The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-10-20
THE YANKEE PEDDLER:
Or, how an old Sharper" was Taken
in

my arrival, SIX or eight OF the tc"nsmen
we're congregated in Whitehall Hotel.
| discussing the character and aDimadvert-
| ing upon the habits OF one of their citizens,
Mr.. d -, who was notorious for his
| cunning at bargain and close tistedness
in money matters. As the colversatio1
was carried on in pretty loud key. /
may as we'll let the characters speak toT
! themselves.
"Close, did you say r. remarked one !;
"mhy, you might as well try to fish q
dollar out of the ocean as to get fairness
out of him in a bargain"
ga perfec, skiufilnt" exclaimed little
Dissatisfied looking fellow: | knew him
when he wasn't worth dollar, and now
he counts thousands where do hundreds,
and all made by shaving aud taking adj
vantage Of the necessities of others. Oh,
he is sharper p
True" said another; "he's the keenest
fellow ever knew. Look how he did
| Smith in that bargain man should
rise early to trade with Smith, can tell
YOU"
There's no mistake about DIS be
ing a sharper" ADDED the third.
lie would out Yankee Yankeedom,
and not half Try put in pIethoric in
4iyidual, who seemed to be determined to
add his testimony.
81 would give ten dollars to have him
handsomely taken in said another Of the
party.
80 would H. repeated two or three.
During the conversation had observed
an individual with a strongly marked
Yankee face, who was paying strict atten-
lion to the speakers. lie was tin peddler,
and had three wagons loaded with lanterns,
then in the yard When they began to
talk of giving money to have their nelgh>
ontwitted, he arose, and putting on the
Yankee pretty strongly, said
.-""GentIemeD, don't know that ere in
dividooal about who you are speaking i
say, | don't know hm--but if you've a
mind to subscribe little grain of some
thing, just to pay the ven,ur' like, why
shouldn't mind tryin' it. l calculate it
might be done. I've hearn of SIGH people
afore, and don't know but what might
be able to fetch him. Pm most in the
tradin' line, and it's all in the way OF
trade"
Just the dandy, gentlemen" exclaimed
one of the party, Just the ticket for
soup"
you're in the trading line, are you!'
exclaimed another.
eyes, gentlemen, tradiD's my occups-
-. 7
in the State of Maine. can do a leetIe
Of most anything. In the summer | stay
to hum and help the old folks; in the fall
and winter | peddle tin-ware, mostly lam
terms"
."You don't sell lanterns - said the
1lethoric citizen, inquiringly.
"IG like to know if ain: got three
hundred OF 'em in my wagon in the yard"
{ "Oh, you have, Ell a.? Well, you're the
very man we want"
Yes" said the Yankee.
/ 1--WE will make a purse Of twenty dol
lars for you if you Will bambooz'e our
friend D.. | should't wonder if YOU
could strike trade with him. When
will you do ii Z"
81 calculate it can be done tomorrow. !"
Very we'll Ifyou succeed, The money
is yours"
Twenty dollars were Immediately col
ec;ed and given to the landlord, as an
earnest of their seriousness, ana the party
broke up to meet the next evening. On
the next day after our Yankee acquaint,
ance who was a shrewd, intelligent fellow,
put on gepteel suit, and after having
made coed many inquiries respecting
the habits, manners aud appearance, and
residence of Mr.. D., mounted a horse,
and took a roundabout course for his
house, with the intention Of stopping
there on his return, as if just from phila-
delphia. As good luck would have it,
old D. WAS standing IN front Of his
house as the Yankee approached.
"Sir,' said the latter, "wil you be good
enough to inform me how far it is to New
| Brunswick ~
Two miles, si,," said D.
"And how far is i. TO New York 2"
About forty miles, by stage"
| care there any tin-smitbs in New
Brunswick 2" continued the Yankee.
"Why, yes, there are two or three
small affairs"
81 am sorry they are so small. | was
in hopes Of being able to fill au order
there which our house has received for
lanterns"
"Lanterns? 3 said the old fellow. quickly
taking the bait, for he had seen three
wagons loaded with them only the day
before.
Yes" added the other carelessly. "we
have heavy order, and | was told that
the article could be had in New Bruins
wick"
"You are from Philadelphia, then ~
"Yes, DO business there. You have
most probably heard Of our frm-Uyde,
Cook, Sage, Connolly & Coz"
81 can't say that ever heard of the
firm bat there appears to be a good
many ofy YOU"
"Oh, yes, it is large house"
GLOW many lanterns do you want
inquired old D.
Three hundred will do"
"What do you pay hundreds"
The Yankee stated the cum consider
ably over the marketable value of the
article.
'Do you wish them delivered in Phia-