The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-03-31
Half Cash and Half Barter---A Cute
Trick,

a Connecticut broom peddler-a shrewd
chap, from over among the steady habits,
wooden clocks, schoolmasters, and other
fxings-drove through the streets of
Providence heavily laden with corn brooms.
He had called at several stores and offered
lis load, or ever 50 small portions of it
but when he wanted the cash, and nothing
else, in payment, they had brooms enough,
and that he might go further. At length
he drove up to large wholesale store on
the West side, and once more offered his
wares.
swell, l want the brooms badly
enough" said the merchant, "but what
will You take in pay?"
This was q poser The peddler was
aching to get rid of his brooms; he de-
spised the very sight of his brooms; but
he would no sooner sell single broom for
cash than the whole load for any other ar
ticle--ospocially that which he could not
dispose Of so readily as he could brooms.
After moments hesitation, however, he
screwed his courage to the sticllin point
it required some courage after having lost
his load half dozen times by similar
answer-and frankly told the merchant
he must have cash. OF course the mer-
chant 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
did not hesitate to say so. But the times
we're hard, and he had notes to pay and
had goods that must be disposed of.
Finally, he would put the goods at the
cost price, for the sake or trading, and
would take the whole load of brooms
which the pedler had labored so unsuc.
cessfulIy at the other stores to dispose of.
SO unload the brOoms,' said he to the
man from Connecticut, 'aud select any ar
ticle5 from my store and you shall have
them at cost price
The pedler scratched his head. There
was an idea there, as the sequel shows
plainly enough.
4 tell you what it is,' he answered at
last just say them terms for half the load,
and cash for t'other half, and Pm your
man. Blowed if don't sell out, if Con-
necticut sinks with all her broom stuff,
the next miuute.'
The merchant hesitated a moment, but
finally concluded the change u good one.
lie would be getting half the brooms fol-
something that would not sell as readily
as for the cost price, it was easily CANNON
in regard to it. The bargain was struck,
the brooms we're brought in, and the cash
for half them was paid over.
"Now what will you have for the re-
mairder of your billP asked the merchant
The peddlor scratched his head again
and this time more vigorously. lie walk.
ed the floor, whisted and drummed with
his fingers on the head of barrel. BY.
and-by his reply camo--slowly, deliber
atoly and emphatically;
"You Providence fellers are cute; you
sell at cost, pretty much all of you, anC
make money. | don't see how its done
Now, don't know about your goods, bar
rim one article, and eff l take anythiu,
else I may be cheated. So, seein' al
'twon't. make any odds with you, [ guess
I'll take brooms. I know them like
book, and can swear to jest what you paiC
for 'em."
And so saying, the pedler commenced
reloading his brooms, and having depos
tied half his former load jumped on hi
cart with regular Connecticut grin, anC
leaving the merchant cursing his impu
dence and his own stupidity, drove off ii
search of another customer.