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III II 151 111
Si.oo a Year, In Advance. FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY, AND FOR TRUTH." Single Copy, 5 Cents.
VOL! XIV. , . PLYMOUTH, N. C., FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 27, 1903. N0.36.
H " ' ' ' ll-. -I,.... - - II. I t .HMMW
THE FLOWER.
There is a. flower we car.not find,
Who6e home is on a hight,
Some mountain peak of soul or mind
Above our veiled eight.
Though yearning fancy picture's it,
In day-dreams brief and bright,
Where countlass rays of glory flit
And nourish it with light. .
ita Coijfessioijs of aSewiqg'HJacljine Jjgent,
4.
9
By HOLM AN F. DAY.
T5
$ .TheExciting Adventure of
y One Young Man in r
Learning the
tit? i f
Qi, O me, a clerk in a country
4 rriU store and postoffice, almost
O j o any sort of change was a
K welcome one. The monot-
"5OW ony of the slup-slop of the
molasses-hogshead's bung
was accentuated by the tedium of the
everlasting gab of the old men who
sat behind the stove. There were also
the never-ceasing complaints at the
wicket by the patrons whose mail
averaged a postal-card and a medicine
circular a week. I wanted to be out
and away.
From the outside the job of a sewing
machine agent looked like a fairly
.pleasant one. The agents that drove
our way rode in handsomely painted
wagons, and the harness was pretty
well nickeled up. I questioned one of
these agents one day. lie told me that
for folks who liked that kind of a
business it would be just the kind of
business they would like. But that
didn't discourage me. The general
agent of a sewing-machine company
came along that way to eollect some
.old snags of bills, and I hired with
him. Father and brother helped me
by "going on" a bond of one thousand
; -dollars. The company fitted me out
swith a sample machine, horse and
team, and put me with another agent
to learn the business.
A man who couldn't learn the busi
ness with that fellow wouldn't be able
to learn anything. It seems strange
that I never have heard from or about
him in late years. A star of his lu
minosity ought to be shining above
the business horizon with an efful
gence to be seen of all men.
First of all. he taught me how to
r.ew plain, but especially how to use
the "attachments." -,;
"That's what . catches the women
folks every time," said he; "the at
tachments. They'll never use them in
n dog's age, but they must have them.
You would think, to hear the women
talk, that they were buying the ma
'h'ne so as to tuck and ruffle and hem
and furbelow. So you must give them
all the tricks of the machine. And you
must also sew the baby's old shoe, and
run a cigar-box cover through under
the tread, and take a few stitches in
a tin can, not necessarily because tin
cans are to be fashionable articles
of apparel next season, but because
it is a guarantee of good faith. And
It also gives the agent an opportunity
to ' talk. Never stop talking. Keep
your vocal treadle going."
Well, after a few days of instruc
tion, Carter that was Ms name took
mo out for a canvassing trip. He
picked one side of the street in the
village where we landed, and I took
the other side. That was so I could
watch him and see how he did it. He
directed me to keep my eye on him.
He told me he had been soiling sewing
machines ever since he was big enough
to lug one of the old-fashioned hand
crank ones into a country sitting
room. " .
Therefore, like a dutiful pupil, I
stood on the other side of the street
and watched him. Cater yanked
lriskly - on the door-bell knob, and
it grated out yawkingly. I always was
Imaginative. The sound of that bcll
: tittachment made me wager in my
mind that an ugly woman lived in
that house. Cut Carter seehied valiant
enough. He braced back his shoul
ders, tugged at the lapels of his coat,
pulled out an advertising-card, cleared
his throat and waited. The woman of
the house rattled at the key inside,
and then opened the door. She had
one of those square heads with little
Our eyes the vision cannot hold,
So beautiful and fleet,
The petals of perpetual gold,
The perfume heavenly sweet.
And thus we know the wondrous flower,
By dust of earth unstained,
Was born in some celestial hour
And called The Unattained.
-William H. Hayne, in the Independent.
wvus. . cp-
Hi
wispy fringes of hair bobbing on her
forehead.
"Good-afternoon, madam," said Car
ter, speaking clearly so that I might
hear him. "This is lovely weather for
this time of year. Here is my card.
I have had a letter from my people
in New York asking me to call and
see you. I would like to explain our
sewing-machine "
The woman slammed the door In his
face, and both of us heard the bolt of
the lock go "click." She didn't say
a word. Carter looked at the door a
moment, and then turned around and
looked at me. . I laughed. I could feel
the red go up over my face at the
same time, because I was embarrassed
for his sake. . Buv Carter only grim
aced. He grinned over at me as though
he were enjoying it. I wondered how
he could have the heart to be chip
per. "Business woman, Isn't she?" he re
marked, cheerfully. "Guess, I'll be
obliged to sell her a machine now,
anyway."
