Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-18
THE PEDDLER'S VISIT.

with an old friend by the name Of Dowley.
Dowley is farmer of the old stamp-lives
on the farm where his father was born,
and has been frugal, industrious and
thrifty His farm is in excellent order, his
stock sleek and fat, his buildings in thor
ough repair, and his children stout, good
natured and healthy. Mrs Dowley is Just
the woman for farmers wife--a busy,
bustling thing, with ambition enough to
have everything in order, and pride enough
to have few things rather nicer than some
folks have. We were sitting in the front
room, Mr. and Mrs. Dowley, their daugh-
ter Rachel, II buxOm lass Of II, and myself,
when we saw one of those quaint looking
carts drive up into the yard which can be-
long only to Yankee peddler.
There's one o. them 'tarnal peddlers, ("
uttered Mr. Dowley, with an expression
half of contempt, half of vengeance, But
he won't make much here. Now mind,
Susan TO his Wife, we don't want nothin'
Of his truek--not thing"
'Sartinly we don't" responded the good
wife; "and won't have nothin' neither"
"The last one that came along sucked us
in awfully, and | swore then AT I'd never
trade with another one of 'em agin. Now
mind, Susan, snap i'm rite up eff he offers
yer anything"
LET me alone for that--the dirty, good
for nothingl" returned the dame, smooth
ing down her apron alphabetically.
BY this time the peddler had made his
way into the back room and with smil-
ing face he came into the room where we
were sitting. He was not one of your tall,
lank things, but short, plump, good ma
tured looking fellow, and wearing upon
his really handsome face continual smile,
which nothing seemed to ruffle.
"Well, neighbors, he said after he had
asked after our healths, couldn't l trade
with we n little today?"
"No, sir" emphatically answered Mr..
Dowey, swapping his words out almost
angrily.
Don't you want somethin' ~ the peddler
asked of the dame in the same smooth,
smiling tone.
mo, sir | don't-want nothin'." The
last words dropped from the DANES lips
like the swapping of percussion cap.
"Well, well--never mind, " said the ped
dler, ut the same time opening one of his
trunks, and commencing owork as though
he were only arranging his things Pm
one of them kind as never forces folks into
| say, let them trade as has mind to. Now
some peddlers seem to think everybody's
bound to buy, an eff they don't manage to
make trade, why they git huffy bout it.
But that isn't my way. | don't like to go
by mans house without stoppin' cause
mebbe I'd have sumthin' they might want.
But eff u man says no-why, that's enough "
All this time he had been fixing up the
l.;
of the sweetest and most seductive tones
imaginable, and as his smiles were bestowed
upon the host and hostess, could see that
their frowns were mostly dispelled. And
during this time, too, he had contrived to
fix his things SD that a most tempting array
of articles was in sight.
How funny it is" the peddler resumed
with the same sweet smile, and this time
directing his remarks to the gudewife,
that folks will go n lifetime without a
simple thing that would pay for itself in
once usin'. shall never forgit what George
Washington said when he was on his great
farm deown in old Verginny. Says he, "A
penny saved is two pennies earnt. And he
was right Meow ye see, only this mornin'
| come across u man pacin' off a piece of
land where he was goin' to pillow. asked
him why he didn't measure it. He said he
hadn't got nothin'-his pacin' was good
enough, You've paced this off, haven't
yep says |. Yes says he. How much
dye make of itP says |. Jest an acre.
says he, It's jest u square acre Meow,
ye see, | know'd he hadn't got an acre Of
land there, for lcould see AT he didn't step
long enough So | jest takes this ere
thing out of my trunk, and says l, Let's
measure it right now"
Here the peddler took from his trunk
one of those measuring tapes which roll up
in neat, circular, polished leather case,
and which was just two rods long; and, as
he went on speaking, he pulled out the
neatly figured tape, and then wound it
up again by means of the little brass crank
$50 he took hold o. one end, an | took
the other, an we went reound that piece in
jest about ten minutes. BY lingo, the piece
wasn't only baout 'lsven rods square-fell
Short We see, sixteen rod. Now says /,
Jest see heow yo get deceived. Next fall
yer nabors'll laff at We cause We hain't
raised more corn on an acre, an they'll
swear yer land amt good, and yen have to
stand it, too, He kind o. took what I'd
said, and he bought ono o these magic land
measurers rite Off. Meow, we see, he ken
measure his fences, an his land, an his
buildings, an, in fact, he can alters meas
urc anything, cause We can carry this right
in yer pocket Come away from home Jest
week ago yesterday an had seven dozen
O these farmers measures an all gone
but this. | rather guess I'll keep this for a
pattern
And as he thus spoke he commenced to
stow it away. saw that Mr.. Dowley eyed
the thing uncasily. Now Dowley had a
rod pole two foot rule and any quantity
of small rope, with which he had always
measured Off his land; but this thing took
his fancy. 1t looked so neat and handy.
Jest let me look ut that" he said; and
as he took it he pulled it out and wound it
mp several times How high does this
cumcE' nc asked.
Two dollars, Eve been sellin' 'em for, +"
replied the pcddlcr
"Ain't that highg"
"High2 Why jest look at it--look ut
the work. You can't git such ones rite in
Bosting for one cent OF m fifteen shillin'.
We see, found a man sellin' off at auction
a man rs was goin' TO California, an
got these for considerable under cost. So
can afford to put 'em cheap"
you couldn't say nine shillings, could
ye}'
"Woll-I don't know Ef ever do sell
cheap its to an hsnest old farmer, who has
to work hard for livin'. But look here
eff yen solemnly promise not to lisp a word
TO anybody how cheap let ye have it, I'll
say nine shillin's. But hadn't ought to
I hadnt--that's TACT"
So Dowley took the measurer and went
to his desk and got his pocket book and
came back with five dollar bill, which he
handed to the peddler. The latter took it,
but did not Immediately return the change.
.AAhat tir.a. thasa hra fnr Inventions :,