Five Cent Wide Awake Library (vol. 1) (1887 04 06)
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Entered at the Post Ofice at Nwe York, N. ¥., as Second Class Hatter, SSS Sen al Senne are eee ee a a Sanpete ar Soeeoe Caer oe —— , + ¢ FRANK TOUSEY Posuisuer, 3i« 36 NonrH Moons Sreeer. N. Y. »_ PRICE No. 768. } COMPLETE, { "Naw Yorr, April 6, 1337. lssczp Kveny WEDNEsDar. 13 CENTS. ' Vol. I <p Butered according ta-Act of Congress, ‘ih the your YT. by FRANK TOUSEY,’ tn the ofice or theLiordtian ot Congress. at Washington, D. Cen Business Before Pleasure. BY PETER PAD. ree We have here the very latest, which I can sell you at a figure in which there is much money for you. Spot, adjust the five-ounce besutifier.” ‘‘ Yes, sah,” and in less time almost than it takes to write it, Spot i stood betore the astonished merchant adorned in a hoop skirt. ee, hai
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The subscription price for-Toe Wwe Aw. [Business Before Author of *‘ The Shortys Out Fishing,” **Sam.” *‘The Funny Four,” ‘Joe Junk the Whaler.” ‘‘ Bob Rollick, the Yankea Notion Drummer,” ‘*The Shoriys Married and Settled Down,” ‘‘Bob Rollick ; or, What Was he Born For?” “Ebenezer Crow,” “Stump; or, Little, but Oh, My!” ‘Chips and Chin-Chin,” “Stuttering Sam.” ‘Tommy ,” * Shorty; or; Kicked Into Good. Luck,”..‘Shorty in Search 6f Dodd.” ““The Shortys’ Trip Around the World,” Tumbling Tim,” *‘Board-- ‘*The Shortys Out Gunning,” ‘‘ Behind the Scenes; or, Cu With a New ite. Bounce,” ‘‘Tom, Dick, His Dad,” “Tommy = ing-School,” ‘*Vhe Shortys’ Farming,” York Combination.” Ete., Ete.,. On leaving Pec the axe-of eighteen, Sam wh , at 0: * Bpry obtained a situation in the large dry house of Jub & Spud, where he worked for two ae a attending strictly to business, going rap- ly through the different grades until, in this remarkably short time, hé made himself very valuable to his employers, and became not only well acquainted with every detail of the trade, but a first-class salesman as well. ‘He was a bright, handsome fellow, and a prime favorite, not oS Bees the firm, but with his feilow-salesmen, being “‘ hail fellow well’ met ” * with them, either in business or pleasure, being}. as fond of'the latter as he was bright in the for- er. * . mBut his motto was,‘‘ Business before pleasure,” 1 A which he had adopted from Mr. Jub soon after. a5 his employ, taken in the form of a lecture from that successful old merchaut. " ““T guess you will do well, Sam,” said he to = him one day, “although I notice that you are : Men like most young fellows, to having fun. ow that is all very well when you have nothing else to do. ‘I used to be as fond of it as anybody, and am now onaill proper occasions. But you had better adoptthe motto that has taken me thus far 8D Successfully, “ Business before pleasure,” and don’t play any more tricks on Spot—at least, not during business hours.” ‘Of Gourse, Sam opened his eyes and looked duly surprised at being ace of putting u jobs on the colored er, but Mr. Ju assured him thathe knew about it, only ad- vising him to stick to the motto and give Spot a t—in business hours, at all events. r. Jub was a thorough business man, but in ~ kis youth he had been ‘ one of thé boys.” and hadn’t so far forgotten the fact that he did not sympathize with those likewise inclined, al- though he impressed his motto upon all his young employees, and so Sam grew in the busi- néss,and was, a5 wé find him at the opening of pi Story, bright, smart, and willing, but full of WN. Bere 4 23 "he was called—and nobody, unless, ye , the members of the firm or the old ok-Keeper, appeared to know whether he had ang other pame or not—wasa character sketch in 3 —ss _ He was taken into the employ of the firm at about same time that Sam was, in the eapacity of light potter and man of errands. He was about twenty-five years of age, and was a sort of “Dandy Jim from Caroline,” black as ee ea ee and the *sThe Shortys Out for Fun,” ‘thing? Why, when Iwas of_his age I — @SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. = ARE LIBRary for the year 1885 will be $2.50 per year; $1.25 per 6 “months post-paid. Address z PRANK TOUSEY, Pustisues, 34 and 36 North Moore Street, New York, - Box 2730. ‘ : : ‘SAM SPRY, “THE NEW YORK DRUMME ? By PETER PAD, Ete., the ace of s es, but very loud, and fond of ex- tremes in dress, He was something of a favorite with the sales- | d: men, was Spot, and he appeared to half worship Sam Spry, in spite of the fact that _he was con- tinually putting up jobs on him, and making him the subject of a great deal of fun, = It was about the time that our story opens (indeed, it is just what opens it,) that Mr. Jub made a discovery entirely outside of business, in connection with Sam Spry. And it was this: He had an only child. ; Annie was her name, and she was about six- teen years of age, to say nothing of being one of the handsomest fairies ever seen in New York. The old man was exceedingly fond of her, natu- rally enongh, forshe was sole heirof his fortune and his house, He saw Sam and Annie promenading one Sun- day afternoon on“ the Avy.,” and noticed that she seemed quite as fond of his handsome em- ployee as hedid of her. In fact, he had) to’ ad- mit to himself that they were the handsomest young couple on the avenve. But they both seemed to be a littletoo new; that is to suy, they seemed.so to that fond parent, who had never even dreamed of the ossibility. of losing his beautifal, child on a dsome salesman, and so the next day he asked her: © How. did you get acquainted with Sam Spry?” She looked up at him, and proceeded to be just a trifle startled, and to blush. — Old Jub said ‘* Ha, ha!” to himself. “Why, pa, I made his acquaintance at danc- ing-school,” she finally said. et “At dancing-school!”’ he exclaimed, startled in turn. - **Yes, pa, and he dances like an angel.” * Great Scott ha dry goodsclerk on a thousand dollars a year going to dancing-schoel! What is the world coming to? How dare he do such a should no more have thought of going to dancing-school than to a fiying-schoo]. “And he dances like an angél, does he? What do you know about how dance?” “* Well, pa, not much, only the dancing-master says that we dance like angels,” said she, laugh- OWS rane * That is, Sam and T, And, pa, do you know, I just think he is splendid,” she added, arébly.. “Oh, you do, eh! I ingon?” he pulled himself together and asked. “ Two terms.” 2 é 7 ERPs = Pleasure. | walking with Annie. Well, it is Vist! iny luck,” How long has this been go- | =~ \ its a “The ——! .I saw day, and you seem : 00] march.” id we look nice, on the Avenue yester- to be going through & 2?” she asked, laughingly. ** Silence, child! “The idea of a Pose like xu, not out of school vet, asking sucha question. Sam is a smart, respectable Jonng fellow, but he has no business going to cing-school, and much less to dance like an angel with his em- movers daughter without his consent. “er wil ple think to see the youngest clerkinmy — employ walking out with my daughter?” ore “But he is real nice and respectable, isn’t he?” “Yes, but there is too great a difference in your rf social standing, Justremember that,Annie,and never walk with him again urless I pas Pb my consent. It will produce talk, and at forhis going to dancing-school, I’il see about. that,” saidhe. ** Well, but he has got your motto, pa.” «What motto?” ee “ Business before pleasure.” 2 ' sf oh. eyes him And hiermecibn re $ : * Your motto, papa. And he ‘attends to busi- — ness, does he not?” she asked, archly. > “Bah! But I object to this outside business of his, He is in my employ, and I must look ont for him. Remember what I have said,” then he went to have a talk with his wife, lea Annie in a delightful blush, for the conve had touched upon what she had scarcely d ed of before. But old Abel Jnb had a head on him as long : a mule’s, and he understood how tonip thingsin» the bud. ; ; £7 He consulted with his partner, Mr. Spud, to the propriety of sending Sam out on the as a drummer, thinking to himself thatithat would be a first-class way of nipping in thé bud —eyen if it had become a but yet, that might ex- ist or be liable to exist between.the young folks. Spud ouehy inst as Jub did, that/Sam Spry — would bo a good one on the road, bit the ques- _ tion was, Would he care to go? © - ere er Jub said: “ Leave that to me, Spud,” and soon afterward he sent for Sam to go to his-private — aa office, ; hoe eae ** Wonder if I am_ bounced?” mused Sam, as he réceived the message through Spot. “The — old rooster got onto me yesterday while I was Or Welk we eee me he added, as he opened the door of Jub’s private — office, + re ae The old man was all smiles. ~ ~~" And he was a hel ed ee there. good, square occasion for it, as there was D "The young fellow bowed and looked
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~ SR a ae SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. ee ae «Sit down, Sam, I want to talk with you,” said = he, pointing to a chair. Sam said, “Thank you,” and obeyed. ‘Sam, how would you like to goon the road?” Sa was his first question. , S - “Oh, well enough, nthe: replied Sam, ‘knocked out of the idea of his being bounced. “You have learned the business pretty well, and we want another man on ther to takethe Northeastern cireuit, and if you think you would ‘like it, as Iam sure you will, you can easily mul- tiply your salary by three.” - * That would be nice,” mused Sam. * And I don’t doubt but that you can do even better than that, for you are smart and fully understand the business. Now what do you Say?” and the old man leaned back in his easy- ehair, thrust his thumbs in the arm-holes of his yest, and looked admiringly upon his handsome young clerk. ** Well, ’'ll agree to make a trial trip on one << consideration,” replied Sam, gravely, ** What is that?” ~ “That ie allow me to go in style.” “* How in style?” “ Well, if Lam going to make a hit, both for the house and for myself, I must not travel as the other drummers do.” chariot? ““Not exactly that; I simply want Spot to go ee me as my servant,” ‘replied Sam : “Good gracious!” exclaimed the old man. “T can make him both useful and orna- * mental.” ; * “In what way, for heaven’s sake?” “ Well, I had rather say nothing about it just now, but if you will let me have him I will takea turn on the road and see what I can do.” “Rather queer. But, all right; you may take him along and make all you can out of the snap.” And thus the matter was settled.» Sam never tumbled to the old man’s racket, for as yet he had hinted nothing to him about his being seen with Annie, and so far as the new de- -parture went, he had always rather liked the idea of beinga drummer, having heard the others talk of the fun they had met with, as well as the extra pay that asmart man could make in ‘the busi- ness. + . I His fellow-clerks were surprised, but on the . _ whole congratulated him on the change and the : hit he had evidently made with the house. But Spot was a delighted coon. : , «Spot, Pll make a man of you;” said Sam: * Golly, ’speck I’se.a man now,” said he, grin- - Oh, no, you’re only a boy, But Til makea man—a drummer of you. 1’ll make you highly ornamental to. the houseof Jub & Spud—I’ll make your services so valuable that you can live ina big brown-stone house up-town and take on _ _ “Don’ car nuffin’’bout dat, Sam. I got no use fo’ brown-stone housen, but I like togo along wid = you on je road,” said Spot, earnestly. “‘ That's all right, Spot. We'll have heaps of %; fun and see the country. I’ve got the route all . laid out, and we start next week, by which time I will -have a suit of clothes made for you that will astonish the natives, So pull yourself together and get ready for the start.’ **Oh, my—oh, yes!” / { j “They have ordéred some new’ trunks and grips for me, and we'll start out like a pair of pets from Pettsville, and don’t forget it, Bpetnie *<Oh, my—oh, yes!. An’I go gib dat. bes’ gal 0b reine de cold shake de fust thing I do,”-he. added. ** What do you want to shake her for?” “ Ob, she’s only a common wench, at’ arn’t got no high style ’bout her.” . _ “Allright. If you can stand it, I can,” said Sam, thinking just then, as he had been thinking _ all day, of the last night of the dancing-school, where he would meet beautiful“Annie Jub. “But old Jub, as before stated, elongated head. He proceeded to make himself acquainted with the situation, and of course he found out what nights his daughter went to dancing-school, and 3 so instead of allowing her te go on this particu- p.t lar night, he artfully arranged a theater-party, of whieh she had to be one, and so she and Sam did © ‘not meet as they both fondly expected to do. He was not the typical stern: and tyrannical ‘father. He was simply a “fly” one. Sam probably felt worse about it han the girl ~~ did, for he knew he was going away and she did not, and naturally enough expected to see him at the next meeting. . . ; Well, preparations went on for the start, and _ Sam’s trunks and grips were filled with some of s choicest samples in the store, while he him- had superintended the getting up of Spot's’ harness that w:s to astonish the natives. an a4 ink what do you want—horses and a}: Close instructions were given as to goods, and the prices he was to work on, as well as the peo- ple he was to call on in his endeavors to sell, while he ‘was to be allowed to use his own judg- ment in the matter of getting new customers. And so one fine morning they shook hands, first with the house of Jub & Spud, and then with their fellow-salesmen, from the oldest to the oungest, and then started out on a new life of posinosd and adventure, heartily cheered by those left behind. , : Sam Spry looked likea dandy, and Spot likea song-and-dance man, with his funny make-up and his huge standing collar, on which was rinted conspicuously the name of “Jub & pud, New York.” He carried a brand-new gripsack in either hand, and produced a sensation on the street as he followed Sam to catch an up-town car that would take them tothe Grand Central Depot, and he was as proud asa peacock, - The passengers in the horse-car laughed, but he pretended not to notice it, whileSam busied himself as they rode along looking over his route and instructions, ‘“ Put’s that?” asked one old Irish woman of an- other, as Spot sat down opposite to them in the car. “Sure, an’ it’s a mornkey dressed up for a soign,” replied her companion. re ‘* | wonder can he spake?” “ Faith, yis. They do be tachin’ thim haythin eraturs ter do all sorts ay things those days. Sure, he’s almost as. good as a naygur now. Luck at ther airs he puts on,” she added, greatly to the disgust of Spot and the merriment of the other passengers. Two of those Spot excited their curiosity naturally enough, al- though as a race they do not notice much that is going on, and one of them began in his own language, in all probability, to explain to the other what Spot really was, although it sounded something like this, while his index fingers shot upward, or this way and that, as he talked: “ Hi-ki ho, he ho hiki hip hi, jip zip, flop, hi ki yi koo nip bang nick smock rap rat flap me hi ho ew bow.” . And this naturally attracted the attention of the Irishwomen from Spot to them, ** An’ futs them?” asked one. “Thom’s more haythins. wid Rm arve Sure, but Ameriky is full ay allsorts. But them’s ther dirty blackguards that: get our washin’ away from us, an’ give people <P wid their change, bad luck ter ’em,” replied the other, looking savagely at the Chinamen, who at once subsided. And so it went on until.the car reached the Grand Central Depot, where Sam bought two first- class tickets for Ponghkeepsie on the Hudson River road,and soon after took spogeassion of their seats in the coach, greatly to the disgust of the colored porter, whose orders were to allow no other colored 'peyson in the car but his own im- portant self, : : Just before the train started he approached pot. ‘‘¥ou -are in the wrong car, sir,” said he, sharply. : ; : ' Guess) not, sah—dar’s my. ticket,” replied Spot, showing it to him. Saar makes no nape ae — of great consequence. ‘ ored) people not allow- ediin this car.” Z : * Well, what-are you doing here?” asked Sam, turning around, for his chair was in front of pot. : ‘“T’se the porter, sah.” : - ‘Albright; but you want to take a tumble.” “What for, sah?” “ Why, don’t you see that he’s no coon?” - The porter looked at Spot again. - “He looks yery much like one, sah.” “That shows where you are away off. Heisa white man, blackened up for an advertising sign. Now go, and don’t weary people by showing them your ignorance.” . “« Pretty good blacking up,” mused the porter. “Why, of course. He’s an artist, and you make him tired fooling around here. Go and tell the conductor to start the train; for the time ‘is up,” said Sam, waving away that thoroughly astonish- ed colored porter. = Finally the train started, and they were fairly “fon the road,” the whole world before them. “You want to brace right up, Spot, if the con- ductor says any aing to you,” said Sam. : “* By golly, I liabn’t got de cheek you hab.” “ How so?” - ‘Savin’ dat I’se a white man.” “Well, I have always found yon a white man. ‘The color of the skin don’t alter that... But you: cannot be a:George Washington and a drummer at the same time, and it will pare mag Ap de- velop your cheek to its fallest limit,” said Sam And just then the conduc‘orcame aion engers were Chinamen, and /|§ porter had evidently told him about Spot, for he sized him up very carefully as he approached. “Say, young fellow,” said he, ad ing Sam. “Your man?” pia eT “Yes, my man, conductor.” cia White?” oan “ White as either of us.” id e up?” “ Y a - “What’s the racket?” - A “ Advertisement.” “Drummer?” : 2 “Going to drum, you bet,” answered Sam. “Well, I guess you are a good one, At all events, this fellow a good make-up. But you es DOL to crowd the passengers.” “ ow : a “ Well, if they kick at him you will either have to wash him orl shall be obliged to put him off or into the second-class car. See?” “‘Oh, that’s it, eh?” “That’s it,” “ See m grips?” velin; gs on the seat with Spot. ” Yes.” “ Well, they are ape of my stock in trade, So is my man here, and the passengers have just as much right to kick at my grips as they have at’ my other stock in trade here,” “Allright. If they kick I’ll either wash himt or haye him go back to the second-class car.” The conductor laughed and passed along in the’ collection of his tickets, while Sam nestled into his sest and took things calmly, - . ce By golly, Sam, what a cheek you got!” said pot. “And whata cheek you want,” replied Sam, and Spot relapsed into an admiring silence. But the passengers did not object. So far from it were they, indeed, that they appeared to take considerable interest in Spot in his eccentric and gorgeous get up, and many a laugh and funny comment was made upon him. _ Finally, ihey arrived at Poughkeepsie right on time, and while the trunks were being takan to the hotel by an expressman, Sam, Spry, followed by Spot, walked, attracting considerable atten- tion, but Spot in his glory: mind you, Arriving at the Morgan House,.Sam went proudly to the hotel register and wrote in a bold, clear hand; Sam Spry (and Spot), Representing Jub & Spud, New York, Oh, he was doing the thing in ape Hike ‘Poughkeepsie is one of the most important and most beautiful places on the Hudson river, and’ as there are many dry goods dealers there, it is no wonder that it is generally the first stopping- pec for the New York. drummer going on the ortheastern circuit,as Sam, Spry was, and nat- urally enough he calculated on doing some busi- ness there, it being rated “‘a good town.” _- Nor was this all. This being his first trip, and this his first stopping-place, he felt that he must do something there for his reputation, for he had made several bets with the fellows in the storé whom-he had left behind, that he would send home an order from the first place he struck. So, after resting and. pulling himself. together for a few minutes, he started out, followed by Spot, with the gripsacks, for the dawning upon a'merchant there by the name of ete who had dealt once or twice with his rm: RES Smith was an old crank who dealt in odds ‘and ends of almost anything that came under the head of dry goods, and although his customers were few and far between, yet he was rated as a rich man,and everybody wondered how he made his money... Sam dawned upon him, followed by Spot. Smith met him atthe door, suspecting at once, however, that-he was a drummer, ».. ¢ é “ Mr. Smith?” : 1 “Mr. Smith.” “ Ah} Glad to. meet you, Mr. Smith. |My name is Spry—Sam Spry—and I represent the well- known house of Jub & Spud, of. whom you have most likely. heard, if, indeed, you have not al- inter sepe by dealing with them,” he ruat- t off. : : “Oh, yes, L;-know the house, but Lam not in want of anything this trip,”,said Smith, with the idea of sitting on the youngster at once. *“Ah! but you have not seen our latest novel- ties. Allow me to show you something new and elegant in a combined. suspender and shoulder- brace,” said Sam. suspenders and shoulder-braces, In fact, I ha mora of snch stuff on hand now than’I Shall be ‘able to sell-for tne next year...No, no!” y of it, Mr. S “No, sir; Ldon’t want anything in the Tine of * he asked, pointing to the new" ou oe perhaps they will refuse to see it in that’ , purpose Of ae
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. vo SS ll 4 en ae A te 3 . > AERTS ~ me x of course not.. What has that todo ——~ der to be forwaPied to’ the firm. * No, and I don’t wish to.” is This was all that Sam cared to do that day. He| “' L beg pardon; it will only take me a moment wanted one order to go back to New York, dated | to show them to-you. Spot, let me convince Miss on the very day he left it, just to show Jub & | Bone that we have the finest corsets in the mar- Spud that he was wide awake, and to make the ket,” said he; and Spot at once. peeled: off his other salesmen in the store “‘ weary” from Gon-| coat and vest, and began to throw! asidé the templating the bets they had made with him on | “‘ combination suspender and shoulder-brace.” * the result of his first endeavors, and had lest.| “Mercy on’ me!” screamed tho ‘old ‘maid, as So after this hit he and Spot returned to the hotel. | she held up her hands and startéd back. ‘“‘Go And at the supper-table that night Sam aston- | right out of my store this instant, you impudent ished the boarders and patrons, when they as-| puppy.” sembled in the dining-room, ‘by having Spot} “ Beg pardon, Miss Bone. No offense intend- - stand behind his chair, acting as his valet, fan- | ed. I simply wish'to show you some perfection oie and keeping off the flies while ho'ate. | in——” ; is Was too much. “T don’t want to see it—I refuse to look atit.”| and I demand that you arrest them,” said The a f girl appreached the bar, followed by Sam And Sam aid not have the address of any particular} “All right, Miss Bone. Anybody that insults pera in the business, but that didn’t make any | you has got a bone to pick with me,” he replied. | insuiting you?” ifference to him. He had noticed several stores| “This is alla mistake, officer. I had not the| “Yes. sir. I do.” while seeing other customers, and he proceeded | slightest intention in the world of insulting this| In what did the insult consist ?"? to dawn upon the-nearest one. lady,” protested Sam. “]—I trust, your honor, that yoa will not ask me It rove to be the millinery and dress-making| ‘That is an awful lie!” to explain it to you in public,’?said she, and she store of a cranky old maid by the name of Ara-| ‘‘I was simply showing her a corset.” seemed actually about to blush. ear pasliod right ts ths “Yes; the horrible creature. ‘Think of that. »41 for justice, and unless tim something of exceed: * pus it to front, and was met by | Mr. Clubman—only think of it!” she c . an 3 £ Miss Bone fully half-way; and not exactly liking | then hid her face behind a perfumed handker- | '%8 and criminal nature, T must insist upon your ex 4 Jaining to the court what it is.” the make-up—the peculiar git-up-and-get of her | chief. a But_but it—it is so delicate, your honor,” and =e Tabathy Bone, you accuse the prisoner of grossly callers—she was somewhat curt. “Oh, you did, hey!” exclaimed the officer, at | she allowed her bangs to drop over her eyes. : * Well, sir?” she flung out as a salute, the same time turning flercely upon Sam. “ Weill, what was it, then? Talk right out, or I shall 3 “Miss Bone?” he asked, removing his hat. “Simply that, and nothing more.” be obliged to discharge the prisoner for want of evi- = +. ‘* Yes, sir,” she and was on the point} ‘Only that!” moaned Miss Bone. dence against him,” said he. “ Oh, judge, you cannot do that!” said she. of saying something still more abrupt; but she} “ Only that, you indelicate wretch! How dare “Why not? saw what a handseme, polite young fellow he| you do suchathing? Come along with me, you} {; ¥ BY BO ‘ “= was, and simply said: “ Yes, sir.” Yaseal. Come right down to the court, ‘Miss Serial uitetine kin pocase But the ques: “Thanks ; giad to_ make your acquaintance. | Bone, and I will take them right before Judge | tion is: how did he insult you?” My name is Samuel Spry, and I oo the} Hump, where they will s ily receive their} fust [ tell it, judge?” she asked, pathetically. house of Jub & Spud, New York. I have just | deserts.” “Yes, if you expect justice in this court.” : 7 started out on the road with samples of new} ‘This is an outrage,” protested Sam, while} ‘But it is—is so indelicate—how can I ™* - : goods of a very superior kind, and——” poor Spot looked as though he were going to faint. | “ Well, you should have thought of that before Fou | “And I don’t wish anything you may have,”| “Yes, sir, it'is an outrage, and I am glad to pe ee eee sy td pe : oe » curtly, for she instantly compre-} hear you confess as much, although you no & Nevertheless, Canes Joan. be obligel os ; ~f' ——s hended the fact that eae Sate New Yorker’s| need to do so. Come along,” and in spite of}- «Well ne came into my store.” : ¥i Az) : 4 his politeness | his protests, Sam was made to occupy one of the} —« Aj right. Proceed.” =. = offer's hands, while Spot had the other, and in| «He announced himself asa drummer. “Bat, my dear lady, you have not seen our] this way they were mahseed to the station-house, eadtpecpechet of them tap ” new goods, and when you do, I am positive|and from thereto the court. Ann obese 5 a shame.’?_ T toid him thet 1 didn’t want | ae $ lSenmn an © ths 2 a wey wet che, YO ~*~
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SAM SPRY, THE NEW. YORK. DRUMMER. 5 to do with him in the way of business, he—he—but . you wil} not insist, judge?’ she added, giving him ap- pealing eyes. ~ Most assuredly I shall, Proceed,” **But—bat won’t you clear the court-raom ?? “No, that canuot be done.’’ * And I must speak right out?’ * Right out, Miss Bone.’’ “ Well, if 1 must, I must, I suppose,’? and she stam- mered and blushed the best she knew how, while everybody listened with all ears for the terrible de- velopments. ‘Well, when he found that he could not gell me anything, he insisted upon and actually did strip.that colored man and showed a—a pair of cor- sets,” said she, with great effort. eT PTA ii Il TT ih qn ( Hy iH I ey “But that horrible colored man—the way he did it,” she protested. ** Your honor, I keep this man for a dummy on which to expose the goods 1 haye forsale, including corsets,” put in Sam. Just think of it, Judge!” said she. = “Yes, I have thought of it, and I think that you are ridiculously oversensitive, and have made a very funny exhibition of yourseif; but you have done great injustice to this young man in causing his arrest. The case is dismissed.’ said the judge. At which there was loud Jaughter in the court- room, and a general ciapping of hands. “You can go,” added the court to Sam. “Thank your honor,” said Sam, and then turn Tn AGA A UE wy made, all contributed to make the young drummer not only well known, but popular. So, when heand Spot arrived at the depot to take the train, he-found more than a dozen peopie who seemed to know and recognize him. One of them—a vig, strapping fellow—appreached Sam with a five-inch grin on his mug. “That are wus alfired funny,’ said he. “Oh, it was, eh?’ said Sam, indifferently. “Yes; I mean that racket you had with the old gal Bone.”’ he added, laughing. “ Well, yes, it was rather fanny.” *“ But you don’t know how funny it really was, be- cause you don’t know the old pullet, 1 tried to court her once, but because I told her 1 believed in the peli ree 1 SRE. 3 2 aemayy yee os Before poor Spot could look out or in that Indian club kicked him like a steam-hammer, and he went tumbling » heels over head down the stairs, the worst broken up coon that ever took a flying leap. *Ts that all?” +] ing to the astonished old maid, he asked: “Cannot I | ‘naked truth ’ she said she didn’t want anything far- i * aly? Sell you a gross of those corsets?” ther to do with me,” and he laughed again. % “Yes,” ‘No I? shrieked Miss Bone, rushing from tke court-} — “ Well, give her my love, and tell her that she broke "But isn’t it enough?’ she cried. © Well, that depends, Samuel Spry, come up here and let me hear what you have to say for yourself in this matter,”’ and Sam advanced. “Oh, my—on, yes, we’s gone!’? moaned Spot. “Can you explain your conduct, sir?” © Oh, yes, your honor, very easily,” replied Sam, bobbing up serenely. “ Then do so,” sald the judge, leaning back. “Thank your honor for the opportunity. Iam a New York drummer, representing ® the: well-known and highly respectable house of Jab & Spud.” I came to Poughkeepsie in the conrse of business! and sold several bills of goods. I called on Miss Bone here, Intending to sell her some of our improved corsets, and, in order to show her their prominent advantages over anything else of the kind in the market, I had my man Spot here adjust a pair\to his own person; most pruperly, at which she became wild and whooped for a policeman. The rest your honor knows.”’ And while making his little speech of explanation, every ear and eye was open, and it was evident that the handsome young fellow had the whole sympathy ofthe audience. “Did you do nothing more than that?” asked the court, as he concluded. “Nothing, your honor. My motto is ‘ business be- fore pleasure.’ and I was simply sticking strictly. to business at the time.” “ Well, Miss Bone, you hear what he sayS—that he “ont attempted to sell you some corsets.’’ _ © But isn’t that enough, judge?. Only think of the Ine *licacy of the thing.’ said she, blushing. “tiksee nothing of the kind. Simply because you war eorsets, was it indelicate in this young man to ito sell you some?” “ Anything the matrer with that?’ Sam asked of Spot, as the train moved away. = “ Ob, my—oh, no!’ said Spot, breathing more free- ly than he had fer some time. ** Well, I'shouid say not! © Luck is on our side, Spot, only you want to brace up.” * How dat, Sam ?”’ “Yon want to show a little more nerve.”” “ By golly, think you hab nerve enough fe’ us both,” replied Spot, trying to laugh. “No, Lam only moderately supplied with it™ “Oh, my?’ he replied, looking at him in surprise. “Just pull yourself together, and remember what I say, will you?” “Oh, my—oh, yes!” we “All right,”? and Sam leaned back in hisssearand closed his eyes, either for a nap or a think® : Spot also thought, but the burden of his thoughts Was to the erfect that if he was required to brace up aad work up a nerve in any respect*equal to that possessed by Sam Spry, his case was hopeless. He attracted considerable attention, as betore, but because they were In an ordinary coach, and there were Dut few! passengers in it, 1t amounted te but little, and without farther conversation they arrived ad the quaint old city of Hudson. Yes, it is a “qfiaintold place, the head center of Columbia county, and about as slow and sleepy as Sléepy Hollow itself. Sam had often heard the other drummess speak of
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_ to obtain the same advantages that I have given yon, a 8 SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMZE2. itas being a dead-and-alive place, and he made up his mind to wake it up for a little while, at all events. - . So he went to the Hudson House, where be again “Let her go. But you want fo get away from here, or I'll open on you with a shotgun,” said he. "a “Oh, my, let’s gol’? moaned Spot. “Oh, whar am my coat and vest?’ § This aroused Sam, and he rushed back, with his hand on bis hip-pocket, where he had no pistol at all. “Say, old man, don’t trife with me,’’ said he, marching back into the store. - Mr, Collin weakened when he saw Sam with his hand on his bip-pocket, and he allowed him to take away Spot's clotues, after which they returned to the hotel, where Spot had a chance to dress. True, Sam had taken some orders in Hudson, but altogether it was not exactly such a triumplas he would have liked, and as for Spot, he wus badly broken up. But Sam put on a few of his frills, and after mailing his orders back to New York, they took the train for Albany. 2? “People in these country towns are not used to meeting first-class talent, aud, of course, don’t know how to treat if,”’ said he, as they were whirled away. “Oh, Sam! oh, my \?? moaned Spot. “ Oh, he did, eh?” sneered Mr, Collin. “ Certainly.” *- Well, you just get out of here,’’ said he, and his brow seemed to darken. “ Of course, only I want to sell you a bill of goeds first. Have you ever seen the combination suspender and shoulder-brace ?”’ “No, and what’s more, I don’t wish to.”’ “Just the way Japson talked until he had seen their beauties and great advantages. Spot!’ That was his helper’s cue, and off same his coat and vest in a twinkling. “Go through the evolutions, Spot,”’ and Spot com- menced them. “Oh, confound your suspendary combiuation! Will you get out.of here?” “Just what Japson said, until I convinced him that he was utterly wrong.” “Jam Japson! Will you get out?’ _ “ Now, Jap was inclined to be the same way, until I convinced him. Perfectly natural, my dear sir— perfectly natural. Spot, proceed.” ; Mr. Collin was almost paralyzed at the cheek of the istered as at Poughkeepsie, he and Spot creating quite a ripple of sensation as they walked from tle ralroad station. Then he prepared to go out for business, *-It's a sleepy old place, Spot, and we must wake it up,’ said he, as they started out. “Oh, yes —oh, my! replied Spot, at the same time wondering how much dynamite it would take to do it. * What they want here is the manifestation of a lit- tle New York nerve, and yon want to pull yourself to- gether ata) poe ae “ Well, I’se’a patty a ? sai S ** Let us see tain e of it, willyou?”? — “J*ll do my best, Sam.’? “Allright. We'll see what it amounts to.” The first place they struck was a gentlemen’s fur- Nnishing.goouds store, the proprietor of which insisted upou it that be already had more goods on hand than he could seil, even on six months’ credit, -and wonldn’t buy any more if he could get a year’s time | young man. ’ ** What’s the matter, Spotty ?? ; 5 on them. Len cane mr Dar you is, sah,” said Spot, resolved on gettingin} ‘*My back is so sore. Was it a mule??? . =: = But Sam Spry was there. So was Spot, and he put | some of his best work. “Nuilin’ finerinde wayoba| * Where? the darkey through in such an artistic way that he | suspender war eber made, sal. Look at de easy Dat hit me.” - **No—no. Only a man who felt so good over the- bargains I had given him that he couldn’t contain himself,”-said Sam, laughing. i “Wal, I should say he couldn’t,” said Spot, and his big eyes rolled around. : “Only a little exuberance of spirits, Spot.” ? “Spirats! What was it—whisky?” he asked. — “Oh, no; only animal spirits.”"~ et “Shoo, Sam, dat war mo’ dan animal spirnts; it war wuss den de stern oba mule, An’ifdatswhata ~ © man gets when he braces up fo” business 1Jetyou do all dat hereafter.” . we “Oh, you don’t want to weaken for a little thing like that, Spot. Brace right up, and ddn’t lose your ’ a “Well, what's a man gwine to do -when spine gets Kicked outen him?" moaned the coon, | * Bah! Your spinal vertebrae is allright." at § “Well,” replied Sam, laughing, “if it really has = been injured, it is too bad; you needed even more - than you had, But you're all right,’? and Sam turned od eke aor Minette ily seated as possible, for it Ss) " bp was nol nite so pleasurable for him to sit down as iwas fore he came in contact with that Indian iu -) Bee . They rode on several miles, however, Spot humor- ing the extremity of his spine, and Sam getting into . his daily paper, when a fall, gaunt specimen of hu- setan’ de ‘lasticity ob de article tuken as a sus- pender.”” “Oh, give us a rest!’ said Mr. Collin, and it was evident that he was getting tired. “T gib you de rest right away... Now, sah; just look at dat anxillary.”’ said he, bending forward, and then suddenly assuming an upright position again. “That what? “ He is referring yon to the mechanical adjunct of the simple suspender,”’ said Sam. “Oh! he is, eh?" sneered the bags poe buyer. : “Yes, sah. See howit keeps shoulders back ? Makes no difference how much a man want fo loaf an’ lay off on his chest, dem shoulder-braces keep him Plamb up. See how straight I is? Well, two year ago dey used fo’ ter call me de black hoop-snake, I war So round-shouldéred. Now look at me!” “Confound you! [don’t want to look atyou, and I don’t want to look at your goods,”’ said the man, say- agely. ; - Well, how are you on cuffs and collars? I have got some fine saps of the latest styles that I can puf you at the very lowest figures,’ said Sam. “ But | tell you that J don’t want anything that you “have got or ré nt, Git ont!” “But how abont underwear? I have some of the finest that is imported, or of domestic make, and I can paralyze you on prices. Spot, show up.” ““Confound you! I tell you that I don’t want any- captured the dealer and got a very good order ont of him for various things, Spot doing his share of the work, and putting in some very good samples of gall and cheek, But althongh the man. ordered the goods, he didn’t feel a bit happy overif. The truth was, he had sim- ply been “‘chinned” into ordering whar he had, and wished in his heart that he had never.seen a New York drummer, and might never see one again. “ Now, business is business all the time,*? said Sam, after the man had signed the various orders, “and J don’t propose to allow any other person in your line or get the same goods,"” - “ Well, that’s good of you,”’ replied the merchant. “Oh, not at all. That is one of the rules of our house, for in this way we get customers, and keep them,” replied Sam, proudly. “Very good scheme, I must admit, But there is one other dealer here that I wish you would sell to— that is, if he will buy.” yes. Weare old friends, and he would have | thing yon have got. Git ont!” . done the sume thing by me i ou had called on him| ‘Lemme show you de exceedin’ adaptability, | Manity, very greatly resembling a country clergy- first, Oh, that’s all right. We are riyals in business, | ’lasticity an’ respectability ob dese yer shirts and | Man, or a city missionary, approached Sam with a draw’s,” said Spot, now getting his second wind, and coming fo the front with additional chee. “ What!” roared Mr. Collin, scarcely able to contain himself any longer. “Ah, my man, being an adept in the business, will show you, in the deftest and most approved manner, how much su our goods are to any others in the market. 1. Spot.” Spet w&s actually on the point of pil, er himself, in order to show, by putting them on, the elastic and other qualities of the underwear. ** Stop it!” roared the merchant, at the same time looking nervously toward the door, as though expect- ing to see customers coming up the steps. “ It will only take a moment,” said Sam. “Confound yon and your moments! I"jl fire you out of here if ycudion’t go,” “ Just what your friend Jap said. Eh, Spot?” “De very same thing! Oh, my—oh, yes!’? That was too much. Japson was his worst enemy, and he had undoubtedly sent these cheeky drummers there to sane, him, He aoa at bahia a his store, and returned w n Indis ub jostas twas getting hi 1 out cS his ete A Pe nigh tence “ Now, as I was saying—— Look ont, Spot!” cried Sam, who foresaw the danger. hs But before poor Spot conld look ont or in that Indian club kicked him like a steam-hammer, and he went tumbling heels over head down the stairs, the worst broken up coon that ever took a fying leap. Sam Spry bbed the gripsacks and got ont just in time to avoid another blow and to see that exasper- tract. ; ; - “Eh ?” said Sam, looking up. ~ toe ae: “My dear lost friend, the conductor informs me — ron are a New York drummer,” said he, and he ove a sig! 4 “ that’s all right. What are on?” : “ sir?’ hs vow = t : * What is your lay?’ a = “Tdon’t unders‘and you,” said the gaunt, good — _ of very friends Isent you tohim. But he may give you a stan: nd a one lose nothing by it. By-bye,’’ and Started ont, fol- lowed bi ee hat in gentlemen’s furnishing goods slowly tev : Sam went from this store to two or three others, haga lay of some sort; what’s yours? Nota poker gathering in a few orders on his samples, but not do- ig the rushing tusiness that he had set his heart upon, He fonnd the place too dead to be roused by a drum or a drummer. But Sam had made up his mind to do the town be- fore applying to Mr. Collin, the friend referred to by his first customer, and go he spent the whole day and @ portion of the nextin ~ working” the other dealers in the various lines of goods which he represented with samples. And yet, after all, in spite of his best eforts, backed by Spot with all his cheek, he sold asmaller bill than at Pougikeepsie. But there was one man left—Mr. Collin—and he was well heeled for him. -He dawned upon him. The store was not what he might have ected it to be, In fact, it was a fourth-rate affair, but Sam knew that it is often the case that there ig more money made in a place that looks a little off than in a store Lamb,”’said he, turning his eyes up to the roof of the — car. = SS “Oh, you are, eh? Does he know that you are fol- lowing him ?’ asked Sam, deeply inearnest” “TT trust so,” replied the man, somewhat co: rs “ Well, that is all mght, perhaps. Bat if 1 da lamb that I thought anything of, and® J caught you following him, I'd have yon arrested,” said Sam, and then he turned to his paper again. Seat a The “humble follower ” looked at him in perfect — amazement, Ne “You do not understand me, young matt, an Te of “There is where you are dead wrong, old eo i “a that is somewhat loud. ated merchant spinning aronnd like a top from the | _"4!as! young man, I fear you are as bad as any of So he braced up for a spar deck . momentum of the club with which-be had barely | YOUF calling,” and he sighed.) CES : Mr. Collin met him with a frown, for he saw at a| failed to smash him. *. Well, I hope Iam no worse. oe Se cous that. he was a drummer. one of the beings he So dol; but [ think it wonld he impossible, - ¢ above all others, especially a regular New York CHAPTER ITI. you capes — i tract nae Fall of Man¥™ he ; specimen. “Are. you hurt, Spot?” asked Sam, as he recovered | “XS Ouse me. burl ate vending the 6% 3. F s a Hore Y’ asked Sam, lifting his hatashe ap- huis balance and got a look at his demoralized second | 1 ont like obistorien vGiveit = bs ~ wan nen and = mmer. He's interested insuch things. He jately had 3 32 ** Well?’ was the only reply. ‘Is I hurt!” moaned § as he slowly pulled zs. He Jately had a:pre és *Tam not mistaken?” himself together aad got omnis pins. ty ep a2 at and probably he would take to the : Riba pane ach a a a ee “ Well, sir, I am pleased to meet you. Iam the} ‘Is I hurt?” hesaid, again, almost angrily. “« What do you think of it” ppency: pees traveling representitive of the hanse of Jub & Spud, of whose reputation you must be well acquainted, even if you have never dealt with them.” “ Weill?” and the man scarcely moved. »**1 had the pleasure of selling a bill of goods to your a What and his time Mr. Collin appeared to be # and ¢ me Mr. ap) to interested. He was a big man, and looked Sullivanish. “* Yea, and he mentioned you as a particular friend “Alas! it may be the cause of your being thrown into outer darkness, where there is wating and gnashing of teeth, and the worm never dies,” said he, S sighing. oe : “Oh, I'm used tothe darkness and the dentistry — “ Why, yes.” oot well it Tisn’t hurt what am earthquakes fo’?” he ed. - “Oh, you are all right; yon are not killed. Say. old man,” he called, addressing the merchant who do it, old man. It’s only a and besides, I’m not a poor young more money than you have,” “Butyour treasures are not laid up whe: .
