The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-10-07
Peddling without License.

ouuuHS NlGHVuL IiCCllnCs
There was in Illinois, q Sheriff nam.
ed Nickem, who was particularly ex-
pert in ferretlng out and furnishing ped.
lars who travelled without license.
One day he saws pedlar coming up the
road, and as usual he accosted him in
hopes of finding culprit whom he
might fine. .a aa
"Fine morn," said Nickem. reigning
up his nag in front of the pedIar's wag-
on. -e..gy
"Tis Pooty fine, | guess, for your
wooden country" said The pedlar.
"What have you goi 10 selI--any-
thing" said the sheriff.
"Gness bey a lew notions, one sort
or other. Whal'd yeou like TO heyl>-,
Got some rale slick raze.surs, and some
prime strops--an article guess you
want, Squire, blythe look o. ser beard.
And here's some rale genoovHine paste
blackin'-make them old dcow-hide boots
O. yourn shine like a dollar" aa'
"Thank YOU" said NiGkem, ~ don't
use bIackin'; grease is better, we allow,
out this wey, But what's that stuff in
bottles thar; is it good to take7" conlin-
ned he, pointing 10 a lot oflabelled bot
ties. oarc.9<f
"Wal, | guess, Squire, it is sort o.
good: its balm D Columby; good for
the 'har,' and cures the belIy-aclle; all
nation fine stuff for assislin' ''poor hu.
man na,ur',' as the poet says, in the al
fairs OF life. And such stuff for ez-
pandin' the ideas, and causin' 'em to
flow spontaneously. Knew a fellef
once who took bottle on the 4th o.
July, a-n-d scizzors! didn't he. make a
flamin' speech? Dan Webster aud
Harry Clay go! ashamed o themselves
and went elesr hum! Fact by golly."
"What dye askfor itsp inquired Nick.
EN-. .>ueqay
"Dollar a bottles the price, Squire,
but seein' it's yeou, guess III let yeou
hev il for .seventy-dve cents. Cheap
as dlft, am II! ... tt..., '........t.,. .,..,..,
swell, | reckon I'll take a bottle
There's the change" said Nickem.
sand there's The balm o. Columby.
Want nothin' else in my line today,
Squitef'' said the composed and viva
cious Yankee. ~ 'a "'
"B'lieve not: oh yes, now think of
it: stranger have you got license for
pedding in this Slater said Nickem,
coming to business. r7 " s1
"Guess | I,ev, Squire: maybe yeou'd
like to see ita'' eAr gr9D-. a.atg
swell, stranger, seein' as I'm the
High Sheriff Of this county, reckon |
shall trouble youto show your license"
sob! certin, certin, Squire, ypu kin
seeit: there it is, all fixed up in black
and white." as,e0asF
"lt's all right, perfectly right said
Nickem. folding up the document and
handing it back to the pedlar, and he
added, II don't know now that keer
anything about This bottle. | reckon |
may as well sell II to you agn; What'll
you give for it?" 'iii le 9'Il,3q 95' o
"0h, | don't knows the darn'd stnff's
any use to me, but seem it's yeou Sher.,
if, guess III give you about thirty.sev-
en- and a half cents for it,n quietly re.
.sponded the trader. ys So 10
The High Sheriff handed over the
bottle and received the change, when
the pedlar said: nla o. b9 40 Gua
81 say, Ysou, guess I've question to
ask Jest now. Hev YEoU got pedlar's
license about your trowsis2'' .
"No! ] havn't no use for the article,
myself" said Nicken. = \ 2''i aao 4
"Hain't, ehl Wal, guess we'll see
bout that, purity darn'd soon. Eflun-
derstood the law, meow, IT'S a clear
case that yeou've been tradin' with
me-hawkin' and pedlin balm O. Colum-
by on the high way, and shall inform
on yeou-I'li be darn'd ef DON'T" 4
Reaching the town the Yankee was
as good ashis word, and the High Sber-
iff was nicked and fined, s'for peddling
without o license" The Sheriff was as
heard TO say,.s..you might as we'll have
q greased eel, as live Yankee, 4