The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-12-05
THE DRUMMER FROM BOSTON.

delphia train coming north the other
day were several New York drummels.
One of the latter was a colush young
man, who prided himself on being a
student of human nature. Where a
number O. drummers are gathered
together there you will hear boastlng
and Dragging, and each and every one
will put forward his particular specially
as the best joke or trick of the season.
The young mans specially was by
and by duly explained. Said he:
Gentlemen, have little scheme
which have named the John Henry
scheme. 1t is worked entirely on the
farmer, and it furnishes one with a
wonderful insight into the characters.
tics OF the horny handed sons Of toll.
Perhaps you didn't know that the
farmer Is naturally the most suspicious
person in existence albeit he is ofteneSt
made the victim OF sharpers2
Two OF three of the crowd doubted
the truth Of the assertion, which was
just what the coltish young man de-
sired, and he continued:
propose to prove what have said.
I have made study of the farmer, and
| know him from head to heel. You
all see this watch? 1t IS a bang-up
time piece and cost SI5o. II it had
Waterbury works and a plated case
and was worth about Sc, could sell it
to farmer for SIS as easy as rolling
off log. AS it is straight goods, it
would scare a farmer to death to offer
it to him for ten.
I think he'd snap it up, observed
one of the boys.
That shows you are not posted.
There is probably at least one farmer
in the coach ahead, I'll just bet you an
even $40 that | will offer him this
watch for an X and he will take me for
a fakir and refuse to invest.
a.:er some hesitation the stakes were
put up, and followed hy two OF the
party the young man entered uaT
coach, Almost the first passenger II
sight was a middle aged farmer. He
had on an old straw hat, was without a
collar, and one of his cowhlde boots
rested on the other seat as he inter-
ested himself in newspaper.
My friend, began the young man, as
he smiled bland and seductive smile,
| have met with misfortune and am
obliged to-
hain't got no money to give away,
interrupted the farmer.
| do not ask for charity, continued
the young man. 1 have fine watch
here which l propose to dispose OF for
cash to relieve my temporary embar-
rassment.
Don't want no watch.
But let me explain. Here is watch
worth SI5o. l will sell it to you for
$40. Take it and look 1t over.
The farmer hesitated for while and
then took it, held it to his ear, shook
1t once or twice and said:
don't claim to be the sharpest man
in this world, but l do hate to be taken
for hayseed.
No one takes you for a hayseed,
my dear fellow. l simply offer to sell
you my S15o watch for $40.
Oh, that's it, eh? Wall, l guess I'll
take it
He dropped the watch into his
pocket, fished up a ten dollar bill, and
continued
Half the wheels may be gone when
| come to examine it, but teller must
take some chance in this world.
Then the coltish young man turned
red and white and blue, and he smiled,
and suffered and stammered, and his
bland smiles faced away as he ex-
planned that it was ali joke, the other
wouldn't have it that wav, however,
and he finally closed the argument by
splitting on his hands and rising up to
fight the whole crowd He kept the
watch, and the young man from Boston
will have an armful of sorrow to hug
for year to come. He doesn' know
that one OF the New Workers, having
heard of the trick and expecting he
would work It, had that farmer posted
halt an hour in advance. If he did 1t
would break his young and conhding
heart.-1L. Quaa, IN ~ \. U0rl9.