The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-06-16

come. Once week he came, regularly,
to the Philadelphia market, distance of
fifteen miles, with his produce; and he
never went home entirely satisfied with
the amount received for his poultry, eggs,
butter, fruit or vegetables, unless prices
were at the highest mark on the scale
The wry face of customer who paid
him thirty-eight cents for pound of but
ter, or twenty-five cents for dozen of
eggs, was pleasant rather than disa
greeable object to his eyes for, so he won,
he cared not farthing who lost.
One day, Mr.. C., well known
citizen, who had frequently bought from
Edmonds, stopped at the stall where the
farmer exhibited his various articles for
sale, and taking hold of pair of fine
looking chickens, asked the price.
"Seventy-fve," replied the farmer.
The chickens were large, and Mr.. G.,
did not think the price high.
Are they young and TENDER" he in
quired.
"Is it possible" said Edmonds, smiling
in a peculiar way, "that an old marketer
like you can't tell pair of young chick
ems ~
Now, Mr.. C. could buy poultry
with almost any one. 1t was not often
that tough old rooster or gobbler was
passed off upon him: but on the present
occasion, the words of the farmer COM
pletely disarmed him. OF course the
chickens must be so tender that the skin
would almost break from looking at them,
and he felt little piqued that he had
not been able to perceive this Instantly;
so lifting them from the hooks and pla-
cling them in his basket, he said-'I guess
III take them"
Seventy-fve cents were handed over
and pocked by the farmer without any
compunctions, Notwithstanding the pair
of bipeds sold to Mr.. c. might have
belonged to Noah's menagerie, for all
the teeth of those who happened to be
called to eat them would be able to tell
to the contrary.
As c. walked home, he recalled
the particular expression and tone of the
farmer, and suspicion that all was not
right fitted through his mind; but he
had dealt with Edmonds for years, and
though he had always found him close
and well up to the market prices, he had
never detected him in seeking to gain an
advantage over customer. He wished,
however, that he had used his own judg-
ment in making the purchase, instead of
buying on SO equiVocal a recommendation
as the farmers.
"If these chickins should be tough"
muttered he to himself, in threatening
way, as he walked along, he's had the
last dollar of my money !"
Dinner time came, and Mr. c.
home from his place of business As he
sat down to the table, large, plump
pair of chickens were before him, beauti-
fully Drowned, and their savory odor
penetrated the olfactory sense with
grateful promise of good things for the
palate. The incident of the morning had
left its prominent place in the memory,
and no suspicion of toughness was in the
mind of Mr.. c. as he drew, with an
active hand, the great carving knife ath-
wart the sharpening steel.
." a fine, large pair of chickens" said
Mrs. c., "what did they cost ?"
NThree-quarters."
"That was not dear"
"No; [ thought it reasonable
"If they are only tender. Hannah
said she didn't think they were very young
"Well soon know about that" remar-
ked Mr. C., recollection of what
had occurred at the time of their pur-
chase crossing his mind at the moment.
Driving his fork into the breast bone of
onesOf them, he held it firmly while be
cut around a wing and endeavored to sew
er that appendagc from the body; but
the wing was to firmly held in its place
by sundry ligaments, well developed by
long use, to permit an easy accomplish
ment of this task. Mr.. C., however,
had strong hand and good resolution,
and against these, aided by sharp knife,
even the wing of a seven year old rooster
could not long maintain defensive
The member at length came of, but in
doing so, was driven over the side of the
dish upon the table cloth.
Mr.. c. looked at the edge of his
knife for moment.
Ny knife must be very dull" said he,
cor else this chicken is as old as Methu-
selah"
A vigorous application of the blade to
to the steel followed, and then the other
wing was taken in hand. 1t came off a.
bout as easy as the first. The legs were
disloeated and detached more quickly,
and, in due time, the fowl, separated into
portions according to the most approved
rules of carving, lay spread forth upon
the dish; but this task had not been ac-
complished by Mr.. c. without con.
siderable muscular exertion, which was
apparent from the beads of perspiratiol
collected on his forehead and about bis
lips.
Well, that beats all y he exclaimed,
as be laid down his knife and fork and