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~ end { SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. 7 and rust do not corrupt, or thieves break through and steal,’ said he, and sighed some more. ** You're dead wrong there. My treasures are allin 2 New York savings bank, where they are handled too lively for rust and moths to catch on, and if thieves can break through those big safes, they are good ongs, that's all. No—no, you can’t catch me there, for I’m too fly, and seldom get left.” “Oh, you are a flippant young man, and my heart grieves for you,” he sighed. . “Don’tlet it. Brace right up and hoe your own tow, and I'll worry througb with mine.” i * Achsi’? ard he turned to Spot, who had been listen- ing with open eyes and mouth, Spot gasped, and looked at him, «* We have here the very latest, which I adjust the five-ounce beautifier.” as it was after business hours, Sam concluded that the best thing he could do was to make use of the few. hours remaining o! the day in going over the old city and locating the parties whose names he had on his book, so that he could catch on the first thing when business opened in the morning. “And he did so, leaving Spot to go where his own Sweet will might take him. It was all very well for Sam, for he was not dressed 80 as to attract quite so much attention as Spot was, although he never stopped to think of that. It was nearly an hour after Sam leit him at the ho- tel, and while he was soberly taking in the town, 50 that he would be sure to know where to goto the bustle was crushed and the power of utterance knocked completely out of her, With as little delay as possible, he assisted her to her feet, and, offering her arm, they started through ss cross-street, followed by a Joud yell and about afty ¥S. : Sam returned to the hotel, laughing, but wondering hos ever put that roller-skating racket in Spot’s ead. But poor Spot! that was the second terribie blow he had received in a certain portion of his anatomy, and it was with great difficulty that he could walk enough to escort the young lady home from this public per- formance, and he was only just a Jittle sicker than she was, can sell you at a figure in which there is much money for you. Spot, 2 ‘* Yes, sah,” and in less time almost than it takes to write it, Spot stood before the astonished merchant adorned in a hoop skirt. *. “My colored friend, have you thought of your latter asked he. “ Oh, my—oh, yes!” moaned Spot, at the same time thinking of the sorest portion of his body. * Are you a drummer, my poor fellow-mortal ?”” “No, sah; I’se de fifer dat go "long wid de drum- mer,’ replied Spot. “Ah. my poor, benighted fellow-traveler to the un- #tnown shore!" “Dar s whar you is dead wrong, boss—I’se well ac- qnainted up at Albany. Datamn’t no unknown sho’ to me,’ replied Spot and Sam concluded that he was a along with the old piety sharp quite as well as could himself. “You mistake me, poor man—I was speakingin a moral sense.” “Oh, I thought A war speakin’ in nonsense.” ~ “No, sir. But lam sorry for you. My heart yearns for you. Read this tract; read and ponder.” “All right, boss. I’se great at ponderin®. I got de fus’ prize atschool fo’. ponderin’. Dat am my greatest hold,’? replied Spot, taking the tract, That tract-distributor sighed like an alligator,and con- cinded to make other tracks—back to his seat, followed ‘or accompanied by the grins of all the passengers who bad either got on to the snap or had overheard the conversation. He was a squelched colporteur, nor was this the first time, as he well remembered, that he had been worsted in trying to convert drummers, and he then and there solemnly resolved to have no more to do with them. y were too fly. Everything was quiet thereafter until they arrived bany, which gave Sam Spry a chance to finish paper, get an idea of the market, in which, of tse, he was greatly interested, and Spot time agit to get through with his tract, : t Albany they put up at the Delavan House, but, next day, that he was walking down State street | when he saw a crowd. _ It is one of the most natural things in the world for os outsider to approach a crowd, and Sam took t in, Spot was there. He and a young lady of his own color were the cen- ter of attraction. She was dressed almost as londly as he was, and was only a little bettet-looking. But she was a very fancy wench, all the same. They fiad been practicing roller-skating on the side- walk, and had attracted a large crowd. But that wasn’t the cause of the excitement. It appeared that they had been trying to do some | fancy skating on the inclined sidewalks of State street, and that the sidewalks got the best of them by at least two majority. They had both turned involuntary backward somer- sauits, and had sat down upon the flags in good time together, but so suddenly, so hard and unexpectedly, that they were still sitting there In a dazed condition when Sam came upon ther. The crowd wag yelling and laughing. Sam couldn’t catch on to it at first. = oe are you doing there, Spot?? he finally asked. Spot looked up mournfully; so did his girl. *“What’s up??? “Oh, by golly! Better ask what’s down,” and then the crowd laughed some more. ** What put this fanny business in your head?” “Don’t know; but it’s all knocked ont pow,” said he, slowly and sadly unbuckling his skates. Then he proceeded to remove the skates from the well-developed feet of his young lady companion, who seemed to have sat down so-emphatically that her’ But althongh he limped, he bobbed up quite serene- the next morning ready for business. - “What in thunder were you doing up there on State street yesterday ?’? asked Sam. ** Well, now, fo’ de Lord, dat war de wust,” replied Spot, with rather a sorry smile. “*T should say so.. How was it?” “Well, I knows dat young lady. She am de cham- pion roller-skateress ob de world, an’ I don’t call my- self much ob a slouch on de rollers, an’ as dar war no tink heah whar we could go an’ enjoy ourselves, we jus’ took to de sidewalk, where we had lots ob fun ‘til we struck dat slantin’ State street. Then we sorter turned ober endwise an’ sat down.”” “Yes, it looked very much like it.” “An’ it yeel very much like it—dat is, so far as T am concerned. But we were making the hit ob de day when we sat down, Sam," said Spot, laughing somewhat more cheerfully. 2 : “Well, now, you want to put in some of your best work, and nO more pleasure, before business.” ~ Pleasnre!” exclaimed Spot. Place No. 1—store on Broadway. Sam dawned upon the proprietor, and £0 did Spot, carrying the two gripsacks, He didn’t have quite such an elastic walk as he had ~ when he left New York, owing to that Indian club and that unexpected sit-down on the sidewalk the day be- fore. But he braced up quite well, and appeared all business. Sam went right to the front, as usual, and collaring the proprietor m his bland, business-like way, he suc- ceeded in selling him a large bill of goods before he was aware of it. : And when he came to sign the order he looked aghast almost, He hesitated, but a few words from sare ones him, and he signed it without further pro ee MS :
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3 : SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. ~ ee eee SSS ee ee enn SS a Se * Good-day, Mr. Smacks. Iam sure you will be | and the skating-rink, where she had met him two or] beautiful colored girl. Def war lookin’ her in de face “pleased with what I have sold you, and when I come | three times by appointment, and naturally enough she | wid a horrid grin. I flung myself into de rescue. I - in—as J shail in a few months—1 shall cail on you | made some inquiries respecting him of mutual friends, | seize dat firey mule by de ears. Wid all my strength& with perfect assurance, and shall expect another large which led to her tinding out the truth. I flung him on his haunches, an’ de girl war saved?” order for our house.” And one evening at dinner she asked her father | said he, the best he could. He said this ag He lifted his hat and left the store, | where Sam was, for she half suspected something. “Great act, Spot; but how did that break you up in followed by Spof, Who also nodded patronizingly and} ** Oh, he got so wild thatI had to send him away,” | such a way ?’? asked Sam. ; opened his big mouth : Jub replied, carelessly. . : * De girl war rescued.” The merchant looked after them ina dazed sort of} ‘Wild? Send himaway? Why, if he had been so “Yes,” way. He seemed sligntly paralyzed. bad as that I shouldn't have thought you would have “She fall on her knees an’ offer to marry me fo" “Well, is there anything that beats a New York | sent him out on the read asa drummer.” sabin’ her young life.” drammer—and he only a young one*”? ** What! Who tolu you he was on the road?’ ssked Well?” . : He walked back to attend to some customers, and | Jub, starting suddenly and looking at her. “Den dat mule he turnon me, He seemed mad be- for the time forgot the charmer. : -* Kate Spud told me,” said she, quietly. cause I sabe de girl. He kicked himself outen dem — The next merchant he struck was on the same “Oh, well, he may make a very good drummer or a | shalves an’ rope-harness an’ go fo’ me. He fired his avenue of trade, and only a few doors above | very bad one. I can’t tell which yet,” he growled. hin’ heels at me, an’ my nose war in de way, dats im, - And only think what a divine dancer and skater all,” said he, with a sigh. : i Place No. 2. he was, pa! Itis really too bad to send him away.” “* Well, Spot, that is one of the most romantic ghost — ad But the man wouldn't listen to any of Sam’s fine} ‘‘ Oh, pshaw! You talk like a fool, girl. One would | stories I ever listened to,” ‘ = talk. He already had more goods on his shelves than think you had a great interest in him.” “ Fact, Sam.”? wy he could find sale for. He wouldn’t have it, * And so I have, papa. He is simply elegant!” ‘* Why didn’t you marry the girl then and there ?”? * Well, all t.? said Sam. “Your business is “Great Goliath!” roared old Jub, starting to his “ 7Cause me Sells mo’ fo’ credit den fo’ cash. 1 wat willin’ to gid her time,” said he, 3 none of mine, of course. It is the business of both of | feet. 3 “And give me a ghost-story. Get on board,” he a us to;sell. But so long as you refuse to buy of me, I ‘ must, of course, pass on to the next customer. And C CHAPTER IV. yet I don’t mind giving you a pointer,” he added, as} -YEs, Sam Spry got through with Albany all right, added, as the conductor called oute' Allaboard!? = 7 Not another word was exchanged between them — Spot closed the sample cases. although Spot was not made as happy as he might | until they reached AG where Sam at once pitched “ What abont?? asked the merchant. have been, for there seemed to be a combination of | right into business, although Spot’s swollen nose ang “Oh, nothing. only the other people on Broadway | circumstances working against him, as evidenced by | lips made him look so comical that he attracted gen- say you have no enterprise.” his sudden and emphatic downfall with his girl while | eral attention. + ; é Bat he sold a,very fair bill of goods in Troy, in spite” of the crowd of boys and curious people who followed them on account of Spot. = Indeed, he was fanny enough in looks for anybody was ** What !"? exclaimed the mercliant. they were showing oif on roller-skates. ; to follow,, But he was sad; yes, even while Sam . o> q using him for a dummy. : “Don’t say that 1 said’so, please, tut they toldme| And after business was over in Albany and they before I camie here that I couldn’: sell you a dollar’s | were to take the early morning train for Troy, Spot worth. I didn’t believe it, but it’s allnght now. It| concluded to pay a visit to the young lady of the is your business, not mine.’ Mr. Smacks advised me | salmon hue to see how she felt after her sudden and not to call on you atall. He bonght a big bill of me, | unexpected downfall. y: Ee and said: ‘Let the old duffer sell his old-fashioned He had known the young lady in New York, where |. -‘* How you make out? he ventured to ask, after stuff if he can—we'll catch the trade of the better class } she had been a great masher among the ebony sports | they had got through the day’s work. epee ee Tight away from him.” and high-toned sole leather dandies, and he regarded “Very bad; and all on account of your bad form,” ~ “Did he say that” demanded the merchant. himself as one of her greatest favorites. replied Sam, reproachfully. oS “Hush | please don't say that I said so. Good-day. Indeed, she had manifested as much by going out We may be able to do business some other time,” and | roller-skating with him in public, but he soon found “How aboutit! Didn't I take you out as —s **How about dat?’ asked Spot. a _ z n Sam started to go. out, if he had never known it before, that the course} nig to show off ison? Well, you have su a fait a moment. Just let me look at your samples | of true ijove never runs smooth, whatever be’ the | in making a bu ile of the whole. business, and a ‘ d the merchant. = shade of color. guy of yourself, What you wantto do is to oot 4 Bi ed and consulted his watch. He went to her palatial mansion on Pearl street. | self together and swear oif drinking,” said cat nly half an hour, my dear sir, before I} He ambled to the fourth floor in search of the honey | nestly. ; n appointment with Strabo & Co.” of his existence. “* Drinkin’! exelaimed Spot, ie 3 find. If Smacks said that about me | _ She was at home. “Yes.” i. f goods of you.” “ie So was her ‘steady company.” : “Sam, you know dat I neber drink a drop ‘in me that what I told you, when I] He wastryingto console her on her fall, and at the | life,” replied Spot, reproachfally. g su we c hot deal, shall not be repeated,” | same time show her wherein it served her just right,| ‘I always thotghtso, Spot, until you gave that ter~ : : pai San = for going out with auother fellow. rible stiff.” “Well, but lam not going to let him get all the} He was just getting in his HA" ot oases“ fine} *‘ What you mean by stiff?’ - bionable ba . | work when Spot presented himself at the door. “That ghost story about the mule and the rescueof = * In fas I admire your taste,# said Sam; and there-} There was a word or two of explanation,.and then upon he went for him.and succeeded in selling him ; there was mde 5}, Soho méat on it. that came sud- quite a large bill of goods, after which he the | denly in contact with Spot's nose, man good-bye and started fora store farther up-|i Spot seemed to forget his politeness all ofa sudden, town, where he calculated to sell a bill of goods of a| for he went down-stairs back ward. somewhat different. order, for it was a regular dry} And not only that, but he appeared to be trying to geods store at retail. find out whether his head or his\heels could break This was Mr. Barton. 7 : down partitions tbe faster. garding his condition at Sam had heard of him through the other drummers} And then, “after experimenting aw he landed | depot. > Soa SS : for the house as @ very crauky, close- buyer, if he | all ofa heap at the bottom of the first | ng. » And he. Aadee>. 3 WP hme yy bought at all, and he was bound to sell Then there arose a wild commotionin that Pearl} — But the: got through Troy all right, even if Mr. Barton sent out word from his private office | street palace, and~-other inhabitants thereof rushed | did not think so. IK, zi é that he was busy. - out of their rooms.to see what portion’of the building} —A short horse is soon cu) » - = Sam politely returned word that unless his business | had fallen down. — 3 And the next day they were to continue was ulcommonly important, and there was- much} — They saw Spot as he was trying to~pull himself to- | their next stopping-place being Syracuse, money in it, he had better give him a few minutes. gether, and just then his rival shouted from the top of ub was to bea : :: This naturally enough interested the merchant, and | the Janding: % 3 Troy—good as gold, and Troy weight. he went out to see what it amounted to. “Run him out! He ama thief!” -+ Sam Spry said to Spot, after supper: “J hope I have not put you to any inconvenience,| That was all there was required. The denizens of} . “ Now, look here, young fellow: what Mr. Barton,”’ sald Sam- . that-Pearl street palace were equal to all the rest, and | do is to to bed. You don’t want to be i 4 The merchant glared first at Sam, then at Spot. they went for poor Spot. around Troy to-night, or another mule may get at ; : *“ Well, what Is it?’’ he final “I represent the house York——" : * Oh, you are a drummer, eh?” _ “A commercial traveler, vulgarly styled drummer. | it. But I have seme very fine new s—the latest in] But Spot-was not inclined to stand that sort of the market—and in coming to Albany I. am directed | thing all day, or any longer than he could get oul, to wait on yeu first, as being the representative mau and he made lively work in getting. in dry goods and novelties here. tou are of course | And yet when he reached the sidewalk he did not we sy hi hoop-skirts are coming into fashion yee aa happy, or like a man at peace with the again. : worl “Well, I see some about it in the fashion pa- | In short, he looked weary; and as he wiped his pers.” . ae y = bleeding nose and headed for the hotel, he ae not “Yes, sir: and you will soon have calls for them. |} made-any happier by a crowd of boys who {fol- We have here the very latest, which I can sell you at| lowed him, or by the suspicious policeman who col- a figure in which there is much money for you.” Spot, | lared him and insisted upon knowing what had hap- }- 2 adjust the five-ounce beantifier.”” pened. o day, but. at t there is always some fun to be »! * Yes, sali,” and in less time almost than it takes| But he finally got clear, and reached a down-cellar | found by those who want it, to write it, Spot.stood before the astonished merchant | barber shop and bath-room, where, after an hour or] Spot was looking for it. ee y asked. y threw pottery at him. of Jub & Spud, New|: They flang bricks and bric-a-brac at him. ‘ They emptied slop-pails upon him. They yelled their indignation and they manifested “See that you do, And you want to 5% some This seemed to settle the night’s business. so as Spot was concerned, but really he had no ha od 5 had ry ty work. in Syracuse. - adorned in a reed gene op two spent in improving himself, he came forth, look-} And he had not been out long before he discovered The man looked at him threugh his glasses, - ing quite well, with the exception of his swollen nose, |. that there was a skating-rink in town, which con-— This was surely a new style ofdromming. - and he proceeded to the hotel. stituted one of the greatest attractions, and, being an~ “J use him for a dummy in order to show how} He did not see Sam until it was nearly train-time | expert on the “rollers,” he concluded to take itinon - quickiy and easily they are adjusted,” said Sam. the next morning. when he met him, grips in hand, at | the strict Q.T. J. : “ Weill, young man, i guess you take the cake,” said | the depot. start for Troy. He found a gear cron of all kinds there, black, he, after awhile “ Whar’s tter with you, Spot?’ asked Sam. | white and alls! That was good enough for him, and he lost no time in hiring and getting on top of a pair of rolier- skates, ¥ ‘And, as stated in the preceding chapter, Spot was > no slonch at the pastime, and he at once created : quite a sensation, both by his sensational skating and his fancy rig... « ; : Sam Spry was also there, and he got on to him be > fore he had been ence around the , and he kept oa sbady just to see what he weuld do, although he had on skates himself, and had gone there for the purpose ~ Ee eS ~hewkaty 7 “And I would also like to take your order, for that | “ You look you had been run through a ‘will be on a par with your standing in onr house, cash | threshing-m' 53 ~ ’ at thirty days,” sald Sam, and then he began to show} Now, Spot not a colored George Washington. him other kinds of goods. : He knew that he looked bad, but-he had no idea of ‘The result waa that he sold hima large bill, which | explaining.why he aid so—at ones to Sam._ # he probably would not have done had he not had Spot “Oh, dat am nuffin’, Sam,” said along with him. “ Nothing?” : % And so he went throngh Albany, and in twodays| “No.” . sent back to Jub & Spud orders enough to astonish} And he attempted to smile. but his nose and lips his fellow-salesmen and interest the frm in him won- | were so swollen that in attempting to do so his mouth ay x puckered up and stuck out in a most painfully comic Old Jub was pnrege ngs well pleased with the} way. ; r i SOURS se. Hot only with bis success thns faras aj Sam could but Iangh in his face. rummer, but at the success of his little scheme in} ‘- What hit you, Spot?’ i and his dangbter so effectually, and} ‘A mule, if you mus* know!) 5 > id's mischief had been done, © “A mule pale a Sam from the dancing-school" “‘¥es, A mule in a cart war
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SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. o who were asking about him, Spot gave him to under- | and her disgusted beau escorted her from the rink stand that he was a rich Cuban planter, just happen- ing to be stopping in Troy that night, and there tor the purpose ofa little enjoyment and exercise. This imformation soon spread, and Sam heard it with the crowd, while Spoc gyrated over the rink, doing his most fancy, and putting on frills that soon made him the laughing-stock instead of the wonder of the rink, although that satisfied him as well as anything else. However, quite a crowd followed him around, at peaiene. to learn his fancy figures, and not a few be lieved him to be a New York skater up there in dis guise for a little lark. This belief finally grew so strong that several of the just as soon as she recovered. Spot finally opened his eyes, and the first person they rested on was Sam Spry, who had followed anxiously to ascertain how badly he was hurt. “Well, Spot, [ guess you had better go home now,” said he. But Spot had not recovered fully enough to take in the situation. His eyes rolled wildly around, and the stars had not all gone out of his skull. “Who fro dat house on me?” he finally asked, and then everybody laughed some more. “Nobody. You ran into the house yourself, when I told you to go to bed.” “Oh, my! Oh, yes! Am dat you, Sam?” «<Stop her! Jady skaters smiled on him, and presently he offered | his hand to one of them and she accepted it, mlly be- fieying that he was some renowned roller-skater in ise. s felicity lasted for about ten minutes, when his triumph began to make him dizzy, and he attempted to do more than he really knew how. , He was 8 good general skater, and could do several things that were new to the ae but he forgot to _ Temember just how much he really could do. His fair partner, however, was delighted with the escort of her disguised champion, as she really be- lieved him to be, for she knew she was the envy of every other other girlin the rink, not one of whom had a partner who could compare with him, and as for her beau who had taken her there, he skated about as gracefully as a pair of tongs. But, a8 before stated, his success was so great that be couldn't rest underit. He had to try to do some- thing greater still, something he had seen other fancy skaters do, It was the same old story. His legs got unexpect- edly mixed up and he landed on his head, mixing his frightened partner up quite as badly as he was him- * iat fortunately she fell on top of him and probably ¢aved a broken head, while the shock he received Knocked the wind completely out of him, and he lay there like a log while the girl’s friends hastened to her rescue. ~ Nor-was that the last of the good offices, was taken to a omncam Bih limp as ® rag, Testoratives were 2) . z These Testoratives consisted mostly in cold water, ~ which speedily developed the eet that he was not a white man in . but areal negro. - . he gil hind eecaped unhurt, but she fainted at sthis discovery, and the laugh wag up at her expense, for Spot where Somebody mailed one of the papers toe Jub & Spud, and they received it by their afternoon -mail- It also created a !augh with them, and before night it was known to everybody about the place, while in Troy the poor girl, whose enthusiasm had led: her into‘be- lieving that Spot was only blackened up for disguise and gladly took him for a skating partner because he was the best one in the rink, was laughed at by ali her acquaintances, and swore off on rink and roller. * Just as I expected,’’ muttered Mr. Jub, at the din- ner-table that evening. _‘ What is it?” asked his wife, and naturally enough his daughter looked up at him: “Oh, that Sam Spry has got himself into a disgrace train time. But on rushed Spot. —| eS al - BH TU Me biataay RE AGR stop de train!” he yelled, and in his eager flight he ran into an italian peanut vender, upsetting him and his stock-in tiade, while half a dozen employees shouted to him to stop, that it wasn’t “Well, somewhat. A nice figure you have been | a ah ini up in Troy, and the papers are full of it,” said he. cutting here, haven’tyou?”’ “©ut my head dé wuss, I guess,” replied Spot, sitting up and taking off the skates which had brought him so much glory and confusion. ‘A nice Cuban planter you are, aren’t you ?”? “Tt war only a lark, Sam.” ‘* Well, you just get out of here and go to bed, as told you to do two hours ago.” “Oh, my! oh, yes!” sighed Spot, as he walked from the rink, rubbing his head. The incident created much amusement, and Sam Spry became in turn a genuine hero of the rink, and showed them how to execute many difficult figures that they had never known before, and it is but little to say that he had the handsomest and best lady skater for a partner, and that he spent an enjoyable evening, retiring in ample time to get a good start for business the next morfing. But Spot was too badly broken upto be-good for much, fitougy he would not complain, and took the gripsacks and silently followed Sam in his rounds. looking like the last rose of summer, with a very bad bloom on himeelf. He got through the day as well as he could, and then made quick work of going to bed. No more skating-rink for him! ‘ The next morning he was feeling more like himself again, and Sam managed to get through with his work in time to take the afternoon train for Syracuse, haying sent home a few orders, but not so Jarge as he expected. -- But the fanniest part of thé snap was that Spot’s doings at the rink were made the subject of a decid- edly humorous article in one of the Troy papers. There was = ety of material for it, and the re- who been present wrote it up to the queen's taste wd if set the whole city laug! i “Into what sort of a scrape?” asked Mrs. Jub, while Annie’s face paled and flushed alternately, “Qh at a skating-rink up there. You know he skates like au angel,” he replied, casting a very signifi. cant glance at Annie. “And he has got the firm’s name mixed up wich him in the wild escapade in con- nection with the negro man Spot. Weshall probably discharge him, for Mr. Spud is even more indignant about it than I am.” He looked at Annie again, but she nretended not to hear what he said, and in spite of the glow on her peantiful face, she remained silent until after the meal was finished, ; Jub chuckled to himself, for he concluded this had sickened her of Sam Spry, even if she only had a pass- ing fancy for him. “Great head!’ he mused, and then retired to the library to indulge in a cigar and his evening paper, In a little while afterward he heard some very merry Jaughter up-stairs, in which the voice of his daughter Annie was taking a leading part. Vinally, he sent for his wife and asked her the occasion of so much hilarity, and she told him that: one of the Spud girls had come over to read Annie something out of a per. Pee Must be deucedly fanny,” muttered Jub, as he returned to his own paper. oe Yes, that was what the girls were laughing about, a fanny piece in a paper. And it was that very Troy paper containing the account of Spot's escapade at the roller-rink, although it only mentioned Sam in the most complimentary terms on account of his graceful and expert skating, and speaking of Spot as his colored attendant who had created all the fun. Mr. Spud had taken the paper home for his wife to read, and Annie’s chum managed to get hold of it.
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iO SAM NEW Wor: DRUSIMER. This: accounted ‘forthe hearty laughter up-stairs, as it also, at the same time, convinced Annie that her father had some object in view in seuding-Sam away, and of speaking of him in the way he bad. But.when old Jub found out the nature of that funny story and what it realiy was, he was mad enough to kick himself around the block. But let us skip back to Troy again. Sam andSpot were in the depot watlting for the Syracuse train. F Trains were starting, backing, shifting in a most bewildering way, in what is called ** making up,” and Sam was walking up and down the platform, while Spot sat on one of the gripsacks in meditation some- what, but morewhat in watching a handsome colored girl, whom he evidently wanted to mash. Spot was naturally a fixed him up in such fancy style, he was more on it than ever before. Sam was walking up and down, and while doing so the train he was goingto take was backed into the dome. and he overheard the conductor say to the en- gineer: _ > “ Bill, we have got to take on those two extra cars over there on theside track. Go up to the switch and back down to them.” The ineer granted something ‘and turned to the throttle. This caused the engine to grunt in turn. Sam saw a chance for a little fan, He leaped upon the platform of the rear car. = Soe was watching him and started to his feet. train was moving slowly out of the depot. “ Hurry up!” shouted Sam. “Oh, my, oh, yes!’ whined two gripsacks, he started afte: go. “ Stop her! stop de train!” he yelled, and in his eager fight he ran into an Italian peanut vender, upsetting him and his stock in trade, while half a dozen em- Lime ocean to him to stop, that it wesn’t train e, But on rushed ae Also on rushed train. He tumbled over two or three other people in: his malty fee tax bled b es head, very badly mix. um eels over p - be, toma up-with his 3 the came to grief, and was just pulling himself Spot, and seizing the os eee car as ~ Oh, dey come back fo’ me, eh?” he said to him- self, “Serve ’em it. Imake ’em go way back to de depot fo’ me,” said he, and clat the gripsacks, he Started at a leisurely walk back to depot. There he found the train in waiting, with at least ten minutes to spare before regular time. He went puffing up the platform, where he found Sam walking quietly up and down. “How "bout dat—when dey start?” he asked. “In about ter minutes. What the deuce were you runing after that car for?’ asked Sam. epee yod. tell me ne we 0. I told you to *Hold up.’ Spot, yon are crazy. I shall be ob to-sénd you home,” sald Sam, turn- ing away as though disgusted. “By goliyl) Maybe I don’t understand dé English janguage. You say *horry up*didn’t you?” “No—no. I said holdup. You are getting.away off, Spot. That accident in the rojlér-rink has broken you all up» But thetrain is ready now, So get aboard and keep very quiet. Yomhaven't got your strength yet,” and Sam led the way into tlie car. Pies - = : - PART. Y. 33 Bor at length they run away, leaving Troy for Syra- cuse. Troy Dad been a scene of much tribulation to r Spot, althongh Sam Spry, both in business and pleas- ure, had done well there. __ - Spot, however, was to get away from the place. It had been too much for him; too much from first to last, and he began to argue the neh in his mind whetber he was having as much as he was endar- ing pain by this outing. : ly 4 word was spoken until sd reached Syracuse at nearly midnight Spot y hadn’t ee to say, and Sam was bravely thinking of the ce : Nearly every drummer stops at the,same hotel. in 4 ores and Sam was not anexception, for he knew about it, and he could coind make himself solid th the landlord at least, by referring him to his friends who had often stopped there, — This he proceeded to do as soon as he had made his way to the place, and he as given a grand, first-class - reception by the landlord. ~ gen bay 4 who's the coon?” he asked, pointing to Spot, who stood like a statue with two gripsacks. “Ohj thav’s all right. ..That’s my coon,” said Sam, pening. ™ Yes, that’s all right.” [Extra styler Right to the front:” : low do you work him?” Garey gripe and postare for samples, V work for. corsets, hoop-skirta, im- ah srs, patent. bustles, and al that PYgnatora,” said Sam. Mater cane one the dest of all ver came to, Syracuse, and I masher, but sitice Sam” had | Piciou **Let her go, Sam, There’s nothing, too good for That was salam ps one on him, but, as Sany h you,” said the landlord in reply. . i said, it was a good thing, because he had always ‘Thanks, only don’t leave Spot out.’? afraid of water in large quantities, that is. to. “Oh, no. Spot must come in somewhere,” said he, sean large enough to bathe in, and the result of — laughing. I the racket was that he got probably the. first bath he “Oh, yes, somewhere,’ and he hurried away to | ever liad imhis life, "Sis at order supper. Afterward the landlord treated him, as he had ‘Look here, Spot, said Sam, after they were left | agreed todo, and Spotcould but admit that two such alone, ** there’s a snap here about you.” washings made an epoch in his life; indeed, he neyer, ~ “Snap! It’s been nuflin’ but snap on me eber since I started out. What’s up now?” “Oh, nothing, ouly the landlord will have it that you are some suspicious white man blackened up.” “ Dat’s what I get goin’ round wid you,’’ said he, in a tone of disgust. “Ah, but you know you are naturally rather a sns- 8 character.” . 7 nen ““How dat?” : “Well, on account of your good clothes, it may be. But I'll tell- you how itis here,” said he, looking care- fully around, : > “How?” he asked, also looking wild, for, on ac- eae of Sam’s queer looks, he began ‘to feel a trifle tic 5 : “ Well, you know it is very important for miy busi- néss that J stop at this hotel, itbeing the resort of all the merchants in Syracuse, But this is how-it is. The landlord has never seen me before, and he rather suspects the on you? account.” “ How dat?” ; “He thinks there is something crooked.’ “Oh, my—oh, how ??? : “ He thinks you area white man blacked up, as I said before, But I have offered to have you put into @ bath-tub, soaked and washed, just to convince him that you are what you appear to be. Will you agree to it after supper?” *‘ Ob, my—oh, yes!” : .“ Allright, He has consented io let us eat at the same table, because it is after hours, and there will be nobody else in the dining-room; but after you have pense. pric But, feeling weary, he shortly afterward went. to- 53 bed, leaving Sam and the landlord and a few friends + enjoying themselves. So é awaiting him. One was from his honse, congratu- — ) lating him. on his success -thus=far, and»e him to keep on, together with some instructions Te- garding the prices of certain goods. “ All right,” said Sam; and just then the clerk of the hotel announced the late supper ready. Sam had afew moments’ conversation with the landlord, and then went into the dining-room, where he and Spot partook of the.hotel hash. “ Well,’ said the landlord, as they came out of the dining-room, ‘do you weaken?” ** No,” said Sam, seemingly offended. * Well, what do you propose—to send this, person b somewhere else, or have him blacken up my sheets and pillow-cases, or will you both go?"? “No; butif “Se will have it that my man here ts white, and blackened up for some illegal purpose, he is willing to go into provided you will treat him if he comes out all right.’? “That will be perfectly satisfactory, and I agree to his terms. Come right this way,” and that fun-loying landlord led the way to the bath-room. q Spot followed, but he didn’t like it for a cent. It seemed:to him to be little, the meanest thing he had ever heard of in the land of the free and the home of the brave. But he was willing to do almost anything for Sam’s sake, altaough to be put zn. soak—to take | bo an actual bath—was very repugnant to him. ; 2 although, of course, it would be no breach of eti- — quette to write, simply informing her that he had re, ceived her letter, and thanking her for it, and after-_ reading it over the third time he resolved todoso0, and was then read ? ; siness, g=3 tumbled to it at all that there’ was @ racket at bis exe = ughed over the affair! I trust ion will do wel That she wonld'be pleased to hearfrom him in return; for business. i. But he followed on, and Sam went along with the over-particuJar Jandlord, ostensibly to see that his man received fair play. « The bath-tub was half full of pretty hot water, and @ faucet of the same was still ogee he “Now, all I want to convince me that this is really aa colored man in your employ, and not a crook in an hour,” said the landlord to Sam. ) * All right; but you must treat him fo a hot drink at he comes out just the same.” “Of course; I only want to convince myself, for I I don’t want to make any. mistake.’ wouldn’t submit to it. . Peel and go to soak, Spot.’ “Oh,"my! oh, yes!” said Spot. “But you go out, and Llet yon in. when I get under de. water,” “Allright. Go ahead,” said the landlord, and he and Sam lett the bath-room and went up-stairs to get some lemonade. Not. five minutes. elapsed, however, before there came shouts from that bath-room, “Oh, my! Put out dat fire! Oh, my, whar am you, Sam?” and choking down their laughter, they hurried to see what the trouble was. “ Well?” asked Sam, : whined Spot, dancing around the bath-room, “Ah! thing, S Taw,” said Sam, Jaug ; that, it has convinced the landlord that you are of the genuine colored blood, and no cork-rubbed impostor. I he is all right,” | aft right right,’’ he- repli getting into his shirt. “Oh, your skin will hold water yet, but that is not all, for, according to the landlord’s agrcement, it was to hold a treat at his expense. Eh, landlord?’’. “ Certainly I'll treat,’ and they left poor Spot to mug. _ dress himself while a grin stole slowly over his ise, is that he strip and lay in that water for half have avery toney lot of. customers stopping here, and “All right; but if it, wasn’t so late, yon bet I “ Well! I should say. it.war -well; swell. done,” t, for you always were a little ma you convinced?” he asked, turning to the land- 0! ht—if de skin don’t come off,’? said all ever his mu “That's all right, ete you ready ?? E * “Yes. “Got all the fancy samples? = =") = ’* Oh, my—oh, yes!” | : — ~ “Well, let- her go,’ said Sam, and he led the way from the hotel, followed by Spot. The first merchant he struck on Seneca street had evidently overslept himself that morning, or had been fired out by a domestic explosion of some surt before: he had time to get his breakfast. At all events, Sam couldn’t work him for a cent’s- worth. He wouldn’t have bought goods if he could have got them for ten cents on a dollar. kicked both Sam and Spotont of his store had Sam been a smaller fellow and less suave... But, as it was, he politely informed him that he would see him later, and started for the next customer, .. With this one he had better Inck,and without the ~ expenditure of much time he succeeded.in selling him quite a large bill of goods, Spot pniting in some- Seam The next morning Sam found three or jour letters orthy of the. lite
