Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-03-30

of the Lake, "Celebs In Search Of 8
Wife" and 'The Castle Of Otranto"
Were the class Of books which consti.
tuted the bellies lettres part of my stock
in trade.
Ny dealings were chiefly with coun
try merchants and Connecticut ped.
dlers who operated in the southern and
western states. 4 sketch of q single
customer will throw light upon this
portion Of my life.
Good morning, Doctor" for the
title / had acquired in the apothecary':
shop still adhered to me. How are
you, my old cock?"
The man who entered my shop and
addressed me III these words was tau,
thin. with lank hair and pair Of wide,
drab curduroy pantaloons and a butter.
nut colored coat, OF ample width and
prodigal length Of skirts His dress was
loose as that Of a Turks, and the mo-
tons Of the man within Were as free "a
a wildcats There was careless ease
in his gait which seemed to show that
he had not been accustomed to either
the restraints of nicely adjusted gar.
ments or tight laced breeding
Ny reply TO the man was hearty.
GOOD morning God bless you! How
are you. Mr. Fleecer?" This was said
while mutual grapple of the hands
took place, attended by an undulatine
motion of the whole frame.
After few more congratulatory
words we proceeded to business With
a vast deal of higgling, the peddler laid
out variety Of articles, generally se-
lecting them with a reference TO two
points, bulk and cheapness. The idea he
entertained Of his customers seemed to
be that they would buy books rs they
would load boat, by the measure OF
size only. So nice test as weight
even was in his experience too subtle
and delicate u principle to be used in
the purchase these articles. The sub
ject, the manner in which it was treat
ed, the name of the author, the quality
of paper and print We're all considera.
tions either secondary or overlooked
Having made up the bulk of his pur.
chases in this way, Mr.. Flcecer looked
over my shelves and poked about III
every nook and corner, as if searching
for something he could not find. AT
length, taking me to the farther end OF
my shop and stealing heedful glance
around to see that no one could over
hear US, he spoke Is follows, in a low
tone:
well, doctor-you're doctor, you
know-now let me see some books III
the doctors line. suppose you've got
Aristotle's -"
mo indeed!' said /.
"Oh, none Of your CANNON! Come,
out with i'll I'll pay good price.
Upon my word. 1 haven't copy.
, "You have. know you have. "
~ tell you / have not "
"well. haven't you got 'vOlney' q
Ruins?'"
"No."
"Nor Tom Paine2'"
"No."
'Nor -"
'No, not copy"
''Are You in airnest, doctors"
Eyes; never keep such books "
"who said you didi You don't keep
'em, ha? Nor 1 mother I only axed ycu
to let me seem. Amt my father a
deacon in Pokkytunk, and do You sup.
pose want to meddle with such infidel
trash? Not !. Still there's no harm In
looking, I suppose. A cat may look on
q king, mayn't she, DOCTOR"
'Yes, no doubt"
"well, we'll, that's settled. Have you
got Young's Night Thoughts?'"
Plenty"
''Let me zee one.
Here I showed Mr. Fleecer the book.
"This is not the right kind, said he.
ST want that edition that's got the pic
ter at the beginning Of a gal walking out
by starlight, called Contemplation. ;"
handed my customer another copy.
he then went on:
AYE, this is it. That ar picter
there is a very material pint, doctor.
The young fellers down in Kentucky
think it's wolloping kind Of story,
you know, about some gal that's in
love. They look at the title page and
see Might Thoughts, by Alexander
Young Well, that seems as il it meant
something queer. So they look to the
frontispiece and zee female, all wrap
ped up in q cloak, going out very sly.
with nothing under heaven but the stars
to see what shes about Hush, hush!'
I sag and look round as il afeard that
somebody would hear us. And then
shut up the book and put it into my
chist and deliberately lock the lid. Ther
the feller becomes rampacious. He beg
and wheedles and fatters, and at las'
he swears I shake my head. Finally ht
takes out $5 bill. Islip it into my pock
ct and hand him ont the book as il wa
stealing and tell him not to let anybody
know who sold it to him and not tt
take of the brown paper kiver till h
gets shut up tight in his own room
then say, Good day, mister, and clea'
out like chain lightning for the mex
county"
lyon seem to be pleased with you,
recollec.;Cns, Fleeccr."
"Wcll, ] can't help sllickering wher
! think of them fellsrs. Why, Bleech,
sold more than ten thousand Of then
Might Thoughts for 80 apiece, in Ken
tucky last winter, aud oil the feller'
bought 'em under the idea that It wa
. queer story, too good to be altogethe'
decent"
$50 you cheated 'em, hai''
II cheated 'em' Not indeed =