Year: 1872

Yankee s!Swops"-The Mania FOL


Trading In the Green MOuntaiu


State.


sazton's River (vtl Letter to the Boston


Herald.l


A horse trader, or one who does the
other fellow up brown, is looked upon
in this section as a fit candidate of any
party, and is usually nominated for the
best Cffice in town. When he has met
with success in that line he has the
confidence Of those who have not only
suffered by his keenness, but tremble lest
they get stuck on the next trade, fol
trade these people will. There is not
a dry goods store, a grocery, a harness
shop, or any other kind of chebang
where there is not nightly trade made
all the way from an old fashioned jack
knife to a pair Of two year old steers,
and an ambitious youth who palms off a
handle without blade is usually looked
upon as possessing qualifications emf
nently fitting him for College, or as the
prestidigitateur on the forward end Of a
tin cart.


One OF my old friends who has lived
here since boyhoood is governed entire
ly by trade, and had much rather 'swop
with little boot than sell for money
outright A few years since he visited
the Hub and his attention was struck
square in the front while passing
through Dock square by the sweet
sounds OF a tin musc-box, which was
doing its level best 10 give all the deml
semi auavers of "Huirs Victory" He
bought it by paving currency at the low
price OF two-fifty. The mus'c-box
pleased his dear Merib and the other
music loving people OF the village
but this single tune could not always
please, and Hull. though splendid
naval officer in his way, could not ex-
pect to have his victory to last longer
than few months, when it was so often
started up. and 90 it WAS accounted a
bore Hodgkins 1--WE will call his name
needed boots Tor the winter, and he had
20 money. He offered to trade with
the shoemaker for a pair OF boots by
giving him his box, but the shoemaker
was not disposed to do go. Yet, Hodg-
kins was bound TO fight for his boots on
that line il it took all winter, and that
the b. otman should either get the box
or its equivalent in trade he was
bound to see done. There was a
man in Grafton, a few miles above,
who had not only few hens but a uice
ear for music. Hodgkins started for
him, and walking his team past the old
fellows house, he wound up his tin
machine and "HulIs Victory sounded
among the hills OF that anti-railroad
town. The music box took, and in a
few minutes the hens were in the wagon
and the box in front OF the rural re-
treat, with dollar twelve and half in
Hodgkins' breeches pocket. Convert
ing the hens to boots WAS another mat,
ter, but Hodgkins' executive capacity
was amply sufficient to accomplish the
task.


Starting for home he met the mail
stage which plies regularly between
Bellows Falls and Grafton, and whose
driver, being a lover OF poultry, stopped
the United States mail and proposed TO
trade. Hodgkins was ready; didn't
care about trading, of course, but If the
driver had a pair of boots to swap he
didn't know but what he would. The
driver didn't have boots, but be had
under his seat fresh steers hide be was
taking to Grafton to get tanned, and he
would swap for that Here was a
chance it was the nearest approach to
boots Hodgkins had seen since the tin
machine had been in his possession
Hodgkius' lace was radiant unawares for
his heart bubbled up the smiles against
the trading judgment. Mad with the
smile. but earnest for the trade. II is no
stretch OF the imagination to picture
Hodgkins q few minutes later, vending
his weary way to the bosom OF bis loved
ores at home, seated on the sweet
smelling hide OF the innocent steer who
lad 2 ven bis life that Hodgkins might
90 for the Grafton stage. Hodgkins
took the skin TO the shoemaker and
swapped it for boots. with 81 IS into
the bargain. He SAYS be made money
on the box and on the hens, but as he
keeps no books by double-eptry be can.
not tell exactly the net results. He
knew he needed the boots, and has got
them. and is satisfied that il the shoe
maker hasn't got the box lie may yet
have to dicker with its possessor.


You can trade here for ANYTHING
marketable or unmarketable. Pump
legs and secondhand pulpits are easily
sxapped for grain and spawned horses,
and either Of the came can easily be
exchanged Tor nncollected pew bills
against any Of the pew-bolders Of the
place OF worship. Nothing comes
amis.. A thorough going. sharp horse-
trade gives q question for discussion
among the occu pants Of this town for
at least SIX months, and longer if there
is no other bang-up trade sculling along
to take the first ones water. / heard
one Of the most prominent men Of the
village cay within day or two
that as be was 80 given 70
swapping and trading he hoped nc
one would make an Offer for his dog OF
his wife, for he added: Il am human 7
Trading here 10 hereditary, and gettius
something to boo. is talent Furnished
but woe betide the unfortunate youth
who, in . momsat Of trading frsnsy