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—_- _— w= s == Serting that every retailer wants SAM .SPRY, THE NEW..YORK DRUMMER. He went away to fill it, while Spot sat with open eyes and mouth, gazing with wondering admiration upon the cheeky youth before him, who calmly took out his memorandum book and began to write in it. “sa brudder ob de King of Abbysinia, am 1?’’ he finaly asked, while waiting for his grub. “That's nothing. The King is #fool; but you don‘t mind a little thing like that, do you, so long as it is all in the family?” Spot was lost in wondering admiration, but before he had’a chance to express himself further, the waiter brought on the grub, which had really a greater at- traction for him then than royalty had. It was a good dinner, and after finishing it, Sam got up to pay the bill to the astonished proprietor, {) Mtn <a Dn oP vil vou an wholesaler, provided they are new and good. it strikes me that you might improve your stock, so far as attractiveness is concerned, by adding a few novelties to your gents’ furnishing goods.” “Young man, wlio ls runuing this business—you or 17” demanded Mr, Budger, “You, of course, and [am trying to assist you.” *“T want none of your assistance.” ‘Well, for instance, have you any of our patent sock-holders?) No? I thought as much, Just being introduced in New York, and are becoming quite the rage. Greatest thing “ever introduced. What the side-strap for @ stocking-holder is to the ladies, the sock-holder is to gentlemen. Spoi, adjust the sock- holder,” he added. = TILA i AAAS YAY VVYAN NSS Now, | signin your hands, and stand outside of the old man’s door, just where he can’t see you, and just show that wooden Indian out there how to draw custom, forI must not lose that bet, Spot,’? he added earnestly. *- See 7?" ** Oh, my—oh, yes! Want me to be wooden Indian ?” “No, but a live, celored gentleman, to show off those sock-suspenders and draw trade for an hour or two. x “ All right,” replied Spot, for Sam's requests was law to him, and he at once prepared for business. Sam took him outand stood him up not far from the wooden Indian, near to the store where trade for the sock-suspender was to be sold. « Now, Spot, it ali depends on you. Don't let me \ ay NN AX _ ** What is it?” asked some. ‘* Why, it’s wood, like that Injun over there,” said others, << Bet it’s alive” << Try it.” and one young fellow did so by sticking a pin into Spot’s leg, which caused him to jump, which of course created a loud laugh. “Fact?’’ he asked. “En “Pact?’’ and he nodded to Spot. - lowed by Spot with the gripsacks, Of milk,’ said the man, gazing after them. dishes?” ta dry goods and notion store on Maine street. the past few days. Sam ‘announced himself and his wares, but the old He had more goods on hand n there was sale for, and the idea of buying man only growled. already ny more was not to be entertained. you have got,”said he; doggedly. . unction to your heart,’ replied Sam, blandly. “Lay what?” exclaimed the merchant, while Spot Tolled his eyes and murmured: ‘Ob, my—onh, yes!” “My dear sir, we are none of us sure of what we do ~~ or donot, wan’. Allow. me te glance liguuly over your 4 exposed stock.” . Glance as mueh as you like, but you cannot sell _ Me anything—remember that,” sald. : “Excuse me, Mr, Budger; my long experience in as ot baying ain] selling, warrants y0012-A6- new goods from the* i Pe a | *Pact;’’ and bowing politely he started to go, for “Well, that skims the blue-bottle fly out of the pan “A New York drummer with a king’s brother for an attendant! -My, oh, my, what a great country this is getting to be. onder if I couldn’t find a foreign duke or something Of the kind for a waiter, and a countess to wrestle Sam's next visit was to a crabbed old fellow who was feeling first-rate after his feed, but the old Merchant was not, business having been very bad for *Ne, you needn’t bother about showing me any More goods ofany description. I don’t want a thing * Ah, my dear Mr. Budger, don’t lay that fluttering “Oh, my—oh, yes!’? and before the merchant could interpose any objections Spot had pulled up his trous: ers and adjusted the elastic sock-holder. “There, my dearsir, is one of the neatest, most effi- clent, and cheapest articles of male attire. Let me sell you a few gross of them?” **No, sir.” Those: new-fangled notions may take in New York, but I could never sell them here? ** Allow me to differ with you, my dear sir. I will bet that they will sell like hot cakes, See, we have a beautiful illustrated show-card for them,” he added, producing one. “No, they won't sell.” “Don’t be offended ifI offer to bet you ten gross of these articles that you cansell a dozen inside of two hours-after you display the sign. HH -you don’t you have them for nothing.”” ““T will agree to it,’”) said the old merchant, at the same time thinking that he would make a good thing out of it, even if nothing more than taking the conceit out of that young drummer. ** Remember, if yon don’t sell at Jeast a dozen in the first two hours after: putting up this card Lam to give you ten gross. If you do, you are to order ten gross of me. Correct???“ “ Correet.”? ‘* Here are two dozen pairs to start on,” said Sam, at the same time telling him to put-up the card. Then he and Spot withdrew, but only to the cigar- | te Store next door, jn front of which stood the regulation wooden Indian, anc which had given Sam an idea. Buying & cigar more for an excuse than for any- else, he turned to Spot on business. “ Have you got on a pair of those holders ?”? Oh, yea. Why?’ aM, “ Pull up your pantaloons, take this ** IT kick de supper outen youse after I get through wid dis yerjob,” growled Spot, glaring at him. see a smile on your black mug while you are standin here. Look as sober as the other sign there, an point to the store if anybody speaks to you.” . * All right, but don’t keep me long, Sam.” “Well, that depends tpon how much trade you ~ draw, for you know what the agreementis. Ready, now.” Even by that time quite a collection of people had stopped to look at the curious spectacle, and Sam slid into the cigar store to watch proceedings, Spot was a good one at almost anything, and in this he had no notion of being beaten by a wooden Indian; and so he struck an effective attitude, throw- ing forward his big foot and leg to show off the sock supporter, and conspicuously displaying the card pertaining to it. “nd & Spud’s Great Patent Sock Supporter™ was whatsoon drew a crowd around Spot, and the article was so simple and practical that men began to look around, and finally seeing another sign in the store. window, they went in and bought them; much to the old tradesman’s surprise. = But while some bought, others gathered around to laugh and chaff the patient and ‘faithful Spot, al- though he was attending strictly to business. “* What is it??? asked some. - “Why, it’s wood, like that Injun over there,’’ sai TS. * Bet it’s alive.” “ Try it,’"and one young fellow did so by sticking a pin into Spot's leg, which cansed him to,jump, which of course created a loud Jaugh. + ‘“\ | kick de supper outen youse after I ge: throngs wid dis yer job,” growled Spot, glaring at him, That experimenter lit out, and there was anjthe te
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SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. z laugh; also more jokes. But all the while people were “Ah! Mr. Grimes, I have a chance for you to make| But it didn’t please the drummer’s “ fifer? a pea- es quite intent on examining the article he was showing | some money,” said Sam, in his smart, smiling way | nut’s worth, and he would have kicked liked a brindle é, off, and first One and then another went in to buy, causing the old curmudgeon to wonder what it all meaut. Sam was watching things from the door of the cigar store, and now and then drove away boys who were inclined to have fun with his dummy. Spo: was doing his best, and was doing well, but it Was a great strain on his nervous system, and he had already spotted several young fellows with whom he would get hunk when he was through with his work. But when Sam concluded that the old man had at about sold out, he called Spot into the cigar store away from the crowd, and wentin to see how things were getting along with Mr. Budger. quiry. CHAPTER VI. “Gor any more of them?’ exclaimed Sam. : order you a million gross.” ~ : * Oh, no, not quite so many as that; but I am sur- 5 prised at the way they sell,’ said the old merchant, who had ‘kicked ’’ au hour before. = “ Well, didn’t I tell _ wv . “Yes, “pnt— We 1, don’t you see, the goods are new, and——" “That's it exactly. New and usefal goods alwa; “Tcan tag take. But you lose, the bet, and of course stand y Be to order ten e : “Oh, y a I can get away with that. many. cs said old Badger, by this time greatly interested in the youn: BS ako and his goods. 4 urse; and allow me to show you some other saling a goods? said Sam; but he was continually in- terrupted by calling Yor the patent sock-sup- a jough Spot had been withdrawn as. a . vane he had been »the thing atall = from the mixed company congregated there, one of whom was a tramp, who in some way or other had” fastened to money enough to buy a ride instead of walking the railroad track, and naturally enough was feeling very fine. Spot took a seatin front of him and ned up the remainder of it with the grips, and that frolicksome tramp at once mude up his unoccupied mind to haye some fun with the fancy nig. So, after the train had started, he tapped him on the shoulder gently, and Spot turned around, And this tramp was a wag in his way; and he: dian’t look very much like a * sheeny ’’ either, yet ewe) an actor and worked his little racket this’ way. “ Ah, mine frient, I see py dose ‘ grips” dot you 5 no der'road,” said ‘he. i= ‘“ Yes,?’ said Spot, but not with much enthusiasm. _ a “ Allow me to press yourn flesh,’ he said , extending == -| his hand to Spot smilingly. “What fo’?? demanded Spot, looking at him in surprise, - “What house?” Sak sf *s Jub & Spud, New York,” repiied sr proud! a2 ee “Ah, know ’em first rate. i'm en it myself,” he. added, with a wink. i 4 “Dat so”? asked Spot. Sa “Cert! Reach & Snatchem, Church street,” _ * Oh,” said Spot, aie wise, although he 2 never heard of the house before. *But ee don’t seem to Know me,’’ said the guyer > tramp, earnestly, oe : “Well, can‘ say dat Ido,’* > a eo “ Curtis Ss Cunee or 7 short-tailed bull in fy time, but he was bound not] ‘** Fine lot ob goods,” said Spot, proudly, = i only to get ahead of his slandering rival, but to make| “ Lemme sce.” at: = him pay his bet at the same time. So he proceeded to buy a large bill of Sam Spry, and he signed the order boldly, so as to enable Sam to show it to him, and thus win the bet. * Oh, he said I was a sucker, eh?” 4 Well, words to that effect.’’ * All right. Just go around and show him this or- der, collect your bets, and then tell him to go off to some secluded spot and die as calmly as be possibly can. Syracuse is no place for him. The situation is too rich for him.’? “All right, sir, Much obliged. It will serve aie en right, as it would any man who spoke ill of his neighbors.” pee this man is an impostor. Come and see.me a ou come from New York.’? ly. You will receive your goods day after to-morrow, most likely, and even on the strength of that and the ae they will sell, you may depend upon it that I shall see and do more business with you in the future.” And here was another specimen of cheek over mat- ter and prejudice! Sam and Spot retraced their steps to the hotel, the working-hours of the day being Peking bo neee bow outs but Spot, as he walked along behind hi not help ruminating. “Oh, law—oh, philosofy—oh, brains—whar am yer now? Whar am yer ’longside ob cheek?’’ he mused. “Dat young manama borndrummer. Itam all in him—brains and cheek, the two greatest things in dis yer world, no matter ‘what a man do, whether he peddles rat poison or bosses a big railroad.” Sam didn’t say much to Spot during the remainder of that day, for, as he wanted to get an early train for Rochester the following day, he busied himself ‘with filling out his orders and general instructions to the shipping-department at home regarding the shipping of the ——. But there was a smile of triumph on his handsome face as he inclosed the order of Mr. Grimés, the man who had downed them all; who was rated first-class Spot unstrapped the grips and gave him a look the samples, for he was not only proud tomeetafel. — low drummer; but to meet sucha distinguished one as Sam’l 0” Posen broke him all UPeocse* i Se 2: So he opened his sample cases and showed tinguished drummer the different styles of acer % were traveling with. : “ Good enough!” said the tramp, and while ‘admire j : ~ ing and examining them he managed to surround two * — or three’suits of fine underwear and several smaller = articles which he very much stood In necd of. ~~ =i Then he began’a ghost story in explanation of his — rough-looking appearance, assuring Spot that he was z obliged to adopt a disguise in order to travel rie annoyance on account of his popularity, Finally, the next station to Rochester, he said be c=. would go into the baggage-car and get his traps ready — == to land at Rochester. = “And I shail be pleased to meet Sam Spry, for Ix have often heard of him. 1 will see you in the °c and then we can become acquainted with each’ > Ta, ta,”’ and he went from the car, back toward the ~ baggage-van, leaving Spot in a sort of a daze,and) .~— with an infinite idea of how giad Sam would be tor. ; Id | Fe aa Teen tn the urtbeel ‘again, and while ‘dows e strapped up the gripsacks n, and w = ing so the train pulled ~~ the depot at Rochester for — a. aoe anes usual rash Tinned thefetp say, more of grab, and those who had landed there to stay, pe. m $: ry waa on hand. and Spot was not long ell him all = Re a ¥ hi si dei iy it ae. sr <¢ = “ He war in de car heah jns’ now—he’s somew! "bout de depot,”’ he added, looking ene mss 0 thle amene the passengers who were rushing hi ther and — “Who 72 “Why, dat same Sam’] o’ Posen.” «oO bho i mes. S| +5 sen
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. | . ‘ | Pree 7 Sg FS OE Cua Sys eer peer IY PT eee ae Ts al at . eas St so SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. | They stopped by a baggage truck, and won«ering- ly Spot opened ‘he sample cases, At a@®lance Sam saw what he had at first suspected, that seule sharper had been interviewing Spot, and had gotten away with about twenty dollars worth of first-class underwear. “How thick is your skull, anyway? Spot, I am astonished at you. The idea ofa New York coon like you being taken in by a country tramp.” “He said he was Sam’l o’ Posen, de drummer,” whined Spot, strapping up the grips again, ‘Amd if he had said that he was Dr. Landis, you would have believed it of course. Get up with those gripe, and then go and hang yourself,” he added, « Wa—wa—”" cried Spot, trying to get out of the chair. yer gwine ter do?” starting for the hote!, followed by Spot, who never felt so sick and foolish before in his life. Yes, Spot was sick, but that didn’t prevent him from attracting quite as much attention as ever, and being followed by a crowd of laughing boys. Sam said but little to him during the remainder of that day, which actually made him feel worse than if he had given him a blowing-up on account of his ver- ba But he followed him around faithfully, carry- ing the samples and acting as a dummy whenever oc- casion demanded. But the next morning hé woke up with a wild tooth ache and a swollen jaw. Indeed, the swelling made bim look more comical than ever;in fact, so much so, that Sam refused to take him ont; instead of which he went alone to acertain few customers, telliag Spot to go toa dentist and have his tooth yanked out and _beé ready for business the next morning. It is something unusual for a darky to have the tooth-ache, but Spot had it bad, and when Sam sent him away with his swollen mug tied up in a tewel to the tender mercies of a tooth-yanker, he was a sight to behold. And it is an unusual thing for jaw-rippers fo have a eolored person for a customer, for as a race their teeth are the best of any inthe whole human race. But Spot, being anxious for relief, jumped at the first dentist’s sign he saw, and it chanced to be one of _ the most fashionable and high-priced manipulators in F gy & ° The had not yet arrived® when Spot put in an ~- appearance, and the place was in charge of a student, of a wag ir his way, and he instantly made up mind to have some funwithhim, . “Well, what's the matter?’’ he asked, bluntly. __ “ Got de tuff-ache,” groaned Spot, ; “You will never know it.” “Want it out?” ‘*Oh, my—eoh, yes!” “ What style will you have it pulled in ?”? *“ How ?” asked Spot, nervously. “Haye chloroform, electricity, glycerine, magnetic monkey-wrench, explosion, Creedmoor, or plain jerk?’? replied the student, looking honest and earnest, “What am de best?” asked Spot, holding his jaw. ** They are all good, sir. This is a first-class place, and we do things in the highest style of art. But if you want it out quickly, and without pain,I would recommend the Creedmoor style.’ “Quick ?”? asked Spot, “Very.?? “No pain?” ** Cure de ache?” “Sure cure. Never feel it again.” “Dat’ll suit me. Let her gol’? “Take a seat in the operating-chair,” said lie, point- ing to it in a business-like way. Spot gotinto it, and opened his big mouth. “Never mind about that; I am going tostand on the outside of you to do the job,”’ and them he proceeded to tie him into the chair. “ How ’bont dat ?’? asked Spot, wonderingly. “Oh, that’s s0 you won’t get nervous,” said he, knowing that was just what would make him so. ** Arn’t gwine ter hurt me, be you?" he asked. “Oh, no, or if Ido you will never know it. then, which tooth is it ?’” “ Dis yer big one up heah in de back roof ob my mouf,’’ said he, again opening his bone-yard. “All right, I see it, and will soon have it out. Just keep your mouth open and close your eyes,’’ said the dental student, stepping back a few paces and taking up a big navy revolver, PRS rad yn cried Spot, trying to get out of the chair, “Keep quiet, will you!’ roared the dentist. ““Wa—wa yer gwine ter do ?”? “Shoot out that aching tooth,” and he raised the pistol deliberately. ““ Ah! wa! bah!’ yelled Spot, and with one desper- ate effort he leaped to his feet and started for the door with the dentist’s chair on his back. ” Now, . CHAPTER VII. RUSHING ont of the door of the dentist’s shop, he ined the front door, where he tripped and fell, roll- fg down the front stoop, sometimes with the operat- **Keep quiet, will you!” roared the dentist. ** Shoot out that aching tooth,” and he raised the pistol deliberately. 3, ing-chair on top of him, and sometimes being on top of it himself, but yelling murder all the while. ar= Just as he reached the sidewalk the boss dentist ar- rived, and was, naturally enough, astonished to see the Greeco-Roman wrestling match that was going on between the unknown negro and his operating- chair, it being hard to tell which was the most broken up. But just as he reached the locality Spot happened . to be on top and was trying to get on his pins, although the struggle was a hard one. f The wondering dentist rushed to his assistance and finally stood him up. “Oh, wah, wah! Don’t shoot!” he cried, in his ter- ror and confusion. ‘¢Wa—wa oe What in thunder is the matter?” asked the dent it “Don’t shoot!"? “Who is shooting ?”? “J—I don’t want no toof pulled out by de Creed- moor plan—I arn’t got no toofache.” “You haven’t? Well, what is the matter with you, anyway?’ he demanded. “ Tarn’t got no toofache. Don’t shoot!” “Where did you get this chair?’ asked the dentist, untying the cords which bound him to it. Spot started, and held up his hand as though to ward off an expected shot, while he looked wildly around. ‘* What is the matter with you, anyway ?’ “Nufin’. Got no toofache.. Lemme go,” he an- swered, at the same time trying to get away. “ Hold on. What have you been doing”? “Nuffin’, sah—nuffin’,” he protested. “But how came you tumbling down these steps in this way, breaking my chair?” “ Brokin’de char! Look at me!’ said Spot. ““Who are you?" “My name am Spot, an’. I am @ gemman; affifer fo’a New York drummer.” “But how came you bere in this way?’ **T habe a toofache, an’ went in yer ter get it pulled out. De man he ax me how I would habe it pulled, an’ say dat de Creedmoor style war de best, an’ I tole him to go ahead. So he tie me inter dis yer” chair, toile me ter open my monuf, an’ den he war gwine ter shoot out de toof wid a pistol, an’ I lit out, dat’s how "bout it.’” ~“*Oh, that rascal Dick, up to his tricks again,’ —— the dentist. “You may go,” he added, to pot. . -
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« 14 “Well, should say so! me up, pay fo’ dish yer?” “Oh, come up-stairs and I will fix you.” “No fyou don"t, boss; I arn’t got no tootache now, an’ I's had all de fun T wants,”’ and he just: limped away from that, leaving the proprietor of that tooth jorkery looking after him with a big grin. The student Dick came out soon afterward and assisted in carrying the 1 rn ie back into the office after which told his bess ‘the whole truth regarding the affair, and they both laughed over it for some little time. : Bat, as it turned out, it was perhaps quite as well as 13 would have been had ‘the tooth realy been pulled out, for the fright given him had.entirely done away with the pain; knocked it right out of him, so to “speak, as also ‘the hotel he was quite as well as ever he was, although by what means he could not tell. He didn’é know it, but he had been frightened out of his toothache, as many a one hasbeen before. And yet it was a mystery to him, and after thinking the matter over for some time, he gradually came to the conclusion that he didn’t have a toothache, after all— that it was oniy his imagination. 3 He didn’t see Sam Spry again that day until he re- turned from business, and by this time he had pulled himself together so well that he was looking first -rate, But of course he wasn’t going to tell Sam the “particulars of his morning’s adventures. It was sae he. aera his trouble nad all on: “2 e Was a t again. Besides, wha ae he would have on him! es ' And the next day Sam put him through a course of sprouts, having a large amount of ground to go over and much work to do. ‘ He didn’t find business very good in Rochester, and what few orders he picked up he had to work for with ae hey piaees good od fiddl to his fine di pot played a seco. le ine drum- : , and before night he had quite a respectable mumber of orders. - F The next day they were goiug to Rome, and while Sam was fixing up tbe Rochester business, and in- closing his orders to the firm of Jub & Spud, Spot concluded to go out and see how'the city looked by meuiges the dandy coon that he was, wandering around alone, he naturally attracted considerable at- tention, especiaily among the apprentices and work- ing-boys, who were out in fall force that evening. ' Some of them took him to be a song and dance man belonging to some show in*town, while others guyed him fora dude coon from New York, who had taken in Rochester for the sake of astonishing it. Spot saw that he was creating a sensation, and the big swell frills that he put on was a sight to behold. He was, indeed. a swell from Swellville, to look at, and with a big cigar in one corner of his mouth, cocked ap to an angie that pee touched his hat- Tim, he carried a fancy cane, and the peculiar ‘lift’? he gave to first one shoulder and then another as he walked along certainly made him noticeable. Sam Spry was watching him from the other side of the street. and knew very well how delighted he was at attracting so much attention. But the boys were not Inclined to allow him to go on like a conquering hero, for they guyed and vhafed him, and now and then an ancient potatoe or some- thing of the kind would hit him on the back. This was all the more annoying to Spot just then, for there was a pair of handsome colored girls just in front of him, and as they had shot several admiring ces over their shoulders at him, he felt certain t he had mashed them both. ™ Better be carefal dar!’’ said he, stopping and looking back indignantly at the crowd of boys who were pestering him: ‘Nice place dis yer Rochester am ifa gemman can’t walk de streets without being consulted,”” and then he started on again amid a But who am gwine ter fix toruado of laughter and jeers. * Look af the swell dude!’ and dance man!” rs yer goin’ ter shew?” * Give us a dance!” “ Jv’s the whatisit )”" - “10's an escaped gorrilla 1’ “ Nigger, nigger, never die, Big foot and shiny eye!” and a dozen other things were called out to. him, while the crowd kept growing iw larger 4nd more and more démonstrative. ly Spot got mad, and did the worst thing he could have done for himself—turned npon one of his tormentors and gave him a cut with his cane. In an instant he was overwhelmed with a shower of mud, stones, sticks, tomato-cans—indeed, the gar- barrels seemed to be being emptied upon him. ‘He took refage in a cigar store, but by this time he was such a looking sight that the proprietor gave him a specimen of “ catch-as-catch-can,”’-and bounced him out among his enemies again. Just, then, however, a policeman happened along, and took a hand in the fun by snatching poor Spot and marching him off to the station-house, greatly to the disgust of the small boys, who hadn't had hair enough fun with him yet. Sam Spry followed with the crowd, knowing that he would have to get poor Spot out of the trouble his Vanity had gotten him into. - The policeman rushed the unfortunate darky up be- fore his captain. s “What hare you caught?" he asked, looking Spo over with a grin. . — “Igiveitnp, cap. I found it ont here on thestreet, with a riot following after it, and so I brought it in,” _ “Y's a gentleman,” said Spot, savagely. ue ie swelling, and by the time he reached SAM SPRY, ’THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. ** Well, you look it!” replied the captain. *I’s been consulted, sah!*’ ** Indeed! ‘who consulted you ?’ “De gang on de street, sab.’? “What for?’ : ‘“1Cause de people up heah don’t know a gentleman when they see him.’? “Oh,:you'’re a gentleman, are you?’ “« Yes, sah.?? “ How did you get into this song and dance rig?” “]’s'in business, sah,’ said he, proudly. “Indeed! What sort of business?’ “T's a fifer for a drummer.?? ** What sort ofa drummer ?"’ - “All sorts—Jub & Spud, New York: An’ I war walkin’ out quietly, when I war beset by a mob, sah, an’ I don’t like it. LILI . “ Well, I don’t know as I blame you. Js there any- body in Rochester who knows you?” ““Yes, I know him, captain,” said Sam Spry, ap- proaching the desk. “Oh, you do, ¢h? “Who might you be?” asked the captain, looking’him over.) > - “Sam Spry, the New York drummer, the represent- ative of the celebrated house of Jub & Spud, New York. I have been here for two days, and he is my servant and assistant. He dresses loud, like all hig race, when there is a chance for it, and I humor it in him because itis business. But that isno reason why he shonld be assaulted in the public streets when heis behaving himself in a perfectly proper manner, and I protest. “Oh, my—oh, yes!’? moaned Spot, looking from Sam to the captain appealingiy. “* Well, this sort of a thing is too rich for the inhab- itants of Rochester. You will have to tone it down if you keep it here.” “All right. But I am going to take it out of town to-morrow. Poor Spot is not appreciated here,” said ee. with much feeling. “Oh, my—oh, no!” The captain asked him several other questions, and they being answered satisfactorily, he then said: “Take it home, and don’t let it go out on the street again unarmed or unattended. Ji is a wonder that the dogs didn’t join in the chase,’’ d “Thanks, captain. Come, Spot. It is a cold, un- appreciative world. Let usfily.” - ~ “Yes, but I wants to wait’til my wings grow nat- urally,’’ replied Spot. “So you stall, Spot, so you shall. They shall not force wings upon you; you shall not die P i Come, we will away to our manor house,” said Sam, and he said it in such @ way that it nearly took the captain’s — away god pore an oe ree As % my—oh, yes ed Spot, and he at once fol- lowed Sam from the pennies 2 “Heard how I lied, didn’t you, Spot?’’ asked Sam, as they walked away. “How dat, Sam??? “T told him you were a gentleman.” “* Well??? “Well, there is where the lie came in. Now, you Ought to know that anybody who goes out on the street and makes such a guy of himself as you did to- night cannot be a gentleman.”’ “But they frew mud at me,” he protested. “Well, w: Fanowans they? You had no business to Fe out with your business rig On, and puton a load of Bowery lugs on top of it. Now don’t you let me catch you out in this rigagain unless you are out with me on business. There is one great trouble with you, Spot,” he added. “Only one? Howam dat, Sam? “You are too antecedent.’ What?” exclaimed Spot. “Too previous, in. short, too old-time. Now pull ae together, and hereafter attend strictly to bus- ess. Business before pleasure is too rich for your blood. What you want is strictly business until we t back to New York. Then I will tell the hoss to mock your shoes off and Jet you go out to grass fora week or two.”” Spot made no reply. In fact, he didn’t know what tosay. Sam had called him a great many names since he knew him, but he had never called him such a one as ** Antecedent,” and it made him feel bad— hurt, so to speak. Well, the next day they started for Rome. Sam had worked Rochester for all it was worth, and Spot had seen enough of it, anyhow. He didn’t like the people of Rochester. They failed to appreciate him, Fither he was too much for Rochester, or Rochester was not enougit for him, .. Probably the former, There wére several stains on his nobby garments, and an ugly lump over his west eye that he had Jeft to remember the city by, but otherwise he had pulled himself together, and was looking very well. Rome is one of the brightest inland cities in the United States, if uot in the world, and Sam made for it, resolved that while in Rome he would do as the Romans do—make money, for it is an enterprising manufacturing city, and money is what that are all after, as it is mostnatural they should be. But Sam’s first attempt was hardly what might be called a success. The dealer he called on kept a. sort of haberdasher store, and had just put ina stock of goods, although when Sam showed him his goods, and told him the prices, heat once saw that he. had been cheated by a former drummer, and hag paid at least six per cent, more than he should have ‘done, and he was mad. S Mad, because he knew that if his rivals got hold of Sam’s goods, they could not only undersell him, but give customers a superior article, which would, in @ very short time, become known and ruin his trade. And so he turned on Sam and abused bim without 7 stint, a thing he was used to by this time, provided it wasn’t rubbed in too hard. i x ‘\ Lbelieve you are a fraud, sir. I don’t believe that the house you pretend to represent can afford to sell such goods at such pyces.t said he. “ Well, sir, that is because you are not posted, Mr. Slusher. But I will bet you twenty-five dollars to ten that I am no fraud, and that the house of Jub & Spnd stands as well as any in New York, and that f repre- sent them and their prices,’ said Sam, beginning te warm up. : : ¥ Now the probability is that Slusher did not believe what he had said*to Sam, but:seeing how the*other- dealer had cheated him,’he'was mad at the t of his rivals getting better goods at less prices; and so Sam’s offer to bet had only made him wilder still. ~“ Get ont of here, you and your coon?* =e * Oh, op fas al muttered Spot, hastily packing the goods into the gripsacks. icnipaal “ Pll bet you are a skin anyway,” he added. 3g * And I'll bet you are a duffer, and leave it to anyof your neighbors, especially those in the same line of usiness,”? said Sam. ¥ “Get out!” ‘ = “Oh, my—oh, yes!? moaned Spot,"as~he hastily seized the grips and made for the door. ‘ “Yes, I shall go, of course, tor I don’t want to do business with aman like you. ButIwouldn’tattempt — to hurry me ifI were in your place,’’ said Sam, in tantalizing way, as he calmly looked. him-over. ~~ Mr. Slusher started toward him in amangry m bat when he saw the calmness of the well-built young man, he weakened in his bluff and went behind Ris counter, > i res Spot had set down, the grips. outside, and standing in the attitude of a base-ball pa hid on ready to catch Sam, expecting to see fired out. the store, but he wasn’t. oe: 4 “Good-day, Slusher. _1’ll make you sick before [ leave Rome, very sick, for you will have to be very sick in order to learn decency,” said Sam, ¥ a ing leisurely from the store. Sa- pe. 4 Spot was amazed at his coolness. fees cs “Come on,” was all he said to him, nN a | of, Jind bath Byes. wen debood aa tle womdssoc Seiest nd Sam Spry was as as his wo r nt around among the other dealers and sold them bills at even lower figures than he had namedto Slasher, at the same time telling them how the old skin had been taken in by another drummer, and the steck of goods he had on hand were doomed to molder upon his shelves. But when that other drummer called on him afterward, there was flung out of his store upon thesidewalk a yadly broken up Sam’l 0’ Posen. = A short horse is soon curried, and Sam got through — with Rome in one day. [? ae “Rome was not built in a day,” but ithas frequent- ly been ‘done’? in a day. | VoL | oe eee But they were not to start for Buffalo until the next day, and so it was only natural that they should take that evening tosee more of the city than business had - allowed them to do, Sam still sti to —** Business before pleasure.” . 2 So he took his time and his way, while Spot K his, the Ne being to see how the city looked the gaslight. Sj And Spot had forgotten his night adventure in Syracuse, and was feeling as fine as black silk, ready for another, *, ote ae Sam Spry was avery quiet sort of a fellow, and ff he had any fun, it was on the “strict Q.T.,” for Sam” was sensible. ; a He took the town in for quite a w 12nd then concluded he would go to the theater, as a “New York Combination ” playing there, and doing big See to So he braced up and was reads for the scene, feanwhile, the house was slowly filling up, and Sam Spry was in oue of the boxes. t It was the first scene in the drama, and the stage- manager showed Spot his business, which consisted simply in walking up and down before the cell door, while the hero was having his jim-jams, - as ae The first curtain bell. rang, and the actor with
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A SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. 15 “jims ? took his place in a mess of straw upon ‘the in ‘‘ The Drunkard’s Warning” had drank so much stage. He had an excellent make-up, and looked the part ofa person troubled with James Jams to perfection, so much so that Spot felt a trifie nervous, although “ knew, of course, that there was no real danger in him - . The fellow went on with a sensational’ speech, given in short snaps, and Spot actually became ‘very much interested in him, so much so that he was uncon- sciously doing good acting himself. F “Hat? exclaimed the maniac, suddenly seeing ‘his keener, and the expression so stardled Spot that he Jatiped back and Created a laugh. that he was playing his part with altogether too much realism. The manager came out and apologized, stating that the excitement was altogether unwarran but.that it was all owing toa green man whom he had been obliged to put into the part at only a few moment’s notice; and never having seen the drama, he became unnecessarily. frightened and caused all the trauble. This created something of a laugh, and in a “meas- ure restored good feeling again, but in the meantime another actor bad dressed for the part, and the play “No. Why?” t “ Well; I didn’t know but what» you had been, and that they had run you through a threshing-machine,?? replied Sam, laughing. *“Oh; nol! Butit’s jus’ my luck!” -he:sighed.. “ What is?” “l’s allus gettin’ inter trouble on: somebody else’s account, jus’ “caus I’s ready to do an’ dare,’? ““} dare say. » But’what is it now, Spot?” “ Stopped a runaway,”. said he, giving his shoulders a regular French shrug. “You don’t tell me!” Fact, Sam.» Only-happened a few. moments aga went on, omitting the first scene, and gave very good | Mule run away wid beautiful girl in a coach.) Come _ #*Better be careful dar!” said he, stopping and looking back indignantly at the crowd of boys who were him. ‘Nice plave dis yer Rochester am if a gemman can't walk de streets without being consulted.” Sam Spry had already recognized him. The maniac crept toward the sooty keeper in & way that thrilled the audience, but Spot knew it was only @cting. for he was an actor himself. Suddenly the maniac jumped upon him, seizing him the throat, although not tightly enough to prevent m from wildly shouting murder. He slammed him down upon his back. He drag- him furiously around and wiped up the stage With him, and before the curtain could be rung down Fr an effort made for his rescue, he dragged him down to the foot-lights and threw him headlong at the man gvito was playing the bull fiddle in the orchestra. CHAPTER VIL ‘THE scene that poor Spot had enacted at the theater im Rome was decidedly a sensational one, especially to himself. The curtain was rung down while he was picking himself out of the ruined bull-fiddle; when it was found that the actor who was: playing the part of a dirunkard with the delirium tremens was actually Suffering from them. But Spot never stopped to hear any of the particu- lars of the case, not even~the abjurations of; the Patchman who owned the fiddle, but he got-ont of That In the best time” he could ‘make, frightening the @ndience as he rushed madly up the center aisle, and creating the wildest excitement. A policeman collared: him as he was going ont of the door, and demanded to know what the: trouble owas. “Luff me go—lutf me go!” he cried, wildly. “Go back and play your part.” “No, sah; no mo’ Innatic Keeper fo’ me,” ‘and, breaking away, he ran for home Jike mad. Bat there really was trouble behind the scenes, for the actor who was playing the part of the drunkard satisfaction, while the too realistic actor was taken to he hospital. But Sam Spry was puzzled how to account for his servant being on the stage at all. How the mischief came he there, anyway? And was the whole business of ita gag? So after the performance was over he waited upon the manager for an explanation, and it was given to him as the reader understands it. Sam nearly tore his buttons off laughing over the matter, and on his return to the hotel:he found Spot seated dejectediy on a chair, looking like the last pansy of summer. Nor had he escaped from his terrible theatrical ex- perience. unscathed, for his snoot. was swollen to about twice its natural size. On account of his getting it into one of the left holes of the bull fiddle, And his. intellectual bumps .were considerably } ope swollen, and-too large for the hat be wore. On ‘account of his poking his head through the wooden belly of that same bull fiddle. And his neck wanted to be pnt in a cot. On account of its being in the way when the Dutch onwer of thatsame bull fiddle struck out. And there was a look of weariness overspreading his:swolien and disigared mug. On account of the way he had been handled, both by that insane actor and the different members of the orchestra, more. especially the indignant*owner of that aforesaid buil fiddle. * What’s the matter with you, Spot? asked Sam, as he entered the room where he sat ‘Me? he exclaimed, like a man who had sudden- ly been wakened frem a reverie. S ee you look all broken up and crushed.” “Dol? “Yes; Ishould murmur that you did. Haye you been out in the country among the farmers?” right past de hotel heah, an’ she war a-screamin’ fo’ help an’ some one ter save her fo’ her poo’ mud- der’s sake, who war wortha million, Well, you know’ how lis. I rushed out, seized dat coryortin’ mule b his east ear wid one hand, and cotch hold ob de bri- die by de odder. He drag me free blocks befo’ I flung him—fiung him right down on de ground. See! An’ de young lady war rescued. Den dat mule he got up an’ turn on me, an’ dat’s what's de matter,” said he, settling into his seat. “Come off!’ said Sam, after looking at him a mo- ment. “ What fo’ ?? Spot asked, mildly, “ Chestnut!’” “ How dat?’? he asked, opening his eyes, . “That’s the very same ghost story that you gave me in Albany,” said Sam, laughing. as Alert and Spot's jaw aropped and his big mouth D ¢ The very same, Why don’t you get something new? “Wal it ama fac’. It happen right heah jus* de same,’? he persisted. “Climb down!” “ Wha’. fo’ 5 ob) “IT know what happened you.’’ “ How dat?’ “TY was at the theater this evening.” “Oh, my—oh, yes!’ sighed Spot, ‘** Yes, and I saw your act,’’ IfSpot had been white he would have blushed crim- son. “ Y—y—yes, but dat—dat war befo’,”’ said he, pnt- ting forth all the gall he had. *Come off! Don't attempt to give me any of your ghost stories, for F know all about it. You dida great - act, Spot, a great act. Why don’t you take to the — Stage and Jeave dramming alone ?”* x “Ob, my—ob, yes!” Spot said, softly.
