The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-03-28
The 8u!letin.
BY THOMAS CHANDLER HALLIBURTON.

/ IN the course OF "A journey which Alr.
/ slick performs in company With the re-
porter OF his humors, the latter asks him
how, in a country so poor rs Nova scotia
+ he contrives to sell 20 many clocks. "Mr.
I Slick paused,' continues the author. "a
if considering the propriety OF answering
I the question, and. looking me ia the face.
said, in confidential tone /: why, don't
care If | do tell you, sor the market is
/ g!uttcd. and ] shall quit this circuit. IL
: is done by u knowledge Of soft savde7. and
I human natur. But here il Deacon Flint :, :
/ said be: i have but one clock left, aud
CUES will sell it TO him"
AT the gate Of most comfortable
/ looking farmhouse stood Deacon Flint.
respectable old man. who had under
stood the value OF time better than most
Of his neighbors, IL one might Judge
from the appearance of everything about
him. After the usual salutation, an in
yitati6n to alght was accepted by Mr..
Slick, who said he wished TO take leave
OF Mrs Flint before he left Colchester
We had hardly entered the house before
the tlockmaker pointed 10 the view
from the window, and, addressing him
self 10 me. kaid If was to tell them ia
Connecticut there was such a farm as
tins away down east here
in Nova Scotia. they wouldn't
believe me why, there
amt such location in all New England.
The deacon has u hundred acres OF dixie
---'Seyenty,' said the deacon, only
seventy We'll, seventy; but then there
IL your fine deep bottom: why, | could
run ramrod into il. Then there is that
waite privilege, worth three or four
thousand dollars, twice as good a. what
Governor Cass paid fifteen thousand for.
| wonder. deacon, you don't put
carding mill on II; the same works would
carry a turnlng-lathe, single machine,
a circular saw, grind bark, and
DID, said the deacon. too old for all
those speculauOns.' Old repeated the
Clockmaker, not you; why, you are
worth halt a dozen of the young men we
see now-a-days.' The deacon was pleased.
Your beasts, dear me, your beasts
must be put in and have a feed : saying
which, hc went out TO order them 10 be
taken 10 tie stable. As the old gentle
man closed the door after him, Mr.. Slick
drew near 10 me. and said in an under
tone: That is what | call sof sa1der.
An Englshman would pas tina, man As
a sheep passes hog IN pasture-with-
out looking at him. Now. iind'-Here
his lecture on soft sawder was cut short
by the entrance OF Mrs. Flint. 'Jist come
to say good bye. Mrs. Flint What,
have you sold all your clocks = Yes.
and very low. too, tor money il scarce.
and wish 10 close the concarn no. atm
wrong in saying all, for have just one
left. Neighbor Steele's wife asked to
have the refusal OF il, but |
guess won't sell it. had
but two OF them, this one and
the teller vi it, thai ! sold Governor
Lincoln. General Green, secretary OF the
state oil Maine, said he'd give me fifty
dollars for this here one-it has compo-
sition wheels, and patent axle,; it is "A
beautiful artcle--a real first chop-no
mistake, genuine superiine; but GUESS
I'll take IL back; aud. besides, Squire
Hawk might think il hard that ! did not
give him the Offer Dear me, said Mrs.
Flint ] should like To sec il: where is III
1T is In a chest of mine over the way, al
Tom Tapes store; guess he can ship il
on 10 PASSPORT That's q good man.,
said Mrs. Flint list lets look at it,
Dir. Slick. willin. 10 oblige. yielded TO
these entreaties, and soon produced the
clock--a gaudy, highly vanished,
trumpery looking affair. lie placed il on
the chimney-piece, where lis beauties
were pointed out. and duly appreciated
Ly Mrs. Flint, whose admiration was
abcut ending in proposal,
when Mr.. Flint returned from Civ
ing his directions about the care OF the
horses. The deacon praised the clock
he, too, thought IL q handsome one; but
the deacon was a prudent man; he had
watch. he was sorry, but he had no oc-
casion tor clock. 'Iguess you're in the
III - 49,
for sale.' said Mr.. Slick; and If it was, |
reckon neighbor Steel's wife would have
il. for she gives me no peace about it,.
Mrs. Flint said that Mr.. Steele had
enough to do. poor man. 10 pay his in
terest, without buying clocks tor his wife.
It's no consarn OF mine,' said Mr.. Slick.
as long as he pays me, what he has TO
do; but guess don't want to sell It:
and. besides, 1t comes loo high: that
clock can't be made at Rhode Island un.
der forty dollars. Why, it amt
possible said the Clock
maker, in apparent surprise, looking at
his watch why, rs I'm alive, it is four
O'Clock. and if | haven't been two hours
here-how on airth shall | reach River
Philip tonight: III tell you what.
Mrs. Flint I'll leave the clock in Your
care till return on my way TO the states
I'll -et il agoin9, and put it TO the right
time As soon rs this operation was
performed, he delivered the key 10 the
deacon with sort Of serio-comic injunc-
ton To wind up the clock every Saturday
night, which Mrs. Flint said she would
take care should be done, and promised
To remind her husband OF il. in ease he
should chance TO forget 1t.
That" said the Clockmaker. as soon
as we were mounted, "that call haman
mature! Now, that clock is sold for
forty dollars-it cost me just six dollars
and fifty cents. Sirs. Flint will never
let Mrs. Steel have the refusal-nor will
the deacon learn until call for the clock.
that having once INDUCED in the use of
a superfiuety, it is difficult to give it mp.
We can do without any article of lux
ury we have never had. but when once
obtained. it Is not in human natur to sur
render it voluntarily. OF fifteen thous.
and sold by myself and partners in this
province, twelve thousand were left i'm
this manner. and only ten clocks were
ever returned-when we called for them,
they invariably bought them. We trust
to soft sawder to get them isto the