Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-05-30
The stutg Teller.
SNIVE1IY.
from the Times-Democrat.]

from the Times Democrat.
One cold, drizzly day several of the boys
were seated around the fire in the rear Of
fee of the Work Eliminator Sewing Ma
chine Company.
They had been discussing the state OF
the weather, the state Of the roads, and the
state of trade, all agreeing IAN astonishing
thing for a number of sewing machine
men to do) that worse outlook never was
seen. Having at last united in this cheer
full view of matters, they gradually elapsed
into gloomy silence.
Nelson was man ofsome twenty years
experience in the trade. He had seen
sewing machine corporations bud, bios
som and bear fruit, or wither and die, as
the case might be.
He had seen a new family machine sell
ling for 800, and the factory overrun with
orders. Twenty years later he had seen
the same machine seeking buyers-almost
vainly seeking-at $40. Many changes ne
had known in the business from which he
still drew his sustenance, therefore he was
looked upon by the younger fry about him
as veteran of many battles.
Nelson looked up at the ceiling and
made q sort of smacking noise with his
mouth, which was sure indication to
the boys that he was about to give birth
to some thought of more or less import
ance. Then he looked down and strecth-
ed his legs out to their full length toward
the fire, ard smiled as though his thoughts
were pleasant ones. None of the boys
spoke; they knew the game was coming
their way. At length he said:
'Jones, did I ever tell you of a queer
old chap who used to live near Houston,
Texas, that the boys in the w. & w. office
used to have so much fun with ?"
"I've heard you speak of him, l think,
but I never heard any particulars" said
Jones. The fact was, Jones had heard the
story, but as he wanted to hear it again he
was somewhat evasive. -.
"Put on YOUR belt and let her whiz,"
said Bob White.
eyes, oil her up and let her rack out"
said representative from Hoosierdom.
stHave your attachments all handy, so
you won't make any break in the thread
of your DISCOURSE" said young man with
just a perceptible lisp.
''That last isn't so bad, replied Nelson,
smiling at their guying. II have known
fellows to get half way through their story
and then have to anchor and hunt around
in their mind for starter. I'll try not to
do that. It'ssome time now since we used
to carry out q machine that was liable to
tangle up the thread on the bobbin or ro-
tating hook on the slightest provocation,
as if it had taken fit of the sulks and re-
fused to show off before company, to the
great evaporation and discontinue of the
operator-and get five twenty-dollar gold
pieces for it all the same.
"Yes, yes; see you fellows are willing
&o Irn oil fpr hn 1offQr n
of that statement. That's all right, but
twenty years ago sewing machines in Tex
as were on a tremendous boom. It was
soon after the war, and cotton, the staple
product of the country, was worth twenty
five cents pound. That means $125 per
bale, and that means $125 to $40 per acre,
in many parts of the State! See? Well,
money was as plentiful as in Mark Twain's
flush times in Nevada. But all this is
side issue, as it were, and has nothing to do
with what was going to tell you.
II was working with the Carriers at that
time, and the head Office was in the Mason
ic building at Houston: The boys were
flush in those days"
"Alas what a CHANGE" said he of the
lisp, soto voce.
loved a joke better, if possible, than their
modern representatives.
"There was an old fellow who lived
about five miles down the bayou, by the
name of Capt. Moody. Idon't know what
he had done to be called captain; nothing,
most likely. He was bushy-bearded,
bluff old fellow, and exceedingly fond of
playing practical joke. The old man
had in some way got acquainted with US at
the Office, and seemed to like the boys
very much. One day canvasser by the
name of Williams stopped at the captains
to see ifhe could sell him machine. The
old man had never laid eyes on Williams
before, and when he saw him go into the
house, he took it into his head that he
would give him scare so he came from
the lot and strobe into the house where the
unsuspecting Williams and Mrs. Moody
glowering in the doorway moment, and
then broke forth:
"'Umph! another id sewing machine
man! I'll Just teach you fellows, once for
all, not to make this house the headquar-
ters of all the concerned sewing machine
peddlers in Harris county! Hang me ii L
don't! Come down here, Bet
''And the captain reached up to the wall
where looking ngshot-gun hung.
Williams did not wait to hear anything
more. He rushed out of doors like house
afire, expecting every second to be filled
with buckshot. He wasn't, though, and
he got safely into his wagon and drove off
at a terrible rate; the old man standing in
the door with his gun, pretending that he
could not get it to 60 off.
"After Williams had vanished, Moody
sat down in chair and laughed until the
tears ran down his cheeks.
"'Didn't he scoot, thought he said at
Inv >rvfh n f0 10 hnn
his breath.
"'Yes; you ought to be ashamed of
yourself to scare man so,' she replied,
laughing.
"''S' more fun than ridin' buckin'
pony,' said Moody, and then another fit of
laughing seized him.
'In few days Capt. Moody came into
the Office and told us about the joke he had
played. We called up Williams, who
wasn't much inclined to see the fun at
first; but Capt. Moody shook him and
laughed him into good humor at last,
and made him promise to come out IN
watermelon time and eat watermelons
with him AM the ole woman
$50 it came about that we boys had an
understanding with him that we would
initiate all the new hands in the business
by sending them out to sell him a ma
chine.
"Well, we sent cut Watson, and he
came back with only one tail to his coat
that originally had two, the other having
got caught in some way in old Moody's
gate.
"We sent Brooks out, and he got back
all right enough, but left a brand new hat
on the bed at Moody's, which the captain
subsequently brought to its owner.
"When Hemphill, new man, asked
which way we thought he had better go to
find sale, with his fine new turnout and