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16 “*T think I have heard you say that you belonged to the colored men’s *Ira Aldrich dramatic club,’ haven't 1?” i “* Oh, my—oh, yes.”* Soe * Well, the members will be proud to hear of your great hit this evening.” “ Hit”? exclaimed Spot. ** Yes, when you hit that bull-fiddle with your head and broke it allto pieces. Spot, you are altogether too transcendentally recent.” “ What!’? exclaimed Spot, opening his eyes. . “ Too fundimentally vegetabie.”’ 4 _ “Wha?:dat you say?” were Bi began to get mad * now; for he thought he was zg insulted. “Too recently fructified, Spot.” * Don? gib Latin, Sam, but tell me what you Mean,” said he, earnestly. ** Well, then, to get down to your level, you are too confounded new and n.”? Spot rolled his big eyes without speaking. **lam ashamed of you, Spot, for everythin comes along you jamp into. If thereis a bait thrown ont for asucker, you are the first one to go for it. ~e\. eee od owen (3h easy Something has happened you in every place we have } been in, ard when we get to Buffalo, and there hap- : pens to be a balloon ascension, 1 wouldn’t be a bit f surprised to see you volunteer to goin for ballast, to mever the balloon is wanted to go be eo § her.’? : : Spot was silent. ' wn out Ww “Put your hands down, and don’t try to catch on to éverything that comes along.” “Oh, my! oh,.yes P* he sighed. “Now go to bed and be ready for an early start in | just * the m and do try and see if you can’t get up to your room without having anything happen to be 7 -gou.?* ze yer Oh, my fob, yes!"” and he started in a humble and 3 most manner. > to go quietly to bed and think over the events of the day and evening until he fell asleep. And there was no reason why he should not succeed Teason gt all events, But who would have dreamed of it? . At the foot of the second flight of stairs he encoun- ‘Erin, and Spot, always the pink of politeness to the hy nd sex, lifted his hat gallantly and~ stood @side forher to €ven look at her rudely. Ave “Get out, ye monkey! cried the cook, as she ene Stopped, and started bac. p , Spot simply bowed, but said nothing. mite y “ Who are yees bowin’ ter, yer naguer? Be ont av “this, or, begorra, I'll soon make yees_sick, so I wil,” ee and she advanced toward him with clenched fists. . _ “I—I begs pardon, miss, I——" S: ~ He didn’t have a chance to proceec further, either : with apologies or explanations, for the next thing he knew a mule kicked him, as he thought, and he was roing rattle-te-bump down-stairs like a quarter of :beet, The noise brought everybody ont, Sam included, to see how muchoof the house had fallen.down, and While Spot was trying to pull himself together and ‘the others were Seeking an explanation, the voice of ‘that belligerent™cook was heard at the head of th » “Bad manners ter yees, do yer think yer’ll be afther tryin’ ter mash a dacint Oi is again? Whoop!” and she continued her way to quarters with tri- as chuckles, z ; few words told ber side of thestory, and they all understood it, They all laughed bat Spot, * said Sam. “What “Been too fresh again, eh? was I just teHing your’ + {—I didn’t do nafin’ in de world,’’ he whined. : Ttainly not. You never do. Any bones broken?” “Oh, my, I’s ad broken up, Sam,” he groaned. “ Well, now, see if you can get to bed without hay- an, else happen to nal “Oh, my—oh, yes! But I’s gwine ter go back to New York to-morrow. What you want is an India- rubber man to travel wiv you, Sam.” med, if you don’t get killed said Sam, and while the un- slowly and sadly up-stairs, lating leaving New York. The next day they made a jump for Buffalo, where Sam hoped to do a good business, having become satisfied that the smaller intermediate towns had been by other drummers in the same: line too re- one, and there ere. Go ahead;” and he started. = He found trade good there, and he therefore took a large number of orders, some of which were quite Jarge ones. ~ And there being always 2 plenty of amusements in “the city, both Sam Spot found no difficulty in . all the entertainment they wanted after the ¢ ‘s work was done. => had not been four days in the city before he ‘Was just as fancy a coon as ever he was in New York. that fn doing so simple a thing as that. Well, only one tered the cook, a big, red-fisted, red-faced danghter of pass, although he did not speak or SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. He had circulated much inthe locality inhabited by colored people, where he had become a great beau and masher among the sable belles, But thus far he had escaped trouble, and Sam began to think that he had really learned something from his previous adventures. ~~ He was always ready for business, and took great pride in the position he occupied and the notice he awakened wherever he went. But after: business (* Business before pleasure ’’) he might have been seen on some of the parks, or the broad street promenades arm in arm with some of Buffalo's fairest (cream col- ored) daughters—the ‘* Dandy Jim” of Buffalo, This was all very well, but it was liable to. make trouble. He was encroaching and catching the girls belonging to other darkys, and»he, being a stranger, it is no wonder that he aroused animosity. But still he bobbed up serenely for business every morning, and Sam never thougit of questioning him as to what he was doing when off duty. But one evening Sam, feeling too tired to go to the theater, and more like going off somewhere by himself where he could enjoy a good cigar, took a stroll out upon one of the parks, and sat down apart from the throng to think, for he had that day received a dainty letter with some rose leayes in it, and he wanted to sit down and récall the words of the bright, gossipy, perfumed epistle, and that was what took him to a secluded seat in the park. He had not been seated many minutes, however, when a pair—male and female—took ion of a seat next to where he sat, although in the dim light, of course, he could not see them in a closer degree than plainly enough to know that it was a couple, probably lovers, which somehow interested him. Five minutes later he knew that the male portion ofthe couple was his “ fifer,” Spot, recognizing him by his voice. And he was not much longer in finding out that Spot was on his high horse, and was making the most tic sort of love to his companion. ** Oh, yon’s foolin’,”’ he heard his companion say. “Foolin’!”? exclaimed Spot, in a hurt tone of voice. “Yes; you'll forget me when you go away.”” “Foget you, honey? Foget you? Oh, Pauline, listen to de words ob my heart. Does de green earth eber foget de bright moon, dat monthly, like a fairy boat, skims de clear ocean ob blue oberhead? Ah, no, Pauline, she neber fogets dat moon—no mo’ den T can foget yous, Sw’ar dat you will lub an’ be true to me though the heayens should fall,” he added, in passionate tones. E Sam conldn’t hear ber reply, and there was amo- ment or two of silence, broken at first only by 4 sound like the calling of chickens by somebody. But there presently came other sounds, and Sam heard a female screech, followed by a “thug,” and then there were sounds of somebody scratching gravel with big feet. “ Now, you, Pauline, you hook right onter me, an’ come home outen dis yer, an’ if I eber cotch you wid dat song-an’-dance coon again, I jus’ work my razor on you bof!” was another speech that Sam overheard. And then there was silence. “ Well, I guess Spot has been knocked ont again,” he mused. ‘At all events, I guess the poetry has been knocked out of him.”* He walked slowly toward the seat where all this had happened, but it was tenantless, and all around was calm and still. But Sam said nothing, and concluded to await events, thatis after he saw the morning alter that Spot only had an extra lamp in front of his ear which did not incapacitate him from duty. All unteknown to both of them, however, there was a cloud gathering over the mixed skies of masher Spot. He had made himself not only too numerous among the colored girls of Buffalo, but also and at the same time very obnoxious to their colored beaux, and they set to -work to put up a job on him that would knock him plumb out, It took some time to work it up, but it was all ready on the day that they. were to leave Buffale, it being no less than @ warrant for Spot’s arrest on a charge of abandonment and bigamy. Think of it! And this legal instrument was placed in the hands of ap peg Been with the name of the witnesses inst his done, the officer started out to find the prisoner, and succeeded in arresting him in the vestibule of the hotel during the temporary absence of Sam, who was getting ready for his next start. “ Wha!” exclaimed Spot. “Come along!” growled the officer, snatching him by the collar, and without further explanation he rushed him over to the police court- Spot was paralyzed, not haying the slightest idea of what he was arrested for, and the moment he entered the room he saw that it was nearly filled with people of his own color. x “ Ob, dar am de wretch !”’ cried one of the women, who had a baby in her arms and two others clinging to her skirts. “Yes, dar am de villain !” said another, who was situated in like manner. “Oh, you wretch!’ cried another, who had no cbildren on exhibition. And then they all howled their abjurgations to- gether, we the court-room ring like the vestibule ofa wake. : The officer hustled him sy before the judge, who fastened his eagle eyes upon him. Spot had his mouth and eyes wide open, all the while wondering what it meant. “ Officer, what have yon here?’ asked the judge. “A bad man, judge,” replied the officer, im- pressively, and at the Same time kicking Spot’sshins, Sam had. **Oh, a drefful bad, bad man!’ came a chorus oS voices from the witnesses. “* What has he done?” - “He married me, judge |” “ An’ me, Look at dese chillun, jedge.’’ “ An’ look at dese yer chillun, jedge |’ exclaimed = third, holding up a fat baby and offering to show three- < more of the same stamp, , “* And do you all claim that this man has been base snen hh to marry all of you?’’ asked the judge, open- ig his eyes. r . PhS “ Yes, jedge, he done gune and deceive us all.’”? “Oh, yes, oh, yes !’ cried the others. : : “Good gracious! Prisoner, what have you to say to all these charges ?”’ asked the judge. Spot looked altogether dazed,and conld make no answer at all, Indeed, he seemed afraid to open his mouth for fear of biting the heart that was in ft. “T—I don’ know nuftin "bout it, sah,” said ke, gaz- ing way. around him, : 4 at! “ Oh—oh! heah dat nigger talk!” ** Heah de base deceaber!” “Oh, you wretch! Look at you chillun!? * An’ dese chillun!”’ said the other. =x “Don’t Know nuftin ’bout it, sah,” said he again, and there followed another chorus of howls. “You awful, shameful, bigamistic nigger!” - “Look me in de face!” : * An’ den take a look at me!”? = “Den look at you chillun!’? = *“T don’t know nuffin’ ‘bout you nohow.” : “Oh—oh—oh! Chillun, amn’t dat you farder?* asked one ot them, pointing to Spot. = But the “‘chillan ”’ did not appear to know him from a jack rabbit, and only glared at him stupidly. 7 Just then Sam Spry put in an appearance. He had heard about Spot's arrest, and hastened to the court = for the purpose of learning the culars. ‘ This he was not long in doing, and then he = ceeded to knock the fun all out of the job that ; been put te on his man by stating who he was and es all about him, after which, the judge questioned the 4 womien closer, when they finally admitted that they 2 might possibly be mistaken. g 9 “You can go,” said the judge, and Spot at ence fol lowed Sam from the court-room, being in turn f- lowed by the crowa of women. ; as CHAPTER IX, ne ® WE next hear of Sam Spry and his servant, Spot. in lensburg, quite a long distance from Buffalo, where we recorded their doings last, but the smaller places which they visited between the two points sented nothing of importance, and so we pass them 3 by—not because they are not places of note, bright os and smart, but because everything was going along smoothly, and nothing happened at any of them that warrants notice. ints But Spot, during all this time, was on his | be- havior, and this accounts in th . ie most part for pass- ~ ing these places by. The fact is, his riences at Buffalo, together with the severe bi ~ ge a such an a given him, had toned him down that he became very humble, also very careful as to what he did. And so Sam came to the conclusio ually that he had learned sense. ¥s *But Spot was too fancy a coon to —_ quiet for — * “In the meantime, however, Sam had collared a re large number of orders eter ara eT tothe z Indeed, old Jub was half pare: lyzed at his success, and. he knew in his own mind Sr that Sam was a success, and he was ready to ac- 2 knowledge it to anybody but his daughter Annie. - . But Annie was hearing about it all the same, for Mr. Spud often spoke of the young fellow’s success in the Se home circle, and his daughter lost no time in com- ; municating it to her. Pr x Nor was this all, for there was a bit of co nd- epce between herself and Sam, and although he Rt never talked “‘shop’’ in his letters, she nevertheless understood from them that he was meeting with muck more success than her father ever mentioned. ‘And old Jub was still happy in the belief thathe had broken up any little tenderness which might baye ‘ existed, or that might have existed if Sam had not” been sent away, and he frequently, when he thought of it, patted the top of his head and called it ** big.”’ But let’s return to Ogdensburg, where we let Sam e ‘ their wares. And it was this fact that made them jealous of Sam. So two or three of them resolved to go for Spot and make it somewhat lively for him in order to make their cpenees: pa bara m Spry, of whom they had mu : = The first day out was a good one for him, while the other fellows got somewhat “left,” although had afine line of goods, which made Spotieelso good that he could scarcely contain himse: cs believed that he had quite as muchtodo withitas
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SAM SPRY, THE 4 NEW YORK DRUMMER. vet, And that evening, after business, the magnificeut Spot went out behind a big-cigar for a promenade, that he might show himself, that being a thing he was very fond of doing. Finally his eye lighted on a handsome colored belle who was slowly walking in the same direction as he was, and she rolled her big, fascinating eyes at him in @ Most coquettish manner, and yetshe was ngt too forward. “Datem a mash fo’ shuah,” he mused, and then he allowed her to walk ahead for a few yards, that he might get on to her figure and style. If was grand, beautiful, graceful as a black swan, and he became mashed himself. sweetness ail inferior to you own am kept ina state ob frozen conditions?” he added. ** Jus’ right ahead dar,’’ said she, pointing to about & fourth-rate ice-cream saloon. “Oh, heavenly ‘rendezvous! as we say in New York,” and he led the way into it. It was a great mash. .She was even more beaatiful when he cagme to See her under the lights of the saloon, and she cast eyes upon him that made him believe that she surely was iu love with him. So he ordered ice-cream of all flavors and colors, together with lemonade and candy and some fruit, all the while making love to her, complimenting her on ~ What for?" asked the officer, ~ He’s a dynamiter, and I have lured him over from Ogdensburg so as to deliver him up.’” “What!” exclaimed the constable, grabbing Spot by the coat collar. é ~ Dat’s what 1’d like ter know. What is you giving him. honey?” he asked, turning to her. “Oh, thuss all might. 1 am a detective. You are an emissary of O’Donovan Rossa, and so J] order your arrest,” said she, firmly. “ Oh, gracious me, Angelia !? said Spot. “ Give me no mo tail, ole man.” “Din I gib you ice-cream little while ago?’? he asked, in a hurt tone of voice, | , } m ao 2 «© I don’t know nuffin’"bout you nohow.” “‘Oh—oh—oh! Chillun, arn't dat you farder ?” asked one of them, pointing to Spot. But the ‘chillun” did not appear to know him from a jack rabbit and After watching her graceful walk for awhile, he gradually approached her, and she rolled her_eye around just as he got near to her, ** | begs pardon, miss, but can you show tode Prescott Ferry?” he asked, at the same time politely raising his hat. “Oh, my, yes.. I’'se gwine right. dat way myself,” she replied, with an ivoried laugh. “ How fortunate. if you’ll hut prove as kind as you are beautiful. I'sa stranger heah—am a drummer from New York, an’ | thoughtas how dat I would like to do Prescott this ebenin’.”’ e * Oh, certainly. Ill show you wid pleasure: I was @ cwine ter stop down heah to de ice-cream saloon; but neber mind it: now,” said she, at the same time uttering a pretty little laugh, and turning a glance upon him that broke lim all up. “ Gracious me, miss, don’t let me took you outen ob you way,” said he, earnestly. *“ Oh, no,"* she said, with a piece of a sigh. ** Don’t gib up de ice-cream saloon. I'll go with you, an’ consider it a pleasure to treat you to de best dat de house can produce,” ; “ Yes, but you is a stranger,” said she. “why, dat’s nuffin. Eberybody am strangers ’til dey get ‘quainted. I assure you datI is a gemman ob de fast water, an’ 1 knows how fo treat a refined lady to either ice-cream or de best ob politeness. Shall hab de pleasure?” “ Well, I—" and she hesitated and looked down. “ My name am Spot, an’I can gib you de very best ob refferences from de great house of Jub & Spud,” “Dat so?’ she asked, archly. . “ Yes, fair lady, an’. might I be so bold as ter ask what you angelic name might be?” "+ )* Angelia,” she simpered. ‘ ae Ont know’d jt must be something angelic, an’ I Weels proud ter know it. Whar am dat saloon whar only glared at him stupidly. {her beauty, and spitting out all the big words he had | | ever heard, without regard to their propriety. , | But finaily she said she must be going home, and lat all. Indeed. he offered at once to escort her home. | hand she accepted him. Indeed, she probably would | have blushed could she have done so. j | And. ob, it Was a dandy sight to see as they march- | | ed out ofthat saloon arm in arm, for now that they were getting better acquainted she felt it to be the} proper caper evidently to put on as many airs as her) escort did, and the result was that everybody turned around to look at them. ; . But Spot scarcely minded it. He was so very much | taken with the mast he had made that he didn’t notice | ordinary things. Oh; no! { So they waltzed down toward the ferry, Spot all the | while trying to impress the young lady that he was worth a milifon of dollars, and that be was only drum- | ming for the sake of getting experience and seeing the country. The river is about twe miles wit < Setween Ogdens- burg and Prescott, and during the journer Spot had a go0d chance to get in all his fine work and complete his conquest before they arrived on the Canacian side of the river, and you may bet that he put it in with powdered sugar. Finally they landed at Prescott. Canada, and started up the main street from the ferry landing. But she seemed to grow suddenly cold after they had landed, and for fear that the evening air was af fecting her, he placed his arm around her waist as they walked along. Sweetness, does you feel cold?’ he asked. “ Wal, guess I got too much ob dat ice-cream,” said she, but not mirthfully. ; “How would a little hot drops do, honey Just then she met a constab!e and hailed him. “ Take this man in,” said she. -“]'ye got to go back and arrest another “Oh. that was because you were mashed. Come of now. Take him jn. officer.” ** All right. I'll have to do it,’ said the Prescott me de way | that it was ferry time, yet this did not choke him off | official, and he was a *‘ blasted Britisher.”” “ Oh, dis yer am a joke,’ said Spot, at the same time trying to smile. It was a sickly smile, and an unfinished one at that, for just then the constable yanked him. “Look out for him—he’s loaded !"’ said the artfu. - wench. “Oh. Pil fix that said the officer, and in the twinkling of a lamt’s tail he snapped a pair of hund cuffs on the wrists of his prisoner. “ Oh, my, oh, what dis yer mean”? moaned Spot now convinced that it was not a joke and being thar oughly frightened. ‘Jil soon show you, you bloody blackened dyna- miter. Come along !” said the officer. ne of them, anc I'll appear before the magistrate in the morning,” said the girl, walking away. ** Boss, dish yer am a great mistake,” said Spet. “Shut up, or Ill club you!’’ replied the officer, for he knew he had his prisoner perfectly secure. And in spite of his protests, poor Spot. was taken to the caboose and locked up for the night, after which the officer went to the magistrate and reported that he had arrested an Irish dynamiter, disguised as a colored song and dance man. This was very pleasing to the guardian of the law and the peace, for he had been in office a year ormore ~~ and had never seen his name in the papers, because of the peacefuiness of the citizens. But now henwould probably come to the front, and see his e in the papers to -his heart’s content in connection with the | unmasking ofa plot of great and fiendish import. The officer told him adont the artful female detect- ive, who had also resorted to burnt cork in order to work her points better, and how she had returned to
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fe » and wonderment about the place. é - = what his rivals.wanted, and they 18 SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. make another arrest, and this promised additional notoriety for the ambitious magistrate, who chuckled at the prospect. But how about poor Spot? At first he was inclined to regard it as a joke that his‘ mash’? had played upon him, but that idea speedily wore away. He couldn’t understand being called adlynamiter at all. The word was too big for him, even if he had understood its definition, and so he fretted and worried for an hour or two, and finally went to sleep, thinking it would be all right in the morning. Buf he knew only a little of the law’s delay, es- eeornl when it is ae by a donkey. 9) nine. came, but that magistrate was not yet f et examine the prisoner; his addomplics had not been secured, and until then nothing would be done in sack an important case. So the great man contented himself with looking wise and keeping mysteriously silent, or hinting of great revelations soon to be made which might tn- volve the United States and Canada in a long and bloody war, and Spot was not allowed to ‘see_or be or to hold the slightest communication with the ou world, £ : Ofcourse when Sam Spry wanted him in themorn- ing he was not to be found, No one had.seen-him since the evening before, and Sam became so anxious about him that he went around to the station-houses to see if he had been arrested. «© 5 Indeed, he did:no business during that day, wnictr lost no tim aes the ~ ae ag Sam would cae y Z vel sure of ha not given up business to hunt for Spot. >», B Gould get no trace of him, and finally came to the conclusion that Spot had become tired of that sort ofa life and had run away from him) —-He-telegrapned to New York, asking if he had shown up at the store, and for him to be returned if he had, which of course created considerable surprise But he conld get no clew to his” whereabouts, and as~acinst-resort he went down by the river-front, ~where burg lived,-hoping to hear something of him, and it was here, indeed, that he got the first faint trace 0 his missing man.:_- 4 "1 seen dat fancy coon de other night gwine ober Papen: witha fancy yaller gal,” said an old colored woman, but she could give no further intforma- tion about the matter. © : _ in te world. “Ob, my—oh, yes! dar he is!’ exciaimed be; catch- sigtit of Sam. “Oh, Sam! oh, Mr. Spry! come an’ Me outen yer!’ he plead, “Sflence in the court:’’ roared an officer, “Who have you thére;officer?’” asked the old mag- istrate, frowning upon Sam. “T found him inquiring about this suspect, and so arrested him,” replied the officer. 4 you did . right. More than likely he is this flend’s accomplice, and we cannot be too careful in these perilous times. We shall presently see.” “ What Is the meaning of this outrage ?” demanded Sam, addressing the court. “Shut np, sir! How dare you address the court?’ roared the , getting red in the face, “| have a right, sir, to know why I am thus arrest- ed, and why my servantis also a prisoner here,’ re- plied Sam, warmly. - “No, sir. If you wish to be heard at all, you must to show me 2 counselor,” said Sam, turning to the officer. * There sits one.’’ “Very well, [engage you to ask for me what I am arrested for,’’ said Sam, to the lawyer. ‘Then the lawyer rose to question the court in behalf of his client. “The disguised prisoner was arrested at the instiga- tion of a woman, who c 1 him with being an em- missary of U’Donovan Rossa, with evil designs against her ma ’s subjects, and this young man is under arrest for being an accomplice.” * Is the woman in court who moved the arrest?’ asked the lawyer. “No; the government expects her soon, and will then be ready to proceed with the examination.” -~* But, your honor, I maintain that this whole thing is & mistake, if not an actual outrage. This gentle- man {sa commercial traveler for the well-known house of Jub & Spud, New York, and that colored boy is, his servant.”’ “ He is an Irishman in disguise, sir.” “ That can be easily disproved. Let the court-officer go.over him with.soap and water.” .“ Villdo nothing ef the kind, sir, and if you make Snother suggestion like that, I will fine you for con- ft of court,” # client has numerous witnesses residing in Ogdensburg to ve what he to be true.” ™ * Doubtless, are many dynamiters over there ready to sweat to anything to save a fellow-con- spirator.. Butitis my daty to sift this thing to the bottom, and find out ali about the prisoners. We are of the colored people of Ogdens="}y f|in print as the wnearther of a big diabolical living in perilous times, and it behooves every loyal ete to do his duty. I hold the prisoners for trial. “ Trial when?” . “When the government is ready. I have written to Ottawa for instructious,’’ : “ Very well, I will apply for a writ, and have them taken before a higher court, for this one is unjust and irregular,” replied the lawyer. “Silence, sir, or 1 will commit you for contempt. Lock the prisoners up.” * Oh, my—oh, my!? moaned Spot. o- Sam and his lawyer had a few moments’:whispered conversation, after which he was locked in a separate cell from Spot, where for the next few hours he was blue and in eee: * ce Was there ever such an outrage, and what the deuce did it all mean, anyway? But his Jawyer proved himself to be a good one, and” in a short time he summonsed some of the leading merchants of Ogdensburg, and obtained a writ of haveas which took both Sam and Spot before a higher eourt, where the merits_of the case were at once gone into. The thing to do-was to prove thatSpot was Teally what he seemed t6 be, and in order to do that court officer went over his facé with ‘a sponge and some strong soap suds. pai oo In doing this he got some of it into his eyes. - This produced.a sensation in court, for.the poor fellow closed his lookers“tight!y and opened ; his mouth so wide thatit.resembled a cave. ~ — * “Oh, my—my eye!” he bellowed, and this set every« body but the victim tolanghing. nv? = But it proved one fact beyond. 4 doubt, that Spot was not. blackenéd up artificially, and when reputa- Die and well-known merchants came forward, and not only recognized, but-yonched for them both,the whole thing became so™ludicrous that the judge ordered their discharge amid a blizzard of laughter, and both Sam and sty Fee the pape ive rans ae But it cost Sam twenty-five dollars, just the sa: for bis lawyer, althougt that was mothing. under the circumstances? © a . as And that old fool ofa magi Spare, who thought he had found a mare’s hest, and was anxious to get name ‘ot to biow up Canada, had more than he wanted of it be- fore he heard ‘the Jast of it, for Sam: having no other means of.redress, gaye the whole thing away toan Ogdensburg reporter, who wrote it up to the queen’s tas r ~Go~way, chile. You is tajkin’ *bout somebody else—not *bout youself; an? es dat, you is talkin’ to an ole Southern slave.” a “Dat so?? mused Spot. | * 2 “Yes, sat, You is warblin’ to an ole veteran—a man dat knows all aboutit, Know wholis?? — “No. Who is you?’ ; | ‘“Mse de orignal Uncle Tom,” said, the old porter, _traightening himselfup. . ~~ 3 — Go *way.? 5S eid tf ay. - Ane ase see *-1 can prove it. by everybody in Ottawa. you see, honey, dat you don want to Set ob sin on me: Golo ‘ou a colonel i you original Ine: in dé war!” and getting up-from where he had been sit- ting he walked of, ng, ..\\ ao ree od “Spot after hima moment, and then scratehed his woolly"head nifally, Ae oy Oe TF guess.deone or boot 0! tae Tle ae oe tt ‘ But he was taken down So:much that he didn’t say say shinier ove about his war experiences while in ttawa | Fn ta a +s Sam/ Spry, however, was 4 ug first Yate, and be- sides the-business telegrams, ht also gota congramla- Lory.one frem Mr. Spud, and two or three from the ‘diferent salesmen in the honke, but nota word from olddub. Indeed; Sam was doing ot ttoo well to suit him, and he only hoped some’ ‘would bap- pen to break him up and set him adrift. / : But he wouldn’t give erie yet thatbisfead was not a big oné, and that- he not broken up any little tenderness that had or might have existed between Sam. Spry.and his daughter Antie. i Yes, it'seeméd. really like “ war times” in Ottawa, and Sam took advantage of it vy sending to New, York for Several kinds of goods that he had not hither- to carried, and which were likely to be called for dur- ing the excitement and arming of troops. Indeed, old Jub was obliged to admit that Sam was smarter than greased chain lightning: although he was careful not to say as much in the bosom) of his family... Nevertheless, the bosom. of that family was Kept well item by an interested and interesting member of Mr. Spud’s family, : But to return to Ottawa. P The last night of their stay there, the boys and anng fellows held what they called an Indian Jark th commemoration of the downfall of the Indian or half-breed rebellion. ; Dozens of them were ised as Indians, and were marching around with torches, fixed up in feathers*and war paint, aud doing their level best to make night hideous. ; Great crowds followed them to see their wild antics, and of course it was just like Spot to get as Close as he ceuld to them, for whenever there was anything to be seen, he wanted a front seat. P Naturally enough, he didn’t folly understand the, significance of the affair, but rather considered it a carpival of some sort. But it was not long before some of the fellows in their disguises got on to him, ¢Gd in less than two minutes he was surrounded by Wwhat seemed to be a first-class band of howling Indians, bent on having bis county and of the Dominion of Canada, on the Ot- | scalp. tawa river, at the month of the Rideau. It is a beautiful city, and the Parliament House is a structure worthy of Canada, of the true and stanch dominion of the queen. In fact, taken altogether, it is one of the most beautiful cities of the north. , But it so happened that there was great excitement in Ottawa at thetime Sam Spry visited it, for news had just come in that General Middleton had achieved a great victory over the rebel half-breeds in the north- west, and everybody was rejoicing, the city being full of visitors and strangers, This, of conrse, made business good, and Sam ‘had little difficnity in getting orders from nearly every dealer in the city, being in constant telegraphic com- munication with Jab & Spud at New York so as to have quick instructions. Spot was behaving himself quite well, for his late experiences had salied him very much, but he got very enthusiastic over the war talk of the people, and whenever he found a goud opportunity where anybody was willing to listen and at the same time behteve, he would reel off some gay old stories regarding his own warlike experiences during the Southern rebellion, al- though he didn’t appear to have mach of an idea as to when that great event took place. He got one of the porters of the hotel to listen to him, and began to let himself out to the old man, in- tending to astonish him. He was giving it to him that he had served a3 a colonel in one of the colored regiments, and was pro- ceeding to go into details regarding the battles he had taken a Jeading part in. - : tae ee Now, this old colored porter was something of & lar beset @ quiet way, aud he listened some nervously as Spot went on. ae Be os But finally he could stand ft no longer. At first he was inclined to regard it as a joke, but when they began to dance around him, floutishing their tomahawks and scalp Knives, and yelling a most confusing sort ofjargon, he concluded that they must mean business, and that of a decidedly unpleas- ant nature. ° So he tried to get away, but the more he tried the closer the Indians gathered about him, the Jouder did mee yell, and the: nearer did they come to actually taking his scalp. **Policemans!”? yelled Spot, but this only made mat- ters worse for him, for they began to kick and hustle him around, calling him all sorts of strange names in a strange tongue.. “Murder! murder!’ yelled Spot, and then they went to make it lively for him some more. They stood him on bis head in the mud. and com- pletely ruined his fancy hat; then they rolled him in the Le and ruined those clothes of which he was so prou The more he yelled the more did the spirit of mis- chief seem to increase in his tormentors, while those not actually engaged in giving him the war-dance re- garded it as very funny. And so, perhaps, it would have been had they not carried it so far. After nearly frightening the life out of the poor coon, they formed in two el lines, between which he was to run the ganslet for his life. Spot really believed it was for lis life, and that the Indians had captured the city. and the way he did tear r ous. the ground was a cantion. B ‘couldn’t run fast enough to avoid the blows aimed at him, and al none of them were bloody ones, yet he imagined every one was drawing his life current, Ey oe ro
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rs SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. 19 A wilder-looking coon was never seen on top of the earth, and at the same time he was so frightened that he didn’t tumble even when he heard the:crowd laugh ready to split. But even after renning the gantlet his troubles were not over with. "They seized him, rushéd him down to the river, tnmbled him into a dug-out, and shoved it out into #he stream without oars or paddle, However, he was glad to escape from them, al- though in the darkness he hadn’t the slightest idea of where he was or where he was going. . ButSam Spry finally heard of how they were mal- “ed / ly cS = j Wa Hh WN et ** Come olf !”* “Din you see em ?’ ** No, but 1 saw & lot of boys playing Indian.” * Playin’ !"? = eS and they had some fun with you, did they?” “Fon I"? “Yes, it looks like it.’? ‘Fun! Whar am my best hat—whar am my good clus ?? he asked, despairingly. ** Haven’t you got them on?"? * Oh, Lord 1? ““ Why, they frightened you out of your boots,’’ said Sam, laughing. Ht “Oh, my! oh, yes. I should say so,”) he moaned. “You have had just as much trouble in other places as you have had in Canada, showing thut the fault is all yours. Here; come.in here,” he added, as they reached a clothing store. $ ; Spot followed, but not with enthusiasm. He had lost all thatin his engagement with the “ Indians,” but he could only obey orders. Sam told ‘the salesman what he wanted, and in a short time Spot. was.arrayed. in a comparatively modest suit of clothes and a new hat. Yes, they were. indeed comparatively modest as compared with his ruimed suit, but still they were *“joud*’ enough to attract attention and speak for The court officer went over his face with a sponge and some strong soap suds. In doing this he got some of it into his eyes. This produced a sensation in court, for the poor fellow closed his lookers tightly and opened his mouth so wide that it resembled a cave. = treating his man, anc obtaining the assistance of an officer, he started for his rescue. It was & long time, however, before he learned his fate, and then he set out with a boatmen to overtake him, while several officers of the law dispersed the ** Indians.’? Meanwhile, it was very dark on the river, although Spot could see by the lights on shore that he was drifting slowly—somewhere, He pulled himself together as well as he contd, and bégan to wrestle with every prayer he had ever heard in his life, and it is a wonder that his wool hado’t “turned gray in a single night.” : Finally, after rowing and shonting for some time, Sam 2nd the boatman overtook him. But he was in such an abject state of fright yet that he thought the Indians were after him again for the purpose of drowning him. He yelled murder with all his might, and tried to prevent the boatman from getting at the rope attach- ed to the dug-out, and all the while he did not appear t» recognize Sam’s voice, However, they soon towed him ashore, although it was with the greatest dimiculty, that Sam conld make him understand who he was, and that he wasin the hands of friends. “ Oh, what’s the matter with you?” < Spot looked at him wildly for a moment, and then felt of the top of his head to see if bis scalp was still there. : His hat was missing, and he didn’t seem to be cer- tain about the scalp. : “Oh, zo black cals encores. Sam. What's the ‘ou ?* “ De Tajanst” said we glancing wildly around, + ! ns ‘ ~ ny Mies Fadiats Poké ch. eel And Spot looked down at his big feet to see if he really did still possess his boots. “Same old story, Spot.” “How dat?” ‘* Too antecedent, too unreservedly new, too fresh, in short, as usual. Think of how many scrapes that same freshness has gotten you into since we started es and how many jectures have I given you about (S0) “ How war I fresh, I’d like to know ?. I jus went to see what de row war all about, when dey all set upon me,*’ protested Spot. “ Yes, you look as thongh you had been sat upon,” teplied Sam, laughing. “ Well, perhaps it’s your luck.”? “Luck! Call dat luck? De fact is, Sam, I’se get- ting sick ob de whole business, an’ it am) berry evi- dent dat I-wasn’t cut out for it or I'd been made ob Injun rubber instead ob flesh an* blood,’ said he, de- spondingly. “No, yon are too lond. Now I will take you to a clothing store and buy you a new rig, but it will not be so lond as this one is, and then if you get into any More serapes I'll just ship yon back as freight to New York; where you will have to pay your own freight and Jose your situation with Jub and Spud besides.” “Lemme go now, Sam. I’s tired,” he moaned. “And I’m a trifle weary myself,Spot. But I'll give you one more trial.” “No. ‘I’s had all I want. Dis yer Canada am de wuss piace, on top ob de ground.” “What's the matter with Canada ?”” bab dae fag ae right’ fo" de natives, Dut it am us Yankees.’ “Us Yankees? Well, that’s refreshing. Now there’s_ nothing the matter, with Canada, but there is heaps the matter with you.” . themselves, while the hat was a glossy plug witha broad brim. This new turn of affairs made Spot feel a trife better, but it could not cure the bungs and brnises he had received at the hands of the insanguinary Indians who had forced him to run the gantiet. However, he appeared out in hisnew the next morning, and looked as spruce as a brand new bar- ber's pole, and althongh he walked lame, made qnite animposing appearance as he follewed Sam to the steamboat station, bound for Montréal. At all events, he was glad to get away from Ottawa, if it was impossible to escape from da just then, for there he Dad. suffered the most, and been put through the liveliest course of spronts that had ever yet overtaken him. Itis one -of the most beantiful rides in the world from Ottawa to Montreal, and from there onward to old Quebec, and Sam, after writing out his orders and mailing them to. New York, and informing his honse that he couid be addressed at St. Lawrence Hall next. he settled himself down to enjoy the trip, a8 he _kiew so well how to do. And Spot by this time began to feel a trifle more like himself, and; to teJl the truth, it looked as thongl he and the steward of the River Belle had been honi- ing a consultation, for he braced np and down the promenade. deck as though he owned every plank there was in the steamé?, to say hothing of the spikes and machinery. N Sami had his eye on him and readily understood tat Spet had been taking medicine. for the benefit of te bruises he_had received at Ottawa, but he said noth- ing, only kept his are om bim. ae at was another person on boanl who an eye on Sam anbeknown to him. _ et This was a prim old maiden who was evidently mastied .n the handsome young drummer, and was ’
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_ doing her best to attract his attention. But it took Eeaaite ashbow of dry goods to catch Sam’s eye. They were aH out on the forward deck, admiring *E the beautifal and remantic scenery. and "this badly *‘moashed old maiden was not long in finding out that the lordly Spot Was Sam’s man. So she managed to intercept him when he was out of Sam's sight for the purpose of finding out who he ‘iors whatis your name?” she asked, ad- Focmtrggdirat We brpolite coldness. et Me Miner? and you should have seen him lift his new hat and ey himself on a bow. It was too utterly ut for an ing, and the lady nearly fainted. ~*My Lame am Spot; madam, at your sarvice,”? and he stood with his hat im aoa ee : ‘go6d enough to me.your young master’s nae said said she, at the same time placing a dollar in his s ready hand. “Sam Spry—dat is. ‘Samuel Spry, mam.” “and his ness ?” “ De-boss Saieoner: in de world. All wool, two Levin bdeg wide, warranted not to slirink or fade,’’ re- Met a sha asked the puzzled lady. “Drummer fo’ Jub & Spud, New Si at thank you,” said she, turning a iinked his best eye, poked that dollar into his and went to see the steward. » _“ Wonder wha’ dat ole hen wants ter know *bout Sam fo’? be mused. “Maybe she’s his long-lost parient. 4 shes old enough to be, an’ seems ter me “I’s hearn dat he didn’t hab no farder nor modder. Who know but daram @- romance ’boutit? Neber mind, dar’s Do romance *bout my part ob it,’ said he, and then id the steward that he wanted some whisky to his bruises with. This was all very well. Bruises such as Spot had ' received must be bathed in some sort of medicine. But lea Reto Arama tees" i Old lad: fe ceaieltont way gently ata cigart cost 3 Spall, thin f thinking some of busi-
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“By golly, ’d a swum asho fo’ haf dat money,” od said Spot. ‘ “Ob, it’s great ‘perks’ for them deck-hands, b “eee passengers all chip in on ther reward for gal- ntrv.?” “ Wonder if my boss chipped in? But don’ say a = word "bout dis yer, an’ I send you down a bottle ob : hot drops.’’ * All right, we'll niver brathe it.” By this time Spot’s clothes were dried, and he made . his way out of the dingy fire-room and cautiously found the deck again. The incident of “a man overboard ” had by this time been almost forgotten, and nobody seemed to running motice him at all, and for this he was profoundly thankful. As he sauntered aft, where the passengers were all engaged looking at the scenery, he saw the firting _ stewardess flitting about, attending.to her daties, but he quietly skipped to the other side of the boat, out of harm’s way. No more of that adventure in his. He was no hog, and knew when he had got enough, even if he was onty a black man. ‘He took a seat with his face to the stern, so that no- body would notice him, his whole thonghts being _ . whether Sam Spry would find ont why he had gone * overboard. Z Bat during his process of drying a curious phe- nomenon had manifested itself. His new suit of clothes were made of unshrunken flannel, and the wetting and drying process they were evidently not war- ranted against, if warranted at all. The result was that his trousers shrunk so tightly to his crooked legs that they looked as though they had wn over a and they had gone up fully ehes in Jength. : eT for his coat: the dryer it got the tighter it got, also the shorter, untilit made him look hump-backed, and gradually became so short as only just to hide _ his back suspender buttons. He didn’t notice it, however, for he was deep in ht, and one by one the buttons yielded and few _ off, but as this simply gave him ease, he failed to no- thee that, and went on thinking, also with caressing his a 7 Sept And as for that new plug : You remember bow. Dobby it looked when he left __ - Weil, when he took that involuntary flying header ___- Sverboard, on account of being in the way of an in- A wilder-looking coon was never seen on : he didn’t tumble even when he SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. dignant husband’s fist, that new plug went flying off his head, and yet, out of sympathy, seemingly, it fol- lowed its owner overboard. It was the first ebject that Spot discerned when he came to the surface, and if a drowning man will grasp at a straw—what’s the matter with a full-grown plug hat? Spot seized it, and in his extremity used it for a life-} troth of it. preserver until he was rescned, but of ceurse no silk hat is warranted to act in the capacity of a life-pre- Server'and a good-looking plug hat at the same time, without a great deal of intermediate ironing. But the hat was rescued with its owner, and he had , . it on all right when he was placed in a dripping con- dition on board the steamer again. And yet it was of course thoroughly soaked, and the silk plush began to peel from the pasteboard frame- work ofthe body, looking at the same time like the skin of a wet cat. It was at this point that Sam Spry went aft and be- held him. He had managed to get away from the festive old maid, Miss Tendertoe, by saying that he must look after his man, and there he was, looking at him. And it was a pretty sight ! **Spot?’? he called, and the coon leaped to his feet. As he did 86 the shrinkages of his clothes became remarkably observant. **Spot?” “Oh, my—oh, yes !" moaned the unfortunate dark. “Come here. What's the matter with you?” “Me? Nuffin’.”? * Yes, it looks that way,” and Sam, in spite of him- self, was forced to jaugh at the comical picture. ** Well, what was it tis time?” he added. ‘* Wha’ dat you mean, Sam ?’? “What do I mean? Why, you always have some excuse or other for everything that happens you. How did you, happen to go overboard ?”” * Wal, Sam, J—I got asleep,” said he, after a few moments’ refiection. “ “Got asleep! Where?’’ “T_T set on the guard rail dar, an’ fiss1 know I war—I warin de water.”’ “Oh, that was it, eh?” ‘Fo’ sure, Sam.” > ** Very careless of you, Spot.’? “I knows it, but de jar and motion ob de steam- boat made me sleepy an’ I lose myself.” top of the earth, and at the same time he was so frightened that ode * heard the crowd laugh ready to split. But even after Pus tee the gantler his troubles were not over with. “Exactly. Anybody near you when you took your header?”? asked Sam) carelessly. : : “No, not dat I knows ob.” “No good looking colored woman?” “ Hey?’ asked Spot, open-eyed. = “ Any big colored Man near you at the time?” It was clear enough to poor Spot by this time that the secret was out, but he was bound not to admit the **J—] don’ unerstan’ you, Sam,” said he.- “What? exclaimed Sam, sharply, and Spot looked wild and swallowed quick. ‘Come off!’ **T—]—wha’ ?”” “Come down to hard pan.” mi Wit “T don’ know what you is gibin’ me, Sam.” : “ Oh, I have heard all about it, and I wasn’t the least bit surprised, for it corresponds exactly with your general freshness, only I think it a shame that they didn’t let you drown, “Such rare verdency as yours is too rare and good for this earth.’’ = Spot opened his eyes wider than. before. He also opened his mouth as though to speak, but somehow he couldsr't do it. “Now get a good look at yourself,” added Sam, leading him up to a mirror in the deck cabin. < It was as much as the poor coon could do to walk ~ at all. so tightly had his clothes shrunken about him. But he did the best he could. — Just get a glance at yourself.” ‘ te. Until now Spot had never suspected how he looked, but it is safe to say that if he had not realized that the reflection was that of his own person he would haye ** Oh, my! oh, Sam!" he whined. “Sure pop, and don’t let it slip out of vour mind — any easier than your clothes will slip from your y. j Sm - ** But looken dat hat.”* aed = 4 “It sn’t'my fault. It was new only yesterday.” “But it wasn’t my fault, Sam.” ae ye. “Was it mine? was it the boss’s? No, good clothes are too rich for your blood, Spot, and if you continue -
