The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-11-14
A YANKEE SHOEMAKER.

You haint no occasion for a jour nor nothing,
sPose," said a jolly son os ST. Crispin from the
land OF wooden nutmegs, as he entered a shoe es-
'ao'shment, with his kit nicely done up in his
apron.
Wonder il hain't,' vas the reply Of The
boss. "Why. | should like a dozen if could pc,
em-out what kind Of a shoe can you make 2"
-, as TO the matter % thai, % said The shue.
maker, ! reckon how | can make a descent sor,
ola craft" '
spread Your kit. then" said the boss, "rTl
give you a pair TO try, and if your work suits me,
ican give you a steady seat OF work.
OflsPln was soon hammering and whisrIing
%"ay as happy rs a clam al high water, and
me ooss was called away on some business. " hicb
uo'a.hed him two OF three ours-meanwhiI
se HamPing jour had produced a thing which
o"e some faint resemblance To q shoe, and feel
,"s somewhat ashamed of il, hid it in a nile of
,eaIner chips thai lay on the flour, and proceeded
W make another, which he had ba rely time to fin
.o"' "neh his employer entered aud began To ex-
Look here. mister said he, " guess v,u
ro.I W make The mate Ia his: it is the greatest
fct.'' Wy '"'P' mats d
"P'raps you'd like to bet a iriae on lha, said
The shoemaker.
Bet, responded the boss, "why I'll bet a ten
ooHar bill against a handful Of tobacco. that there
never was a shoe made half so bad as this ="
Done, said Crispins at the same time cast.
ivy q sly WINK at his shopmates. " but stop, let
me see If | have got so much Of the weed with
me. Oh yes, here's a whole handful of Caven-
uSh, and laying it on the cutting buard, he ven.
'nled the %prOprieiy of having a suet skin laid aIyno
sue OF 1t, which was no sooner done than he pro.
ceeded to draw from its hiding place the other
shoe.
" Here BOSS said he, I" you must decide The
Oel; say which Of the two shoes is the worst
We'll, | guess I'm fairly smoked in this time
'F,plIed the boss, pushing The Cavendish and shin
Pds'er towards the rigbfful owner and throwing
""nepence to the youngest apprentice The boy
needed no farther instruction as 10 his duty. but
was OIL In the twinkiing ola bed post, and soon
,S'ufned with a quart of blackstrsp, with which
'hey RECALLED themselves.
Alter all bad drank, and Crispin had pOcketed
we money, he turned to the boss aud said. " Nav
UuSs, III bet ten dollars than | make n better shne
mat any other jour in The shop. P'raps you'd
IKE the ten dollars back-will You take the bet7',
To be spre I will" The boss replied. produc-
wy another X, and laying it on the lapstone, the
idhkee putting his with it. Crispin was again
SSoon at work, and made a shoe which Inc buss was
Hwfced 10 acknowledge couldn't be beat, and the
''hkee coO)ly slowed away the blunt. The boss.
however, consoled himself with the idea. that he
"a1 got a first rale workman If he was a way
o|o Told him TO go on and make a mate to The
Ssnoe, when the shrewd Yankee. being we'll salts.
no with his days work significantly replied. " Let
aone ofyOOr jours make a mate ioit. If theu can -
sOo Pntting his sticks together. and bidding the
"Ss a hearty good by, again started on tramp.
MAINE -Another trial will be made ON Mon
TIy next, to fll the vacancies yet remaining in
we Legislature Of that Stale.
E