The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-08-04
PeddIing without License.

/ here was in Illinois n sheriff. named
Nickem, who was particularly expert in fer
retng out and Furnishing pcdarS who tray
cIed without license. One day he saw a
pcdlar coming mp the road. and, as usual.
he accoStcd him in hopes of finding a cul-
prit whom he might fine.
Zine mornin,' said Nickcm, refining up
his nag in front Of the pedlar's wagon.
'lIS pooty fine, guess for yeour wooden
country said the pedar.
what have you got to sell, any thing
said the sheriff.
Guess have, n few notions, one sort or
luther. Whatd yeou like to havey Got
some rale slick raze.surS, and some prime
stropS: an article guess YOU want, Squire,
by the look o your beard. And here's some
gen.noowinc paste blackin'-make them
old ceowhde beoots o yourn shine like a
DOLLAR
'Thank you,' said Nickem, Il don't use
blackin'; grease is better, we allow outthi>
way. But what's that stun in the bottles
thar-iS it good TO takc?' continued he,
pointing to a lot of labelled bottles.
'Wcll, guess, Squire, il is sort o. good :
it's balm o Columby; good for the 'har,'
aHd cures the belly ache; all nation find
stuff FOR aS>iStin' 'poor human na,ur,' as the
poet says, in the affairs Of life. And such
stuff for eXpandin' the IDEAS, and cau>in'
EN- to flow spontaneously Knew felar
once who took bottle on a It'll Of July,
and scissors didn't he make a flaming
speech Dan'l Webster aud Henry Clay
got ashamed Of themselves, and went clear
hum! Fact, by Gollyn
sN hat I'yp 81 tpr ~ - ipguirpl Mic
a dollar a bottles the price, Squire, but
seen it's ycou, guess I'll let You have it fur
sev-en-ty-tive cents. Cheap as dirt, amt
it?
'Wcll, | reckon I'll take a bottle, ,har's
the change said Nickem.
'Nud there's the balm - COumhv. IIaiut
nothin else in my line to-day, Squire said
the composed and vivaciouS Yankee.
'Blicve not, oh yes, now think Of it,
stranger, have YOU got license for ped
ding in this State = said Nlckcm, coming
TO business.
Guess hev, Squire, may be yeou'd like
TO see t?'
'Wcll, stranger, seem as I'm high Shcr-
III OF this county, reckon | shall trouble
you to show your license.'
'Oh! certain, certain. Squire, ycou kin
II: there it is, all fixed up in black and
white. nice rs wax, aiut it,
Its all right, perfectly right sa'i Nick
en-, folding up the document and handing
it back to the pcdIar, and he added, Il don't
know. now that | have bought this stuff,
that kccr anything about it. IrCckon
may as well sell it to you again; whatll
you give for it?'
30 | dcou't know that the darn'd stuff :
any use to me. but seem lis you, Sheriff,
I'll give you about thirty.Seven and hall
cents for it, quietly responded the trader.
The high Shcrilrhandcd 0vcrthc bottle. and
received the change, when the pedlar OBJ
served.
Il say, ycou, guess I've y question to ask
just meow, her yov get pedlarS license Il.
boat yohr irOwNcrSH
'Mc? No, hav'nt no use for the article,
myself said NiCkcm.
lIaiut, Ell? Well, guess wc'llSec about
that, purity darn'd soon. Ei | understand
the law, meow its clear case. that you've
been tradn' with me. hawn' aud pcdn'
Balm o Commby on the highway, and |
shall inform on yeou-I'll be darn'd eff
don'tr
Reaching the town, the Yankee was as
good as his word, and the high Sheriff was
niCkcd aud fined 'orpcdIiag wihoW Al iCcaSc'
The Sheriff was heard to say, you might as
well try to hold CREASED eel, az alive Yam.
kee!