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22 to wear those you have on, you will not be apt to at- tempt any more mashing, and therefore less liable to > get into trouble,” replied Sam, turning on his heel and walking away, leaving the disconsolate Spot gaz- ing at himself. * Oh, my! oh, my golly! amn’t dish yer turruble?” he groaned. onder wha’ happen me next? Wish I war dead, or ‘eek to New York.’’ Just then a brisk old party came along and took a look at him. Then he took a hearty laugh, and slapped his thigh, and swore he had never seen any- thing S80 comical in all his life; but Spot was hurt too deeply to either join or reprove him. _ Excuse me, my dear colored friend; I know itis wrong to langh’ at a person in misfortune, but I posi- tively cannot help it. If I saw a poor beggar in the street I'd have to laugh at him before I gave him any- thing. It’s a weakness of mine. But I assure you, my dear fellow, that I sympathize with you.” “Yes, you seems to,”? said Spot, turning away. * Fact, Lassure you. I know how it is. You are 2 i the unfortunate coon who was flirting with the hand- _ . some stewardess and got knocked overboard by her 2 indignant husband. You, unfortunately, had a new flannel suit on; you dried it, and it has shrunken “about one-half,” and again he “laughed until the tears came to his eyes. ““Excuse me, but how that I have enjoyed my laugh, [ will be good to you. I'll teil you how to take the pucker out of those clothes in a half of no time, but you'll have to wait until we reach Montreal.” do, sah,” said Spot, eagerly. store and get a quarter ofa pound saps ee alum. Dissolve it in a quart of water, take a small sponge wet in it and go carefally ovel spur pants while you have them on, and when art: are dry they will be restored to their original Do the att Soe with your coat, and then ‘ oa + mae al ob! fe ol sah,” said Spo pone. “ That's all right, my boy,”* and the bi ld party walked to another part of the boat to finish is langh. low, by golly, I get de best ob Sam, after all de Yaugb he hab on mem he muttered, as he went aft : resumed his seat again. _ How little it takes to make — ‘ople happy. _ Batin op bs pig apmebade wentto where me, Spot, 3+ Same nee mesaego tne trnnks and grt ey OR +e vgn see yon tant worry along without getting Je tod de no reply to this, his chief anxiety being roo" > t of that head-waiter mi indignant PTT YP TES, As eae 2 S bab ae zy to have you call on me at my wil indeed, y ee Here is m reend iy carriage r es # ia areeiy om honor ot calling.” although. he D in Montreal; bright, beautiful but decorou, the home of winter's grandest carnivalss iter of Reem see ng nee Pecnted toa epee carrate Stood an obsequious, liveried EF : even tdrned and saved her! hand to him as she entered oat and. this puzzled the handsome drummer stl! more. Could it be possible that this lady, old enough to be his mother almost, and evidently a person of wealth and tion, had failen in Jove with him? 7 rhe ejaculated, and pushed on to the well- risen St. Lawrence Hall, leaving Spot to see to the transporting of the tranks. This pleased Spot, for he wanted a chance to find a * \arug store before going to the hotel, and after seeing the trunks safely in the hands of an expressman, he ‘went iu search of one. and was not long in possessing” himself of a quarter of a pound of alum for the bene- fit of his semaken s suit of clothes, to be used fs the ‘brisk ol@ party whom he had met on the steam-boat bad recommended. But fe was ali the while a sight to -behold:‘and peo- _ le taughed’at mm as he made hfs way throngh jhe Streets of the city. But this he expected, and did not cate for, since his way out of his trouble by the aid of 3 ete ‘Water Was so easy, Arriving at the hotel just as the expressman did, trunks were safely bestowed, and one of the ont showed him to the room that had 10 Sam, it was too late in the day to do any busi- 80, after seeing things all right, he went out to éa tart about the city,s0 as to he better prepared the morrow'’s work, while Spot locked the door ot bidet and at mace began the experiment upon his Te Began Goerkiiny on the coat, which he hung a the wardrobe after he had carefally sponged it “with the alum water, after which ho gave a dose to ss ging “and = ane | that up on another peg. over his pants with much care, abd ; von so iopioesse} to his hide that the solution reached the moment it was applied. went over them with the fond hope that the would take the pucker ont of them, and res*ore original Jeng‘h. look lively; we are ‘getting into Mon-. Comte SAM SPRY, THE NEW. YORK DRUMMER. And after working over them for an hour or so, he got sleepy. Then he dozed, and being in an easy sort of a chair, his big mouth gradually opened and he went to sleep, the thrilling adventures of the day be- ing excuse enough for iu. But how long he slept he had no more idea than the maninthemoon. He knew he felt very stiif when he woke up, and yet he was not certain that he had slept at all, for it was just as light as he had remembered of its being when he closed his eyes. What did it mean? He very soon found out, for while yet rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, the door of his room was opened and Sam Spry entered. “Well, what in thunder are you doing?” he asked. “Nuffin,” grunted Spot, “Where have you been all this time ?” “*All wha’ time? Jes’ set heah an’ hab a little nap. Git so bimeby dat yer won’t want me to sleep.’’ ** Just been setting here and having a little nap ever since you came up here yesterday ?”” asked Sam. “Yesterday! Amn’t dis yer yesterday?” asked Spot, leaping to his feet. “No, thisis the day after yesterday, and you have been sleeping here for at least fifteen hours.” “Oh, my—my good gracious!” ““What the mischief have you been doing to your trousers?” asked Sam, laughing. Spot remembered, and looked at his garments; ex- pecting to see them as long as ever. They were not only suorter than before, but were maw so tightly by the action of the alum that it nearly stopped the circulation of blood. - Then he looked at his coat. It was curled and shrunk until too small for Tom Thumb. He held it up and looked at it with sorrow, while Sam actéd as though he would split himself in pieves with laughter. Itwasalong time before Spot would tell what he had done at the suggestion of the brisk but seemingly honest and sympathizing man whom he had met on the steam-boat, and then Sam came very near going into convulsions over it. “ Well, Spot, yon are as good as a circus, but you are a very expensive one. And the worst of it is that you do-not ri Tell me, why were you such an ass as to follow advice of that joker and shrink pe clothes still more by soaking them in alum? Didn’t you know that alum was an astringent?» n ‘He No 2”? asked Spot, looking wil ‘t you know that alum water would be sure to ‘anrink your clothes even more than they were?!’ ~ * }don’ know nuffin’, only dat I’m sick an’ wants ter git home. I'se tired,” said he, sadly. - amet es look it 1” Then Spot tried to get his trousers off, but they would not come, : pS AD a Ben diets ee Shag ae x. “Wha? “Or ms oad person like a butcher, whois used | to “Oh, my, ; : hee. ey y charge : double price for skinning fools,’ sa “Oh. my. good Lora im de mornin’ * And when you eet out of them, what you are going to do ?* “Oh, Sam, don’ At conundrums pr = Heanor I shall have to get along withont you this “te as soon a8 youcan pull yourself to- get into some shape ft — you upand Sed ouback Lord: don't, Sam! he my on: e But weit good are you to me? You are forever getting into some scrape or other and knocking me. out ot business. {I wish DhadJeft you In New Yo » {* Oh, my, m, good Lord, don’t, Sam,” ‘ “ Bah"? and Sam rushed away, leaving poor Spot distracted. , What was he to do? His trousers pained hifn so that he knew something had got to be doné tn the way of getting out of then. So he tried to get his hand into the pocket in order to get at his knife, but it was so terribly puckered up that he could not do it. and his heart sank within him. Jast then there was a dull explosion, and tnree or four buttons flew across the room. He instantly felt.a sense of relief, and finally worked his hand into his pocket, from which he drew the cov- éted knife, at the same time wishing that he could jab it into the brisk. old man who had supplemented his woes with a practical joke. Opening it, he proceeded carefully to cut the,legs dowmthe sides, so as to get out of the trousers in some way or other, But.it was a delicate job, and he drew blood several times before he was finally out. of his di- lemma. But he finally sneceeded in.getting them off, and Swearing at the same, time that. he would.never be fooled again as long as he lived. Hereafter he would attend strictly to business, and look neither to the right, mor look to the left, ““but keep in de middle ob de road.” _ It was a great sense of relief to get out of those hat to yon think But while he was thus agonizing, a servant came >to the door with a big bundle. It contained a new suit of clothes and a nobby derby hat, He of course Knew where they came from, and lost no time in getting into them. The suit was a brilliant one, fall of big squares ané stripes, and well made up. Spot smiled as he glanced at himself in it, and the shades that had lowered upon him only a short time peters wet: quickly dispersed, and he actually began to smile. Half an honr later he was down in the office looking” for Sara, for he felt just then like getting out and doing” business. But Sam was nowhere to be seen; so Spot wentin for a breakfast, being very hungry by this _ time, and was feeling even better when Sam came ine from his first business excursion. “ Well?’ said Sam, looking him over. Spot braced up on his shape and struck an attitude © to show his good points. Oo eThat's all right. But how long will it be before © you spoil that suit with some of your smart Aleck ~ eapers??? **Sam, I’s done,” said Spot. “Done wnat??? *« Done nonsense.” “ Well, I’m glad to hear it, ifthere’s any truth in it es I don’t take much “stock 1 you, Spot. You are — good.” we 0 my. oh, yes.’ i ¥ ‘Oh, ou are bad roots.’? j 2 “Hey ?”? asked Spot, not understanding the word. “Yon are bad luck. Whatever you touch turns to trouble. I think I'll shake you.” Rs “Oh, my, oh, don’t.’? + i “T have’ had nothing but trouble with you ever since J started, all on account of your general ron eens t salt,’ said Spot, Tly, f S my. i €a 8a. pot, eagerly, for that he had a new suit of ales he wanted a “Well, I suppose you will do better than no man all until I can geta new one from New York,’” Sam. carelessly. Try me some mo’, Sam. Ido oe as you. tole n limes? he continued to plead : ell, "try you i ‘once more.’ “Oh, my, oh, yes!” he exclaimed, delightedly. The nord ‘morning Spot marched behind Sa . rounds among the merchants of ly and well what he had been out, Spot, Sree mill be. esure to happen to mar in.” rs be aa de thing, Spot; careful wit with ‘those sample gri -“ We Montrea Pet now.” - ‘How “A large number of cane from the States. » Thave en Serene m, and youn want fo look very sha: you ‘want to be ‘more to see that fonts waylay you and get away ¢ et aakaeen know me?" he asked, f ina tone a voice that had lots ofsad peprearta jo ants “ Well, yes; but you want to keep your eye skinned for tramps, all the same., They might get. away with you.” '4*Sam. you wrongs me.~I ‘may be-unlucky about gettin’ into Scrapes, an’ all dat sort ob ting, but I’se no coward.”’ ** Well, I hope not, for ifI thought you were, I shoulda hot intrust those valuable sample-cases to your keep- ips,” added Sam, ¥ ‘here are some Pag t Bn 3 citizens bere in nares & ¥ 2 4 ~* =~ =s, ing. Rut keep youreye open, especially when you happen to be omt in the evening.’ *-Sam, I’s bold as a lion.” “ Well, I hear you say'so.” “1s Dad when it come toa fight.) ** Thope so.” : : “T'a like fo'ter seed tramp come fo’ me. Why, E can knock outtemtramps.’? © — ‘ Well, but don't brag too much. What you want todo is be'on your guard, that’s: all’? said Sam, and he left Spot to think it uver to himself, * Wonder wha’ put dat yer in his head? I like ter see some tramp get away from me wid dem yer gripe. 1 mash him all up; 1knock de Jife outen him. Tramps no good; I can lick a dozen wid one eye blind an’ one ban? tied behind,’ and he felt of his musele to; see how hard and bir it was, Then he smiled,as though he regarded it: as big enough for at least twenty tramps. But he followed Sam's instractions and remained m his room that night without going out to. show aim- self or his new clothes, of which he was exceedingly shrunken clothes, but there he was, with nothing bnt} prow ne underciothes on, and not a thing to wear over them. He conldn’t go down-stairs he couldn't do any- thing Wut remain where he was. And yet how long was he to remain there? He took a good wash and tried to pull himself to- gether for a’square think. = Where was Sam? Had he shaken him? Ifso, what show had he anyway? He walked up and down the room and began to nate? Sr He even wondered if it would not be to be dead. ‘ id. Yet. whenhe thought i! over, he wished he conld get at that cheerful, brisk, obliging old party who advised him to take the shrinkage ont-of bis flannel suit ae sponging it with alum ~water. He would just like to have him undera trip-hammer long enough to drive him into those same clothes, The next day he was also on his good behavior. In- deed, he didn’t dare to go an inch out of the beaten and lar path, remembering how unincky he was and regu what was liable at any moment to happen him if he “pat he fle to break away and row with hisown oara But he felt brave ‘all the ree reas = an G
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SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. had warned him against losing the grips at the hands oftramps. He felt, in bis mind, that he would just like to meet.a few footpads, just to show Sam Spry what he could do. Sas 2 This, however, was in the daytime, when-such fel- re are apt to feel more brave than they do after 2 rk. Well, it was a red-hot business day. and Sam putin 23 ** What's the matter with a sunflower?” *\Look at him?’ ejaculated a fourth. “ Please stan’ outen de way, gemmen,”’ Spot said, ‘Listen to him!’ “It’s alive!” “It can talk!? * Where did it escape from ?” “Please get outen my way, or I—I——” said Spot, good work, doing more business than he had done in | plucking up all the courage he had left. ‘“What?? exclaimed the foremost, “Oh, come here!’’ said another, seizing poor Spot by the coat-collar. Mur——*? “Hush! or you’ll never know which mule kicked any three days since he started out, in spite of * Free Trade,” and it was dark before he got through. Spot had been on his good: behavior ali day, and ca Seemed almost as proud of him as he was of him- se ers. mind that.” “Oh, my! oh, only in semi-ancient cities, although there are many = in Boston and Philadelphia. é He felt himself over to see ff he was losing any blood, and if his anatomy was still intact, and this examina- tion being satisfactory, and he believing that the rob- bers had fled so far away that there remained no dan- ger for him if he went out, he ventured. He strode cautiously down the alleyway, and as cautiously gazed ont upon the lighted street, \ “Oh, my, whar am der perlice?”? he mused, and then he became more bold and shonted for one of them, faintly at first, but, gathering courage, ke whooped loud enough to attract official attention, An officer ran to where he stood. 4 el - & 2 ; - . ** Well, don’t you think yon are a plum? But you will get no more rect ie you set Eo to New York, ure pop, and don’t let it slip out of your Sam!” he whined. ‘ r F - = ser STS mind any easier than your clothes will slip from your body,” _ Finally they finished. to see & man up here and will be said Sam. * Oh, my—oh, ves!” replied Spot, cheerfully, ~ “Remember what I said.’? “Abouten wha’sSamy"? _. “ Abont tramps.’’ E -**¥on bet, Sam. I isn’t fraid: Gracfous, I jus’ like ter hab somebody try ter rob me,” said he, proudly. - “Well, that’s all right, only if you lose those grips ‘tall of Samples, yon will have to pay for them, and it ” will take you at least ten years to do it—don't forget said Sam. ) , “Oh, my—oh, yes!” : ‘With this Sam started away, and Spot caught up * awaited hin. : “But presently, coming to a corner where four streets = ‘Met, not exactiy at right angles, he stopped to 100k at + es on the gas-lamp, in crder to make sure of Iman instant he was surrounded by four forbidding- looking: tramps; who might have come up the four ‘different streets to meet him. o pstarted and looked at them. : _ All four of them piaced their hands upon their knees and took a look at him. - Por /“Wha’—wha’ yon want? Who you lookin’ att” Spot. but he somehow’ did not ask the ques- m-such tragic tones as might have been ex- Ob. isn’t he a daisy?" said one. , e a pink??? said another. : | your? and then all four of them seized him, and be- ' “Spot, take the grips back to the hotel. I have got | fore he conld gather sufficient wind to make another back before Jong,’’ | outcry, or to finish the one he attempted; he was hus- | tled, body and bags, up a near-by alley, where it was as dark as his own pocket. But itwas not too dark for those footpad tramps. They were evidently used to working in the dark. and as for Spot, he was too much frightened to work his jaws even. They threatened him with death in eight seconds by the clock if he made the slightest outcry or the least objection to the proceedings. “Oh, my—oh, yes!” he replied, faintly, and then they went for him. They not only took away his sample cases. filled with valuable goods, but they stripped his clothes from his person, leaving him with nothing but his underclothes on. Indeed. one of them suggested that they take even them, and leave him only in his skin, which, indeed, he should be thankfal.to retain whole. But it was finally agreed to allow him the use of his un‘erclothes, for fear he might catch cold, and so, after cautioning him once more to keep quiet, on pain of death, they went away with the gripsacks ana ‘all of poor Spot's clothing. Jeaving him there in the dark; ness, too frightened to move out of the tracks in which they had left him. CHAPTER XHL « OH, my, oh, Lord!” Spot finally moaned to himself, as he stood shivering there in the. darkness that con- cealed his nakecness, And then he began to fee] around for the purpose of getting his bearings, ; It was one of those quaint old alleyways to be found “What's the matter ?’’ he asked. *T’s been robbed; I’s beén used’wus den de man- dat went down from Jerusalem to Jericho an’ fell among thieves,” moaned Spot, ; ‘What have they done to'you?’? $ “Robbed me ob my two gripsacks fall ob waluable samples an’ got away wid ali: my clus,’ said Spot, wheeling around for inspection. * beds “ How long ago was this ?”” * Not more’n ten minutes.” * Oh, well, they have made good their escape by this time, so I will have to take you to the station the first thing.?? said the officer. § “Oh, my, 1 got no clus !” he cried. “ Well, that can’t be helped; so come along,” “But I's almos’ naked,” he protested, “That's nothing. Brace up.” “ Agin what ?"? B i * Against the law. Come along.” f “On, my, dis yer am Greffal,” sighed Spot, reluct- antly following the officer. rae *Come along.” oes He did so tremblingly, and, as a natural con- sequence, a crowd gathered and followed them to the station. : 2% Arriving there, poor Spot was taken before the in- spector for examination. > “ Well,” said the official. “you appear to beinhard ~ luck. But 1 will remand you to the officer’s mess- ~ room for awhile, and perhaps we can get trace of the — robbers.” ; Sa “Oh, my—oh, yes! sighed Spot, as: an officer Jed a him back into a large room called the mess-Toom, but. which was used as a sort cf meeting or loutging- room by the officers. oe There was nobody in the room at the time,and Spot. being left alone, naturally began to make an in- — spection ofthe place. - - sate : ]
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i oh 24 The first thing that attracted his attention was a yet, of pence, just exactly like the pair he had robbed of, if not really the very ones. He knew how to open them, and soon convinced himself that they were the very ones. “Oh, my!*oh, Lord! Wha’ am dis yer gru* mys- ? tery?” ‘Then he looked around some more, and on a chair near by he recognized his wardrobe, carefully ar- xanged for putting on. The mystery was growing deeper every moment, ut he at once made up his mind not to wait outside , of his clothes any longer for a solution of it, so he + proceeded to dress himself He ad scarcely finished doing so when Sam Spry walked into the room. “Oh, may! oh, Lord!’ groaned Spot, ‘§ are you all right again ?? “Oh, my! oh, yes! Sam. But wha’ do all dis yer mean ?’? he asked, appealingly. “*i6 means that yon were taken in, don’t it?"’ “Oh, don’ be foolish. Sam, I’s been ontraged.’? “And now you are euraged, el?” “Don’ fool wid me,Sam.” _~ *Fool with you! You aren't worth the while.” “How datf’ ** Becduse you are no good.”? “Yes, Lis. Wha’ you mean, Sam?’ “Why, it was only yesterday that you were brag- ging that no robbers could get away with you, and Witat is the result?’ “Oh, Sam! oh; my! dar war ten ob’em,” “That is a lie, for I was one of them myself,” re- plied Sam, laughing. “You!” “Yes. I wanted to see how brave you really were, “Oh, my! oh, my!” ; - Sam. ie on rom Sam went to Quebec. It is a his- toricai_ eyeest that is about ali there is in favor ofit, for itis dullest old place for business to be found on the Continent. t all evénts, Sam Spry found {t so, as manya drummer before him, and after wo’ it for allit was he concluded to give the get back again into the land of Uncle a business proved to be very good. worked very well so far as business was conceraed, and Spot was very humble for a long time. Sam took in the pha cicies of Maine, and at the end of a fortnight fo: himself in Boston, the “Hub of the universe.” F ; is no slouch ofa city, although there been much fun made of it on account of the betief every ‘ve has that no other so great a city ever ex- And on that account they are loath to admit that the world produces anything that they do not either manufacture or have the eontrol of; consequently, a drummer from any other city has a poor show there, for, lo and behold! they send out their own drummers to sell their own goods, manufactured on the syot, or in the immediate vicinity, The regular Bostonian Is willing to admit that New York is something of a settlement, and that Chicago is growing, and may in time become quite a city. But Boston never has, and ss never will, for- But Boston is a healthy, wealthy, and wise old town, and besides that it is one of the cleanest, neatest, test, go-ahead cities on the earth’s crust. canenes out and paste it in your hat. with in drumming Boston. So he put himself in tele- ic communication with his house relative to prices, and Jub and Spud, knowing how close @ margin they had to work upon, told Sam to get clear down to the selvage and make it a point to astonish certain houses, even if he got below mannu- facturers’ prices. And Sam knew that he wasin for it, and that the Moment he announced himself as a New York dram- mer he would be certain of getting the laugh unless he could tura it skillfully, and so he began his work cautiously. But Spot was bound to prove a card. He had shaken many of his loud ideas, and was now more quiet than he had ever been before. The first day out was a tough one, for the retail Merchants refused to believe that any New York house could sell a whit cheaper than the Boston Wholesale houses did, and he foand them thorongk!y on the wholesale prices of everything, from a blanket to a weoden toothpick. Indeed, many of them refused to look at his samples at all. Bat be had no notion of giving up. He was bound to send home some orders to New York, or work _ himself silty in Boston. As for Spot, who bad bebaved himself so well since uis Montreal escapade, he began to feei hig oats again bye to | k by this time; being so near home, he felt moré reckless and independent. Besides, he had not ha@: a’ lijrrah ior a long time. And Boston is the boss place for almost anybody in search of fun. . : True, it may not be found with doors so Open as they are in New York, Chicago, or even Cincinnati, but there is heaps of fun to be found in Boston, if you only kuow how to get at it. Spot looked the town over, and concluded that it would be a simple thing to do to paint it in sanguin- ary tints. Something ofeven a deeper shade than the orange sunsets so often seen in New England, and he brought the full force of his intellect at once to bear upon the subject of “ how te do it.’ Sam Spry was too earnest and too busy to notice what his man was doing, or to suspect that he even: thought of aoing anything out of the regular course he had of late been pursuing, and so Spot was left very much to himself. The second duy in Boston was slightly better, for Sam had received extra instructions from his house, and was ready to grapple with anything. So, when night came, he retired to the Revere House, where he was stopping, with several large orders, which he at once telegraphed to New York. And (fanny, too, wasn’t it?) on his arrival at the hotel, who should he find there waiting for his return but beautiful Annie Jub, in company with her maiden aunt whom she was visiting in Boston. The sly angel had somehow caught on to Sam’s dates, and plannéd it so as to be there at the same time, and she was smart enough also to pull the false hair over her maiden aunt's eyes, SO as to make her believe that she had an important business message to communicate to her father’s trusted drummer, and that was how she managed to be there when Sam re- turned. But, of course, Sam was not mad. On the con- trary, he was delighted, and seeing how Annie was situated; he put in his most flowery and_ highly sweetened work in order to make a good impression on her aunt, He gently insisted upon their remaining.to dine with him, and then he pupessios in such a roseate way that an evening could not be spent more profita- bly and agreeably than in visiting the Boston Museum, where the renowned cariosities were simply eet mented by a “ Lecture Room” entertainment of high order. Had he suggested that they go to a theater, that old maiden annt of Annie’s would have kicked like a balky heifer; but she could hardly find it in her heart to object to going to & museum, and afterward taking in me Si of the “Lecture Room,” and new it. The result was a delightful evening’s entertain- ment, and neither of them enjoyed it better than did that old maiden aunt. The curiosities were very nice, but the old comedian, Warren, was _ better. to her than a circus—probably because she had never seen a circus. : And after Sam had escorted them home, she was full of what she had seen and heard, also fall of her praises of Sam Spry, a more entertaining young man than whom she admitted that she had never met. And of course Annie did not disagree with her, but she had already made ita point with Sam to say nothing to her father of the supposed accidental meet- ut to return to Spot. Spot was in Boston, the home of some of the hand- somest and most cultured colored people to be fonnd in the world, and, naturally enough, he had no idea of being counted second rate. He wasaNew York coon, and that he considered about the highest grade in the world. : ’ But the high-toned and high-spirited Boston coons very son tumbled to him, weighed him up and took his measure, full length. The colored young .men of Boston havea lyceum and gymnasium combined, where they develop their brains and mu: lectual light, but a muscular heavy weight as well, for.there was nothing bashful about him. Yes, he made himself known to the officers and leading members of the club, and they took him in, resolved to fondle and caress him as a visiting repre- knew, of course, what be had to contend | sentative of their race. They Introduced him with a flourish of drums and trumpets, and called on him fora speech, in order to Denar resent ~ himecit full, 1 to the occasi: t mself as equal to occasion Ban tak: to any Necasiohand, so he let himself out on a spread-éagle speech. Then the president of the association proposed to make bim a gymnasticus—an honorary member of their gymnasium—and the suggestion was received with great favor. Spot said he should feel honored, and preparations were at once set on foot for initiating him. “The first thing necessary is the testing of your muscular strength,” said the president. “ All right; P's ready,” replied Spot, throwing off his coat and vest. “This way, please,’ and they led him to where a pair ef five pound dumb-bells lay on the floor, * Think you can put them up?” * Yes, dem’s nuffin,’’ said he, contemptuously, “ All right, let’s see you pat them — Spot stood between them, stooped down and grasp- ed them with a jerk. But he didn’t pick them up, however, for they were faetened to the noor, and he nearly broke his spine in making the sudden effort. . * Ah!” said the assembled members, , SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORX DRUMMER. - 4 “ How dat, anyway?” asked Spot. “ Thatis to teach you that appearances are deceit- > fal, and that you should never bite off more than you - can chew,” said the president, at thé same time lead- *} ing him away. * ; Spot was silent, but he theught it rather fanny that such a snap should be played on him. “Now, then, we will test your jumping abilities. Take this set of one-pound dumb-bells in your hands, stand here, and let us see how far you can jump.’ * Oh, I’s all right on jumpin’, I’s de champion color- ed jumper in New York,’’ said Spot. “Very well. Now let us see your act.” Spot stood up squarely, swung the dumb-bells three or four times backward and forward, and then madea leap forward. : iter ¢ That is to say, he attempted te do so, but the plat- form on which he stood, and which seemed to be only a simple sawdust-covered floor, was in fact placed on rollers, so that instead of accomplishing his leap, the floor went ont from under him, and he turned a somer- sanit, landing on his head. > Two of the members stood him right end up again. “This 1s to teach you and to exemplify the trath that the wicked (and, alas! we are all of us wicked) Stand in slippery places,” said the boss. “Now be good enongh to pull yourself together and let as test you further.” layt Spet grinned, but it was évident that he was not much in love with his initiation so far. And yet the members all looked solemnly in earnest, and ofeonrse Spot was bound to do the same thing, so he briged up and allowed them to lead him to the next phase, — ‘Have yon ever had any experience on the hori- zontal bar?’ asked the president. - ie 3 * Oh, yes; I's boss on dat yer,” said Spet. = “Very well; you will please exemplify your agility on that bar,” said he, pointing to one that was about ent higher than he could reach, but whichIooked al t. ; aie te Spot walked under it. looked to see if there were _ any more roller floors, and then made a jump for the bar, % Some mechanical contrivance lifted that bar at least two feet higher justas he made the lea it, and of course Spot did not catch on, ier 3) Sora And failing to do so, of course he went tec agahe, to mother earth, and she opened and took hiavin, A bolt had been puled, and Spot peared through a trap-door, which instant! again, leaving bim somewhere in the dark And yet he thought he heard laughing o soon after he had landed, SE But after the lapse of three or four minntes & door was opened, and alamp revéaled to. him the faces of those who were initiating him. . 2 Z ** Ah, there! f How do you feel?’ was asked. Zz “Oh, all right!” replied Spot, who was bound not to show a sign of weakening. H 19-34 The president took him by the arm, and started to” lead him up-stairs again. arin? “That was to teach you, poor, benighted man of the outer world, to beware of pitfalls and the unattain- ability of things you jamp for sometimes. Let it be a warning to you to look well before you leap" Oh, my—oh, yes!” sighed Spot, and by this time they were back in the hall once more. A “You are progressing finely, and we trust — the great moral lessons you are learning will neverbe forgotten when you come in contact with the every- day world Outside. You will now show us strength you possess in your hands, as in. a grip.” 3 “Oh, I's powerful on de * said he, laughing, — aida thinktog Orie Ditetioaee es “We. shall soon. see,” said the president, leading him along to what appeared to’be an innocent piece of gas-pipe about three feet long. “‘ There, grasp that pipe; and we shall see with what force you do it,”? pot seized it with both hands, and put forth all the strength he hadina grip npon it. : In an instant he was blinded, for the force he put into that grip seemed to Open a thousand little valves, from which spurted as many streams of water. For an_ instant he was invisible in the sprays, but of course he at once released his hold, and the flow of water stopped as suddenly and mysteriously as it had begun, leaving no clew\to the myStery, but leaving Poor Spot as wns asa arene ot oe e was ng to sneeze it ont o! upper regions when the presinent took him by the arm. Pre ; “This is to teach you to beware, how you must be cautious rding how hard you squeeze things, for everything in this wicked world is more or less juicy and liable to surprise you,”’ “Oh, my—oh, yes,” said Spot, winking the water out of his eyes. ; : “ You will now proceed to the fina) lesson and test. it being a single jump from a slight elevation to shaw the members what your agility is when put to the final test. Put forth all your strength, that your record may be even better than any of those who have gone before you.’ Spot felt glad to hear that the thing wasso nearly over, and 80 took his position upon what seemed to be a simple spring-board, raised about three feet from the_ floor. ‘ “ Now I will give you the word that will make you & brother in good standing, I trust. 1 will call—one— two—three, and at the word three you must be pre- pared for the leap. Are you all ly 7’ he asked. “Oh, my—oh, yes!” sighed Spot. and it was eyi- dent that he didn’t banker for the trial much... | ~ “ All right, Good fortune attend you. Now, one— two—three 1? At that Instant some hidden and infernal spring was let loose on that plank, and poor Spot went as from a catapult, whirling and sprawling thro’ he .
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? ‘SAM SPRY. THE NEW=YORK DRUMMER. 28° air, full twenty feet sbove the heads of the laughing spectators, and forty or fifty feet away. Bet that was Sam’s racket, backed by his firm, and affer astonishing them he quietly turned them over to But at the end of his fight he was caught in a | Jub& Spud for further dealings, and so’ created con- strong net that saved his: bones, although:he was frightened nearly out of his life, and then he was taken | siderable of a stir in the mercantile circles of Boston. And tn doing this 1t took him fally two weeks in down,-hailed as a brother gymnasticus, and given | order to getthrougl the city, during which he had some peppermint to revive him. CHAPTER XIV. ° maby comical adventures, as did Spot, all on the quiet. One of Sam’s adventures in a social way is worth recording. He had that day tackled a Mr. Spruce. doing busi- Sam Spry wondered what was the matter with his | ness on Washington street in the same line as Jub & man Spot when he showed up for business the next | Spud, and, after repeated bluffings, had succeeded in morning. attracting the old merchant's attention, for, although . Sa they flew at each other like old time and Jong sepa- a friends, much to the astonishment of the Spruce mily. “ Why, Sam !? . “Why, Annie !’? ' And all hands opened their eyes. “This is, indeed, a surprise, Miss Jub.” “It certainly is for me, Mr. Spry,’’ said she, blush- ing, and suddenly toning down from her first ex- uberanice, as Sam had done. “Oh, SO you are acquainted?” said Mr. Spruce, “Oh, very well indeed,” replied Sam. “T should say we were acquainted. Why, we went to dancing-school together, didn’t we, Sam?’ wi —t ie All four of them placed their hands upon their knees and tookalook athim. ‘* Wha’—wha’ you want?. Who you ~ lookin’ at?” asked Spot, but he somehow did not ask the question in such tragic tones as might have been ex- pected. *¢ Oh, isn’t he a daisy?” said one. He looked as though he had been trying to shoe a-| Boston merchants as a rule will not have it that they Mule. . In other words, all broken up. But be wouldn’t give it away and tell him that he had been initiated into the most toney colored society in Boston, and was now a full-fledged Gymnasticus, and an honorary member of the Lyceum. No—no. for he somehow had an idea that. he had been made a fool of by those sober-looking coons; that the Lyceum was but little more than a revival of the old Sons of Malta, in imitation of what the white bloods of Bos- ton had done years before. He felt sore over it, both mentally and prusicaly, but he wasn’t going to let Sam kaow anything about it if he could help it. *Sanr suspected something, but so long as Spot kept up and attended to business he had 10 disposition to call him toan account. Spot felt certain of this, and although his head was swelled and every bone in his black skin ached, he was bouud to do his best. : . A3 for Sam, he was so busy that he had no time to bother with Spot, for he found Boston the toughest old town he had ever yet attempted to do business in. “No, young man, you are bringing cvals to New- castle,” was the greeting he received almost every- where he went to sell goods, and it wasn’t until he had received permission from Jub & Spud to sell at all hazards (for they were anxious to make certain Boston merchants sick) that he began to make any headway. “T can beat your coalsat Newcastle,” was Sam’s rejoinder after that, and he did. Several of the merchants of Boston were paralyzed at the figures he gave them, and thinking they knew it all, they couldn’t understand how any New York honse cold undersell them in goods.of New England can be undersold by any manufacturers or dealers in the world, Sam astonished him, as he had others, by his goods and prices. Now, Mr. Spruce knew all about the house of Jub & Spud. Indeed, the two families were on visiting terms,and Spruce was anxious to know how they could sell so cheaply. So, after buying a bill of goods, he invited Sam home to dinner, hoping to pump him still further in order to get at the secret. And Sam was always ready for a snap of that kind, so, after finishing the business of the day, he sent Spot back to the hotel with liberty to go where he liked, provided he showed up for business the next day. Of course you know that Sam was a dandy when he humped himself, either for business or pleasure, and he didn’t have to have a house fall an him in order to tumble, either. He was simply fy. From what Mr. Spruce had told him he understood that he was well acquainted with Jub & Spnd, and their methods of doing business, and he also strongly suspected that he was the very man that the firm wanted to make **sick.” So he accompanied the merchant home, cocked and primed for whatever might come to the front. And Mr. Spruce was smart enough to see that his old rival in New York had sent to him one of their crack drummers, although he hoped to get advantage ofhim or account of his youth, and find out the se- cret of their success, and how they conld sell goods eorex cheaper than he could get them of the manufac- urers. On arriving at his magnificent mansion on Com- monwealth avenue, Sam was introduced to his wife and family, but what was a greater surprise all around was that Annie Jub was there on a Visit, hav- ing arrived that morning, and on being presented **Isn’t he a pink?” said another. “ Yes, indeedy.” i “And what glorious times we used to have rinking it, eh, Sam 7”? “ Well. I should say so.” “ Rinking it !"’ the family exclaimed in chorus. “Certainty. Why, it’s all the rage in New York. Don’t you rink here in Boston ?"’ she asked, turning to Miss Philomel Spruce. yey? “Be good enongh to explain, Annie. We fail to. comprehend the eccentricities of your vocabulary,” said the highly educated Boston girl. .“ What! Don’tcatch on? Why, roller-skating, of course. We call it rinking. don’t we, Sam?” “To be sure wedo, Miss Jub.” : “Oh, yes. we have lots’of rinks, just the sameas yon do in New York,” said Fannie Spruce, Annie’s friend . ~ and school-mate. * Yes, indeed; you must not suppose that New York has everything in the world,” said Mrs. Spruce. And so the conversation went on until dinner-time, after which Sam took Annie and the three Spruce girls to the theater, leavingd4he old man completely in the lurch so far as getting a chance to pump the the young drummer was concerned. But he got hunk by writing a letter to old Jab, con- gratulating him on his speedy prospect of haying a son-in-law in the person of his most cheeky and sne- cessful drammer, at the same time telling him of the accidental meeting at bis house. “That will rattle the old enss if I cannot get at the __ secret of his business, and there is some satisfaction — eee said Spruce, as he posted the letter that - ght. ee ee The resuit of that exceedingly friendly letter was a peremptory order by telegraph for Annie Jubtorethrn ~ home at once from her indignant father. altzough in the meantime Sam_and his beautiful danghter had z been much in each other’s company, to the great’ de-
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26 SAM SPRY, THE NEW -YORK DRUMMER. ae : light of old Spruce, who knew how proud Jub was, : and what a big marriage he expected to negotiate for her. Everybody but old Sprace was surprised at Annie’s sudden recall from a friendly visit where she had of- ten been before. Even Sam could not account for it, unless there was sickness in the family, for, of course, he never suspected that Spruce had given them away. And there was a beautiful domestic row when Jub returned that evening, after having received Spruce’s letter, for the old man had blood in his eye and fight under his skull. Nor was Mrs. Jub in a most Chris- tian-like temper, for the day was hot, and she had made itdively for the servants before his arrival. “/ 7 ’ peremptory telegram for her to return at once.» Mr. Spruce wrote me that he took Sam Spry home with him todinner, and there was Angie, just as though expecting him, and he took her to the theater in the evening. <A nice piece of business, isn’t it?” “ A mere accident, of course.” “Oh, no doubt—not the slightest doubt of that,” he answered, sneeringly. “Aud you are mean enough to insinuate that I in- stigated the meeting? You are a brute, and I hope she will marry the young drummer. She would cer- tainly do far better than J did,’ said she, sweeping trom the room. That settled Mr, Jub, ~ **Oh, my, dis yer am drefful,”, sighed Spot, reluctantly followiug the officer. i ; But her husband was all charged for the fray, and . rushed into her presence as hot and 2s red as a lob- Ah ater Just ont of the pot. A “ This is pretty business, Mrs. Jub, is it not?’ was his first demand apes his better half ‘And.so motherly in you—so high-toned!” pe “ What do you mean, Mr. Jub? Are you mad?” she asked, glaring at him. “Amimad? Am Ihaman?” “* Well, lam not so positive about that, for it does not seem as though a man with any bumanity in his nature would try to kick up a row with his wifeona hot day like this."” “ Bah! Mrs. Jub—bah!” he cried: “ Oh. you have turned either sheep or goat,’ said she, laughing mockingly. “Yes. 1 am fully persuaded that I am 3 goat, and I was one when I married you.” “On the contrary, I heard many people say that ; they never saw such a sheepish-looking bridegroom - as BH were. So go on with your ‘ bah! Mr, Jub,” * And there isn’t the slightest doubt in my mind bnt that you are a party to the family disgrace. It is just _ ‘Wke you, It is just what I might have expected for pee beg Boag & family with s low strain of blood,” sald he, hot “Mr. Jub, shut up. or yon will arouse that strain of ; to your sorrow. Has the heat affected you, or _ are you simply showing off your natural disposition? _ What is the matter with you, a.ywayr’ oss W abont Annie, tell me that?” _ “What has happened her?’ she asked, quickly. Ee eres know very well.” ts - Jub, you are a fool.” _ “I don’t wonder you say so.” _ “What bas happened Annie? Have you heard _ “Yom her—tell me quickly.” : _, “Yea, [have beard from her, and I have sent a a5 He knew that his wife’s spinal column was danger- ously elevated, and the only satisfaction left him was to kick the house cat, which he at once “proceeded to do most vigorously. But Sam. Spry kept right along with his basiness, never suspecting that there would be a domestic storm on his account, and by dint of hard work managed to pick up a few orders every day, while Spot picked up frequent adventures, as usual. His long stay in Boston, and associating with the swell coons of the Hub, made him a more pronounced dude than ever, and as for a swell, there wasno match for him there. But Sam kept him right down to business, and wouldn't allow him to put on ‘any airs during the time, for he was terribly in earnest about picking up orders in Boston, both for the purpose of astonishing the firm, and severalother drummers who had been unsuccessful there, as.well as to wina few bets from his fellow clerks. « However, he finally finished Boston and went from there to Worcester, a dul] but handsome little inland city near the center of the State. “A short horse is soon curried.” and so Sam got through with Worcester in one day, doing but little business, and then he shot ont for bright and beauti- fal Springfield, where he hoped to do better, of course, And it was at Springfield that another one of those curions things happened to Spot. You know there was alwars something or other happening to him, sometimes brought on by himself, and sometimes worked ont through the mischievous brain of his master, Sam Spry. T won't say how this came abont, but allow the Teader to form his own concinsions, It was the day atier their arrival there, and Sam was bent on business, 4 So he toki Spot to put on his. most fanciful under- *<Come along.” and, as a naturalconsequence, ‘a crowd gathered and followed them to the station. garments, for he wanted to show off his line of bus- tiles, Corsets, hoop-skirts and garters, And Spot was-only too glad of the opportunity, be- ing very proud of his shape, and took.every oppor- tunity he could get to show it, and which he could do Yes, well with his close-fitting drawers and under- shirt. Sam tried one place and sold a fair bill of goods, using Spot, as usual, to show them off on, and he afverward sold small bills to several other dealers, but as a general thing he found business exceedingly dull, and dealers unwilling to buy. Finally he struck a dealer who had the reputation of being the ugliest man in town. He did so tremblingly, ~Sam had heard of him before from other dram- mers, but he made up his mind to sell him a bili of g ‘Put in your best licks here, Spot,” sald Sam, as they were about entering the store. : x _* Oh, my! oh, yes !’’ said he, bracing up. ** Ah, good-morning. Mr. Runner, 1 believe? said Sam, approaching the only individual in the store. * Yes,”? was the gruff response. 4, ‘ “T am glad to meet you. “A glance at that Card will convince you who 1 am,’? and Sam handed him his business card. - “A drummer, eh?” “ Yes, sir, representing a house of whom you baye undoubtedly heard.” “Yes, I’ve heard of it, and been bored by their con- founded drummers.” ‘Indeed !"’ “Yes, but never a one of them ever sold mea dol- lar’s wortlr; any more than you will,’ said he, turning away, abruptly. “ Well, sir, we have a new line of goods now which Tam certain you will like.’ “And Iam certain I will not, so you had as well move on and save time.”” % * Allow meto show you some new samples of goods which we’ are selling 31 a ‘remarkably low figure. Spot, adjust the Duchess of Edenborough skirt and bustle, together with the Patti corset.” “Oh, my ! oh; ves." } “T tell you it will do no good, d will notbuy. I have all the stock on hand that I want.” * Ma Mr. Runner, but at the same time you - certainly will not object to seeing something new in — your line of trade.” “I do object. Confound you, which most about it, yon or I?” he demanced, “Don’t get excited, Mr. Runner. knows the Now just ob- | ~* -.
