Litchfield enquirer., 1846-09-24
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A PED
LER.
BY SOMEBODY.

FrcdGrlswold was what might be call
ca specializing pedler. Born and
Orodght up, as he had been in Connect.
cut-he possessed all that shrewd cum
nng and knowledge Of mankind, 50 es
sent'ni to one o! his calling, and for which
the Yankees are SO celebra.ed-ae knew
his man at glance and could guess the
KIND OF goods man would want by the
looks of his premises. He was not how
ever as you would suppose, IA dealer in
wooden nut-megS, tin ware, brass clocks,
or any thing OF that nature, but regular
travelling merchant with Il 'Iit,le of
everything from paper of pins TO the
most splendid broadclolhs.
tie WAS native OF Connecticut as was
before stated, but he had migrated to the
western part of New York, and settled in
the town of c., which place lie
made his head quar,ers--and from
whence he made excursions Into Penn
sylvana, Virginia, Maryland, &c.-He
had followed the profession from the age
VI IL, and his favorItc policy was never
to refuse anything man might offer in
payment for goods, trusting to his own
ingenuity to dispose of the articles thus
obtained, to advantage; and he seldom
los, money upon them.
AT one time ne was travelling with his
load through a new settlement in Ohio,
and stopped his team bet re il neat look
ing log house, whose owner was at work,
putting together one of those substitutes
for Il fence, known as Il brush fence"
around his garden.
'u,,llo, friend" said Fred, 'do you
wish to purchase anything to-day"
Cant, said the man, paus;ng mo-
nrn,-'I haven't any money--nolhiDg TO
pay with
20, never mind replied Fred, in his
usual bland tone, Pll take most any
thing
The man saw he was determined to
have IL trade, and so in ordcl 10 get rid Of
him he said Wei, Sir, am just build
ing IL piece of brush fence, aud If you will
take that dent know but we can trade
'Oh, I'll take it if you'll keep it uulI l
call Tor it,
'Oh yes, I'll do that said the man, sur
prised at The accommodation OF Fred, and
trying 10 assign some reason for 1t III his
mind. He finally concluded that Fred
him f,vor. and as he was really needy,
he determined to accept II IN the Spirll IN
which i, was offered. SO IA bargain Was
made for his fence, he received the goods
but as long as he could pay in brush
fence, he thought they were cheap enough
at amy price.
Two or three years passed, and though
Fred often called at the house and done
considerable trading, yet he never de-
mandcd payment on his note. In course
| oflinc, when the man Dcgan to prosper,
he burned up his rude fence, and aubsi
ru,cd ii neat picket in lis place. About
two weeks after this was done, Fred came
that way again aud called,
Morning, Mr.-,' said he on en-
terng. Il have found place whore |
can dispose OF my fence to advantage
and have called for it,
The man saw he was caught in the trap,
and rs there was no way to avoid 1t, he
paid Fred the money. and laughed atthc
| Joke and babe him good morning.
F., d gained considerable by this. He
not only made IA fair pso!it ON his mcr-
chandise, hut secured the friendship and
patronage OF the man, and like" Use all
|
ncighborhood, which was considerable,
to secure him the patronage OF others.
Among Fred's numerous friends was
Judge Newton, who resided in the north
ern part of PenDsy lvania. Fred Away
made the Judges house his home when
| he travelled lhu: part OF the country
The Judge was "A fine jovial old fellow,
| fond Of u Joke, and was always trying to
get a joke upon Fred when he stayed with
him.
One day some time in the year l53-,
Fred was passing through and put with
him over night. In the morning he WIS
determined 20 drive a trade Of some kind
with the Judge, Offering in his usual way
10 take anything in payment.
.I'Il tell you what III do said Judge,
| laughing, I've got first rate grlndatone
out in the yard, and if you'll lake that, |
will trade it out
.Very wclI,' said Fred, OH take it, it's
just as good pay as want
They went out to the wagon, and the
Judge traded out his grndsionc, WHICH
Fred loaded on his wagon ana slartcd.-
He had not gone far before he saw Il Gus
toner, aud stopped his teen
Good morning. Want any thing in my
line this morning?'
We'll. don't know, Fred replied he,
in bantering tone, got any grind
stonesn
Yes sir, got first rate one, just come
out and look atltr
Now it happened that the man really
did want grindstone; he was acquainted
with Fred and spoke in the manner he did,
because he had no idea that Fred had
one. -
i like the looks of the stone said he
after examining it, and as | want one
very much, aud and you take anything
in payment, Pll give you six cents a pound
forit. .,.
Certainly said Fred; Il always do
Very well, how much does it weigh?
Just forty-eight pounds said Fred, as
he proceeded to unload it.
! 'Now come with me. Fred said the
Squire, grinning, when this was finished