The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-05
THE PEDDLER'S VISIT.

Not long since called to spend the day
with an old friend by the name of Dowley.
Dowley is a farmer of the old stamp-hves
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 a 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 dGugh-
ter Rachel, 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 Ito his wife), we don't want nothtn'
Of his truck-not thing"
"Sartinly we DON'T" responded the good
wife; "and won't have noShin' neither"
''The last ono that came along sucked Us
in awfully, and swore then at I'd never
trade with another ono of 'eTn agin. Now
mind, Susan, snap i'm rite up ef he offers
yer anything"
Let me alone for that-the dirty, good
for nothingI'' returned the dame, smooth
ing down her apron smphatically.
By this time the peddler had made his
way into the back room, and with a 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 2 continual smile,
which nothing seemed to ruffie.
'Well, neighbors," he said after he had
asked after our healths, Couldn't 1 trade
with ye little today"
'No, SIR" emphatically answered Mr.
Dowley, swapping his words out almost
angrily.
"Don't you want somethin'?" the peddler
asked of the dame in the same smooth,
smiling tone.
''No, sir, I don't-want nothin'." The
last words dropped from the DANES lips
like the swapping of percussion cap.
'FWell, well-never mind" said the ped
dler, at the same time opening one of his
he were only arranging his things. "Pm
one of them kind as never forces folks into
a trade, cause, don't ye see, 'tain't no use
I say, let them trade as has mind to. Now
some peddlers seem to think everybody's
bound to buy, an ef they don't manage to
make trade, why they git hufy bout it.
But that isn't my wey. l don't like to go
by mans house without stoppin', cause
DIo n i11t fhoy 1fcrbf
But eff man says no-why, that's enough"
All this time he had been fixing up the
articles in his trunk, and speaking in one
of the sweetest and most seductive tones
imaginable, and as his smiles were bestowed
upon the host and hostess 1 could see that
their frowns were mostly dispelled. And
during this time, too, he had contrived to
fix his things so that 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 gudewifa,
that folks will go lifetime without q
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
l come across man pacin' off piece of
land where he was goin' to plow. / asked
him why he didn't measure it. He said he
hadn't got nothin'-his paoin' was good
enough. You've paced this of, haven't
ye" says L Yes, says he. How much
dye make of I'll? says l. Jest an acre.
says he. It's jest a square acre Meow,
we see, 1 know'd he hadn't got an acre Of
~ F. I = - L
long enough. So 1 jest takes this ere
thing ut of my trunk, and says |, 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 WIS just two rods long; and, as
he went on speaking, he pulled out the
neatly figured tape, and then wo1nd it
up again by means of the little brass crank
80 he took hold O. one end, an took
the other, an we went reound that piece in
Jest about ten minutes, By jingo, the piece
wasn't only 'baout 'leven rods square-feu
short, ye see, sixteen rod. Now says l,
Jest see heow We get deceived. Next fall
yer nabors'll laff st ye cause ye hain't
raised more corn On an acre, an they'll
swear yer land amt good, and ye'll have TO
SJGQQ IL, TOO. he h1OQ o bOOR WnaC Ia
said, and he bought one o these magic land
measurers rite of. Meow, ye see, he ken
measure his fences, an his land, an his
buildings, an, in fact, he can alters meas
ure anything, cause ye 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 Pill keep this for
pattern"
And as he thus spoke he commenced TO
stow it away. l saw that Mr. Dowley eyed
the thing uneasily. Now Dowley had
rod pole, two foot rule and any quantity
of small rope, with which he had always
measured of his land; but this thing took
his fancy. 1t looked so neat and handy.
Jest let me look az that" be said; and
as he took 1t be pulled It out and wound 1t
up several times. How high does this
comes" he asked.
Two dollars. I've been sellin' 'em for"
replied the peddler.
Amt that highf"
Hight Why, jest look at it-look at
the work You can't git such ones rite IN
BostRg for one cent OF N fifteen shillin'
Ye see, l found a man seilin' OF al auction
a man as was goin' 70 California, an
got these for considerable under cost. so