Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-07-18
Connecticut Forever.

we nave stOry 10 tell, anu must TELL
it-and must tell i. in our own way
The reader will please not bother us
with any questions.
A few days ago Connecticut Broom
peddler, shrewd chap, from over among
the steady habits and wooden clocks,
and schoolmasters, and other ixins, drove
through our streets heavily laden with
corn brosms. He had called at severa,
stores and Offered his load, or ever SO
small portion OF L. but when he told
them that he wanted cash, and nothing
else, in payment, they had universally
given him to understand that they had
brooms enough, and that he might go far
iher. AT length he drove up to large
wholesale establishment on the West
side and not far from the bridge and once
more offered his wares. 'Well,' SAID the
merchant, Il want the brooms badly
enough; but what will you take in payv
This was poser. The peddlar was
aching TO get rid of his brooms, but he
would la,hsr sell single broom for cash
than the whole load for any other article
especially an article that he could not
as readily dispose Of as he could his
brooms. After minutes hesitation.
therefore he screwed his courage to the
sticking point--(it required some cour-
age after having lost the chance OF sell
ing his load half dozen times by SIM
liar answer)-and frankly told the mer-
chaut that he must have cash. or
course, the merchant protested that cash
was scarce and that he must purchase, if
he purchased al all, for what he had in
his store to pay with. He really wanted
the brooms and he did not hesitate to
say so but the times were hard and he
had notes 10 pay and that he had goods
that must be disposed of. Finally he
would put his goods at cost price for the
sake of trading, and would take the
whole load of brooms which the ped
dlar had labored so unsuccesfully at
other stores to dispose of. So said he
to the man from Connecticut, unload
your brooms and then select any articles
from my store, and you shall have .them
at cost.
The peddlar scratched his head
There was an idea there, as the sequel
shows plainly enough. III tell you
what it is,' he answered, Just say them
terms for half the load and cash for
toiher half, and I'm your man. Blow
ed ef don't sell out, eff Connecticut
sinks with all her broom stuff the next
minute The merchant hesitated a
moment but finally concluded the chance
good one. He should be getting half
the brooms for something that would not
sell as readily; and as for the cost price,
it would be an easy matter to play gam
mon in regard to it. The bargain was
struck-the brooms were oro't in. The
cash for half Of them was paid over
Now what will you have for the re-
mainder of your bill!' asked The mer-
chant. The peddler scratched his head
again, and this time most vigorously
He walked the tloor-drummed his fin
gers OH the head of barrel-whistled.
BY and by his reply came-slowly, de.
Iliberately: .You Providence fellers are
cute; you sell at cost, pretty much all OF
We, and make money! don't see how
Ills done. II must be that somebody
gets the worst of it. Now dom, know
what your goods cost, barrin' one arti.
Gle, and eff | take anything else may
get cheated. So SEEM as i. won't make
any odds with you, guess I'll take
brooms. know them like book, and
can swear TO just what you paid for
EN-
And so saying, the peddlar commen-
ced reloading his brooms. and having
snugly deposited one half of his former
load, jumped on his cart with regular
Connecticut grin, and while the merchant
was cursing mis- impudence and his own
stupidity. drove in search of cusio-