Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-17
The cuse.t yankee Trick Yet.

A Connecticut broom-peddler-s shrewd
chap, from over among the steady habits,
wooden clocks, schoolnasters and other
fixins-drove through the streets of Prov
idence, heavily laden with corn brooms.
He had called at severnl stores ard Of
fered his load, or ever so small portion
of it; but when be wanted the cash, and
nothing else, IN payment, they had uni
tormly given him to understand they had
brooms enough, and that he might 90
further. At length he drove upto large
Wholesale store, on the west side, and
once more offered his wares.
well, i want the brooms badly
enough" said the merchant "but what
will you take in pay 2"
This was q poser The peddler was
aching to get rid OF bis brooms; he de-
spised the very sight of his brooms but
be would sooner sell single broom for
cash than the whole load for any other ar
ticle-especially that which be could not
dispose Of as readily ss brooms. After
moments hesitation however, he screwed
his courage up to the sticking point-it
required some courage, after having lost
his chance of selling his load half dozen
times by similar snswer-and frankly
told the merchant he must have cash. Of
course the merchant protested that cash
was scarce, and that he must purchase, if
he purchased at all, with what he had in
his store to pay with. he really wanted
the brooms, and be did not hesitate to say
80; but the times were hard, and he had
notes to pay, and he had goods that must
be disposed of. Finally, he said he
would put the goods at cost price, for the
sake Of trading, and would take the whole
load OF brooms, which the peddler had la
bored SO unsuccessfully at the other
stores to dispose Of. = v ta
80 unload the brooms," said he to
the man from Connecticut, "and select
sny articles from my store, and you shall
have them at cost price"
The peddler scratched his head. There
was an idea there, as the sequel shows
plainly enough,
Z" / tell you what it is," be answered at
last, "just say them terms for half the
load and cash for t'other half, and I'm
your man. Blowed eff / don't sell eout,
If Connecticut sinks, with all her broom
stuff, the next minnit"
nu luCtCunub a uOucut, Oub
finally concluded the chance q good one.
He would be getting half the brooms for
something that would not sell as readily
as for the cost price, it was an easy GAM
mon in regard to it. The bargain was
struck, the brooms were brought in, and
the cash for half Of them was paid over.
Now, what will you have for the re-
mainder of your bill 2" asked the mer-
chant,
TIE peddler scratched his head again,
and this time more vigorously. He
walked the floor, whistled and drummed
with his fingers on the head of barrel.
By and by his answer came-slowly, de-
liberately and emphstically.
"You Providence fellers are cute you
sell at cost, pretty much all of you, and
make money. / don't see how it's done.
Now, l don't know about your goods,
barrin' one article, and eff take anything
else, / may be. cheated So, seein' as
'twont make any odds with you, l guess
I'll take brooms. ! know them like
book, and can swear to jest what yeu paid
for 'em |"
And so saying, the peddIer commenced
relosding his brooms, and having snugly
deposited half Of his cart, with a regular
Connecticut grin, and leaving the merch-
ant cursiug his impudeuce aud his own
stupidity, drove off in search of another
cugtomer