Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-04-25
,I0R PRINTING.
HOW TO SELL A CLOCK.
AN AMERICAN SKETCH.

Madam, can | sell you clock TO day /" in
qUired d pedler he was met at the door by the
woman OF the house before which he had stopped
No." replied the woman civilly, yet decidedly
we want no such article"
u have several fine clocks, madam" said the
pedler.
Very likely" said the woman, but we wants
none" At the same tine retreatng few PAGES
from the door
May ask. madam" inquired the peder, ad-
vancng within the door a little, but cautiously and
civilly, as the woman retreated, whether you
have clock"
The woman cast, will not say an indignan, look
al the clockman-but look certainly not kind
at the same time saying with great deal Of spir.
II, I'VE want none of clocks, sir"
The pedler took a seat.
The scene which we have thus briefly described
occurred some years since in the "Old Domin-
ion," but in what particular section are not al
liberty TO say The house at which il occurred
was well looking habitation old, indeed but
kept in clever repart 1t was owned and occu-
pied by a farmer of some consideration in those
parts, but singular and very set in his way. Like
some others, In other quarters, he had imbibed
strong antipathies against Yanheedom and all lis
inhabitants He fairly hated the sight of ped
ler; and although disposed 10 treat his species
with civilty, he had not at all times been so lortu-
male as TO do so. In several instances indeed, he
had dismissed with some severity these Inherent
merchants, who had offered their commodities for
sale within his precincts. Even his dog seemed
10 know when one drove up and sharled and
growled with mole than ordinary spirit, 10 the ev-
Ident satisfaction of the master. AS 10 purchas
ing article of any of the detestable fraternity
that be would never do-no, not he, whatever were
his necessities And he was true TO his word
For more than once, il had happened that articles
had been offered just al time when he needed
them, and which could not be obtained in the re.
tired situation in which he lived-but he would
not even look at them. The corn might remain
unhoed, and the house never be swept, before he
would purchase hoe or broom of peder
The sentiments of MIR. M. moreover had
obtained no small notoriety among the peddng
fraternity. They all understood the matter; and
although several, prompted by an ordinary share
of confidence in their selling powers, had made a
yisi. the place, determined not to leave the game
till they had il down, they had all 10 man
been loiled. The Virginia farmer was proof "a
gainst their strategy and had urged his wife never
his absence, 10 purchase any article, especially
clock.
This day Mr. M-had gone to neighborng
iown to transact some business, expecting TO re-
turn The same evening. Shortly after his depart
ure the pedler drove Up.
Jasper Calium was no ordinary specimen Of a
Yankee He had all the tact and shrewdness Of
the Goldfish State all the hardness and impenetra-
bilIty of the granite State and all the determina
lion of Green Mountain boy. He was Yankee
and one of the straigh;est seci-a keen, sharp
sighted ready -witted man OF some two or three
and twenty. lie was iactician al selllng--no
matter what article OF commodity, he could always
sell and he delighted in nothing more than 10 fol-
low hard upon brother pedler, and TO compare
notes with him at the end Of the tour. Generally,
Jasper could show more dollars taken in given
time than any other pedler who travelled In the
l.
ed and was seldom off his guard.
He had, as we have seen, made known his er
rand and received a denial Most pedlers would
have retired He took seat There was seem
ing rudeness in SO doing as the woman had gwen
no such invitation but the manner OF his dong 1t
divested il OF all improperly. 1t was taken hesl-
fatingly and with an appearance of WEAKNESS, and
he did that which is not always done by pedlers,
he removed his hat.
Minutes passed--or they seemed minutes 10 the
uedler--during which he sal in silence ponderng
upon the course most likely to insure success-at
length he ventured 10 say.
MADAM. with your leave, III show you one Of
my clocks"
You NAV show as many as you please said
the woman but we want none--haventt ALREADY
told you?'
She had indeed told him so; but nevertheless
he had gained an important point, the PERMISSION
was again entering the door, bearing in his hands
handsome looking clock--brass wheels, mahog-
any case, gilded at various points, and wlthai a
pretty landscape painted on glass in front below
the face-in short, it was one Of Jeromes best
Bristol make. Fortunately, so the pedler thought,
the mantle happened to be unoccupied, and there
in the centre the clock was duly isstalled 1t was
wound 10 and soon began its duly-click-click
click.
The pedler resumed his seat
/ said he had gained something. SO he thought;
but despite Of all that he had done, the woman
seemed as unmoved as marble statue--she TOOK
not the slightest notice of him or his clock ms
was strange. She left the room, and as the ooof
closed the pedler noticed that she more than nan
turned round, and cast mementary glance
at the clock. And that look was voluntary. u
cost her an effort-t betrayed curosity--the ped
Ter did nj quite despair.