He walked right around to the back
door, and I sidled down the sidewalk
so as to keep my eye on him. There
was no bell at the back door, so he
rapped good and hard. The woman
yanked' the door open, and said something-short.
Then she tried to shut the
door, but Carter stuck hig toe in. He
was smiling very sweetly. He bad one
of the most innocent and winning
smiles you ever saw.
"My dear , madam," he said, "you
must have misunderstood me a mo
ment ago, but I'm sure a woman of
your standing in the community would
not be rude to a gentleman. I assure
you' I did not ask you for a piece of
cold pumpkin-pie. It may have sound
ed as though I said that, but believe
me, that was not the idea at all."
The woman started to say something,
but Carter didn't give her the oppor
tunity. "I pray you don't don't apologize,
madam," he cried. "It's all right.
Ladies do frequently think I am ask
ing for cold pie. Perfectly natural mis
take, I assure you. You will note
that when I smile I have a real coaxing
mouth for pie."
Carter gave the woman one of his
sweetest efforts in the smile line.
"But I mustn't bother you by talking
about pie," he continued. "You un
derstand I'm really here on business.
You know there are different kinds of
business. I would prefer to be run
ning a New York department store,
and have my customers come to me,
but in thov stress of present circum
stances I am obliged to go to my
customers. I do not enjoy transacting
business on the door-step, for the neigh
bors are very inquisitive in all places.
It is ridiculous what stories the neigh
bors will start sometimes. Once I was
kept talking on the door-step for some
time, and it got reported around the
place that the So-and-sos were hard
up financially, for an agent of a col
lecting firm had been at their place,
and a real wrangle occurred on the
door-step. I very much prefer to do
all my talking in the house." Again
did Carter lavish' his radiant smile.
His manner was so ingratiating and
his quiet waggishness so won upon
her that she relaxed her hold on the
door. lie took off his hat, and saying
"By your leave!" he went in. As the
door closed I could hear him start in
on his sewing-machine "oration."
I walked slowly along, pondering
that in all probability the woman
would annihilate him as Boon as she
got him cornered in the elttlng-room.
I couldn't understand the gall of a man
who could do the thing that Carter had
just maneuvered. I looked back once
or twice, half expecting Carter to come
flying out through one of the windows.
But whatever the tragedy that was oc
curring within, the outside walls gave
no sign.
Carter had told me that when he was
safely inside the house I was to go and
do likewise. "Just follow my hand,"
was what he said.
Really, I had half a mind to jump
the whole business right then and
there. I couldn't picture myself brac
ing through such an ordeal as , Carter
had just faced so valiantly. I saw a
woman sitting in the window of the
first house on my way. I hurried past
that house, as I didn't have the heart
to walk up the steps. But setting my
teeth, I went to the front door of
the next house, and rang the bell.
I tried to get a smile on my face as
I had seen Carter do. I am rather
sour-visaged. I was twisting my face
around for the proper expression, when
the door was suddenly flung open, and
there stood the woman of the house.
By the manner in which my face was
working she must have concluded I
had St. Vitus' dance. She looked
frightened. I was so embarrassed
that my usually sour countenance
must have seemed demoniac. I had
been thinking of Carter's speech to the
other woman, trying to remember how
funny it had sounded.' I hoped to bring
up a smile in that way. Now, in my
excitement, I blurted out, "Ah, good
morning, madam; this is a lovely after
noon. You may think by my looks
that I want a sewing-machine to eat,
but I assure you I have called merely
to sell you some pie. I that is "
Well, you ought to have seen that
woman look at me. I could tell from
her eye that she thought I lived in a
padded cell at home. But I kept my
self from falling off the steps, and be
fore the woman had time to escape, I
blundered out the whole story how I
had, been watching Carter down the
street, and how I. had mixed up what
he had said to the. other woman. . It
tickled her. She was a brisk little
woman, with a snappy way of speak
ing, and she invited me right in, and
wanted me to tell the story over to
some women who were calling. I
made a real hit.
Before the laugh died out the woman
confided that it was queer I should
come along that day, for she had been
thinking about getting a new ma
chine. Oh, didn't I talk to that woman
then! If I could sell a machine,
wouldn't I crow over Carter, the old
ringer. When I had talked her around
to the poiiii. where she said she would
look at the machine, I concluded that
I had struck the one proper vocation
of my life. I hustled out, ran down
to the hotel, and drove our team up to
the woman's door. I unloaded the ma
chine, and ten minutes later had made
arrangements to leave it three weeks
on trial. The woman said she knew
well enough she would like it, and
would keep it.
