Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-24

\ curious trade to take 10, but then it
has grown to be profitable. Things were
at low ebb with me when took II up,
while now - sDaiE
There l won't boast, only say taat I'm
thankful for it. Poverty comes in at the
door, and love flies out OF the window. SO
they say: but that's all nonsense, or else
you poor people would be always missrasf
ble. while according to my experisnceI
your poor man is often more light-hearted
than the man with thousands
was at my wits end for something TO
do, and sat nibbling my nails one day and
grumbling horribly. a4. @ si.eo psw
Don't go on like that, Tom" says my
Wife things might be worse
How ?" said 9easa
"Why. we might have Luke at home.
and he is doing WELL" ssh sg3 asas
Lukes our boy, YOU know, and we have
got him in a merchants office. where be
seemed likely to stay; but l was 10
grumbling fit then, and there was click
| ety-click noise going on in the next room
that tidgeted me terribly.
Things cant be worse.' said .angri-
ly; and was going to prove myseHin
| the wrong 10y making my wife cry, when
there was a knock on the door. y
Come in" said, and fellow -lodger,
put in his head s.4s-r4,
Are you good at works Mr. Smiih ?"
he said 2fe@s4 'ai
What works ?" said; fireworks Y
gasworks. - tata}ets ai5 uGahsa
No. no l mean works of things Us
goes with wheels and springs II.
"Middling,' said. for l was fond Of
pulling clocks to pieces and trying to in
vent. 81 gi9sg RI vta
II wish you'd come ana look at this
sewing machine of mine, for can't get il
to go"
Sewing machines were newish in those 3
days. and got up to look at it, and, affes
about an hours fiddling about, began to
see Il bit the reason why-the purpose,
you know. of all the screws and cranks
and wheels; l found out, too, why cur q
neighbor's wife, who was dressmaker,q
and had Just started one, could not get it
TO go; and before night, by thinking. and
putting this and that together. had got
her in the way of working it pretty stead,
lily. though with my clumsy fingers i a
couldn't have done it myself IN slsah gl
l had my bit of dinner and tea with
those people, and they forced halt q crown
upon me as well, and went back feeling
like new man, so refreshing had been
that bit of work. l- n rs shHo
There" said my wife. II told you
something would come" -,
"Well, so you did, said, "but the
sum is rather small" al { ssas57a
But the very next day-as we were hy-lo
ing with people who were fast taking to
sewing machines-if the folks from the
next house didn't want me to look at
theirs and then the news spreading. that
there was somebody who could cobble and
tinker machinery without putting people
TO the expense that makers would, If the
jobs didn't come in fast, so that was
obliged to get files and drills and vice.
regular set of tools by degrees; and at
last was as busy as bee from morning
to night, and whistling over my work as
happy as king
OF course every now and then got
breakage, but could generally get over
that by buying new wheel or spindle. or
what not. Next we got to supplying
shuttles and needles and machine cotton.
Soon after | bought a machine of man
who was tired of it. Next week sold it
at a good profit. Bought another and
another and sold them then got to taking
them and money in exchange for new 4.
ones, and one way and the other became
a regular big dealer. as you see.
Hundred? Why, new, secondhand and
with those being repaired upstairs by the
men, I've got at least 800 on the premises.
while of any ybody had told me fifteen years
ago that should be doing this ! should
have laughed at him.
That pretty girl showing and explain
ing the machine to a customer? That's
Ruth. that is. No, not my daughter yet, +
but she will soon be. Poor girl. always
think of her and of the bread thrown upon
the water at the same time.
Curious idea that, you will say, but Ill
tell you why.
In our trade we have strange people to
deal with. Most of 'em are poor, and
can't buy Il machine right off. but are
ready and willing to pay so much u week.
That suits them and it suits me, ii they'll
only keep tho payments up to the end.
You won't believe me. perhaps, but some
of them don't do that. Some OF them
leave their lodgings, and never see them
again; and the most curious part Is that \
the sewing machine disappears with them.
and never see that again. Many one.
too, that has disappeared like that do see
again--perhaps have ii brought here BY II
one 10 be repaired, or exchanged for
| bigger, or Tor Que OF different make;
| tor if YOU look round here you'll see I've
| cot all klnuS-neW anu Ola, iUtIc &c.
mcstcs and big trad, s--lhere you name
any maker and see if | don't bring you
out one of his works.
Well, when ask the people where they
got the machine-for always know them
by the number---it turns out that they've
bought il through an advertisement or
salesroom. or may be out of a pawnbrok-
er's shop.
But I've had plenty OF honest people to
deal with, too-lhem as have come straight
forward and told me they couldn't keep
up their payments, and asked ME to take
their machines back, when I'd allow them
as much as thought fair, and twould be
an end of II pleasant transaction.
The way I've been bitten, though, by
some folks has made me so case-har.
dened that sometimes I've wondered
whether I'd got any heart lelt. and then
the wife hat, to interfere, telling me I've
been spoiled with prosperity anu grown
unfeeling.
,.nNr,StsIp pS pOIRTu PAUE.l