Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-11-21

the ei shed. Mr.. spry., this. is your room.
Good night, SIR s.s...
Good night, Mr.. Simmons. But wait
awhile. noew, dn take care ofthem boxes.
got nearly four hundred dollars worth Of
goods in 'em, and il The cutlery gifts damp,
or the calicoes get siled. / shall be ruined.
with this injunction the parties retired
to rest. The next morning. when they
aw oke' the sky was overcast, and The as
Ipect of nature portended a long fall of rain.
AHA, what did old Jake tell you Mr..
Spry, was the first remark of the overseer.
'Wa-al. now, the quicksilver in my ba-
rometer must a been damp. But say.
now, friend Simmons, you'll let me have
another trial. You won't take all that a
poor felier's got on airth, jiston account of
the quicksilver's bein' damp?'
'Oh, no. said the good-natured Sim
mons, you may try every day for a week
your board and your horses feed shall
cost you nothing, but at the cpd Of that
time | must either have your goods, or you
my fifty dclars.' 1a aall s-s
Mr.. Joel Spry concluded the bargain
with some apparent hesitation, but seemed
resolved to make the best of bad case
Every night Spry's barometer was pitted
against old blind Jake's toes, and regular
ly every morning the toes came off victo.
rious. Spry, who ate all the while like a
horse, and actually commenced getting fat
Fdecared on every successive morning ,ha
she should De ruined past redemption =
He tore his hair, clenched his hands, ours
ed old Jake for hobgobIin; and swore
that had he been born in Salem, he woule
have been hung for wizard. At last the
seventh day came. 1t had rained for 81,
days previous without intermission, ant
now, as old Jake, through his science il
toeology, had predicted the nightprevious
in opposition to the indications Of Spry'
barometer. the sun shone bright and beau
tiful. Spry took his mare from the stabl
and harnessed her in his wagon. Will
tears in his eyes, he babe the negroes wh'
we're laughing at him, good Bye and &C
tually gave old Jake the barometer whicl
had cost him so much trouble. ISL .
Simmons said he you won the deb
fairly-take the things, and keep 'em, an
r never say again that you never knew a
t honest yankee pedlar.' r. .-..
well, we'll, good bye,' said Simmons
l wanted 10 teach one of you id van
t KEGS lesson, and guess that I've give
t you what you Deserve ..... ..,
t 'Wa-al,' sobbed Mr.. Spry in mos
e melancholy tone, it can't be help'd.-
e Good bye. Simmons. Git up, Nabby $
] git up, you tarnal crttur!' So saying h
applied the lash to Nabby, end she move
] away at an astonishing rate. When Spr
had got outside the gate, he turned aroun
and said in loud nasal tone - say
: Simmons them boxes of mine is full
= goods. Full TO the brim with brickba
: and cornstalks! Got weeks board an
/, lodging, and horse feed for nothin'.
know'd it was agoin' to rain for weel
/, and that could not travel! That baron
S eter of mine is patent and no mistake.
i say, Simmons, how is old Jake's toes 2
u Gee up, Nabby !
II Here, Jim, get me my gum said Sin
= mons in a terrible fury
d Il draw'd the load out afore you was i
it this morning. shouted Spry, who W;
now out of danger .r. r
Y sWell,' said Simmons almost out
IT breath with anger, II ever I see yankt
n pedlar on this plantation again, if don
IS shoot wish ! may loose years pay. al
n be ID into the bargain ~. o Deli