American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-07-12

! WHole-sopleuj noSplta0le man, and ilo be.
gan TO think he might be mistaken in
Mats true character, AT length he in
tquired, looking the visitor steadily in the
face, Answer me one question--ain't you
a pedlar?'
7 'Pedlar be darned mo- said Nat.
'Ihen what are you bringin' them things
Ein the house for?' queried the old man,
EPoinling TO the articles which Nat was car
Erying. al1 a. 5s,,r
| .Wal, the fact is, replied Nat, I don't
much like to leave these silver spoons in
my wagon, for somebody might make love
| to 'em, and as for this ere clock, / couldn't
afford to lose it, no how, urits list one O.
the greatest clocks out. l want bowl of
bread and milk nation bad, and if you'll
accommodate me I'll thank ye, and If you
wont, I'll hey to go further and il any
body axes my opinion ofyew, in course
I'll tell 'em how good you are 10 s!fah-
gers .....
This settled the matter, and Nat was in
yited in. Tie Squire's wife was out, but
the old man soon placed a bowl of pure
milk and some white bread before MAI, who
| laying aside the old fashioned spoon which
the old man brought him.. supplied its
| place with one ofhis own, and proceeded
10 go in as though he had tasted for
month. When he had about half finished
his meal, Nat remarked, as he paused TO
turn his spoon over and eye it admiringly
l-'how much better milk tastes out'n new
| silver spune, than it. does out'n old oneP
yes, sposeit does replied the Squire,
! who had all along been eyeing the remain
der OF the set, and wishing he was the
possessor,o of them, that he might asronislr-
! tie old lady (who by the way was givent to
strong 'mindedness. that is, wearing the
brecches) on her return.
got themere spoons very cheap re-
marked Nat again, as he swallowed a
| large moutllful Of the tactical, and Eve
no doub; my Nance i'll be delighted with
en-
| Isposc You wouldn't care about partin'
with ,em, would yon?', asked the Squire,
hesiiatingly.
| Wal, no, Idon't keer much about it,
answered. Nat, but seein' it's you,
mought, and guess there's some more OF
the same sort left, which kin git before
go hum Tell You what I'll deu, Squire
--n you'll give me them ere spnnes of
yourn and seventy FIVE cents TO butte, Jest
10 pay me for my trouble, they're yours
'DoneF said the, Squire, and immedihts
| ly he was put into possession Of dozen
plated spoons, for which he exchanged a
dozen solid, old'faslioned silver ones and
the boot Nat seemed to regret lis bar
| gain, and showed no disposition to take
the old spoons which the Squire laid in a
bunch before lin, when the lattcr fearing
he might alter his4mind and demand his
property back, left the room for the pur-
pose Of slowing them snugly away. ''o
A broad grin passed over Mats face as
the old man disappeared, and rising from
his seat he approached one Of those solid,
old fashioned English clocks, specimens of
which may yet occasionally be met with,
which occupied positionin one corner of
the room. Opening the door, Nat cut The
cords which sustained the weights, so that
the slightest jar would be sure topart
them, and then tbTsling lis knife up un-
derneath the face of the clock, he clipped
all the cogs but one from one of the wheels,
closed the case again, and had Just taken
his seat when the Squire eutcred.
'Tell you what, Squire, said Nat, as
lsuming frightful expression Of countc
nance, 4 begin to feel bad--fraid I'm a.
goin' tohavc one of them drafted fts which
takes me down sometimes. Yes, there it
comesl he yelled, and Immediately after
he jumped from his chair high enough al
most to touch the ceiling and came down
upon the floor with force which shook
the house 10 its foundation.
Bang! bang!' went the weights of the
old clock, and rick trick! click! click! snap!
snapP went the wheels, ill the Squire
was fairly dumb founded, and knew not
which to attend to first, the old clock or
y Nat, wholay writhing upon tie floor
The. scene did not hast long, however,
for Nat very speedily recovered; and then
the Squire alluded to the noise which the
: clock had made. Nat examined it, and
, pronounced il worn out. He told. the
: Squire he had better either make rat-trap
{ of it, or sell il to the first second band fur
E niture man that camo along. Then he in
t cidentally and quite carelessly mentioned
/ his own clock, and comparing it with the
: Squire's, pointed out lhe. new improve
0 ments, especially the alarm arrangement,
n atal Of which the old man was consumed
g ly tickled, and the upshot was that the
Q clocks chahged owners as the spoonshad
t done previously, Nat receiving the old
e clock, worth about twenty dollars, for Q
n ten shilling article. Nat now thought il
: about time to travel, and accordingly de-
f parted. He slowed the old clock, together
h with the Sqpire's spoons, carefully away
h in the bottom OF his, wagon, out of sight
: and started. but had not gone far when b.
Q met the Squire 's,wife, ofwhon he hat
managed to get a full description, both will
I regard to,her temper and appearance, re
/ turning homeward. -. -, sss,sl
tAint your name Mrs, B?' he inquired
/, as they met.
/ Yes said the old lady, snappishly, 'bu
d what's that your businessP . -
II 'Oh, nothing replied Nat. only didn'
!, know but what you'd like to buy few no
v tions--a pair Of scissors. for instance. J,
utan,,ad into voi1r bnnea vondar and M