Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-07-28
SHARP PRACTICE.

"Dont you want to buy the Life of Christ,
to-day, Mister" said determined looking
Yankee book peddler, who yesterday entered
our sanctum with gutta percha travelling bag
in his hand, and rather powerful odor of whis.
key on his breath.
"No. not o,day," was our bland reply. awe
are rather too busy to speculate in theological
literature at present"
'Better look at the book, anyhow, hadn't
ye! chuck full of picturs; sarmon on the
Mounts done up first rate. Reg'Iar jam up
book, that, is; writ the whole ont myself-did
by thunder"
"No, we've an abundant supply of works on
divinity"
"But, stranger, this airs suthin new"
"We rather guess that the Bible and Jose-
phus contain about the grist Of your compila.
ton, don't theyr'
"Jo~se. phus! who in thnnder's he! No, stran.
ger, yeour out thar. tell you there's things
in this ere book that'll bring you right out Of
the gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniqui-
ty. There's things in that book that Josephus
never heard tell on"
It was no use, however, We declined purch.
asing, and the Yankee at length bowed himself
out.
A moment afterwards he reappeared.
"Say, Mister, mought you know Mr.. p, next
door!"
We intimated that such was the fact.
aWelI, kin ye tell me to what religion he be-
longs! Some say that he's Methodist; some
calls him Sweedenborgian, and another feller
says he bankers arter the Mormons. I'd like
tow know what he rally does belong tew."
"Why do you inquire!" We asked.
sWell: don't mind telling yeou. You see,
I ginnerally find eout what church q man be-
longs tew before try to sell him book, be-
cause then always let on that belong to tho
same church, and that ginerally takes, that
does. If know what church q man iines
with, never miss fire selling under them cir
cumstancss."
"Well, did you make inquiries concerning
our religious tenets!" 49,.
"Stranger, l did-yeou can bet high on't.'
"Not very successfully, il would appear; for
You haven't sold 10 book.''
avail, no; but If yeou kin tell me what
church Mr.. P. belongs tew, it'll dew jist -
WELL" ..,..
aYou can't sell him book; its no usa max.
ing an effort"
sStranger, I'll bet yeou hat ont"
"Wsll, Mr.. P. 10 Swsdenborgian: now try
him."
About an hour Afterwards We entered Mr..
P.'s store. He was walking up and down, us.
ing language rather more emphatic than ordin-
ary custom requires, nos apparently addressed
70 any person in particular. 60
sWhat's the matter, P.!" we inquired.
sWhy, chap came 10 here to sell the Life
of Christ'-said he was cousin Of Prof Bush.
the Swedenborgian divine, and Swedenbor.
gian himself. Said he'd just sold my brother
Dick copy, and that Dick sent him 10 me-"
"And 90 You bought oneF' >
"Yes, and Dick was here just now, and says
he never saw the man. He's confounded
rascal; the book amt worth cent?
When Mr.. P. went homo that night, the first
object that met bis eye was the sLifs Of Christ"
laying on the table. asszge
"My dear," said the lady, "that's very trashy
affair you sent home. don't like It at Ill. Its
anything but orthodox" (P.s wife is strict
Baptist.) aa
aYou don't mean 10 cay you've been buying
one too" said p, producing his own copy.
aWhy, q person called here to-day, saying
he was . member of-the street Babtist
Church; that you sent the book q compii.
ment to me, and 20 I paid three dollars for L."
P. stayed to hear no more; be rushed out,
and the last we heard Of him be was inquirin9
for tall peddler with dust colored hair and
stripped breeches. >
Book peddlers will do we'll to avoid MI. p,
in their peregrinations, ~ hs has vowed TO ime
molats the 6rst one that darkens bic door.