Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-01-14

Messrs EditorS:-1he Ittie story am about
10 tell YOU is none the worse Tor being true; and
| trust mono the less interesting. While many
of YOUR pleasant and graceful writer's are anus
ing and ns,ructing Your readers by relating e.
vents and circumstances that nigh; have occur
red: incuicating many a lesson by presumng PIC
lures that bear resemblance to truth; allow
me for to hold your readers by the buttons
boe, a lew mnutes, and see whether n sanitary
lesson, u a small way, may not as well be drawn
from events that hare occurred. The names |
shall use Of course fictitious, but he cfcum-
stances actually occurred very much as shall
relate them, and tho actors respectable gen
tlemen living IN this good city Of Gotham
Some few years ago, Peter Punctual. an hon
est and Industrious young fellow from Yankee
land-I say Yankee land, Messrs. Edtors bu,
freely confess that is merely Inference Of nine,
drawn from the circumstances of this story itself;
and If your readers after perusing IT, do not come
to the same conclusion, they may Sc, him down
as coming from any other land they please; bu,
for yseii, were on Inrv, and under oath,
would bring him in Yankee This same Peter
Punctua, some few years ago. came into New
York, and attempted to turn a penny and get
honest living by procuring subscribers to various
magazines and periodicals, on his own hook
That is, he would receive a quantity of magazines
from distant publisher. at discount, and get
up his list Of subscribers abou, tho city, and
serve them through the year at the regular sub
scrption price, which would leave The amount of
the said discount n clear profit in his pocket,
rather compensation for his time and labor. -
There are many persons in the city who obtain
livelihood IN the same way.
Peters commissions being small and his capt
tai sill smaller, he obliged 10 transact his
business with great care and circumspection, in
order 10 make both ends meet. lie adopted rule
the refore to make all Of his subscribers pay their
years subscription IN advance. Such things
could be done IN these days, when business was
BRISK and people were strangers to hard times
In for hers 1aN
the lower part Of the city, and IN the principal
business streets he observed store whIc!, had
the AIR OF doing heavy business, and read upon
the sign over the door, "Sooman Sharp, Impor-
teri of certain and merchandise The
field looked inviting, and IN Peter went with his
samples under his rm, and inquired for Mr.. Sharp.
The gentleman was pointed out to him by the
clerks, aud Peter stepped up and asked hum 1t he
would not like TO subscribe for some magazines.
"Wha, sort Of ones have you got there?" said
Mr.. Sharp.
"rhree or four different kinds" said Peter,
laying the specimens the desk before him
"pease To look at them and suit yourself"
Sharp iumbIed them over and over and exam
ined them after another, and at last took up
+Bnckinghams New England Magazine" pub
l,shed a, b 'ston.
"Wha, are your terms for ,his?" said he 81
don't know but would subscribe for this
give dollars year in advance" said Peter,
"to be delivered carefully every month your
store house"
"Bnt never pay IN advance for ,bese things"
SAID Sharp at is time enough 10 pay for thing
wien you get it. I'll subscribe for IL, If YOU
have mind to receive your pay a, the end Of the
year. and not otherwise"
THAT'S against rule.'' said Peter; 81 have
all III subscribers pay advance"
"WeH, us against my rule 10 pay for my
thing before | get it," said Sharp; 80 if yon
havn't a mind go take my subscription, to be paid
the end of the wear. you won't get 1t a, all
That's the long I'd the short Of the matter"
Peter paused little, and qneried with him
self as to what he had better do. The man was
evidently dong a large business. aud wa undoub-
edlv rich-a wholesale dealer, and an importer
there could no, possibly BY any danger of losing
the subscription IN such a case; and would 1t not
be better To break his rule for once, than 10
loose good a SUBSCRIBER
swell, wha, say p said Sharp: do you like;
but those nv only terms. ! viii paw for
a thing before ! get it,"
..On the WHOLE said Peter Il have good
mind TO break over rule ihis time, for don't
like TO lose good subscriber when can find one.
] believe III put your name down, sr.-Where
will YOU have IT ieGP'
AT nv house. SAID Mr.. Sharp. which a
bout mile and half from his store, away up
The business being thus concluded, Peter took
up his magazines, babe Mr. Sharp good morning,
and lief, the store. No further personal inter
course occurred between them during the year.
But Peter, who was his own carrier, well as
canvssser regularly every month delivered the
New England Magazine at MIR. Sharp's door
And IN few days after the year expired, he
made out his bill for the five dollars and called
al MI Hharps store for the money. He entered
win as much confidence that he should receive
The chnk al once, rs he would have had in going
with check tor the like sum into the Bank of
the United States. during tia, institutions pal,
miest DAYS He found Mr.. Sharp a, his desk
and presented him the bill. Tha, gentleman
Il nd e5 at n hon
Peter.
"Oh! ali, good morning. said he. "v on are the
young man who called here on this business
IVA year ago. Well, the year has come round,
has ii?"
Eyes, believe it has, said Peter.