Connecticut western news., 1877-05-18
Soft Sawder and Human Nature.
BY THOMAS CHANDLER HALLIBURTON.

Soft sawder and Human Nature.
 BY THOMAS CHANDLER HALLIBURTON.
 In the course of journey which Mir. Slick performs in company with the reporter of his humors, the latter asks him how, in a country so poor as Nova Scotia, he contrives to sell SO many clocks. ''Mr. Slick paused, !" continues the author, ''as if considering the pro- priety of answering the question, and, looking me in the face, said, in con- fidential tone Why, don't care if I do tell you, for the market is glutted and I shall quit this circuit. It is done by knowledge of soft soa01er and human nature. But here is Deacon Flint's, said he; T have but one clock left, and I guess I will sell it to him. E@@
 "At the gate of 8 most comfortable looking 4Arm- house stood Deacon Flint 8 respectable old man, who had under most of his neighbors, if one might judge from the appearance of every thing about him. After the usual sal. utation, an invitation to alight was ac- cepted by MT. Slick, who said 'he II fore he left Colchester We had hardly entered the house before the clock maker pointed to the view from the window; and, addressing himself to me said: 'If was to tell them in Con- necticut there was such farm as this away down east here in Nova Scotia, they wouldn't believe newly, there ain't such a location in all New Eng hn ko1 of dike'-'seventy,' said the deacon, only seventy. Well seventy; but then there is your fine deep bottom :: why, I could run 8 ramrod into it. Then there is that water privilege, twice as good as what Governor Cass paid fifteen thousand for. I wonder, deacon, you don't put up 8 carding mill on it :; the same works would carry turning-lathe, shingle machine, 8 circular saw, grind bark, and'-'Too old, said the deacon, too old for all those speculations. Old r repeated the clockmaker, not you why you are worth half dozen of the young men we see nowadays. The deacon was pleased.
 Your beasts, dear me, your beasts
 
 ing which, he went out to order them gentleman closed the door after him, MT. Slick drew near to noe, and said in an undertone: 'tThat is what I call soft saUder. An Enghshman would pass that man as 8 sheep passes 8 hog in pasture-without looking at him. Now, I find"-Here his lecture on soft sawder was cut short by the entrance of Mrs. Flint. s'Jist come to say good bye, Mrs. Flint" "What have you sold all of your clocks ?" 'sYes, and very low, too, for money is scarce, and I wish to close the consarn no, I am wrong in saying all, for have just one left. Neighbor Steele's wife asked to have the refusal of it, but I guess I won't sell it. I had but two of them, this one and the feller of it, I had but two of them, this one and the feller of it, that sold Governor Lincoln. Gen. eral Green, secretary of State for Maine, said he'd give me fifty dollars for this here one-it has composition wheels, and patent axles it is beau tiful article-a real first chop-no mis- take, genuine superfine: but I guess I'll take it back and, besides, Squire Hawk might think it hard that I did not give him the offer." "Dear me-" said Mrs. Flint, ''I should like to see it; where is it P "It is m chest of mine over the way at Tom Tapes store; l guess he can ship it on to Eastport." '"That's good man," said Mrs. Flint, 'jist let's look at it." MT. Slick, will ing to oblige, yielded to these entrea- ties, and soon produced the clock-a gaudy, highly vanished, trumpery looking affair. He placed it on the chimney piece, where it's beauties were pointed out, and duly appreciated by Mrs. Flint, those admiration was about ending in proposal, when MT. Flint returned from giving his directions about the care of the horses. The deacon praised the clock he, too, thought it handsome one; but the deacon was prudent man he had 8 watch, he was sorry, but he had no oc- . casion for clock. "I guess you're in the wrong furrow this time, deacon it ain't for sale" said MT. Slick land if it was, I reckon neighbor Steele's wife would have it, for she g1ves me no peace about it." Mrs. Flint said that MT. Steele had enough to do, poor man to pay his interest, without buying clocks for his wife.
 "Its no consarn of mine, said MT. Slick, 'as long as he pays me, what he has to do; but l guess don't want to Fell iG and besides, it comes too high {; that clock can't be made at Rhode Island under forty dollars. Why, it ain't possible P said the clockmaker, in apparent surprise, looking at his watch why, as I'm alive, it is four o'clock, and if l haven't been two hours here-how on earth shall I reach Philip to night ? I'll tell you what, Mrs. Flint. I'll leave the clock in your care till return on my way to the states I'll set it agoing, and put it to the right time.' As soon as this operation was performed, he delivered the key to the deacon with sort of serio-comic injunction to wind up the clock every Saturday night, which Mrs. Flint said she would take care should be done. and promised to remind her husbaod of it, in case he should chance to for get it.
 "That," said the clockmaker, as soon as we were mounted, ''that I call human nature Now, that clock is sold for forty dollars-it cost me just six dollars and fifty cents. Mrs. Flint will never let Mrs. Steele have the re- fusal-nor will the deacon learn until call for the clock, that having once in- dulged in the use of superfuity, it is difficult to give it up. We can do without any article of luxury we have never had, but when once obtained, it IS not in human nature to surrender it voluntarily Of fifteen thousand sold by myself and partners in this province twelve thousand were left in this man ner, and only ten clocks were ever re- turned-when we called for them, they