The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-05-30
The First Book Agent of the Season.

lie was good church man and trn
man every incl of him, but, as he sa
doing OIL his mil day meal, likewise hi
sugar and nutmeg that had preceded il
his vile was slightly panied to hear hin
con]ugating an unmentionable verb. :
The verb, you are aware, kind reader
that don't commence with II and enc
with d-but follows generally the {
other direction.
"Why Colonel Slashman !" said She
even she was beginning to drop tht
"Mr." for the more imposing American
ism, "what can be the matter with Won
my dear! just elected Vestryman al
Saint Hieronymous Church, and max
ing use ofsuch termsl What would our
rector say? So soon after Easter tool
declare its distressing"
81 know all that, my dear" replied
Col. Slashman, penitently. "and hope
the Lord won't count il to hard against
me. But dog my eyesl don't you see
him coming"-and as he spoke he fired
away at lately reiuvenated fly which
had lit on the fine point of his warlikc
proboscis-naturally doing that mem
Der more damage than he did to the de-
parting insect.
"Iiiml who? .he fy?-I see him 90
ing tool" coirped the facetious little
wife with an expressive glance at the
reddening face of Col. Llashman.
"No! Margery no ! not the fly-but
worse nuisance still. Here he is near
ly at the gate"
ooh! Lord, its the book agent ~
piped the alarmed old lady, "and only
the first week in May commenced
already Hoped the dear soul had
country school somewhere to keep him
till the first of July. But no here he is
already. You may entertain him,
DEAR" continued she, making a break
Tor the inside of the cool summer
house.
"Stay? vociferated the Colonel with a
second lapse into the conjugation of that
most unvestrymanlike verb, "don't
bulge, Margery! for my sake ! For you
have had two maps already TO nv
knowledge since breakfast time, and
this is my only chance before late at
nlght-caucus meeting you know after
supper. And l sayl added he, max
ing his voice still more clearly audible.
'for every book agent and lightning
rod man that you can talk against time ,
with, this season, I'll drop a gold dol
lar in your mite box. Do you under
stand mel"
Yes she understood him, for she
bounced back into the verandah, and
shot most encouraging glance in the
direction of the high collar and white
necktie which carried along with them |
the fragile remains of the Book Agent. |
That glance seemed to say:
"Oh yes | know II aIl-yo,, aro q |
consumptive clergyman, Just from Flor |
ida or Minnesota, National Publishing |
Co., Illustrated Travels in the Holy |
Land, Landmarks of Universal History, |
Life of Moody and Dick Deadeye to |
boot. Come along, poor bov! I'm not |
At all sure I'll conclude to order a vol |
1me, but I'll do better than Ithat-I'll
make gold dollar out of Colonel Slash
nanW
And in her eagcrness for the taking
match, she was ready almost to call out
% him and make him come in and ex-
libit his wares.
But alas for the first gold dollar of the
Slashman had pitched his voice
1t most effective key, and there must
lave been something peculiarly depres-
'lng In the tone to the spirits of the
Illustrated Travels and Life of Moody
nan. For he squinted at that verandah
With pathetic glance, which seemed to
nsinuate; "No taste for solid literature
here" and he gave his pack tighter
grip and his high collar sort oftwist in
he other direction, and he kept the
straight highway without a culver.
"Sensible fellow, that quoth Slash
nan, who had watched the effect of his
'high-toned" oratory and enjoyed it
Almost mind to call him
n and mix julep anyhow!"
"The great, gawky goose,' muttered
Mrs. Slashman, with an air of genuine
disappointment. "To be at the very
gate, and then let Colonel Slashman's
mischief drive him away! lie can't be n
genuine one some impostor no doubt.
No book agent that was worthy the
lame ever stood on his high dignity like
hat. Never mind old fellow" said
she, apostrophizing her sleeping spouse,
you may crow over me now, but III
make that dollar yet, if have the shad-
wv of a chance, before Fm a day old
,rw