Then I treated myself to a cigar,
and waited at the hotel for Carter to
show up. I walked to meet him with
my hat on one side.
"Well, I sold her a machine," said
ho, running his fingers arouud inside
his collar, and then wiping his brow.
"What? Not that royal Asiatic
tiger!" I cried.
"To that same rampageous female,"
he replied, "with immense satisfaction.
"We'll drive up and deliver it."
"Well, I've been doing some business
on my own hook," I said. "I sold the
machine we brought -with us, and I
have delivered it."
"Cash or installment?" Carter asked,
looking at me in some astonishment.
"W&ll, the whole trade isn't exactly
clenched." I admitted, "but It's the
same thing. She has taken it for three
weeks on trial, and says she'll probably
keep it."
"Who?"
"Mrs. Peter Scott lives up nearly
opposite your woman."
First Carter sat down and laughed,
then he made some remarks that were
extremely ungentlemanly. I didn't
like such talk, and I told him as
much.
"You blamed fool," he shouted,
"that woman has worked every sewing-machine
agent who has come along
when he has been gullible enough.
It's her old trick. She will never buy
a sewing-machine, for she doesn't need
one. She does her sewing each season
on the machines that the fool agents
leave there on trial. Now ygu go right
un and take back that machine. She'll
claw you down in good shape, but it
will teach you to look out for the
snides after this. You'll find as a
general rule that the really good cus
tomers always cut up rough at the
start-off. Now bustle right up and get
that machine."
I refused to go, but Carter insisted.
I said I'd throw up my job, but Car
ter reminded me of some of the items
in my bond. iSo there was no help
for it, and I set off up the street. .
I found the woman hard at work
at the machine. She was making the
most of the golden moments. I sup
pose Carter, with his tact and knowl
edge of the business, could have eased
the machine away without the riot
that I percipitated. Carter told me
afterward that he could have pro
vided me with half a dozen little tricks
that experienced agents play to get
machines away from suspicious par
ties, but he wanted . me to be dressed
down in good shape. He said it was
the only way to learn the sewing-machine
.business. I learned right there
in ten minutes with that woman more
facts of a personal nature than some
young men find out in a college course.
When I discovered that I was no good
in joint debate, I simply dared fate
and picked up the machine. Did you
ever see a king-bird tackle a crow,
and chase the big fellow down across
the sky? Well, that was it! Sh
buzzed around me, and cuffed my cars
all the way to the front gate. It was
extremely amusing for the neighbors
and for Carter, who stood looking on.
In the years since then I have tackled
cross husbands, made collections un
der the guns, raced rival agents, steeled
my heart and taken machines away
from the poor and the wretched, forced
by grim orders from headquarters,
but under no circumstances have I
ever felt so wholly like passing in my
resignation as I did when I staggered
up to the wagon with that hornet in
petticoats giving me things that are
not served at five o'clock teas. Why
did I stay in the business? Well, I
belonged to the State militia, and the
first principle of soldiering is never
to resign under fire. Woman's Home
Companion.
TROLLEY AND FARM;
The Quickening: of the Ways of Western
Rural Life.
No great war or political change ever
worked nearly so great a revolution
for the betterment of the people and
the quickening of their ways of life
as is now being wrought throughout
the Middle West by the trolley sys
tems that are spinning their webs in
every direction. Within the cities the
change is already old, and we have for
gotten how things were when we for
merly depended on the mule cars for
such little transportation as we had
with in the city. Such a thing as pleas
ure riding on the street cars was then
unknown, and the pleasures of the
parks were available to those alone
that could afford horses and carriages.
Moreover, the quickening of life that
came with rapid transit and the gen
eral broadening out to larger areas and
more comfortable living come to be an
old story in the city.
But in the smaller towns, where the
trolley is new and the closer connection
with the larger and busier centres of
life has but recently come, the changes
are just now working, and it is inter
esting to observe their outward phases.
Ride out over any line through a sec
tion where, a couple of years ago, there
were old, unpainted houses and tumble-down
fences, and you will see a
sprucing up in the way of new paint
and new buildings and general tidiness
that is astonishing. And all the little
old towns that, were formerly sleeping
in the summer sun seem to have been
galvanized into new life. The cross
loads store has been wiped out, but
wherever the town was large enough
to have taken firm root as a commun
ity it has taken on new life. The boys
can live at home and work in the city,
instead of deserting the village to live
in a city boarding house, and the
"folks" to find a way of making money
off their poultry and "garden truck"
that was formerly impossible. They
love to, spend the money in brightening
up the old home, trimming the hedges
and lawns, and making it look as if
somebody lived there.