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we Ex SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRU serve these three articles of female ware,” he added, . turning to Spot, who by this time had shed his outer garments and donned the articles in question. _. The crusty storekeeper looked arcnnd, and for the first time saw Spot. : * What—what in thunder is this y’’? he cried, start- tug back, in astonishment, “This is my man Spot, whom I take along with me _ &nd use as a dummy to show off my goodson. Now a CHAPTER XY. Sam packed the hoop-skirt, corset, and bustle back into the gripsack where they belonged, while Spot was bewailing and lamenting his fate, “Was yer gwine ter leabe me heah?’ he asked, as Sam started for the door. “Well, what in thunder am I going to do with you, anyway, in that harness? The police don’t allow such undress uniforms as that to be seen on the street, Be- sides, Iam getting tired of you anyway. You’ve got Be sane in you,’’ he added, with his hand on the door- knob. “* Whar I lack sand ?”” “Why, you should have knocked that man down and set on him while I sold him a William of goods, instead of which you yelled blue murder and dusted at the rate of a mile a minute. No, I guess I'l] leave you here and get somebody else.’? * Fo de Lord, Sam, but dat’s rough. Why not buy me some mo clus?” “More clothes! Why, I have done nothing but buy clothes for you ever since we started, and I have paid you so much money that J’know the house. will kick.” “ Well, wha I gwine ter do?” “Oh, stay here and let the police take care of you. Of course you will not be allowed to go ont until you get some clothes, and if you attempt it they will arrest you and send you up for a few montis.” “Oh, my—oh, my!’* he groaned. “By the way, Spot, 1 guess that would be a good thing for you,” he added, coolly. “Good thing!” “Yes, Spot, you are tired, and a few months’ rest will do awe good,’’ saying which he left him alone ae misery and went out to consult with the cap- n, They had a genia! understanding in a few moments, and an officer was sent to Runner's store for Spot’s clothing, while Sam went to his hotel to finish up his Springtield business and get ready to start for Hart- ford, his next stopping place. In the course ofan hour or so Spot came creeping into the reading-room of the hotel where Sam was writing letters, one of which was giltedged and care- fully written and had the flavor of Jockey Club about it. That was no ordinary business letter. He looked up as Spot approached. ** Well, you got out, did you?” - “Oh, my! oh, yes!- But you isn’t a-gwine to gib Ee de shake, am you, Sam?” he asked, in piteous ones, ‘Well, do you think you will fight the next man that attempts to bluiT you with a pistol?” asked Sam. “Pistol! Golly, Sam, he hab two.» : ** Well, even with two or three. What did I take you for if not to do my fighting as well as other chores patria to the lot ofa drummer?” - **Oh. Sam, don’ shook me I” “Will you fight?" “Oh, my! oh, yes!” “All right; if yon will fight the next man that tempts any furny business with me, why I will “ Now just you get ontof here. Confound your im- dence. Suppose some of my lady customers should Seyret in while that coon of yours is dressed up like that? lt would ruin my business. Get out of here, I 8a) Al . Bat one moment,” protested Sam. “Dis yer am de reg’lar New York caper, sah,’’ said Spot, coming to Sam’s assistance. “Oh, it is,eh?? roared the indignant merchant, rushing behind his counter. Bringing out a pair of big pistols, he covered Spot with them both. ~ And this is the Springfield caper. Git!” “ Wa—wa—oh, Lord! oh, my! oh, yes!’? cried the terrified’ moke, and turning, he fled from the tore, dressed Just as he was. In vain Sam tried -to stop him, to call him back, knowing that he was more frightened than hurt, and _ then hastily closing up the gripsacks, he seized the "and rushed out of the store after him, feeling certain _ that he would get into trouble. And right he was in that respect, for no sooner did that frigntened coon get out on the sidewalk than peo- 3 +) to laugh as he made a dash up tiie street. Boys followed him, yelling and shouting; dogs joined in the chase, barking like mad, and two or three — sleepy ets were roused by the racket and also joined in, thinking that some “ freak ” or other had escaped from a dime museum. ‘There hadn’t been so much excitement in Springfield F since the last circus visited it. Those who couldn’t me ort “the chase after the poor frightened darky, r ned out of tleir shoei ae wexed on the dogs, or called upon somebody to shoot him. : BabeRer rants: abont halfa mile the bold police- _ men Oyerhauled him and took him straight to the station-house, followed by Sam and the laughing crows They yanked the unfortunate moke up before the jolice Captain several minutes before Sam could work way into the room in order to explain. - “ What have you oe ?? asked the captain of the officers who made the arrest. - aoe it up, captain; but he’s a bronze lunatic, I *t Say,’’ replied one of the officers. ~ “Well, he 100ks like it, surely. Who are you, any- : way?” he added, turning to ney “T's no lunertic, boss,’’ replied Spot. “Well, what are you, then 7” _ ga drummer, sah.” -“Adrnmmer! What band do you belong to that has such a regalia as this?’ “Vs a dry goods drummer. Leastways, I's. & drummer's dummy, an’a man war gwine ter shoot 4 - ae ae —~ at try dru ou @ little while lqpger. But if you weaken again me fall ob holes up yer, an’ I ran outen de place while Retire hall I war able fo’ ter hold water, an’ de police tooken me lofty many re : ers give y' be the grand ‘and ar wn His et ied in, sah. “Ob. omy—oh, yes!’ ¢ “Mind youreye now! I have often heard you tel about knocking out the Black’ Diamond’and other great boxers with the gloves. Now let me see-what yeu can do with bare Knuckles if occasion requires.” ‘ALP right,"Sam,’? said Spot; but it was evident ae it wasn't a’pleasant dose of medicine for him to ake, However, everything being ready, they took the next train south for Hartford—one of the bright spots in the! State of Connecticut—and Spot had a chance to pull himself together, and to think what his chances iwere. a“ ; Sometimes he yearned for New York, and yowed he wonld never Jeave it again; but he was dead stuck on Sam, and under most circumstances would cling to hym through thick and thin. But he felt slightly Sick now, for if he had got to fight as well. as do other things that were expected of him, he wanted no more ‘Arumming with Sam Spry. But if worst came worst, he theught he could stand it until they reached New York, and then he would be comparatively free again. . Well, at Hartford Sam did some business, but it is Tather too near the great emporium, so that mer- chants can go directly to headquarters, to be very valnable to drnmmers. : : : But everytbing worked lovely for Spot, and no oc- casion offered for him to do any fighting, which put him in the best of spirits. From Hartford to New Haven was the next more, and there they found business a trifle livelier, as Sam had several articles that would be sure to sell among the students of Yale College. . R But, speaking of Yale College and the lively lot of Students there, puts me in mind of one of Spot’s ad- ventures there.” © - Not only does the college turn out some of the best scholars in the world, but some of the most successful athletes, Indeed, more than one-half of the graduates are first-class ail-around athletes who have won as -) muck fame by their muscles as with their brains. ., And, of course, there is always some sort of fan go- ing on. at New Haven, oftentimes of a nature entirely different from what the officers ofthe college sanction, ’ for it would be almost impossible to get together so many bright young fellows without the spirit of mis- chief being present, 9:9. 5 2 ; About the time of Sam's visit there some of the fel- ‘lows had a great graft to set. cas j : greased pig: contest for ‘the benefit of an old colored woman, and when Sam ” ‘ aay eae mee was the proper. thing for them to do. _ Where fs your boss?” _ *Tdtow._ ’Spects he’s killed, fo’ old Runner war. ____ jus’ coverin’ him wid guns when I lit ont.’” Be “oO to understand. You are New York _ drummeérs, and tried to sell Mr. Runner,eh?’’— - _ “ Datam so, sah.’’ - Take him into the back room and see if you can ” find the other fellow,” said the captain, and Spot was _ bustled our of sight of the jeering crowd. Presently Sam put in an appearance with a good- been bi _» hoo} ne captain. . : : ‘shim. Yousee lama drummer and use my _ Man Spot to show off my goods on—a live dummy, so to speak—and in the course of business this morn- ing we ran # against man who kicked."! _ “Yes, I know him to be a kicker. Go on.” “He wouldn’t have it, and when I attempted to _ -skOw off some goods.on Spot, he chased, him out, of 4 the uare in front of a pair of pistols, neariy frighten- the life out of him.” : set everybody to laughing, and Sam was shown {nto the room where Spot stood trembling, expecting d moment to be his last, . st eS my—oh, Sam! did he shoot you?’? was the poo low’s first sad qhestion. . : 7 : —* No, he was only having some fun."? baa me 2 ; - __- * Yes_he wanted to see how fast a coon could ron, R ‘as you were,’’ laughed Sam. Guess dar wasn’t much fun ’boutit when I od. te 7 “seed dem yar bullets comin’ right onten dem pistols at me.” 3 Whar my clus?" . “Oh. I forgot all abont them. but TI. brought the grips along. You'll have to go back and get your othes,” said Sam, soberly. : "! Go back dar® J guess not, honey. I go’ ¢lns first.’? said he, decidedly. Sy ee ‘ + I'm not going back. Take: off those PM leave you in charge of the police;*? Spot nearly fell down at the announce- _ It was nothing less than a MMER. 27. got the tip he resolved to stay over a day for the sake of seeing the sport. ~ He found ene young freshman there with-whom he was acquainted, and through him gotacquainted with several others, which, of course, made it more pleasant for him than being a stranger. So he told Spot that he might have a holiday, but without letting him mto the secret of the pig racket, knowing that he would be sure to get into it some way. But Spot always had his eye open for anything that was going on, and one of his first moves always was to become acquainted with the leading colored people: - wherever he went and posturing fora big gun of the kind himself in everything. So naturally enough he learned about the pig racket, although he kept it from Sam, fearing he might object to his taking a part in the business. The colored folks of New Haven tink very highly of the Yale students, for they get many a dollar out of them, although in a majority of cases the youngsters. get a plenty of fun out of them in return. This greased pig snap was put up for a good one by a party of them, although er guarded it like a sober, honest piece of charity, appealing to the young colored bloods to come to the front and not only have some sport, but do a good and charitable thing for a poor widow of their race. They had bought a lively shoat weighing about one hundred and fifty pounds, and had not only kept him wee fed and trained, but well greased from snoot to - tail. ; This pig was to be turned Joose on one of the com- mons Saturday afternoon, and each one who wished to try his Inck at catching it was to pay a dollar for the privilege, the money thus obtained to to the widow, and a general understanding that whoever succeeded in catching the slippery porker was to pre- sent it to the old beneficiary as well. So skillfully did the boys work it that at least fifty came forward to take part in the fun and charitable work, and among them was the gallus Spot. He, in company with half a dozen other colored sporting youths, had bought a ticket, and they were going to contend for the prize in fancy athletic suits, intending not only to capture the prize but to os the ebony damsels of New Havyenat the same me. Spot was always working some racket or other un- beknown to Sam, although he made up his mind to tell him all about this one, provided he caught the Pine affair had been kept very quiet, for it was al- . most certain that either the police or the officers of ~ the college would interfere in the sport if it became known beforehand. ae caught on to it after the pig had been turned loose, all right; they could jamp m and help catch him a they wanted to’ put a stop to the charitable Spo’ - a ree tage : Well, at the appointed hour the colored bloods were | scattered around the common, ready for the appear- ance of Mr. Pig, and those of the students who had the tip as well as their friends, were soon at conven- ient places to witness the sport. : ; Sam Spry was there, of course, for he would not have missed it on any account. .Of course it was all the while business before pleasure with him, as usual, . but he had not only finished his business in New Ha-_ ven, but had completed the ronte. that had been laid down for him on leaving New York, and all he had to _ do now was to take his pleasure befure returningtohis — employers. ; : ee thé didn’. recognize Spot among the contestants, for he was gotten up in a joud baseball-players* suit, and strutted about among” his acquaintances like a game chicken. Nor did Spot notice Sam am the ~ many others, and if he had it would probably have dashed some of the airs he was putting on while pos- turing for a great ajl-dround athlete, to the amaze- ment of his colored brethren. 2 er Promptly on time, and before much notice had been taken of the gathering on the omy a@ cart drove up to one of the gates and qnietly slid that greased and astonished grunter into the inclosure. ~ “ Dar he come!” Ro SGT: : “ Dar am de shoat.” E ae eee aS « Dar am dateely poark!” Z = Pi cekak doll ppee ee nits wee SD soar might greeted the greases Dist et sions e . Serge axe “ Gemelton, look atit! Dat am my meati” cried — with a swagger." ia gives ¢ £4 Snore see who dat meat belongs to,” said another coon, not much in Jove with the big swagger. of our friend Spot. t : > 4 ede But there was no time to be lost, as they all knew, / and besides -there were! about twenty good-looking» colored girls outsids of the fence waiting to see the = sport and to reward the su }man with their © smiles. © « z 5 Ete Ise They formed a circle around that greased pig, who — had been standing with his nose ‘o the ground as though meditating ever since he had been’ slid trom” the cart into the inclosure, wondering perhaps what ~ it alt meant. . iz sz ap lehete cree = cap’ dat pig. meat,”’ said ) rol) up eeves. if Te fe while the others were ma) ready forja first — trial, he made a dash for the pig, who stood head to- — ward him; §: = © a The porker by this time evidently fo some- - ae wrong, and when Spot went for he went for Spot. = : we '-He made a rush to go between his legs, in doing which he knocked his feet from under him, and Spx turned a somersanult,t landing on the: broad of his back amid much laughter. +A. Seis: 5a
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+, - It was fun for the students—it was fun for every- body but Spot. out of whose body the wind was al- most completely knocked. But the rush’ was up, and everybody who had paid a dollar was trying to catch that pig, paying not the slightest attention to Spot, who had bent self up - into a sitting posture and was gazing wildly around, Here. there, everywhere, seized “but escaping, Squealing, grunting, cantering this way and that in the hope escaping. went the pig and the crowé, until finally they rnshed over Spot as he was trying to get up, nearly kiliog him. But this gave him another chance, and as quick as could be he seized the porker around the neck and held on for dear life. “Hole him? hole him !” cried a dozen voices, and the students encouraged him with their yells to do the same thing. And Spot really@piended to do so, for he was laying lengthwise on top of him. head to head, but the poor squealing pig being overburdened by too much deck joad, fell over on his side and on top of bis would-be captor, alter which he freed himself as easily as a freshly caught eel and knocked over half a dozen other coons who tried to capture him. It was the gréatest circus ever seen in New Haven, and the students gathered in large numbers to see the sport, although in two or three instances they were obliged to scatter lively when that demoralized cc ee anywhere near where they were standing. ut bow they laughed, and how they chaffed the unfortunate coons who were trying to catch on to that pork which:slid through their hands or tumbled them Over upon the ground. The fun grew wild and farious, and the’ sable venuses were urging the gallants on in the name of |” charity. Spot, notwithstanding the hard knocks he had re- ceived, was foremost in the fray, and getting dumped oftener than any other coon in ‘the contest, producing lots of fun for the spectators and his enemies. In fact, the pig seemed to enjoy Spot’s mishaps, fur. he gave him more opportunities to show off than he did the others. However, everybody who had paid seemed bent on catching the pig, and many of them got so faf as to seize him by the hind legs, only to lose his hold on ac- count of the grease. Occasionally they would make a rnsh from all sides, ‘ and when the squeaking pig made a dart. strong she apes legs, throwing some upon the hile the of others would go together with a re! sounding whack that could be heard all over the com- mon. The students were roaring with laughter, and ; crowds of outsiders began to pathers and. enjoy the the squealing Sport, while the sweat! darkies and Dig-wct were mixed up in all sorts of ways. Presently a poliseman heard the noise and putin an appearance, Ha seed certain that something was going on against the law. “Stop it—stop it!’ he meowen Teening, into the _ crowd, swinging his club wildl ’ ow, and so fa New H. re I 2 “Dat am my pig!’ shouted Spot. “No, itam my po’k, said another, and still very l Fash went 02 just as tho’ there was no officer of the law within ten miles of there. “Stop it 2? he cried “or I'll arrest you all !’” “ Arrest the pig!” yelled the students, and while he turned sroand 1 to snake his terrible club at them, that pig darted between his legs and he sat right own real sudden. Then a shout went up that sheok the. city, while that astonished poste Satthere and felt of the to: ough to find out whether his bac bad been ariven up through bis skull or not. On went the A a notwithstanding. Pine! pee g ho ad lay Smeg yan on that wild greasy pig, and. once more 0 to grass, with two or three others on top of him. The poticeman saw achance to use his club, and went for the fallen group. Two or three of them gota thwack apiece, Spot among eee but still the fan went on, pig was uncanght, and the riot unsuppressed. prs got away from the cop, and rubbed his hands in some dirt, bound to conquer or die. Once more, after a deal of rupning, he got that now tired porker by one of his. hind legs, and again they tumbled ba But Spot had a good hold, and, tired thongh he was, he maintained it, keeping the Squeeler on his side so that be could not rise. Seed, po’ke am it now?" he calied, Joudly and tri- umphan' «Yours?? yelled the students, who had already lau; until they were tired. ou takes de shoat,” said his rivals, gathering aromed stern that throng came that terrible policeman again, and — es Spot, who held on to his But the students made one of their renowned and swept that officer out ofsight in about ; sad end ae leath. half of no time. was triumphant, but he had not won the bat- bruises. Ss tle erent many bangs and However, a rope was made fast to the prize, and, followed by an admiring crowd, he led the pig to the appeal to Mr, = Spada; "mind that, sir. “A $ “A thing I would scorn to do, Mr. Jub. You are at ae head of the firm, and I regard Inyself as thor- oughly and ay: discha gol Jub) sir,”? Sam strode from the office, leaving old Jub @ush- ed and angry. “ Wouldn't have me for a father-in-law, wonld he? ie rascal! I guess he won't,” he growled to him- — se It was a smash in the nose for Sam, but be braced up and took it calmly. As he was going through the store he met Mr. Spud. . > _* Ah! seen him yet?" he ask “Well, rather. I*saw’ him, and he just scooped » me with four aces,” replied Sam, laughing. _ *“ What do you mean?”’ * He has bounced me without recourse.”’ “What! Discharged you?” exelaimed Mr. Spud. © “ Yes, sir, fred me out, body and boots.”’ “The darned old ass! But don’t mind bid. J Says. He’s crazy, Sam. ** Well, I must say he cates & little * Oh, don’t mind a word he says. Go ae take your week's’ vacation, and by that time he will come to his senses and see what a fool he is.” “it is very kind of you, Mr. Spud, and I don't see why you are not also down on me, for have frequent- ly spoken with your Gaxghters cod and skated with her, the same as I ha’ ith his, and ee i just as much danger of my ar Bae to ma . “ Why, darn it, Sam, don’t you be 2 foo pereaiie ie is. Mt your holiday, and I will give hima talk- Ing to. “Not on my account, Mr. Spud, for 1 consider my-- self discharged, and not co: consent to have you in- ved tercede for my reinstatement? 4 several letters from the a the frm ars as much, and has given me & here eke meen “ Indeed!’ “Then Pil ste ee
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SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. 29 Keeper. while the indignant old Spud went for his partner. Sam was standing where he conld. overhear what Was said between thera, and he didn’t have to wait long before the circus commenced. =Jnb, you are a darned old ass!’ began Spud. “And you are an old fool—fine co-partnership!” “You don’t know enough to get under cover when it Fains.” said Spud, * And you don’t know whether it rains or shines. What did you dischage Sam for?” “Because I wanted to. How’s that??? demanded Jub, with cold impertinence. “It’s a piece of your stupidity, that’s how itis, You are an upstart—an ass. 1 Know all atont it. You are mad because he has paid some polite attention to your daughter, just as though he was not as good as slie is Why, confound your old bald —as good as you are. He was as mad asa wet hen,and wanted to fight somebody. The first person he encountered was Spot. “Ah, come here, Spot; you are just what { want— just as good as’a sand-bag;’? and before the poor darky knew what was coming, Spud had knocked him overa bale of goods, and was dancing around him, trying to get in some more ‘of his fine work. “Get up here, you old bald-headed ass, and give me Satisfaction!’ “*Murder! murder! Police!’ yelled poor Spot, try- ing-to get up and escape. The clerks gathered’ around in astonishment, and Jub looked from his office window, fully understand- ing that Spud was working off his:tight on Spot in- stead of upon him, **Come up here, you old bald-beaded fool!’ again cried Spud. charged for so simple a thing, they all became indig- nant and heartily wished that Spud had pitched into Jub instead of venting his indignation on Spot. But Spet regarded it asa. good thing. He had never earned so much money in so short a time be- fore in-his life, und he seriously thought ef letting himself out for indignant men to practice on while getting hunk for some imaginary wrong. *“Butare you really going to leave, Sam?” several of his Yriends asked, anxiously. *T really am. -I have just settled up my accounts and got my sugar. Come ont and’ 1 will set up the ginger pep.” They accepted his invitation, but there wasn't one of them that did not regret the step that Separated them from Sam Spry, and Jub didn’t need a telescope be see that he had made himself exceedingly unpopu- ar. No sooner did that frightened coon get out on the sidewalk than reople began to. laugh as he made a dash up the street. Boys followed him, yelling and shouting, and two or three sleepy policemen were roused by the racket and also joined in. \ mug, knew you when you were glad to work for three dollars a week and felt dressed up ina paper collar, I knew you when your store was a cheap gripsack and your counter a little tray. Why, confonnd your shoddy upstarting, have you forgotten when you used to borrow a white shirt of me to go and see your girl, the present Mrs. Jub? And now,.because you have got alittle more money than this. young fellow has, ou take on airs and think you are disgraced because happens to speak to your daughter. Bah! you are @ finished ass.” “Yon mind your own business.”” “This is my business.” * No, it isn’t. .1 have charge of the employees.” * And you have discharged the most valuable man we have for nothing at all. ‘Why, when tt becomes known, yon will be the laughing-stock of the whole trade. and as for Sam Spry, he will be worth money enough to buy and sell you twice over inside of ten, years.” “ Will you mind your own business, sir yr 3 “Yes, and I'd like to pull your nose as well. “Don’t you threaten me. Mr. Spud.’ “Threaten you! Why, I would give five hundred dollars if you had the nerve to strike me once, 801}. could have a chance to pound you about halfas much Be you deserve. Bah!’ ’ “Leave my oftice, sir!’ . PF aaa * bald-headed old ass! Forgotten W 0 Sorat shirt, haven’t you?’ he asked, and then | strode from the room, giving the door a deuce ofa] bang as he did so, “*T—TI isn’t bal’-headed, b—boss,”” moaned Spot, edging away trom the dancing belligerent. * Yes, you are a bald-headed old fool, and my part-/| other situation whenever he wanted one. ner——”’ voluntary tumble at the suggestion of Spud’s fat fist. It was fon for the clerks, for Sam and old Jub. In fact, it was fun for everybody but Spot, who had not | yet gotten over the effects of his greased pig racket. ‘Hole on, boss, I—I weakens!” he cried, as he struggled to his feet again. “Oh, you do, hey?” “Yes. I’s got ’nough ob dat.” “All right. Here's twenty dollars for you to spend during your week's holiday,” said Spud, handing him a brand new bill. ‘Now go and have a good time and consider yourself a vicarious sacrifice.” ‘* Wha’ dat?’ he asked, tremblingly taking the bill. “Consider yourself thumped in place of_old Jub— a bigger fool than you are.”’ said Spud, putting on his ae and leaving the store for fresh air or something else, » Jub returned to his desk, muttering something about having a lunatic for a partner, while the sales- men laughingly gathered around Spot and asked him how he felt. “Feel! I feelas though 1 had been foolin’ round de boss end ob a mule. Wha’ de matter wid de ole man —hab-he gone crazy?’ That was’wihtattley all wanted to know, and it was not until Sam had finished with the bookkeeper and joined them that rhey could make out what the matter was with Mi. Spud. 4 And then when ttey found that Sam had been dis- Birt! and again did poor Spot take an in- | But Sam wasall right. He had several hundred dol- lars ahead and knew very well that he could get an- But he made up his mind to lay offand loafawhile before tak- ing up any sort of business:again. As for Mr. Spud, he lost no opportunity of telling what an ass he had for a partner, and in a very short . } time, as Spud had said, he was the laughing-stock of the whole dry goods district. And not contented with this, Spud made it a point to tell his family all about it, Knowing that it would reach Annie Jub and her mother and make it still more live- ly for his ball-headed partner. “Tlang me if I don’t hope that Sam will catch the girl now, anyhow, or, rather, I wish that somebody would catch her that didn’t amount to anything, and whom Jub wonld have to support all his life.” His own daughters almost agreed to this. ““Hang me if I wouldn’t feel honored if Sam Spry took serious notice of one of my daughters.’? © “Stranger things have happened, papa,’ said one of his bright-eyed beauties, “ He's as smart as he is handsome, and old Jub is an_ass,” were his parting comments. But, Lord bless you, Sam Spry had’no more idea of marrying anybody than he had of flying, He was thoroughly business before pleasure;bound to. make his way in the world before-he thought seriously of any of its nonsense. Spot, however, was the higgest man in New York. He went around among his acquaintances showin the twenty-dollar bill that Spud had given him, an Said that he had won it by sparring with the celebrat
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‘ 30 SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. ed Black Diamond. whom he had succéeded in knock- ing out in the third round. The twenty dollars bound up every wound he had ever received in his life, and the was perfectly happy. #nd the news reached Jub’s family, just as Spud ex- pected it would, and when the bald-headed partner sought his home the evening following he was made ‘very happy. His daughter refased to speak to him, and his wife spoke altogether too much. Not that she suspected that there was anything seri- ous between! Annie and Sam, .for she bad always shown her the letters she received, and those she sent, but to think that her husband should make such an old + fool of himself warmed her spine, and she was ready | for bim. : ‘There. was gall and satire on her tongue, and ‘before she had bestowed one half of it on him he lost his ap- " hi Mt i SS == SS ==, Ss ih Hh li “Well, you are a nice-looking sample to petite for dinner, seized his hat, and rnsned frantically | from the house, to dine afterward at his club. Eren there Spud had spread the story, and he found himself an object of laughter and merciless quizzing on all sides among his friends and acquaintances. But let us return to Sam Spry. Of course he had little or no difficulty in meeting Anni¢ Jub, although under the circumstances it was much more embarrassing than it had ever been before, now that he had been dischargad by her father on ac- count of paying attention to her. Bat sbe was a bright, level-headed girl, and after ex- pressing her indignation at her father's conduct, she had little trouble in the way of making herself even more attractive to him than ever before, although their blushes told that they understood they were no lopger girl and boy acquaintances. And Sam, during the time he was loafing and look- » ing about the city, came across an old acquaintance _ stock, if who was doing a rushing business in the lightning-rod trade, sending ont agents to different parts of the country who were making big money putting up his patent infallible rod. Sam Spry was just the man he wanted, and he took pains to show him how much his other agents were making_and finally offeren to farnish him with a first- class wagon apd span of horses, together with a good would only take hold of it. “ Tbere’s money and heaps of fan in it, Sam,” said the proprietor, whose name was Smith. ** Never mind it youdon’t know to put them up; I can show you an.hour, so you can astonish the natives wherever you go. What doyou say?’ *T have a good mind to try it,” mused Sam. “All right; l'll give you a first-rate outfit and I know you will succeed.”’ » But suppose I want to take Spot along?” “Well, of course you have got to have a helper. All the agents do, and my wagons have an extra seat be- hind for them.” ‘Allright, If I can get Spot to go with me, I’ll try atonce. Where will you send me first?” ‘“Iibgive you a‘strip of northern Connecticut, ten miles wide from the Massachusetts line, and running the whole length of the State.” “That'll please me, I guess. When shall I start?” .“ Just.as soon as you like.’? : And so it was arranged@hetween them, and Sam Spry, the New York drummer, resolved to try his luck as a lightning-rod peddler. im ; iy will be proud of you?” Spot was delighted with the notion, and left Jub & Spud at once togo with Sam. Besides, there was a lofty seat behind, on which he Was to ride, and there he could show off the stunning hew suit of clothes that Sam had provided for him. Four days afterward everything was ready, and both Sam and Spot were delighted with the whole turnout, it being new, commodions, and the horses a spanking span of showy grays, who could show their heels to almost anything he would be likely to en- counter on the road. Well, everything being ready, Sam took leave of his new employer, and started the team down Broadway, Spot perched up on his seat behind with folded arms, big as a lord, and attracting ten thmes as much no- tice. Sam drove directly toyJut & Spud’s store, where the salesmen and others came out,to see him. * Where are you going, Sam ?”? asked Mr. Spud. “Going to try my hand at being a lightning-rod peddier,” said Sam. Good! Success to you!’ and amid the cheers of his friends he whipped up his team, and started out for new experiences on the road. CHAPTER XVII. To tell the truth, Sam Spry was delighted at the change of business, for it would give him a pleasant outing through a beautiful country, and be a rest from the business he had been so long in. + He had read a great many amusing things regard- if ey ; (A i ih Ald non s ing lighming-rod agents, and he felt sure of having loads of fun in the business himsellf. The rods were very easily put up, and after haying learned the business and being well supplied with the most approved apparatus, he concluded he could work the racket, and Spot had so much faith in him that he was willing to bet that he could do it right the first time. The team was indeed a spanking one, and the new, showy wagon,-with ‘*Smith’s Patent Infallible Light ning-rod,”’ painted in the most fantastic shape, with a thunder-storm for a background, attracted attention wherever it went, much to the delight of Spot on his elevated seat. - Sam drove about twenty miles that day, and forty- five the next, the roads being good and tlie weather delightful. « * Well, Spot, how are you feeling to-day Y” ——_ i Uy take back to New York, are you not? Don’t you think the bosses |‘ Fine, Sam, an’ very high,’ replied Spot. “Mind you’ don’t fall from ydnr high seat, for I can’t make a hearse of this very well.” * Oh, my! oh, no!"? That night they arrived at Canian, Conn., where they were to commence operations going east, not far from the boundary line of Massachusetts, intending to return nearer the middle of the State going west. “Am dis yer Canian?”’ asked Spot, “Yes, Spot, this is the happy land of Canian. I knew we shonld reach it some time,"" Then Spot began to sing one of the good old Metho- eae ee he had learned in his boyhood, ending with the chorus: *“ Oh, Canian, bright Canian, I's bound for de Jan of Canian; Oh. Canian, it am my happy, happy home, V's boun fo’ de Jan ob Canian.”* “ Well. never mind, we have got there now, and My want to stop that singing, or they will never take us in.” “ Oh, my, oh, yes ’? and he shut pan. It was now nearly sunset, and the beautifal town of Canian was all astir and ready to be surprised by Sam and his turnout as it thundered into the main street and made directly for the tavern. Such an advent, of cotrse, in a little town creates-> quite a stir, and it only takes a few minutes for nearly everything connected with the strangers and their business to becomé*known, And so it was with Sam Spry. Going at a brisk trot, he swept up in front of the —_ 2 = ed
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+ pen from his > SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER, BL tavern witha flourish, Spot leaping down to take charge oi the horses in company with the hostler, while Sain leaped upon the piazza where the landlord stood waiting for him. ** Accommo here for a week or so ?’!-he asked. “ Oh, certainly, certainly. Glad to see you,” and he led the way into the office, where the dirty register was opened and a search begun for a pen so that he could put down his name, “Never mind,” said Sam, taking a stylogruphic pocket. With a flourish he wrote; “Sam SPRY AND SERVANT, * Northern Connecticut Agents jor Smith's Infal- lible Lightning-rod, the best ever invented. Come and see me.” oes Gi AMIE oe ALLURE TTT alll SS = *“ Wal, now’n then,’ replied the man, carelessly. * Any material accidents ?”” “Wal, sometimes things get struck, if that’s what you mean.” =~ ; “That is it exactly. . But I have brought the great reventive, and those who adopt # will neyer be in ei) danger from the shafts of the Olympian ove.” +: Hey ?”? asked the old Yank, stopping his whittling and looking at him in surprise. ae “They will be in no further danger of being struck by lightning,’ said Sam, in plain-English. ‘Oh, kersactly, 1 didn’t know but yu was torkin’ "hout somethin’ else.. But say, how is yure lightnin’- rods for sheep and critters ?”? he asked. “ Sheep and critters?’ asked Sam, astomished. “Yes. I’ve had heaps o’ critters struck by light- » _And so he chaffed and: talked, making himself well liked, and, finally, to cap the climax, he treated them to all the able-bodied. cider they could drink, making himself. so popular that he might have -run success- fully for. town overseer. And while Sam was entertaining those on'the front piazza, Spot had the servants about the place spell- bound by the narration of his wild exploiw and hair- breadth escapes in life, Indeed, it is doubtful if Othello ever worked up a better romance than he did. Well, before Sam retired that night, he had arranged with the landlord to cover his buildings with rods, for which he was to pay in board, bis idea being to make an advertising card of the job, and at the same time have a chance for himself and Spot to practice in put- ting up the rods, foras yet he had never tried his hand at the practical part of the business, although he un- Well, everything being ready, Sam took leave of his new employer, and started the team down Broadway, Spot perched up on his seat behind with folded arms, The landlord opened his eyes when he read the en- | nin’, and if I could only find somethin’ as whar a try on his book. It told the whole story, and there were no questions to ask. “Give me the best room you have in the house, and a comfortable one for my man.” = “Yes, sir, certainly. Show you right up, ’ said the delighted landiord. ~ And supper ?’’ " * Be ready in soe half an hour.” “ Good enou And s0 Sam was installed, and everything appeared to be lovely. Rnt Spot attracted more attention than Sam did, for his position being more exalted than it had previ- ousiy been, he felt himself to be of so much greater importance, and pat on airs in connection with his extraordinary snit of clothes, causing him to be the observed of all observers. Te bad thorongbly astonished the Irish hostler be- fore the team-had been well bestowed. and it wasa question with him whether ees the boss aud own- the establishment or no Se supper Sam sat on the piazza and smoked a genuinely good cigar, the favor of which astonished the natives who lingered about, £5 natives do linger about every village tavern to hear or discuss the news or adds little something to the current gossip, and of course Sam was there to take it an in or to acid to it;whenever he got a-chance. “ Have thunder-storms. in this part of the State?’ he asked of @ tongh-looking old Yank who » sat near him, whittling a stick. Se lle Pa preventive, I'd buy.’ “ Well, all yon want is one ormore of our infallible lightning-rods on your barn and Outbnildings to be rendered perfectly secure.” “Oh, gosh darn it! the lightnin’ never troubles Jem when they’re in the barns, but it’s when they’re out tu paster,”’ “How does it happen?’ «“ Wal; when a shower comes up they get under the trees for shelter, an’ generally get struck.” “Ah, my dear sir, all that is required is a lightning- rdd on each of the trees in your pasture, and there you are,” said Sam, briskly. “How?” : “ Why; save your mutton. See?’ “Gosh!? exclaimed the Yank. **No singed wool or sheep skins full of holes from lightning. See?’ ‘© B'gosh, I guess yu’re right, young man. I never thought of that afore. Guess I'll have yu pat up some rods on my trees,” said he. “]’m that kind of a cat, mister, and before T leave this town I am going to have our rods on every house and barn that’s worth saving, and to commence with lam going to put them on the tavern so people can see them.”’ * Goin’ tu have a thunder-storm so people can see now they’ w6rk?” asked one of the many loungers who stood around. . “Yes. | stand m with the weather clerk "and shall haves frat-class electric-light freworks exhibition at the conclasion of my work.” anne big asa lord, and attracting ten times as much notice. derstood the theory well enough, and he didn’t want people to know how green he was. 2 So the next morning, soon after breakfast, he and Spot began to adorn that tavern with lightning-rods, from peak to the ground. Sam. was. naturally ingenions, and in a very short time he had the knack of putting them up right at his fingers’ end, and Spot, was a good second at the busi- ness. Before noon they had the tavern finished, and then went for the big barn, intending to run a line of rod from the cupola to the ground as a protection for that portion of the estate. - Apes had on a pair of rubbers, and was very proud of the way he could walk on the inclined roofs of the buildings with their assistance. Indeed, he even be- came hilarious, and run around much more than there was any necessity of doing for the purpoge of showing off. There was a cupola on the barn about ten féet high above the ridge-pole, more for ornamapt than for use, with blinds on each side, or, rather, on three sides, that on the backside having been broken in or outs, . And Sam understood, of. course, that the ing- rod must start with a point several feet above id run to the moist earth in order to he effective" Oh, Sam had the theory of the thing down as fine as mses he was rapidly catching on to the practical as we + a They raised the Jong ladder tO the eaves, and Spot started up with a shorter one to be ised im reaching the cupola. “Oh, I guess not!”’ said he, exultantly, as ho reach- Sigs
