Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-03-24
The Cu:cst Yankee Trick Yet.

A Connecticut broom peddler, a
shrewd chap, from over among the
steady habits, wooden clocks, school
masters, and other fixins,-drove
through the streets OF Providence heav-
lily iadened with corn brooms. He had
called at several stores and offered his
load, or ever so small portion of IL
but when he wanted the cash, and moth
ing else, in payment, they had uniform
ly given him to understand that they
had brooms enough, and that he might
go further. AT length he drove up to
a large wholesale store on the west
side, and once more offered his wares
Il want the orooms badly enough"
said the merchant. "but what will you
take in pay::'
This was poser. The peddler was
aching to get rid of his brooms; but
he would sooner sell single broom
for cash than the whole load for any
other article-especially that which he
could not dispose OF rs readily as he
could brooGas. After moments hes
itation, however, he screwed his cour-
age to the sticking point-it required
some courage, after having lost his
chance OF selling his load half a dozen
times by similar answer-and frank
ly told the merchant he must have cash.
OF course, the merchant protested that
cash was scarce, and that he must pur-
chase, if he purchased at all, with what
he had in his store to pay with. He
really wanted the broom5, and he did
not hesitate to say SO; but the times
were hard and Lc had notes to pay, and
had goods that must be disposed of.
Finally, he said he would put the
goods at the cost price for the sake of
trading, and would take the whole
load OF brooms which the peddlcr had
labored SO unsuccesstully at the other
stores to dispose OF.
$50 unload the brooms," said he to
the man from Connecticut, "and you
shall have them at cost price
The peddler scratched his head
There was an idea there, as the sequel
shows plainly enough.
II tell you what it is" he answered
at last, '.just say them terms tor half
the load, and cash for t'other half, and
I'm your man. Blowed eff | do MT sell
eout, if Connecticut sinks, with all her
broom stuff, the next minute
The merchant hesitated moment,
but finally concluded the chance good
one. He would be getting halt the
brooms for something that would not
sell as readily; as for the cost price, it
was an easy CANNON iii regard to it..
The bargain was struck, the brooms
were brought in, and the cash for half
of them paid over.
"Now, what will you have for the
remainder OF your bill?' asked the mcr-
chant.
Thcpeddler scratched his head again,
and this time more vigorously. He
walked the floor, whistlea, and
drummcd with his fingers on the head
OF barrel BY and by his reply came
slowly, deliberately and empkatieal-
ly:>
you Providence fcllers are cute;
you sell at cost, pretty much all OF
you, and make money. do MT see
how it's done. Now, l do MT know
about your goods, barrin' one article,
and ef take any thing else l may be
cheated. So, seein as 'twon't make
any difference with you, l guess Ill
take brooms. l know them like a
book, and can swear to jest what you
paid for EN-.
And SO saying, the pedaler com
menced reloading his brooms, and hav-
ing deposited half of his former load,
jumped on his cart with a regular Con
necticut grin, and leaving the merchant
curslng his impudcncc and his own stu
pidity, drove off in search Of another
customer.