Litchfield enquirer., 1838-02-15
SAYINGS AND DorNcs OF SAMUEL. SLICK.

sixteen thousand pounds. The house of every substantial farmer had three substan- tial ornaments, wooden clock, lin re- Hector, and Polygot Bible. How is it that an American sells his wares at what ever price he pleases, where blue nose would fail to make sale atall? will in- quire of the clock maker the secret of his success.
 What pity it is, Mir. Slick (Cor such was his name, 'what pity it is, said l, that you who are so successful in teaching these people the value of clocks, could not also teach them the value of time.'
 I guess,' said he, they have got that ring to grow on their hornsyet, which eve- ry four-year-old has in our country. We reckon Ionrs and minutes to be dollars and cents. They do nothing in these parts but eat, drink. smoke, sleep, ricleabout, lounge at taverns, make speeches at temperance meetings, and talk about kOus of assembly, 1 If a man don't hoe his corn, aud he don't get a crop, he says it is all owing to the bank; and if he runs in debt and is sued, why he says the lawyers are a curse to the country. They arc most idle set of folks, tell you.'
 But how is it, said I, that you man. age to sell such an immense number of clocks, (which certainly cannot be called necessary articles,) among people with whom there seems to be great scarcity ot money2'
 | Mr. Slick paused, as if considering the rroprietv of answering the question, and looking nc in the face, said, in a confiden- tial tone-
 'Whv, I don't care ir do tell you, for the market is eluued, and shall qait this circuit. 1t is done by a knowledge of soft sawder ard hum0n natur. But here is dea- con Flint's,' said he ;'l have but one clock left. and guess will sell it to him.
 At the gate of most comfortable look ing farmhouse stood deacon Flint, re- spectable old man, who had understood the value of,imc better than most of his neigh bors, if one might judge from the appear ance of every thing about him. After the usual salutation, an invitation to alight, was accepted by Mir. Slick, who said he wished to take leave of Mrs. Flint before he left Colchester.
 We had hardly entered tho house, before the elock-m maker pointed to the view from the window, and, addressing hmselflo me, said,
 'IfI was to tell them in Connecticut, there was sucI, farm as this away down east here in Novia Scotia, they wouldn't believe newly there aint such location in all New England The deacon has a hundred acres uf dyhr'- Seventy said the deacon, only sev- cnty.'
 Well, seventy, but then there is your fine deep bottom, why, l could run ram rod into it.
 'In,erval we will call it, said the den- con, who, though evidently pleased at this eulogium, seemed to wish the experiment of,he ramrod to be tried in the right place. Well, interval, if you please, (hough professor Eleazar Comstock, in his work on Ohio, calls them bouoms,) is just as good as dyke. Thou there is that water privilege, worth 5000 or 4,OOO dollars, twice as good as what Gov. Case paid 15,- 900 dollars for. wonder, deacon, you don't put up carding mill on it: the same works would carry turning-la'he. shn- gle mahcine, a circular saw. grind bark and'-
 'Too old said tho deacon, too old for all those speculations.'
 'Oldn repeated the clock-maker-' not you why you arc worth half dozen of the young men we see now-a.days; you are young enough to have-'
 Hero he said something in low tone oi voice, which did not distinctly hear; but whatever it was the deacon was pleased : he smiled, and said he did not think ofsuch things now.
 But your beasts, dear me, your beasts must be put in and have teed;' saying which, he went out to order them to be ta- ken to the stable.
 As the old gentleman closed tho door after him, Mr. Slick drew near to me, and said in an under ione-
 'That is what call 'sof sa,Oder.' An Englishman would pass that man as sheep passes hog in pasture, without looking 1 at him or,' said he, looking rather archly, if he was mounted on pretty smart horse I guess he'd trot away if he cOuLd. Now ind'-
 Here his soft sawder' was cut short by the entrance of Mrs. Flint.
 'Jist to say good bye Mrs. Flint
 'What have you sold all your clocks?'
 Yes, and very low, loo, for money is scarce, and I wish to close the consarn- no, an, wrong in saying all. fer l have just one Jeff. Neighbor Sieel's wife asked to have the refusal of it, but guess won't sell it. had but two of them, this one and ths feIlpr of #, ihat sold governor Lincoln. General Green. the Secretary of state of Maine, said he'd give me $50 f- sA esa..