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32 - ed the roof and ran up it nimbly, with the short lad- der on his shoulder. “* Maybe I’s no lightnin’ calker- lator. Oh, my—ob, no!’ Look out how yoo caper around up there, Spot, or the first Uning you know you will be on some other spot not quite so elevated.” called Sam, from below. “ Dat yer am all right,,Sam; 1 Ken walk up heah jus’ like I could on de floo’,” he answered, carelessly, and then he set the ladder up against the cupola, Then he began to climb up, with a section of rod in his hand, singing: 3 “ What am dem shoes dat I do wear— Oh, my! oh, yes! Dey am fo’ to climb de golden stair— . Oh, my! ob, yes! What am——” At this point he suddenly stopped. What he saw at that moment so startled him that it not only knocked the v: out.of him, but took the kinks out of his wool so denly that the effect knocked his hat off. He gave one and fell down, clinging to the ridge- pole for dear ‘Sam Spry was equall, astenished, although he man- aged to keep his feet. 2 The trouble was, the landlord had a pair of fame eagies up in that cupola, and just at that time they had 0 ¥ young. Se whén Spot began knocking about their aerie they sailed out to see what the row was, and this was what overwhelmed him. They were enormous birds, and as they flew around the prostrate coon, screaming and. striking him with . ere wings, poor Spot thought his last hour had arrived. z “ Murder? Help!’ he cried, faintly, and Sam, not knowing what the dickens to do under the circum- stances, yelled for the landlord. The jandlord ran out and with hun half a dozen » he, aoe up at them as they were sailing around . the tetrified darky, screaming wildly, and now and then banging him with their terrible ay “ But they will kill that yr coon,” said Sam, ex- shall be done ?”’ if I know, unless he rolls off and gets out of their way,” replied the landlord, * And that would kill him, Hayen’t you any con- trol of them ?’ . _ “No more than you have.” * Well, then, we must shoot them.” “Not much! I wouldn't take five hundred dollars ‘for those birds. Shoot your nigger. “Not much,” re’ Sam, drawing his navy re- volver, with which he was a good shot. sna ite aseeces towtanr a ioking ung tot ge-po! jown cking \ wildly with his feet. - Hold on!” cried the landlord, seizing Sam’s arm to stay his shooting. _ .* But this will never do.” Just then another yell from Spotand acry from - those watching him attracted their attention and they looked Bp : Those indignant eagles had pounced upon the un- fortunate coen, one —- him by the coat collar and the other by the slack of his trousers, and began to.tug away at him. r It took the landlord and another man to restrain - Sam Spry from biazing away at those emblems of ~ freedom. Everybody yelled, Spot the loudest. But those birds of freedom were putting iu their - fine work on poor Spot, you bet. - : Spreading their huge wings when each of them had a good hold on their v. they him bodily, although he was yelling Iond enough to“ frighten them, and sailed away with him. But he proved too heavy for a long journey, and slowly all three settled down into the barnyard, where they suddenly dropped him, and then sailed away to the cupola, where they perched, screaming and shak- ing their wings in triumph. t pniled from the A rush was made, and — unsavory heap into which he had been dropped. Seeing that be was unhurt, Sam put‘up his‘revolver and laughed heartily. But a sicker looking cdon than Spot was never bel- lowed in terror or straggie* to catch his breath. ” “Are you hurt?’ asked several, but‘he hadn’t wind enough to reply. They threw a bucket of water into his face, and this not only washed, but revived him somewhat, Butdt didn’t make him look much handsomer. “ How is it with you, Spot?’ asked Sam. * Who—who—whar de angels?’ he asked, looking wae around. = t angels?’ - ~ -™ Dem dat grabbed me.’” '- “This made everybody laugh, for it was plain to be seen that he had never seen an eagle before, but had seen pictures of angels with huge wings, and sup- these-€o be a pair of them. z “There they are, up there,” said Sam, pointing to ord! oh, Lord! Les go, Sam,” said he, edging “Oh, yon are all right,’ said the landlord. s are % “Yes, got out of the scrape darned well,” added “But dem angels——” ‘ * Those are cane SE 7 said Sam, “Yes? dat kind in e te nhe = mine,’’ said he, sadly, at the same time trying to di- vest himself of the coating that. clung to him. “They would never have molested you only they have young ones,” the iandlord tried to explain to m. “Well, I don’t propose to wait here in the happy land of Canian for those young ones to make their debut, so-your barn will have to go without a hght- ning-ro1, that’s all,”’ “All right. She’s stood it for thirty years, and I guess she’ll get along awhile longer,” replied the Iand- lord. and they retired ‘to the office, after which Spot sought the wash-room. It had been a decidedly sensational affair from the start, but now that it was over and no great harm done, all hands felt like laughing, that is to say, every- body butSpot. He nad been nearly ruined his good clothes, ani little like laughing. But he finally returned to the bar-room, where Sam was treating everybody to cider, and he looked a trife more presentable. “ Haye some cider, Spot?” said Sam, an invitation he never declined. " od “How are eke feeling now ?? asked the landlord. “Peel! I feels like goin’ home,” said he. “Why, what is the matter with you, Spot?” “Matter! Dar’s allussomefin’ de matter,” said he, disgustedly. ‘No mo? lightnin’-rods fo’ me.” ot Weaas do you expect to find eagles at every place you = Sebber mine de yeagles,Sam. You know how it am allus,” said he, sadly. BS * How is itt” : “Dar am sometin’ happenin’ me ebery time, an’ I’s gettin’ discouraged. It makes me homesick,” and he sat down dejectedly. ~“Oh, pshaw! that was only an accident that might not occur again in a million times.” “Well, Sam, maybe datam so, but when dat mil- lionth time comes round, I shall be shuah to be dar all de same.” “Nonsense! Brace up and have some style about you,” said Sam, after the Jangh subsided. “Sam, I’s homesick.” “Oh, I'll knock that out of you. Brace up.” _ But Spot was a saddened coon. 4 And yet the reader who has been with him since he sel out with Sam Spry, and is knowing to all that has happened to him, can scarcely blame him for being homesick, or for believing that luck was against him every time. ey So Sam left him alone during thes¥emainder of the day, and spent his time in explaining his lightning- rod to people who came to inquire about it, and here he was perfectly at home,so much so that he took orders foras many as eight houses to be furnished with the rods. “J don't b’lieve nothin’ in ther darned things, no- how,” said one old fellow ip a group who stood around Sam. “Wall, 1 don’t pretend tu understand nuthin’ "bout how they work,’ said another. “What! And this infamous New England?” ex- claimed Sam. ‘The air isa non-conductor in which frightened out of a Piet growth and , of course, he felt the clouds which develop the lightning float. The} ¥ clouds are positive and the earth negative. Electric- ity always seeks to go from the pene to the nega- tive.but in passing through this bad conductor it be- comes intensified, so to speak, and seeks the nearest road to the earth and the best conductors. Houses and trees are only little better conductors than the air, but the fluid seeks them in preference. Hence, the fatal stroke, the combustion that follows. But if | 983 a good conductor like this interposes, the estes is a3 sure to take it as water is to ran down hill, and ther, meeting no resistance, is conducted to the earth without harm, it being harmless and invisible on a conductor, as was discovered and established by the immortal Ben Franklin.” “But what makes the thander?”’ asked another. © -.“ Lightning trayels at the velocity of two hundted and eighty-eight thousand miles a second, and itis the rushing of the electric spark through the non-con- ducting air that causes the thunder, which in itself is as harmless as the report of a gun is, compared with the effect of its charge.” “Wall, yer tork well, young feller, but we don't swaller al) we hear,” said the donbting Yank, and-the others seemed inclined to side with him. Gentlemen,” said the schoolmaster, who had been a listener, “this young man is right, and has given you the correct philosophy of thunder and lightning. And p is right in regards to lightning-rods,”’ he added. This turned the tide in Sam’s favor, and no more doubt was expressed, for if the schoolmaster said so, that settled it for all time, and the resnit was that the orders poured in upon him from all sides. CHAPTER XVIII. Sam Spry seemed to have struck oil in Canian, for the fame of his learning, after the schoolmaster had publicly indorsed him, and the persuasiveness of his style brought all the orders he could fil. Indeed, he we2s obliged to hire a man to assist in putting up the lightning-rods that he sold. ‘As for Spot, he slowly recoyered after his. unhappy adventure with the two eagles, and was once more inclined to follow the fortunes of his young boss. In} can. fact, in less than three days he regained nearly all of his original enthusiasm and was ready for business ares vet be was not entirely happy. ; “The ies was firmly impressed upon his mind that if there was anything to happen that it would surely | Sam, writing the name and address in : satistaction of SAM; SPRY. THE NEW YORK DHUMMER. & No matter who might bein his company. he was marked by fate for all the accidents and rough things that were destined to happen. True, he had an abiding faith in Sam Spry, aud was ready. to fellow and serve him almost anywhere, but for a change, just for the fun, of the thing, he would have liked to see the fancy ,outh get some of his luck It would have given him courage and resignation to meet the larger number of the usual accidents at- tending a life on the road could he have seen Sam get now and then a slice of the bad luck. For instance, if Sam had gone up on that barn and been fooled with by those eagles, instead of himselt, he would haye been reconciled-and ready to take the next two or three crooked happenings and said noth- ing about it. But, as before stated, he gradually forgot his grow! with fate, and settled right down to business, work- ing like a colored Trojan in putting up the lightning- rods, And he worked all the harder hecause, after a while, Sam allowed him to boss the jobs while he at- tended to getting orders. There never had been a lightning-rodin the neigh- borhood until Sam went there, and in a short time everybody wanted them. : But of course he had to meet many curious people, to whom he had to explain the philosophy of the thing over and over a: And even then they appeared to get the idea that the rods were put up to sap the at- mosphere, to draw off the surplus lightning, and thus prevent thunder-storms. “It's nater,”’ said one old fellow to him, after he had explained the philosophy of the rods. “ Why is it against nature?’ asked Sam. “ Wal, didn’t the Lord make thunder and lightnin’?’” “He probably made the conditions from which the phenomenon arises.” : «+Fe—what? You mean thunder, I s*pose,” the old fellow retorted, sharply, for he was leath to admit that anybody knew more than he did, even if they could use bigger words. ; “Exactly; but why is it against nature?” “Reecause everything in nature was pronounced good, an’ we poor human critters have no busines tn try ta alter or improve anything. If thunder ’n light- od war made tu come, let ’em come—that’s my doc- ne.’ “ Well, how about boils ?’ asked Sam. ‘ “Biles! What's biles got tu du with it?” ne lors nothing, only as an inustration.”’ ‘ow “Boils are made to come; that is, they result from an impure state of the blood; but because they come isit any reason why we should not purity the blood and prevent their ei “Wal,” said the old fellow, scratching his head, “1 don't see what biles has got tu du with thunder an’ lightnin’ rods,”” “They have nothing to do with them, as I said be- fore, but if it is right to purify the blood in order to prevent them, it certainly is right to resort to meas- ures to rob the atmosphere of its terrors and render harmless what would otherwise be dangerous and ob- jeztionable.” “Wal, maybe yu’re right,"? mused he, “Say, { guess ud make a darnation good talker for a camp-meetin” or a lection,” he added, <a “Well, perhaps so. But Iam dead in earnest and dead right, Now lei me put up a set of rods on your hough, git out?” said he, depreciatingly. i] “ou f ei : * But supposing there should come up a big thun- der storm and everybody else in town was protected inst it, how would you feel?’ = “4 “Wal, b-goeh, that alters matters a little,” said be, thonghtfolly. . : : * Of course it does.” “ But, say, if yn hadn’t come here at all an’ put up yu’re pesky rods, 1 should have had just as good a show as I ever had, an’ been able to take my chances with others.” “© Well, perhaps.”? “Then du yn think it’s sarvin’ me just right tu put meinsuchahole?? — ee ES * Oh, yon look at it in an altogether selfish light. The greatest good of the greatest number is what we should all go in for. But in thus protecting the ma- jority 1 had no intention of directing the electric shafts at you, because 1 sapposed, of course, that you would do as they have-done and are doing. Once I get all of the buildings in Canian fitted with this re- markable lightning-rod, thunder-storms will become discouraged and skip right over the town and look for unprotected property.” “Think so #7 aS “J’m positive of it, my dear sir.”? *“ How much will it cost me?’ ~-Well, it would be forty dollars, provided you had faith; but J want to convert yon, 80 that you will talk up the rod. So I will pnt them up in good shape. and warrant:them proof against the flercest thunderbolts that leap from the clouds for thirty dollars, although Lhope you will not mention the fact.” Prt oh, I won't; I allus get things just as cheap as I .* Which is tly right, my dear sir.” ‘Wal, go ahead an’ put ’em up.” 5 * All right, sir. Il have them up fp dum book. , Then he drove away with mg Re having chinned the old fellow Y jast
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wi | geal SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER, 3S dollars more than he would hav echarged him with- | part of your beautiful State, and have met with great out the chin music. Ané so he went from house to house, and had so much to sayin his own peculiar way that he soon had the whole town of Canian talking of nothing but lightning-rods and the wonders they would perform. e next house he called at was one owned by a maiden lady of uncertain age, and reported to be wealthy. She conducted her own business affairs, and was perally regarded as a man hater. Indeed, he had m told abont her by several persons who were ready to bet that he could no sell her a set of light- ning-rods. The landiord was one of these persons, and’ Sam just made a quiet little bet of five dollars with him that he could sell her. Success in Canian.” ‘+ Where do you live?” “In New York.” “ Why, that’s a horribly bad place, I hear.” “Yes, fora person that isn’t smart; but it is the Empire City of the country in all that is great, busi ness-like and booming. Now will you allow me to put up the rods on your house?” “Well, I don’t know. How much will it cost ?’ she asked, smiling. “ Let me see. Well, I will protect. you for twenty- five dollars. Think how smallasum that is for ab- solute protection.” “ Well, yes. Are ou married?’ she asked, at the same time blushing e a red cabbage, “ Here’s a mash,” thought Sam. “Oh, no, my dear “Certainly, with pleasure. But you willexcuse me one moment, I trust,’? “Of course.” “My motto is ‘Business. before pleasure,’ and as- * the putting up of Jightning-rods on your house and barn is business, let us settle that first, after which the pleasure of your society will be all the more beau- tiful. The rods?” **Oh, yes, put them up by all means,’ said she, by this time really interested. “Thanks. I will just fill out. this blank for you to sign, so that I can showit to my employers, after which I am yours truly, Sam Spry.” ‘‘ Why, what a real lively man you are,’ she re- plied, signing the filled out order which bound her to pay for the hghtning-rods. + For that matter, we have to be in order to hold cur own. : Ye Uf, ‘¢Help, help! took ’em away!” cried Spot, whe 8 yj Zea THM / LM MO Ma I} dly with his feet. So he was all prepared when he drove up to her | lady; I have never had time to even think of such a front door with his showy team. Her name was Miss Higgins, and ‘she came right “to the front door to see what was wanted. * Ah, good-morning, Miss Higgins. I see you have no lightning-rods on your beautiful residence,” said the handsome youth, leaping from his seat. and lifting his hat to her politely. There is no knowing what the maiden would have said had he not been the handsomest young fellow she ever set her eyes upon, but she looked at him and stammered without really speaking. “Tam putting a very superior article on the houses of nearly every one of your neighbors, and | thought I would hit and see if you did not also wish to pro- cen urself.?? ve Phy. dear me, do you really think there is any danger?’ she asked. smiling, and pursing up her mouth in a comieal way that was Intended to be per- captivating. eemtpere ‘gs always danger during the season ot thunder and lightning, my dear lady. Why, the papers are fall o ‘accounts of the havoc caused by this terrible devastator, and science has at length devised _@ means whereby its terrors can be disarmed and subdued.” **¥ou don’t tell me!” -“$ris a fact, Lassure you. A building that is pro- ” yided with Smitn’s patent infallible lightning-rods is danger of the dreaded destroyer of life and ” you make them?’ she asked, as though she t hint smart enough to make anything. * my dear lady. 1am simply the agent for this thing as that.” « But I suppose you are courting somebody ?”” “think not. I haven’t time.” *““'That’s too bad,” she mused. * Besides, the girls don’t want anything to do with a fellow who basn’t anything but his wits to depend upon, and so, ifl ever do such a thing, I shall wait I ly / | ETN Wy} Mf: till clung to the ridge-pole, face downward, and kicking “I suppose so. But don’t you ever get tired ?”? Oh, very often.” “ Walk right in,” she said, leading the way into her best room. ‘And don’t you sometimes wish you had a home where you were master, and with a fortune all at your command?” she asked again, as she led the way into her parlor. “Indeed, I do,” sighed Sam, taking a seat on the until I have accumulated some money. The girls | sofa. love money, and they don’t want anything todo with a man who hasn’t any.” “What real horrid creatures they must be,’ sald she, with some show of indignation. “Oh, itis the way of the world, you know.” “No, it cannot be. At all events, [ would not be like them."’ “Tam glad to know that there Is one real nice lady in the world,” Sam was beginning to getin his sugar frosted-cake work, don’t you see? “fam rich,’ said she, coyly. “1am glad to hear it. I wish every good person in the world was rich.” “Yes, folks say I am rich; but I wouldn’t be so cruel to anybody I liked.’’ : “T should hope not.” ‘*] think you are real nice, and if you should ask me to marry you, I shouldn’t stop to ask how much money you had,” and she laughed real cunning. “Oh, but they are not all so kind as you are,” said Sam, boldly taking her hand in his. “Oh, don’t!"? she cried. “1 beg pardon,” and he released her hand, “Yes, you may—that is, won't you walk in?” And would you marry a woman who would assure you all this’ she asked, taking a seat by his side and slyly reaching for his hand. “Yes, I most assuredly would.” “ Oh, Samuel!’ and she leaned her head upon his shoulder and sighed a real sigh. The old gal was completely mashed. ““f—] beg pardon,” said Sam, hess “My name is Percifla Higgins. If-anybody liked me well enough to marry me they would not have to work any more, and I would make them exceedingly happy,” and she sighed some more. This was a trifle more of a mash than Sam had cal. culated on. He didn't mind working in 4 little taffy until he got her order for lightning-rods, but he did not expect to have matters go to this extent. And yet he hardly knew how to get out of it. It was a bigger game than he Wad ever taken a hand in before. But he was not the lad to take water. So he braced up. “J—I haven't the slightest doubt but that the man who marries you will be a happy one for life, and it surprises me that some one has not secured the prize \ before this.” “Oh; Samuel, the right one for me to make happy
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“B+ SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER... “-mever came along till now,” said she, squeezing his whand and looking up into his eyes as sweetas home- qade molasses candy. “Excuse'me, Percilla, but I hardly catch the: drift of your remarks.” * Oh, Samuel, I have never loved: ‘til now.” “Tg it possible?” “It is true. Oh, Samuel, excuse my maiden dlushes, but itis true.” ** What is?’ he asked, encircling her waist with his * apm, just to see what shé would do. “Oh; that I love you, Samuel. Say that you_swilt be ‘rine, and we will be—oh, so happy.) You can give up this business and we will go together overthe whole -€arth and never a care shall cause us pain, . Say it, Samuel!” Sam was sorry then that he had put his arm around ‘her all teo yielding waist, and he would have given up te fiye dollars he had won from the Jandlord if he © could have got ont of it in any respectable way. S ‘He wished to Heaven thatsomething would happen; » ‘that somebody would start an alarm of fire; that his a — would run away, OF that there might be a dog am! to ~ = 1-Tam nae worthy ofso great & love,’’ he finally to Smet O Seema are, I know icin tage me for my them all and would m are. Dozens have ith, but I saw through have to do with them. I “was determined to keep’my ith until I found some one MA of it ith me, That one I have : Aseand in? Samuel—let me say my Samuel." _ “But you do not know me. We do not know each other yet. Imay be far from what you could love - «when you knew all abont me.*’ he mildly protested. ... . “Oh, my heart tells me,that you are just what-you -Watting for. be, my ideal; the man I have Jong been Sam ylaticed at ber and concluded that she must - - have begun waiting for her ideal some time before he ‘was bo eR, Bat itwas.so sudden.” Soy ad so sweet!? a pe nes prompiy. a at the same time putting Fr puckered mout! ‘or him ‘0 ~‘Eissit he took the hint. But he didn’t, or, if ~s ne he didn’t do it. “But it would be better to wait awhile until we now each other better.” “Oh, cruel boy! Iask no time, I willgo with you even now to the parson’s and have him unite us in the sweet and holy bonds of wedlock,” said she, fling- her arms around his neck. = oe was a situation! “You are too kind, Percilla.” 5 _“ And you too cruel.’” wl deed. you favor my. a m say you favor Aa§ proposition. “Oh I eextalaly do these cee he saw a “way out of the une ak ‘Then you are not indiderent t to me?” no means.” oa 7 Winer’ me an answer before long ? Be- Sooty go away?’ h, yes.” ** Then we are engaged on conditions ?”? Ps “ Yes, certainly.” Se aang 54 Wel n, me, ue: 0) her mouth to hide her false teeth. ‘4 e ft toot, but Sem, fter hesitating was to a @ moment, concluded he could stand it, .so as it was the way Hen mr and so he closed - ol es now, please, for this is sonew to me : that T—well, or wil Bee you again. I will send my men to Pid gt up the rods to-morrow.” be shre and come yourself, Samuel—dear aer ” said she, folowing him to the door. “If I can get away from business, yes.” “ But you must come; you must not neglect me now, after capturing y waiting heart. “Oh, certainly not. I will come sania soon,’ said he, leaping ay on his wagon seat. * Good-bye, Samuel,” and she kissed her hand to him as he Geore away. ** Good-bye, Percilia.” “ Good-bye, sweetheart, good-bye!” he heard above the rattle of his wagon. That adventure took the cake; but as it was by this ~ time nearly sunset, he drove back to the tavern for the purpose of taking the landiord’s five dollars by showing him Miss Higgins’ order. But he said nothing about the other part of his ad- ‘Yentare with the susceptible old maiden, for he didn’t want the laugh on him if he could help it. The next day, however, he sent Spot and the hired man to put up the rods on Miss Higgins’ house, tell- Aer perched pains with the job and make it a - a good oF ~Phey aid £0, although she followed them every- where, all the while asking Spot qnestions about Sam, ~ swhich he answered witn his usual amount of taffy. . ~~ The next ag Wa m sent Spot up‘to collect the bill, ~ and also gave him the following letter to give to her: * PRIEND PERCILLA,—Of course I do hot wish to mix Dusiness with pleasure, so have intrusted my man to - give you this after he has presented the bili for the lghtning-rods, which I must forward to New York - to-night. To-morrow will be Sunday. May I visit Lyon in the evening and tell you my.concicsion? “Sam Spry.” tm or course that settled the business, and the bill was ‘Rot only paid with promptness, but Spot received the present of a dollar, and @ hint that greater things were in store for In answer to his letter she. wrote-him.a fuli-paged gusher. ‘* Yes, yes, yes’? was written all over i, but she coneluded as,follows: : “Oh, come-to: me, darling, my darling! My heart is hungry for you. 1: will.await you .at twilight in the front arbor. Steal;in on: me, darling, my. dar- ling, and call me your spire there in the gloaming. ** PERCILLA.” -* Well, this is the worst I ever saw,’? mused Sam, ag he fead the effusion. | * ll post Spot, and let him meet her in the arbor H eet | and if-the gloaming isn’t dim enough to suit her, he’ll add afew shades to it by his blackness. Monday I am off, so it does not amount to mach how the meeting turns out in her arbor.’? Nobody but Sam Spry would have thought of sucha lieved that there was anything but fan in it- » So during Sunday he received bis instructions, and then awaited the twilight hour with a big grin on his mug. CHAPTER XIX. THE shades of Sunday night were falling fast on the town of Canian, Connecticut, when Spot set out for the house of Miss Percilla Higgins, in the place of Sam Spry, whom she had so gushingly invited tommest her in the ‘gloaming of her arbor. Spot was in ecstacies. He was a with the idea of having some fan with the old who had asked him so many ques- tions about Sam, and bothered him about his work, ger and an elastic step, ¥ golly. dis yer amdegreatis racket I eber had,” he mused, in antic:pation.. me and Percilla was there, waiting for her lover, true as Hero to Lysander, although she had no beacon to guide him to h arms, for light was just what she didn’t want. “No,’’ she murmured, as she awaited his coming, “we want no light; we shall meet and love in the perfumed darkness, The smiling moon~shall not envious stars shall twinkle without seeing us. Oh, hasten to me,lover, hasten. The twilight fades in the gloaming, and one after another is Night lighting her oak the sky. Come to me, lover, come! Oh, how handsome you are, s0 come to love's ‘bower, where fond arms are waiting to enfold you and hungry lips to kiss away your fears, Oh, come—oh, comé!”’ ais it was nee overbeard her rapturous soliloguy, and said “ahem!” | ist outside the arbor, 3: pon ne aera “ Ahem!” from Spot ** Come, timid sweetheart, come.” “ Ahem!” and Spot edged his way very bashfally into the dark arbor. “ Oh, Samuel. feo have come! Welcome—a thon-’ sand welcomes m one who loves you!” said she. springing up and throwing her arms fondly around Spot was never regarded asa bashful coon, and now that the Ae jase favored him, he was not long in re’ embrace, And when oo oa up her mouth, and held it out to be kissed, he concluded he was just as white as anybody there in the dark, and so he smacked her. ‘ BS pare she cried, and Spot was. right on hand for “Oh, Serting how I have longed for you since last we met! Life has put ona new garb since we met! T have sat here for an hour, waiting for the ee time between twilight a and dark trying to still my fluttering heart, and telling it or that you, its king, would soon be here. Come, sit down. Are you well??? she asked, anxiously, as she fairly pul him toa seat beside her. “Oh, yes, quite well,’’ replied Spot, doing his best oimitate Sam’s voice. “Lam so glad! May you always be sol. How cool and delightful is the evening air!’ . “ Very, very nice!” Spot was trying to collect his thoughts. gab and blarney enough, if he could only get it started right. ‘But he had to be very careful in speaking; for fear of using some of the quaint phrases so natural to him. ** Oh, Samuel, don’t be so coy,’’ said she, “TI amn’t coy,” murmured Spot. “s “Hold me in your arms, Samuel.” : ‘All right,’’ and he pulled her closer to him with strength enough to nearly break her in two. She sighed, but it would be hard to say whether it was from excess of emotion, or because of the coon’s vigorous hug. “On, Samuel!” “Oh, Miss Higgins!” **Call me Perciila.” “ Percilla!"? **Or some pet name that you like better. Call mea pet namie, Samnel,’’ she said, and oh, so pleadingiy. “What shall it be??? “ Whatever pleases you, dearest.” *Shall I call youn Sweetness ?"" “Yes, if you think it appropriate. But am I really Sweet in your eyes?” Yes! but sweeter in my monf," he said, slightly forgetting his accentuation.. . “ Ot, Sammel!”? and she clung still closer. “Call me a pet name, Sweetness,” said S beginning to be himself, and he made one big foo the other, so tickled was he. “Yes, I have a name for you.» t, just foot Kick snap as thatpancenobody buteSpot would: have be- and so it was but natural that he setout witha swag: ; yee you peep through this leafy veil to see our loves, and the | “ What is-it, pray?” 3 “One that springs from my inmost being.’’ - “ Tell me.” f “Itis Darling.” “Oh, how nice. But amI your darling?” —~ on. yes, my own heart’s darling,” ana she would have asked him to Squeeze her again M she hadn’t . been afraid he would break her ribs or corset steels, “Yum, yum, yum!” “* What is that, Darling ?’” “Itis Spanish, Sweetness,”’ “Oh, well, darling; American sweetness is good enough for me.’? ' Me, too,’ and he nearly knocked outher false tecgb in reaching for some of it. -As it was, a certain quantity of tise hair got badly nged, Ss “Samuel! oh, Samuel!”? “Yes, Sweetness.”? “Haye you considered)” SE 79m “Oh, my—oh, yes? He was getting a trifle too excited toretain the gmp on his imitation of Sam’s style. “And will You—— Oh, speak my fate!” “Oh, I will!’ wil go the whole world oyer in each other's 2% company. ae hig os sail where the maple _ . O’erreaches its bo Where.mnsic’s soft ripple s In melody flows. = 3, Where shells of the are am i ¢ - ens bright tinted An Forget life’s commotion : 3 On more hems.” a “Oh, how nice!” murmured Spot. + _ : “Dost thou love the picture?’ — == st soe I? Oh, softness!” warbled he. = = We'll have no friends that are not lovers, No ambition save to excel them all in love; We'll read no books that are not tales of $ That we may smile to see how poorly the quence of words = Translates the poetry of hearts like ours!" “Yum, yum,;yum!? Spot warbled. once more, “at the same time nearly squeezing the breath out ofher in his ecstac Jn pense notice that he ecstacy. But she was too deep in made use of ‘Spanish ”” “And when night comes, beneath the breathless heavens, : We'll gness which star shall be our home ; When love becomes immortal, “= While the perfumed lights steal wer the mists : ra eevee Sat Wie oan wn Sine 's heavy with the sighs of ora’ groves. = And the music of sweet oforange . : : And the low murmur of the fountain : That gushés from among the roses.’? “ Oh, lay, oh,-yes!"” Spot managed to say, but that Lady of Lyons ee nearly overcame him, It broke him all up, because he had never beard so much at a time before in his life. She had evidently Jearned it for the occasion. —. * And shall. we go to the parson to-night?” : = _ “Tam all ready, Sweetness.” a ; == “ Miss Higgins! called the dairy-maid. a : “Hush! it is only the servant to ana ageaiter As honeyed tete-a-tete. I will not answer ges said “Miss Higgins!”. again called the maid. “What can she want? Bat never mind, wil not answer her, and soon she will retu’ oure,” ’ ' “ Maybe something has happened 1”? ;
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-~ deavors to reach the street. SAM /SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER, 35 “Oh, no. She is always worried ifI am out of her sight any length oftime. Hush!’ “Miss Higgins, where are you?’’ And then there was a little piece of silence. But that troublesome maid of the milking-pail was not inclined to give up the search. Something had evidently happened in the house- hold, as Spot had suggested. Finally they: saw a light, shaded by a hand, ap- proaching the arbor. : “The troublesome thing! I hope she will not come here,” said the lovelorn maiden. **Oh, my! on, yes!’? murmured Spot, He didn’t want it, either, just then. . **Miss Higgins, Miss Higgins, your speckled cat has fallen into a pan of milk and is drowned!’: And just then she entered the arbor, lightin hand. “Go away?’ cried Miss Higgins, it over the wall, and although he did. not get much meat, he managed to return about haif of one trouser’s leg as a souvenir for his mistress. But Spot got away, and made the fastest time on record back to the tavern; where he found Sam perched up on the piazza smoking a cigar, and the leam standing before the door, all ready for a start. in fact, Sam had finished all the business he had in Cauian, collected all the money due him, and was all ready to set out that night for the next town, it being moonlight and a lighted road betore them, He was at that moment all ready, and only waiting for Spot, although a trifle anxious to learn-the result of his adventare. ,‘\ Hello, Spot,” he said, as that individual presented himself, all out breath. **Oh, lord! oh, thy !’" was all he could say, * Well, how is it?”? ““ Yes: a cat got drown in a pan ob milk, an’ de ser- vant come huntin’ fo’ her wid a lamp. We lay low, ° but she come right into dat arbor lookin’ fo’ her, an’ de light gib me dead away.’’ “The deuce you say!” exclaimed Sam, becoming interested in the narration. $ “* Oh, my! ob, yes!” * Well, what did she do ?” ** She jump de track.”’ “What ??* “Collapse a flue, I.gness. Leastwise, she take a look at me, squealed like ‘a sick’ locomotive, an’ flop ober on de seat dead.’? i : “Dead?” “ Well, I dunno.” “In a faint, I guess.” - “* Yes, maybe so. I tole de servant gal: to go fo’ some water, an’ she went fo’ de dog. I went:fo’ to ** Good-bye, Samuel,” “Shoo!”? added Spot, But it was too late. The girl had removed her hand from before the famp, and its fullest light shone brightly spon her mistress, locked in the arms of a coon! “Gracious me! The lightning-rod man?’ she ex- claimed, almost involuntarily. "Yes, and you—-” Probably Miss Higgins was going to tell thatim- pudent domestic that she had better scatter, without Stopping for any formalities, when she caught sight of her companion to whom she had been making such Jove, and knew him at a glance. Uttering one wild yell of confusion and despair, she fell back upon the seat of the arbor ina dead faint. What does this mean?” demanded the astonished milik-maid. = *Go fo’ some water,’’ said Spot. “What have you been doing, you black wretch ?"? “Nuffin. She do it all.” ‘You are a liar and a villain, . Here, Bruno, come here!’ she called, ranning from the arbor. “ {don want no Bruno in mine,’ said Spot, and he lit out of that without stopping to say good- night, or when he would call again. But that big Newfoundland was a very fly canine, and quickly responded to the eall, i" Sic him t'* Spot heard her cry, through the shrubbery of the garden _ But Bruno was something on a rush also, aad by : time Spot had reached the garden wall he hadalso @ome within reaching distance. “He reached one of Spot’s legs before he could get as he dashed in his mad en- and she kissed her hand to him as he drove away. “ How is it! Look at dat leg,’’ said he, his bleeding calf, minus the usual covering, “Ah, there! Did she nip you?’ “No, but her dog did all the same,” “* Oh, you got onto the dog, eh?” “No, de dog got onter me, by golly,” “ What made you let him?” “1 try not to, but the gal she sic him on.” * What gal?’ “De servant gal.” «Well, how was it?” “Yt war nip an’ tuck, wid nip not quite far enough ober de garden wall.” “Yes, but how did it happen?” “Oh, yum, yum, yum!” said he, laughing. ‘«Then you met the old girl?” “Met her! Oh, by golly, Sam, dat yer am de wuss mash I eber seen.’” * Yes, pretty bad, { guess., Well?” ““She war dar in de arbor, an’ it war)so dark dat she didn’t know me from a boot heel.. Oh, how she did make lub to me!. She call me her Samuel, her darling, an’ she hug me *bont fifty times, an’ kiss me an’ talk poetry; oh, yum, yum, yum?’ ** And she didn’t tumble?” * No, she axed me to marry her right away, an’ do no mo’ work all my life. Tumble! she wouldn’t tum- ble! She wouldn’t do dat little caperif de arbor fall on her. Oh, it war de wuss you eber seen.” “ Thought it was me all the while?” ** Ob cose she did. Tumble! she would neyer tum- ble in de world if it hadn’t been fo’.a cat,” said he, laughing. A cat)? u >, **Good-bye, Percilla.” *‘* Good-bye, sweetheart, good-bye!” he heard above the rattle of his wagon. ; showing | get oS an’ de dog went fo’ me. See dat leg?’? he aske ““Yes, it does look as though he went for you, and succeeded in reaching you.” “ Oh, my! oh, yes!” * And, of course, you didn’t go back to see what the Tesult was?’? “ Golly! I knowed what de result was. How ’bout dat leg?” “Tt looks a trifle sore.” « An’ how *bout dem pants?” ** Well, they look a trifle one-sided.” “J should say so. What I de?”? é “ Oh, you will have to waif until we get to the next town. But 1 guess itis higf time we left this happy land of Canian; so jump up into your seat, and away we go. ** Oh, my! oh, yes!’ ** Good-bye, landlord. Good luck to you, but don’t ever ask Miss Higgins her opinion of lightning-rod men. Ta, ta!’ and the next/moment he drew the reins over his horses and they left the place ata lively trot. Good-bye, Canian; hurralsfor the next place! But seeing our friends ‘road and everything serene, suppose we let them go for a while and return to the rich old maid who had been so terribly sold. Percilla slept the sleep of the fainted away, Not even the barking and growling of the dog who had so promptly followed Spot and wrenched. from him a sonyenir of the strange escapade, noteven the yells of her milk-maid awoke her for the time being from the oblivion which was mercifally enfolding her. But that marplot milk-mald, after she had sicWed-
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So _ SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. - SSS a the dog on to Spot, had rushed to the house and re- turned with a dish of water. This she sprinkled over the face of her wilted mis- tress, all the while wondéring what the deuce it all meant, anyhow. And presently she revived, but she was in a dazed tment and scarcely knew herself or her surround- ne Shall I help you into the house?’ asked the serv- ant, who had made all the trouble, “Oh, Samuel! Sweet, sweet Samuel, where are you?” she asked, faintly. * The old girl is certainly going daft,” thought the milk-maid. “ Samuel, Samuel, you are dreadfully tanned,” she said again, alter a moment’s pause. » “Well, I should say he was,” muttered the girl. may become known. Oh, why did I not know enough to beware of a lightning-rod man?” She sighed herself into hicconghs, and was finally put to bed weeping for her sad mistake. CHAPTER XX. WHILE all this was going on Sam Spry and Spot were on their way out of Canian to the next town, where he had ordered a new lot of lightning-rods to be sent, and where he hoped to do as_ much business as he had in Canian. This he hoped; but whether he would have as much fan or not remained to be seen. But business was what he was after all the time, and if fun came after it, or creptin while it was go- ing on, Sam was not the man to fight against it. Of course be had to Jaugh at the way Spot had ter- minated his courtship of the gushing old maid; Miss “I know it; but what in thunder is the use of being” an early bird if the worm isn’t ready for you?" “Wal, that’s so. But this aren’t much of a place for arly worms,” replied the landlord, with a broad grin. ‘Nor early birds, either, I guess,” replied Sam. “Wal, no. We take things purty sort of easy here in Falls Village.” “Well, hurry up, and let us have some grubas soon as possible, for we are hungry as wolves—eb, Spot?” **Oh, my, oh, yes,” he managed to answer between his chattering ivories. “ Whar yer from ?”” asked the landlord. “From the happy land of Canian.”? “Don’t b’long thar, I reckon?” “No, thank goodness.” “Circus 9? “Oli, yes, we had a circus there,” laughed Sam. “Sic him!” Spot heard her cry, as he dashed through the shrubbery of the gardén in his mad endeavors to reach the street. But Bruno was something on @ rush also, and by the time Spot had reached the garden wall he had also come within reaching distance. Hereached one of Spot’s legs before he could get it over the wall, ** Tanned in the original package. Say, are you better Bow? Shall I help you into the liouse ?”” * Where are you, Samuel?" * Oh, dear, she has got Samuel on the brain.’’ “Oh, Samuel! Yes—we will go to the parson at once,anc—— Ob! ah!” Then she'seemed to arouse from her half uncon- scious state. She glanced wildly around. “What is the matter, Miss Higgins?’ asked the fervant-girl, taking her hand. “ Matter! Where is—where—— Oh, Belinda, what was it?’ she suddenly asked, catching her roughly by the shoulders. s “alan, bee Higeins. should oy that shite a negro—the same one that put up the a! -rods the other day. . Did you know it?” ug “Yes. Spot and I are the only performers.” ““Wal, b'gosh, I guess it aren’t much ofashow.” ~ Who’s ther clown ?” ** Spot here. Eh, Spot?” “Oh, my—oh, yes! I's 80.’? “ Wal, yu look some like one,” said the landlord, sizing himup. ‘“‘ But, say, I never hearn of Smith’s Circus,” he added, ** My friend, this 1s a ligntning-rod circus.” “Oh, L understand. Peddlin’ lightnin’-rods ?” “ Yes. and sellingthem. Don’t rub that off your slate, Got none on your house, I see. Sorry for that, for I make it a practice never to put up uta tavern that is not protected by lightning-rods. But I dare say T shall sell you a set before I go.” <= “ Wal, ifyu’re smarter by a darned sight than Iam you ao — “ Well, “Oh, ante x 2 Hg wok J 4 : ra PU GR
