The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-08-26
Jim Fisk, Jr., as a Peddler.
TIE PRINCE OF ERIE AMONG TIE GREEN
MOUNTAINS.

Now when the daily press has become
so familiar with tho name OF james Eisk.
Jr.. at this day when no chronicle Of bulls
and bears Is complete without him, when
every American retina carries nm image
of that rollicking plump figure. and Sax.
on physique. Il Is amusing to witness tho
sensation which this hero's notoriety has
ca,,scd among tho dwellcrs In tho rural
sections of New England. In Vermont
particularly, from South Vernon to "Dcr-
by Line" there isnot q busy village or
remote farmhouse where this man Is not
known-whcre those gay peddling wagons
and prsnoing horses ara not matter Of So
cial history. rH r, .
Along quiet roads where every hay
cart was an event. past hillside school
houses where juveniles were scolded for
stretching their necks out of windows To
investigate tho movements Of o nomad
cow or noisy wheelbarow-in such 10
calitios the advent of an ambitious char
io:, luminous with yarnish. and brave
with paint and gliding. drawn by quar-
tette Of mettlesOme steeds, whose driver
favored mortal-sat aloft, nrrayed In all
the glories of city tailor, and from his
elevation beamcd down upon the gaping
children, distributing smiles. peanuts and
peppermints In equal measure-this, ah,
this was an evont worth notice, q sensa-
ton second only to the arrival Of tho an
nual circus
The writer recalls ono buxom mntron,
Of sturdy will. who hsrborcd sovcr-
eign COZ tempt for peddlers In general and
for these fashy fellows In particular-"I
never let them step over my threshold. l
tell you ~ and the good woman shut her
lips rs though she would never open them
again. But before the echoes had dis
missed her asservcraiion. there was
sonnd Of wheols, u flourish of whips.
neIghing Of horses. and Fisk's carriage
stops tho way. With Spar.on front tho
matron opens tho door.-Thero Is an APP
partition or figure bowling Iowa fsco
all smiles-the most sfkable OF greetings,
and before the good woman remembers to
slam the door. she Is back In tho kitchen.
and the enemy Is inside the 0cleageurcd
fortress. Once there and success Is assur-
cd. Il wasnta had school for any man.
Common sense Is coin current the world
over, and rs general rule q man who
can 60 up and down these Vermont hills,
and carry his point with those close;judg-
Ing. f.r.sighted fsrmers' wives. can 90
anywhere.
In this case. before she knows Il, tho
stranger had detected nsdam's vulnerable
point. Don't want TO tradee-Blcss you
n,a'an,, nobody asked you TO trade! You
won't obIect ~ looking though. perhaps.
There's that pretty daughter Of yours; sho
wants to 500 those silks now. III wager
anything.'-Here glance over his shoul.
der tn where pair OF black eyes are
fixed modestly upon some sewing. Now
I've got tho l0vlicst pattern OF blue silk!
Just the thing for wedding dress! Eyes
cast down lower. and cheeks pinker than
ever. The mother looks grave and ejacu.
lntes 'Po h!' Pooh! OF course. my dear
madam! Fact Is, you're % young your
self, and It's such little time since you
got through with your own wedding
dress. that you've got daughter old
enough IN need ono. But. gracious, how
thcse children do grow! Yes. that blue
silk, ina'sm' It's inst the thing for wed.
ding drcss!' Blushes again. o. you cant
cheat me! Beside. Tom Aleck rude up
the hill with me.-There! Didnt tell
you I knew Mrs. Judge Mac just bought
seyent en- yards of tho same piece. Or
course you d. mt caro- for that, but you
lust let mo bring Il In To show you. Don't
cost anything to look, you know.
And. forthwith. tho agile salesman
r,,shes out to the door. leaps over thu cat
and kittens aleep on the stone step. whis-
ties tn tho dog. cacklcs 70 the poultry.snd
In q twinkling. comes dancing back un-
der the lilac bushes. head and ears Just
visible above the pile Of dry goods Of every
sort. Il u needless 70 say that . goodly
shxro oftbem adorned tho n,Atron's kitch.
en- table when The merchant left. Il was
something to soe. mol 70 tell. the way In
which this man pron,anadod up and down
tho tidy kitchen. . gay shawl thrown over
bis shoulders. finging the blue silk 10
folds scross the lap Of the dark
eyed daughter. and even holding up tho
drmperics of q thick black lustreless Agsinst
The skirt Of tho non.rcsistant mother. For
Mrs. B-hxd long ere this Laid down
her xrus, surrpudered st discretion. and
WAS no more 70 b ranked among be!ltgc-
rvut powers. And 90 tho pcidlcr drove
away In triumph, leaving tho chesttiii
empty and the blushlng damsel Mt liberty
IN drmm Of gdng 70 hcr own wedding, at
tiruxi IN blne silk, seated In gay painted
rhariot with tho rollicking ven,lcr. ar
rsvcd In a crimson shawl and officiating
m u.r,on. Al for the n,t,thcr, she surveys
lhs baxsxr.llke kitchen, ,slghs NJ she closes
Ihe chcst.till. and Don't SEQ how upon
rnrth The creetsr did IT,
Thcrp wasn't q shaded ribbon road
anywhere among thnss hills wheru these
wsgpns did na penetrate. and Tor once
he orioles and yellow birds pcercd out
rom tho thickct vt something gsyor than
humsaycs. wtKsv thcy wrnf oncc thw