man obtains credit in proportion to his
supposed ability to puy; and how could
anybody suppose boy who had not
clothes to cover him--who was looked upon
as half an idiot--dcformed and imbecIe---
and whose mother was in nbject poverty,
could pay for goods to Gil such cart as
thatf Nevertheless, Elias's intended expc-
dltIon had been talked Of in the village;
his motives were known, and he hnd always
borne good character for honesty. Some
thought him dcranged-- laughed Mt
him-but some pilied him. lie cast about
how he should ill his wagon, for winter
was approaching, and he was diflident Of
succcss--but something must be done. He
still hoped heaven would help those who
wished to do good. lie resolved to apply
to one Of the village s,orekeepers who was
the least likely to refuse him, aud throw
torahly received, aud tho incipient pedlar's
wagon filled with refuse calicoes, pins,
needles, tnpcs, buttons, threads, coarse
combs, etc. And now beheld the little
lame pcdlcri IF twelve years old, with his
leather strap across his shoulder, dragging
his wooden wagon along the turnpike,
seeking the first avenue to the country,
where he couldNfnd farmers and farmers
girls to which to tell his story and sell his
wures.
In few days Elia6 returned, having
disposed Of his stock Of merchandise ut
some profit, with which he relieved the i'm
mediate necessities Of his mother, whose
expenses in tho interim were diminished
one third, as she had not to feed Elias. He
promptly paid the merchant the price Of
his former venture, and with the residue Of
the profits not required for other purposes,
he paid cusli for few articles, and then
laid in the balance Of his new stock on
credit, aud started again on his weary
lonely round. A few trips enabled him TO
Sc, up for himself; that is, ho paid for alt
his stock in cash, whereby lie procured it
at lower rate, and his profits proportion
ally increased. Ia his perigrinalions he
sometimes met with unfccling persons, who
rdiculed his honely apparatus aud his rag
ged dress--ielling him he was n beggar and
must have stolen the goods, etc. Ely
would tell them, he never stole anything
that he knew he was poor thnt hc
mast do something to get better clothes be-
fore cold weather; and that the reason he
dragged the ugly cart about, was, that he
might get them honestly
But winter had now set in, md Elias
was gradually sinking under protractcd ex-
ertions, which had made visible inronds up
on a slender frame and fragile constitution.
With impaired health, he was unable TO un-
dergo the fatigue and exposure Of a winter
caDpoign; but he was too poor 10 be idle.
Ills means would be exhausted by spring,
and hc would have To begin uncw.
But how To overcome the difficulty was
the question: lie had neither horse nor
wagon. Ely bit Upon an expedition which
succeeded to admiration. lie recollcctcd
that there were a pack Of cur dogs infes,ing
the village, some without acknowledged
masters, others whom their master would,
no doubt, be willing to get rid Of on any
terms, short Of being their execctioners.
EIy's mind was fixed, and he set about nc
compIishing his design with laudabIe celer-
| ity. A tongue with staple at the end was.
soon fixed in the wagon, and two miniature
wlifletroes was attached with the aid OF
bis former patron, The wagon maker. A
few old pieces Of rope supplied the harness,
and three ours, which had been nuisance
10 the settlement, constituted the team.
lie experienced some difficulty in breaking
tho dogs to harness, they would lie down in
sullcn silence, or they would growl and
snap Mt him and sometimes try to run away.
But EIy's habitual perseverance, overcame
all difficulties besides, he was severe
diseipIinarian. lie well know the fneritor-
ious properties Of 1agelIation, snd when
soothing failed he applied his lesthern-
,honeed whip to such a purpose, that he
soon subjected the unruly trio to obedicness
and the s,ceI Of an Arsbon sheik was new
er moro obsequious to his masters will
than were Tiger, Watch and Ranger, 70
that Of Ely.
Thus accoutred, Ely sailed forth with a
we'll filed wagon aud high spirits. He
was.uew relieved from the toll Of dragging