No human prejudice ever disappeared
so quickly as has that of the merchant
of the smaller town, who imagined
that the trolley was going to take away
his business. He is now clamoring for
all the trolley lines he can get. Indian
apolis Journal.
It is said that a single grain of gold,
after having been converted into gold
leaf, will cover forty-six inches.
Anthracite coal underlying a tract
of over 1000 acres has been discovered
ia Vancouver Island, B. C.
SUNSHINE AND SHADDER.
f it wasn't fer our trials,
Would our blessin's be complete?
Ef it wasn't fer the shadders, .
Would the sun shine out so sweet?
'The rose of rarest beauty
Often has the sharpest thorn,"-
The man that said that told the.
Gospel truth, ez sure's you're born!
The crops 'ud come up missin'
Ef we neve? had no rain,
We'd never know life's sweetness
Ef it wa'n't fer death 'n' pain.
When yer walkin' in the sunshine,
Some un else is in the night.
Sunshine alius will make shadders;
Shadders makes the sunshine bright.
"How late do you usually sleep on
Sunday morning?" "Well, it all de
pends." "Depends on what?" "On
the length of the sermon." Philadel
phia Press.
His praises everybc 'y sings,
He is esteemed in many lands.
He has a way of saying things
That no one really understands.
Washington Star.
Wife "I wish we had a nice large
country place, where I could give a
lawn party." Husband "Just for the
pleasure of inviting some of your
friends, eh?" Wife "Well, yes; and
the pleasure of not inviting some."
Philadelphia Ledger.
Wife "I dreamed last night that I
was in a store that was just full of
the loveliest bonnets, and " Hus
band (hastily) "But that was only a
dream, my dear." Wife "I knew that
before I woke up, because you bought
me one." Philadelphia Press.
"Mr. Nozzleton," she said, "if you
try to hug and kiss me again, 1 shall
call papa." "Where is your father?"
he asked. "He's in the Yellowstone
Park and will be beyond mail or tele
graphic communication for three
weeks." Chicago Record-Herald.
"Our front fence wants painting
badly," said the head of the matrimon
ial combine. "I'll take a day off next
week and paint it myself." "Well,"
rejoined the other portion of the out
fit, "I'm sure no one is capable of
painting it worse." Portland Express.
"Blessings often come disguised."
Said the man with troubles harrying.
"Foverty, though never prized,
Often keeps a man from marrying."
Philadelphia Record.
"I should think you would be ambi
tious for political distinction." "No,"
answered Mr. Cumrox. "I don't caro
for it. My daughter has studied paint
ing, and her pictures of me are funny
enough without calling in the aid of
any professional cartoonist." Wash
ington Star.
"How inconsistent you are!" ex
claimed the tomcat, dodging the pro
fessor's bootjack. "What? How?"
gasped the startled professor. "Why,"
said the cat, "you teach poetry and
literature and all that during the day.
and yet here you are trying to dis
courage my mews." Philadelphia
Ledger.
"One Government insists on pulling
me one way," said the Sultan, gloom
ily, "atid the next is tugging in the
opposite direction." The eminent coun
sellor bowed his head as an indorse
ment of the opinion. "Well, what I
want to know is this: What am I in
this Turkey the wishbone?" Wash
ington Star.
"Agatha," said her mother, "I don't
like to hear a daughter of mine tell
even a conventional lie. You know,
you can't bear Aunt Becky, and yet
when she came the other day you
said, 'Auntie, how glad I am to see
you!' " "That wasn't a lie, mamma,"
answered Agatha. . "That was an ex
clamation." Chicago Tribune.
' The Instructive Butler.
All the guests, with one exception,
at a recent gathering of a portion of
Washington swelldom were quietly
amused because of an embarrassing
occurrence in connection with which,
the exception mentioned figured as the
victim. The exception was a lady well
equipped with "airs." Ice-cream had
been served, when she requested oC
the butler, in tones rather loud:
"Flease let me have a spoon."
"Beg pardon, mum," replied the
butler. In voice dignified but equally
as loud, "but we are using forks, not
spoons, for ices this season."
The other guests made believe they
hadn't heard, but they had, and soma
of them repeated the remarks. Wash
ington Star.