The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-06-08
An Oshkosh Shirt Orchard.

Oshkosh has had visit from hui
morous book-agent, one who took an
entirely new course in getting his book
before the people. Instead of going to
| house and commencing by showing
| the pictures of his book, the binding,
and so forth, he would engage the wo-
man of the house in pleasant converse
| ton, and make jokes, relate stories and
repeat purs until she was so enchanted
that she would buy q book almost every
time He got several orders for his
book, and was on the high road TO pros
perity until Monday. when he came
on gravel train as far rs the station,
du Lac, where he had his broken arm
set. put raw beef on his black eyes, and
is growing some new hair. 1t was
washing day, and quite muddy. and as
he went into the gate of a residence he
noticed that the clcthes-line had fallen
down, and the woman had hung the
clothes on the trees in the orchard. The
agent thought that would be "a good
subject for humorous remarks, and
when the lady came into the room, with
her sleeves rolled up, her hands pucker-
ed up from the soap-suds, her apron
wet and her temper red-hot, the agent
smiled and said:
"Ah, madam, notice your shirt or
chard is bearing well this spring Trees
seem to be loaded" And then he
laughed pleasantly. She Just looked at
him, but didn't say word.
1.-The shirt is the most profitable fruit
we can raise in this climate, said he,
looking out the window at anapple-tree
on which were several wet shirts flap
ping in the wind; but they should be
grated with the pillow-case. or the
towel. TO appear at their best" and he
smiled beautiful smile and opened his
canvassing book.
Sir S2id the lady. as she wiped
some suds of her nose with the under
side of her apron, '.what is your busi-
ness with me?'
Presently, madam. presently" said
the agent, rs he pointed to a pear-tree,
and restrained himself with an effort
from laughing right cut at his hunor.
1T shows Intelligent cultivation to pro-
duce such results in this clay soil. Why
shouid we keep sheep when we can
raise woolien stockings on pear-tree?
What is the use of repining when red
flannel petticoats can be-
''Lookahere, mister,' said the lady,
who was getting tired, as size folded up
p pair OF clothes bars and took hold of
them with both hands, Il have heard
almost enough of this zephyr"
.'One moment. madam" said the
agent. smiling The skirts on the
cherry-tree speak to me of the millen-
MUM. The corse;s on the lilac bush tell
me that it is good to be here. The chil.
dren's drawers that bud on the goose
berry-bush viii grew, in tie warln sun-
slime, 10 be large enough for grown
person; and l see the tai stockings on
the crab apple-tree, with holes in the
heels, kicking at the pink sun -honnet on
tie limb above, and | WONDER
At this point the lady recovered from
l-r~r-,->-.-.-i@i,.,sa,,s-. ..,i i,,a no,,n1a of
door aud struck head first on the oravoi %
walk on his nose; one coat-tau was
pulled of, and the man got into the
street and run toward the depot, while
the woman went into the kitchen, say
ing she could run that shirt orchard
without any help from book-agents.
At Fond du Lac the agent said he fell
off train and struck an ice-house. 1t
is safe to say that humorous book-agent
has canvassed Oshkosh AS much as he
will this season.--PGckS S sun,