Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-03-01
JOHNNY FORTNIGHT.

Yes, that's my name, and I'll bet nine
ty-ninc out Of every hundred of you new
er heard it before. But you know who |
am, for all that. LOndOners call me the
tallyman; East-enders, l mean, and other
questionable folk, for of course Belgra-
via and Tyburnia know me not, any more
than they know several other tribes who
prey as do on the dwellers i'm those parts
of London which the swells have only
heard of.
Down near the Lands End I'm called
Johnny Fortnight. They're fond Of queer
namls down there they call little beer
shop kiddle-a-wink; bed is ty; the
industrious ant is murrian; mail is
bOolawn; a we'll a peeth (puteus, my
friend the national schOolmaster sug-
gests); root mohr; amine bal and
I might go on with a page Of queer
words, for the peOpee are Cornish. They
sing their words; and, although a cock
ney would catch their meaning far sooner
than that of ZummerZeat or DOsset or
DevOnshire laborer, he would notice, be-
sides the queer words, lot Of queer
phrases, such as "GOOd night upon yOu,"
betokening difference of race.
Isit this difference which makes them call
me Johnny aforesaid? No, the reason is
that make them pay for what they buy of
me at the modest and equitable rate Of a
shilling weekly, and their constant ef-
fort is to put off payment till the week
after, so, whereas / wish to be Johnny
Weekly, they desire to make me what they
have taken to call me.
For the rest, am q most re- spectacle
individual. IL you met me with my we'll
cOmbed beard usually ''sandy"-red, say
my detractOrs y my uRimpeachable scarf,
as neat, breast-pin and all, after dozen
miles on the tramp, as when l started
from home; my well-polished boots
which l always manage to keep clean
weather like this can't turn pounded
granite into mud; my trim leggings, and
nav pack, which, with its apparatus Of
straps and the indispensable stick, is 9
sight to see, you'd never believe that an
the representative and lineal descendant
of that dirty, tricky, slouching old Au
tolycus, the peddler.
Yes, I'm highly respectable; it would
not pay TO be otherwise. DO you thinl
NV customers would believe me if l wal
as untidy as little Pe1rose, the draper II
st, Fusfy Churchtown. or as unpretend
ing as poor old Mrs. Penaluna, who ha!
been measuring out tapes and staylacei
and wards of flannel for the last forty
wears to few dullards among the Carr
Brea folks? have fine presence, wha
the newspapers call good physique; ant
I. the particular / who now write, am
well known and appreciated local" l
pays, that does; and l am not the onl.
man who takes to it (say the worldlings
for that very sufficient reason. Ain
most of the pursers of mines locals,
and many ofthe ''mine captains" to boot
and. many of the little great men VIII
nut their money ''Out to use" among tn
farmers? You see the people trust us
deal more when were're pretty high u
In s.the Church" and it's so good to D
trusted, especially if you have to sell any
thing that parties must take yodr wor
for. And, besides, We know our mea an
women more, and get hold on them sue
as we couldn't get in any other way
The thing is to be class-leader; one
YOUR class'll always come to you, no ma
ter what his trouble is; and when peopl
do that. it gives you many ways Oh quie
ly pushing your business. DIess '. {o.
isodors are called on to do. 1 Wa
standing one night near upon twelv
o,clock 7it was years before the new Ac
nnder the portico Of the Commercial Ht
teI nm to ST. Fusty, smoking my evenln
piperwhy shouldn't | take my ease at m
mn? johnny hadn't been seven years
work without having pretty well lined n
purse, / can tell you. Wen, I'd come OF
to have my smoke, and to freshcn up
hit after the dsmpness Of the St. Fust
commercial room, when down the slo
street l heard strange noise. lt was
blind alley, blocked at the end by a 10
wall. over which many people In the Ga!