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SAM SPRY, “Ah, my friend, if you only knew the laws of average as operating in the case of atmospheric elec- tricity, you would not lay that pacifying unction to your soul and then be happy,” said Sam, seriously. “ Pacifyin’ what ?”' he asked, in astonishment “Urction.” “ What's unction, I’d like tu know ?” ae Ho 7) “Why not??? « “ Well, sir, if you knew it all you would know that the laws of nature are 50 fixed that lightning must atrike just so many times on every square foot of the e@arth’s surface. in order to restore the equilibrium.” “Restore what?!’ “The electrical balance or equipoise.”’ ‘Wal, say, yu must have been chawin’ ona diction- ary somewhere,” said the landlord. “Ob, no, 1 simply learned my business, and of «* Shoo! go way, dar! hands and kicked lustily with.both feet. WEVW YORK at EF ie Gy PAGMMER 37 Z | ‘Golly, if] had you money I'd try it,” replied Spot, who had become quite a dd capper. “Tam only telliug you, that’s all,” said Sam, walk- ing into the tavern. “ But say——"? mused the landlord, following him thoughtfully. ‘ Nobody in the village has got *em on their houses,”? “ Well. if they are wise I have struck a good place. If not, lightning will strike here before a great while, and when it is too late they will remember my warn- ing. Why, when I explained the thing to the people |- of Canian, every man who owned a house allowed me to put up the rods. Eh. Spot?’ “ Yes, an’ barns, too,”’ said he, remembering his experience with the eagles on one, ** But, say, how about that breakfast ?’’ “T'll go an’ see *bout it right away,” said the land- lord, starting to go. But he had no means of measuring his customer, and allowed Spot to overhaul the goods and fit him- self as best he could. He succeeded finally, however, in finding a pair of tronsers, the figure of which rather suited his fancy, but much better than the garment fitted him. However, it was much better than three-quarters of a pair, and so Sam bought them for him, “Say, young fellow, did you ever sell anything be- fore ?” asked Sam. “ Why 7 “Because I don’t think so.”’ “Been here five years.” a Great Moses! How stupid must you have been at first ? “I guess I know my business,’’ replied the clerk, sourly. * Well, if you do, you know thisisn'tit. Yon ought ae | ! | HTH Sam, whar is you? Somebody eall off de dogs!” he yelled as he clung to the spout with both **Call off de dogs! Shoo, dar, shoo!- Sam, has you gone backon me? Shoo, dar!” course I found out all about the laws of electricity. And it is jast as I tell you, my dearsir. A certain locality may be exempt from the devastating shatts for years, for a lifetime, and those who live in that locality may be rocked into a feeling of security be- cause of it. They may think that because it has not struck that it will not. But nature’s laws are as inex- orable as are the laws of day and night, and in good time the surcharged clouds will lower upon this vil- lage, and the instantaneous messengers of death will i tpon many a home and claim a victim, if their houses are not. protected with Smith’s patent infalli- able lightning-rods.”’ bd Great ene exclaimed the nearly paralyzed landlord. “Be not deceived. In time of peace prepare for ” whe man was nearly dazed, and Spot would have been had he not been used to Sam’s style. oan 4 naturally a fine flow of language; jeca tits aot knew what he was fuking about, ited his purpose he could astonish al- = ete he did not know him or the fuent iis chaff. mi Sr Santent so?’ ventured the Jandlord, after he had recovered himself a bit. fs am giving it to you dead straight, Of course 1 @on’t care-whethar you are-prepared -for.the inevita- bie or not—"" to . ty * he Ineriinble—that which is sure to come, for I am not a resident here. It will only be a doljar or two In my pocket if you do buy, and I can stand it if Jou do not—eh, Spot?” “And, say, where is the nearest clothing store? One ot my man’s trousers’ legs have shrunk up a trifle.” “* Wal, I should say so. Go right down this street *bout fifty rods an’ yer’Jl see a place where they sell clothes.”? * All right, and I hope breakfast will be ready b the time we get back,” said Sam, starting in the di- rection indicated. ** Guess it will be.” Sam and Spot went to the store. It was a one-horse affair, with a little of everything to sell, and a ‘one-horse clerk was just opening for custom. “ Show me some pantaloons,” said Sam. “There they be,’ replied the clerk, pointing to a pile of clothing after he had looked the strangers all over. * Well, don’t yon ever show your goods?” “ Why, everybody can see ’em,”’ replied the fellow, impudently. * And if I don’t see what I want I suppose I can ask for it, eh ?”’ : % Ge 1 s’pose so.”? “ Well, I don’t see what I want.” “ What is it? “ A clerk that knows how to treat.customers,”’ re- plied Sam, but the yoke) glared at. him.in stu: as- tonishment. “ Yeu've gota cash customer if you've.got the, goods, 80 pull yourself together and make a showifig.” 5 By this Sime Seon, began ~ bes icr co Nga was wanted of him, without apo! tine pile. Zeast, be went back and pulled down the > teeP22 4 to chew gum fora living. Good-morning, and if you ever get out ofa job come down to New York, and I'll find you one—blowing up eel-skins,”’ saying which he and Spot walked out of the store, leaving that aston- ished clerk looking after them and wondering who they could be, Back to the tavern again, they found the landlord and their breakfast waiting, both of which they promptly saluted. But it was very evident that what Sam had said had taken rootin the Jandlord’s mind, for he was very serious, and went for Sam as soon as breakfast was over. He had consulted with his wife and repeated as much a3 he could of Sam’s eloquent warning, and that accounted for the steak being so nearly purned toacrisp. She had got excited over it. * Now, say,’? he n, giving “his real Yankee twang a good showing. ‘‘’Bout how much will it cost tu put yer lightnin’ fixtures on my house an’ barn ?”’ “Let me look them over. Spot, go out andisee if the horses are all right.’ Then he took a fine cigar from his case, and light- ing it leisurely with a fancy percussion lighter, war- ranted to light a cigar ina cyclone, he left a few whitts behind to astonish the landlord, ; and took a: look atthe buildi and did a little ig- uring, more for show than an. “ Weill, to make you perfectly secure, and so that the insurance companies will take you (for you must. know that they are all making a new departure and ~ rodded, because refusing all risks on buildings not
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88 SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. there have teen so many losses lately), to make you periectly secure will cost fifty dollars.”? “ Whew!" “Of course fifty dollars is nothing against the can- celing of an insurance policy, or the loss of your buildings by a stroke of lightning. But I'll make it come easy to you. I shall be here a few days, and my bill will reduce ‘the price, and, besides that, [ shall make it ten dollars less than that figure, because you will be the first one in town to have the rods put up, and of course yon can be of service to me in speaking a good word for them among your neighbors.”?~ “ Of course I can.” “* Well, what do you say?” “ Guess [ll du it,?? mused he, forgetting what he had said to Sam at first about smarter than he was. Great and grand 1s an eloquent chin! before noon Sam and Spot had put up the rods on both honse and barn in fine style, and greatly to the astonishment of the neighbors, who couldn’t un- derstand why so mean & man as Josiah Brown had op on, dings expense of thus adorning and protecting D: But whats: Sam had said about insurance companies refusing to take risks on buildings not protected with rods was seed that fell on good ground, for it was not ot se others began to inquire. result was that they ‘Sued > pataene enough in ee oe & week, with another man Teady to start for the robably being dd ever visited in the for him to astonish with abel rosomponss by fants eal imap ly recompe! m's soc mp There was an o}d-fasnioned billiard table in the aoe on which the Yankee. yokels played n- ally, and as Sam was a first-rate player, he soon as- tonished ison with his way of making the dalls ps ee and count in all sorts of unexpected veut one. morning he bade good-bye to the friends be had made there, and set ont for another stamping nd, meanwhile astonishing his employer, Smith, king unexpected returns. and © more Tods to be sent to him at Winstead. @ fine country, dotted with some excellent small settlements, and Sam resolved to see ck up op the road.” 78. that he succeeded ve only mentioned found Pag res an. old Yankee successes, for who wouldn't have his lightning-rods or his ex] chin music either. ie knew when be started out that there was a at icon the tning-rod peddler, but he could not’ be much greater than that rummers, and as he had worked bis way in that ine. vof busine business, he felt certain of doing so in “No, A Fnleracors yer _picter, I mous have yer darned things on my house for a gift. I don’t take no stock in these ere new- ccmeting? an’ as for eeunine. ne fim think it’s ting Providence tu put ther ’ darned things up. ir yer goin’ ea be be —— by et cae ant vit ot. “So, gt tt do rowan; of ca’ ve ‘ou mn nt none ae Lad, finally mad yer gotso = was Foie to set pattheno ioe on him. t the next bo however. he had slightly better tnek. althoagh Spot didn’t think ;so. The man who owned the house was not mueh in- clined to be chinned into the business, but Sam was more disinclined not to sell. The customer wanted to beat him down, but at the same time he toak quite a ecrg! to Sam, and seemed to be a Urst-rate fellow himself. “Call it twenty and I'll do it,” said the man, when Sam wanted five more. “ Well, let me see how many feet of rod it will take and then Pili tell you: Got a ladder?” “ Yes—just ander the shed yonder.” “Ah, there, Spot!” Sam ed, “Oh, Ma, my —Ob, yes!’ answered Spot, leaping down from his bigh seat on the wagon. ' “Whoop up that ladder and goup with the tape- Nne and measure that roof.” “ Oh, I’s gwine to be dar!’ and he started. ‘That's a great coon you haye with you?’ “He’s a hummer. SVery arama of his positior’and his agiiity at climbing, “said Sem, as Spot returned - witb a light —— about twenty feet long and placed it against the Louse, all the time singing: ™ Oh, yes, we’s gwine to be dar, an’ stay dar, - An’ dance by de light ob de moon!” He was soon on the on i roof, over and along “which he ran with his Tr boots and tape-line, ‘Proud of being noticed. “Yes, he’s a great climber. I'll bet he will get own in some way just as quick if we take the ladder down,” said Sam. _* Let’s try it" and while Spot eros Moved the ladder, and- then got “ot out of sight be ud sume peed and they ran to the covert where Spot, however, was lonesome. There were no | hid right about his work all. the samein spite of their barking. Finally, after he had_ finished the roof, he Jet the other end of the tape-line fall to the ground, 80 that Sam could note the measurment. But Sam was nowhere to be seen. Neither was the ladder or the man who owned it. He Jooked wildiy around, and finally called several times without re- ceiving’ any response. * By golly, dat am one ob Sam’s tricks; but I show hima trick’ good’s two ob dat,”? said he, walking along to the end of the gutter. With considerable dexterity he got over, and, catch- ing the water-spout, he began to work his way down, “Putty cold day when I gets left on a roof,” he muttered, and then he sang a snatch. Bunt by this time the suspicion of those dogs had been aroused. They came growling around to. the front of the house Bere espied Spot just as he had reached within ten feet.of the ground, Here was something he hadn’t counted on, “Shoo! go way, dar! Sam, whar is yon? Some- body call off de dogs!’’ he yelled, as_he clung to the spout with both hands and kicked lustily with both feet. “Call off de dogs! Shoo, dar, shoo! Sam, has you gone back on me? Shoo, dar Poor Spot, he could not return wo. the roof, he dare Sot [natp 38 to the ground, and hanging there was very es CHAPTER XXI. PRESENTLY the owner ofthe dogs gave a whistle, ie and Sam were peer to the ground, mad as a wet cat. “M Smart you is, arn’t youre eres, Spot, ity looking in the direction the dogs had ta’ “ Well, Spot, how many feet do sou ake it?” asked Sam, suddenly appearing from the other side of the house, whither-he had gone ona quick sneak. “How many feet?’’ he growled. “Two.” “ What!” “Dat’s what I landed on.’”’ “What do you mean?” “Wha you mean when you took away dat ladder ?”’ he demanded. “ Who took it away ?”” “Somebody did.”? “ Well, what’s the matter with the water-spout?” asked Sam, coldly. “Nufin. de matter Bf dat water-spout. Wha de matter wid dem dogs ?” *T don’t know.’ “ Oh, that’s all right,” said the owner of them, com- ing out into sight. as we were.” “Fun! Yes, dey looked like dey was only in fun. Wanted to hab some fun wid me, I s’pose. Very fun- ny.” “Oh, come off, 5 Can’t you take a joke? What's the matter with you? “Joke! Yes, set ek ona man an’ call ita joke. I don’t see it,?? he growled. “Well; did you see how many feet of rod it will take for that roof?” asked Sam * Yes, twenty-twd feet down to de gutter.” “ “Allright. Now*you are talking. Always remem- ber old 5 ub’s motto—* Business before pleasure,’’’ said he, without a smile. * Whar de pleasure come in, I like to know?” “ After bane: Well, Mr. Stone, I will putup the rods at your spe 37 And he got ‘An hour afepieeds the work was ‘done: the money Laon Sa Sam and Spot were on their at to find ano’ The next one proved 1 to be rather a queer sort of a chap. He owned a big g house and out- buildings, and bad the reputation of being the tough- est customer at a bargain, even when he wanted to buy, to be found in those parte. “I see you have no lightning-rods on your build. ings,” said Sam, driving up to the front door where the man was at work. “No. Don’t want any.” was the gruff reply. “Have you insurance?” **No. n’t want any,’* : “But pervory should. be fnsured,” said Sam, try- ing to lead up to lightning-rods * Everybody can as wants to. Idon’t.” a yet a fire would surely destroy all you bave “Well, I can standit.” “Very likely; but how much better. to save than to lose what you have worked hard for.’” ** Never avorked a day for ’em.” “ But somebody must have done so."” “ Well, what’s that to you?” “Well, nothing, of course, only you might want to Save your property for somebody who comes after ou.”? * But I don’t.” “ Ts it possible ?’” “ Yes; ey ever comes “after me but creditors and the sheri * Well, in that case of course you don’t care about leaving saything: But, outside of that, I am sure that ig &@ set of 1 -rods would improve the looks of your house”? “Don’t want to improve it.” ” “ Indeed! not, might T ask”? ~ $ “Cause it don’t belong to me, that’s all.’? “ Oh; then I have been “my sweetness on whee May “well, Dateeu't T see the owner?” “ Certainly, if you go tna taael ooh “They were only in fun, the same | alrea *. ‘* Well, my dear sir, f will not for a moment assume : niradal “ Where migilit that be?” “In France.” “ Good-day.”” ; is ae right,” and Sam drove away, both beaten and blu tte The man didn’t even look after him as he left, but groutily kept on with the work he had scarcely look- ed up front during the entire interview, The next man he called on was a minister, who offered to let him put up the rods_on his honse if he would accept an order, for the proceeds of his next donation party in payment. Sam concluded that life was too short and dona- tions too uncertain, and: politely declining the offer, he drove away, and a mile or two further on, before: he came to a small village In this little village there was a new little church, and of course Sam saw.at.a glance that-itwas with- out lightning-rods, and the first thing he did-was to inquire for the trustees, These he soon found, but he also found that they were very poor, Indeed, the minister who had offered to give him an order on his next donation was the one who rough and tambled it with the devil there for three hundred - @ year and two donations, They had spent all the oni Bi ey could raise in building the church, and would have to take chances with the lightning unti! such time as they had more” money. But one of the trustees assured Sam that there was @ well-to-do o]d German in the village who had been very generous in hel eae build the church, and per- haps, if ne was roached, he might go down still further into ment of his generosity b by buying a set of lightning- Tods, z Sam resolved to see this noble Teuton and present he case to him with all his eloquence; so he drove to lace of business, and found him to béas to’ an od utchman as he had ever met with in New York. “J have been talking with the trustees about put. ting lightning-rods on the church, but they.say a are poor and cannot afford to do so now, but they vised me to come and see you, and perhaps you would tea 4 something toward it,” said respect- ioe: id yos abound dot?” he asked, after he had ney ot aoa the latest f it in light- “Tam putting up the mprovement in - - and the trustees think there should be some e artnet ms Whud for?’ “To protect it from lightning, of course.” ~ “To brodect id from der blixen?” askéd the Dutch. man, with & look ofastonishment, “ How abound dot ” that you "do not know the dangers of lightning, for of course you are an educated man, and you know—ot ~ course you know—that a building with a st isin much ning than a lding that has none. trustees wish te have it protected by lightning-rods, and, as I said before, they thought perhaps that you might contribute a portion. if not the whole, of the expense of making the building secure.” “ Mine young frient, dot vos Cot’s house,” said ne er ees ey impressivel ve it vas eeikt blendy money to built dot church for — Ihave been informed.” 4 “In der fust off ‘‘ help built der chureh mitout =” sdeeble. Dot vos all righd. Den der church menibers dey vont a sdeeble. Dot vos all -righd. I pay some more mers for a sdeeble.”” danger htly ap) is. Doo kets, and insure the monu- — le On if ter danger of being struck by light- — Build . Therefore. the pany An " 2 = £ e of being struck by light=" ” “True, butit is in ning, Mr. Renglen” 0. Bad dot vos Cot’s church.’” ie “True again, ~ . * Und dem eptataee yont me to help py some ¢ light- nin’-rots?’ “ Yes, as I have said.” “Dot vos all righd, mine young frient. Dot vos Cot’s house, und iffie vants to sdrike id mit dozder, all righd; id yos none of mine pizness; und he voult- sdrike id anyhow if he vanted to, Ipays not a cend more on dot chureb.” That settled it, and Sam knew when the stolid Ger- man waved him away and resumed his work that he would put up no rods on that church, unless he did - so for nothing. So he waltzed out. - He got one or two orders in the vill however, which obliged him to remain over until the next day, when he resumed his way for Winstead. But by this time he was nearly out of rods, and it was necessary for him to connect with the next con~ x signment. And yet he had enough left for one or two more ~ houses, which he expected to get before he arrived at Winstead, So the next day he started out again bright and early, and in half an hour or so he came u = farmer who -had no lightning-rods on his buildings, and he went for him reat rank; rinciples. The owner was'a almost anything, Sam stated his case. “ Lightning-rods, hey ?”? * Yes, sir, and omnes at this moment would — me more than to receive your order for aset ol them for your buildings. rots see oe — tee now; iets mighty searee,” ‘ank. 3 cat teat i ry ey was ut way Sines Lew atae dt fora“dicker” on — 4 , a ES CON eee ARTI eR Any YT Yel UPS + ve eo. PR) we eee NA WX! or OE EF Eee” |e ee” ee ee Maer
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iam SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. “Oh, yes, I know it, and that’s why I am prepared to put you up the finest set of rods in the world ata price so low that it will astonish you,” said Sam. * Wal, but don’t talk money; butif yu’re up fora dicker, maybe we can hitch.” “Dicker, eh? Well, I don’t see how I can accom- modate you. What do you want to trade fora set of lightning-rods ?"? "Wal, now, how'd a hoss strike you ?”’ **Oh, you see I’m well fixed for horses. ef a horse is it?” “Five year old. Sound and kind,’ (of his kind) he Sdded, mentally. ‘You could sell him so as to make * heap of money.°? > Let's see him,’ said Sam, for he had something ef the Yankee in his nature. Tie horse was led out and shown. So far as looks were concerned the Yank had proba- bly told the truth, for he appeared to be about five , What sort SO \ The shrill, warning whistle of a locomotive was heard. The horse reached the railroad track, and dashed down “ Then it’s a go.” Spot was in ecstacies. He had always wanted to own @ horse, and now for.the ‘rst time in his life he could do so, As for Sam, he wasn’t certain that there might be Something made from the dicker, but he would net have consented to the arrangement had it not been for Spot. = And the way that delighted coon did go over those roofs in putting up the rods was something to lcok at. Sam had never seen him work so before. And all the while he was at it his mind was actively. engaged in building castles, whose foundation was that horse. He would sell him for three times the amount paid for him, or perhaps swap with somebody and get boot, and, keeping on in this way, he. concluded that he could make his own fortune and way in the world, and not be dependent on the whims of others. $> “Oh, well, a Yankee dude’ll do. G’lang!” and he Started up his team. “Oh, watch me collar de Dude?’ said Spot, leapin: upon his back. ee Re * Yes, you must always collar a dude or. they don’t leek half dressed,” said Sam. “ @lang, Dude.” “ Be gentle with him, Spot, he has been reared a pet,” said the farmer. ““Neber you. mind bout. me,1 Knows all atont horses,”? replied Spot, as he rode away after Sam and his team. ‘** Wal, by thunder an’ gosh, if he knows as much: - *bout that hoss as he'll know ina week from now I’m rere said the farmer, as he watched them de-— part. And then he went and harnessed up another horse- and told his wife he was going to the next town, but. if those lightning-rod men returned. and asked for it at break-neck speed, closely followed by the screaming locomotive. old, seemed sound, and was quite a good} jooker, - ; ““Tshall charge you. seventy-five dollars for puting up the rods and——’’ “How. much boot will yu give me?” “Not a boot; not a shoe—not a cent,’”’ replied Sam, dec_ ively. Spot pretended to. be a good judge of horses, and he gave several winks and nods to Sam, as much as to assure him that the nag was a good one, * Wal, now, I'll tell 2 just how it is; 1’ve got tu many horses, an’. I’d like tu get rid of some of ’em anybow. An’1 want lightnin’-rods on my house an’ barn, an’ hayen’t got no casb.. So.if yn’ll put’em up the liegs is yourn.” Sam looked the horse over carefully, although he Knew but. little about them. Bat fe knew that he had charged double for putting up the rods that he would have charged had it been a eash transaction, and the question was—was the horse all right, and could he make anything out of him? Hie’s a good one,"? whispered Spot. “ What do you know about horses?” “Knows all about 7em; been brought up among Buy de horse, Sam, an’ I took-him off your ad a + Yen: ©) ayy. zee, F-make mobsy on: dat Loree ei gta. Tarow ta © ail right. Torow in & bridle?” be asked, turning “ T ride dat horse,”’”-he said to Sam, as they were at | him to tell them that he had gone to Hartford, ana work, *\ I’s a great horsebacker.”” “ And so give up your seat on the wagon?” “Yes, jus Jo’ a change.” “ All right... Can you ride bareback ?”’ “Ride anyhow. Neber seed a horse yet,dat I couldn’t ride. I can tame ’em, too.” “Ts that 502”? ““ Guess I can. proudly. “Allright. It’s your meat, and you can do what you like with it.” “Oh, you watch me.” “I will.’? st took them’an hour or more to finish the job, during which time the farmer had put the bridie on the horse, and had him all ready to start. The truth was, he was anxious to get him under way froni his home as quickly as possible, for reasons which will manifest themselves farther on. “ There, sir; you will never be struck by lightning while under any of those roofs,’ said Sam, as the work was completed. * Wal, I Hope you'll have as good Inck with the hoss as 1 du with yer lghtnin’-rods.”. = “Oi, it’ mmothing to mre, i bought the horse for my mene And he can have all the luck he wants for aad ? ayy t What's bis name ?"’ asked Spot, “What?” excialmed Sam, “Wal, he’s a Yankee dade. Took lessons ob Reary,” said he, would not be back for a month. The horse behaved first-rate. He was either on his good belavior or was in league with his late master, and Spot was more proud than an Arabian prince oF his charger. ‘« How does he go?” asked Sam, after they had lem the farm-house awhile. “Oh, he’s jus’ ole peaches,Sam. I bet you dat I sells dis yer animile fo’ two hundred dollars befo"Jwe leave Winstead.” © Allright. Ihope you may, for in that case we may trade that way again.” * Dar’s money in it, chile. Oh, my! oh, yes,’’ said Spot, with great enthusiasm. “ Well, get some speed on him, and let's see what his style 1s !”” “ Jus’ watch me, Sam!” replied S time breaking a switch that grew * @lang, Dude!”* He touched the dude slightly at first, but finding that he took no notice of that, he tucked the gad to him harder. Fven then he failed to res: Save that of laging back head. t, at the same y the ‘roadside. nd with any movement Ss ears and shaking his very suddenly, and Spot went fy- over his head. * Oh, my, whos dar!” he cried, as he took (Hat un- "Eos ihe o laughed,’of course, but had presence ef mind
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40. enough to stop his team and leap down to catch Spot’s ynnaway. Spot gathered himself up in a dazed sort of a way and looked areund. He was not badly hurt, but somewhat shaken up. He looked as thougt something had happened entire- dy unexpected. “| thought you were such a great horseman ?” said Sam, as he approached. * Wal, so lis, buat——"” “ But what were you doing there on the ground, I'd like to know?” * I—I war pickin’ myself up."’ “Wel, if you don’t pick up a little more smartness, you'll exher break your neck or lose your horse.” “ By golly, I ride him if it kill me,” replied Spot, spunkily mounting aeain: “You see, Sam, we’s @trangers yet. Wait til we gets acquainted, an’ I'll show you.”?. “Allright. Let her go!” “ I show you,’’ said he, riding ahead, but without using the Seerck? : = Bat the horse acted as was going” under PIDieoh and would nos ‘pet Out Pola & walk for any: - me avy t slow) ite all the while. : 2 he gad and ma @ him 1 show some style. Come, ma LR ad . and if you ex- pect tosell him there Aes oa must work. him up.” “ G’lang, you big daffer!’”? cried Spot, again giving ‘him the birch. The animal reared behind again, and tried’ to have some more fan with Spot, but hé clung to him like “ Whoa, dar—whoa!” cried Spot, and Sam whipped $e Bae tee at n-onnee 90 keep somewhere in sight of ‘The horse was ‘ergety the wind, but Spot clung} _ to en for dear | ‘e was nearly out of it in the dust of the road that he raised, when the warning whistle of a was heard. orse reached the railroad track, and disued. dower it at break-neck speed, closely followed by the screaming locomotive, se, 3 ee t ali the paaee are get on ie. team, a towa! railroad, expecting nothing short of death to Spot and his rnnaway horse, who had taken to the railroad track just in front oo a train which was thundering into Winstead, Conn. he nm reversed was as up with all its might to.avoid rusting over “Coming, however, to a cross-road, the horse dashed into it, Sot still clinging to his neck for dear lite, and the danger of being ran re = thereby averted. Bat he reached fteen minutes ahead of . Sam, svbere his horse, om wee tired out, was pe by some citizens. pot dismounted, but he was so frightened and_so cbt of win that he could offer no explanation to those who rescued him. hitoo are yon and where did you come from?” bao cago agree he only gasped and struggled for > eyes rolled wildly about and he was unebie'te ne 2 Laue ees Sis Geieie seein” es, 1 think 80, too. Where is the constable?” “ Wa—wa?" began S : ‘ Of course he’s a Innatic.”” Wonder where he got the horse?’ im, probably, and he ran: away with him, ilke a sensibic animal, only he did not break his neck.” “ Whar—whar Sam?" asked Spot, glaring wildly @round. “Oh, he’s all right,” suggested another, laughing. “* Whar am he?” “Gone to get a drink, Where’d you get the mag?” * I—I bay'd him.” “In your a> mindy? “ No, in Falls Village.” “ Come off!” “ Fo’ shuah. Wish I hadn’t,"’ replied Spot, at the ns me a a@rueful glance at the beast, as he soon nd fecked with foam. “WwW he eo t been broken yet.” ‘ 4° Xo wo’ has my neck. I—I gib dat hoss to any- ‘ody as wants him,” he added. .. » ‘Tins ouly raised a Jaugh; and before it had subsided - y Sam Spry drove up. i rel All there?" he aeee @ railway train. _Hart?’’ “ 4 ed — may! oh, yes!” - My i feclin’s js hurted, Sam.” # “ How did it ba) 2? _“Sam, I’s a broken hearted man.” said with saddened comicality taat made everybody out- is Sroka that, uses organ ofyoursp? er hoss.’* a L sick coon, so I try Sam’s. eee “ Don’ make fun ob me, Sam,’”? he,moaned. “Oh, the horse is all right. He hasn't got used to you, that's all.” *“ An’ I—I don’ want him to.” ‘Oh, pull yourself together and come over to the hotel. ‘There's money in that horse, Spot.” “Money! Deviltrum, I guess, mo’ like:” “Nonsense! Come along.” ‘* Yes, go along and get used to the horse,’? said the crowd. It was an effort for Spot to connect himself with that horse again. At all events, he could not be per- suaded to straddje him again at all: but seizing him timinly by the bridle, he ted him slowly along after Sam, the crowd following him and guying him. Itraised a blister on Spot’s heart, for the horse on which he had set so much store, and which he calcu- lated would be the foundation of his fortune, had proved a bad one, and all his tinséled visions—all his castles in the air—faded like a dream, But it was just his Juck, however, and on the way following Sam he meditated seers = *It war better somebody had swap mo io’ ayaller Toy ig. “an” ‘ten itil de dog, so dar would hab been an end to de whole business, vad ae g° back on me but de mea- sles, he sighed But the a ‘behaved well enough while he was leading him,,.and if he could have been sold as he stood and looked he would undoubtedly have brought a good They tae the hotel all right, and Spor am put. his horse intoa stall, looking after him as did the other two horses, while Sam went to the depot arrived va if his Jast ‘consignment of lightning-rods had vi 4 were waiting his orders, as was, ‘a certain pertained letter from a certain: pretty girl in New (ork whom the reader knows of. — This letter braced Samu uP wonderfully, for on its ae depended many of the plans he bad for the futures But Annie Jub was loyal, and although her father flattered himself that he had broken them apart, she did not keep certain secrets from her mother, and ‘she had her approval. She knew only too well what an old tyrant her hus- band was, and did not hesitate to assist her daughter against him, especially when she knew that it was his ambition and desire to marry his danghter to a man old enough to be her father, simply because he was a opera But.that ippin is hardly se yet, so let us return on anienne ar business again. “pack to the tavern, he found Spot seated in “ae ‘most dejected manner, with a look that ‘would have given a person to believe that he had either lost his best girl or had failed to connect in playing policy. = a don't soe ernoe that it £4 better to langh than be sighing “How you laugh if you in m i Aes place, I like to know ?"? he asked, looking up as i “Why, pucker your mouth. Pull ie a big lot of wind and then let her g0, Easiest thing in the world to laugh if you want to. “Laugh!” he exclaimed, starting up. * Yes, certainly.’? “ Wid dat hoss 7’ “Yes. Bean Alexander.” “How dat?’ “Why, he broke and conquered the worst horse in the world.”” Ti Bet ten cents dat he couldn’t ride dis yer hoss ob wey, he'd make him as gentle asasheep. Look Well, I ain’t no »Zander nor Reary. Dat hoss makes me sick, Sam.” “Pshaw! you've got no sand in you!’ * Guess I habn’t. Dat hoss shook it all outen me. “And you have lost your grip.” “Don’ want no grip. I wants to go home,” said he, mournfully. “Ob, yes, you always tire out and want to go home the moment youn have any trouble. Brace up and pull yourself together.” “ How I do dat? “ Why, with your native grit.” $ No Sam; I’s sick,’’ said he, dolefully shaking his “You look it. What are you going to do with your horse ?”? “I—I gibs “ Nonsense?”’ oe is, {I find anybody fool ‘nough fo’ to take m.” * You would be tae fool, Spot.’ How dat?’ “Why Re you finda sucker ” ** What fo’ “To a | “How I woke a sucker?” “Why, sell or swap with him.” “ Maybe he want to try him. How dat?” ~ Well, take chances. Swap him for a poorer look- yon nag, and even then you'll geteven.’’ t was thoughtful. — Porbaye: after all, he ae make a push that would =e a9 oP he walked away to ruminate t eeDar's no knowin’ de luck oba nous aay calf and a ‘ m away.” SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. \ But business before pleasure, Sam’s motto, had to come to the front. ing of some circulars, calling attention to the fact that the great lightning-rod agent had arrived in town and was prepared to protect the inhabitants oF the good town of Winstead from the dire effects of are fiery lances, he went out bimself to drum up trade. as His object in every place he struck was to get chance to put them up on one house, which oa Stand asa sort of acard, but above all things he wanted a thunder-storm. : He had thus far been singularly unfortunate in this respect, there having been little or no thunder and~ lightning since he entered his territory, and of course he could neither test his own rods nor find people frightened into thinking ee of the necessity of possessing a protection against what did not seema danger, But during the day he managed to work the school trustees up to such a point that he obtained permis- sion to place them upon the High School honse, which Sam regarded agagood snap for further OFF ’ ig i he wanted a thunder-storm, However he went to work the next day to get ont the rods and make ready to place them upon the ~ school Togas, one of the most important buildings: ine the town. e Spot was still very serions and downcast. But he took hold and helped maxe ready for the schoo]-honse — job, although he had not ventured yet in further test-- ing his horse to see if he had improved in his behavior, any. ane next. day was a hot and SS opremeinaiones but bnsiness was business. and with the assistance’ ofa- carpenter whom he hired to assist him, he and Spot went to work. itraised Spot in his own estimation when he found z that he had a man to boss, and the man was smart enough to compliment bim on his agnity at getting — over roofs and putting up‘rods. This made him show up for all he was worth, and the result was that he did nearly all of the work, the carpenter being an adept at bestowing taffy. Sam was on the. ground with the qualcman of the trustees superintending the business, for he wanted the job to be a good one, of course. And while thus employed, a sturdy old citizen and tax-payer of the town came along and wanted to = know what was going on, is The chairman explained. % ** Lightnin’-rods, hey?” he asked, musingly. Le Yes. sir.?? put inSam, “Weare taking advan of the improved discovery of the great and ever to remembered Benjamin Franklin.” * Ben Franklin ?’’sasked the old citizen. ‘* Yes, the great and glorious philosopher, passions and statesman,” replied Sam, earnestly. * Him as fit inter ther Revolution?” “He did more than that, my dear sir. He arrele wine ad his country nobly in many ways. He was one of the bold signers of that immortal Declaration of Inde-~ pendence that reenited in giving freedom to this glori- ous country.” “Seems tu me I’ve hearn tell on him,’’ said the old citizen, musingly. “Why, of course you have, Mr. Oldgun,”’ suggested the chairman of the school committee. : “ Wal, Mr. Bite, what's that Bot tu du with this ere scule-house tantrum?” the ol tax-payer demanded, Sam was promptly to the rescue. “Well, sir) the great and glorious Franklin, = Statesman, patriot, and philosopher——” “Hold on. What's a feelosopher?’’ the old man in manded, for he was hickory-headed and couldn’t straddle'a word of more than two syllables... - 13 “Why, to be a philosopher is to philosophize.”” a ts don’t say so! Was Franklin blina?”? ‘Oh, no, - “Then how come he tu fee} :—loss—of_—eyes?? — Sam staggered under the blow ol the wainteniet pun, but. the chairman never winced, because he- never saw it. “You do not understand me, sir. To philosophize is to study over and tind out ‘the secrets of nature. This Ben Franklin ‘did while proving that lightning a a ctricity are identical, and he at the same time discévered that the subtle but terrible fluid seeks good condactors in its passage from the clouds to the earth, while of course being more apt to strike high than low poin.s—such as trees and houses, and if these are pe rovided with metallic conductors the lightning passes m the cloud to the earth through them without light, noise, or harm.’? : “Yu don’t say so!”? “4 veritable fact, I assure you, sir. “Gosh. How did people du Sate’ Franklin found out all this?” “They suffered greatly from thunder-bolts, and many. houses were fired and lives lost until he dis- the great preventive.” “ Yu"don’t say so! Then they didn’t have glight- nin’-rods in Bible times ¥"’ “Oh, no! They were not discovered until the - eighteenth centary.’’ replied Sam. ** Noah’s ark didn’t have ’em rf” : * “ No—that was under Divine protection.” “Solomon's Temple didn’t have ‘em ¥"" ‘* No—for the same reason.” “*Methusala didn’t wear ’em?”’ wie mies re alive’ it eh? “He man: tu live quite a while, “Oh, vera eeariy a thousand »-“ People used.tu live lo: ; da: r ; nigra ceeitag to thee ible. seer! 2 “xo don’t say nothin’ bout lghtnin'-redeTs x0.” So, leaving Spot behind to attend to the distribut- - >
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SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER, eT 4i SS EN, “Then what's the use on ’em, anyway ?”’ “T have just explained, my dear sir.” “Oh, yu be hanged! I guess’ yu’re one of them chaps as has got cuteness right on the’end of yure tongue. Yu've caught this ere fule scule committee, an’ they believe all yu tell ’em, It'sa goshdarned humbug!’ said he, smacking his two hands together. “You are mistaken, neighbor Oidgun,”’ said the chairman, earnestly. : - “No, b’gosh, I arn’t. I went tu scule ina log- house, an’ that was good enough. Rut nowadays people’s gone crazy. Now yu arn’: satisfled with havin’ a big tu-story house, all shingled, clap-boarded an’ painted, but yu must get lightnin’-rods on tu it. I’m a tax-payer an’ I object, said he, decidedly. “Oh, you are behind the age, Mr. Oldgun,”” ventured the chairman. “No, I'll be goldarned if I be. I have hearn tell of ** No, sir. promise of wrath to come. ter sooner than I.” * Git out! Never was ’fraid of thunder an’ lightnin’ in my bors days, an’ I have allus noticed that it’s only them as is afraid that ever get hurt. But theidea that this scule-house wouldn’t get struck if ther Lord only thort best tu strike it! Why, it’s irreligious, it is, b’gosh.”” “Oh, no. But you take your chances without light- ning-rods and] will take mine with them; then, if you live, see which of us has the best of it.” “Yu’rea flippant cuss, but I'll bet yu'll run for cover at the first crack.” “Remain here and see.” * All right.” “ Well, it really looks as though we were going to have a tough one,” said the committeeman, looking Iam only too glad that the elements give You, sir, will fy for shel- (t =f i\ f | = ALU hema co “That unfortunate coon, still clingin ail of these notions, such as the tellygraf, fotograf, | tellyfone, an’ sich nonsense, but I don’t b’lieve in “em. Ther idea that ther war anything that was wuth any- thin’that arm’t spoken of in the Bible. Folks lived longer then than they du now, with all yu’re new con- trivances. I won’t pay a cent toward it.’’ “Oh, I guess you will,” said the chairman. “Doggoned if I du! There’s yu’re algebry, trig- emony, punctuation, longation, feeldsify, jewology, eookalogy, frazeology, pneumatics, hydrostatics, ele- mentary, grammar, tortology, trigenomity, square rute, fractions, decimals, composition, an’ about a dozen other things I hear my chilen torkin’ "bout, an’ new yu’re goin’ for lightnin’-rods! Great Beltzshazza! l kick,” said he, smashing his fists together sayagely. Sam bad heen so much interested In the old ¥ankee kleker that he had not noticed that thesky wag aarkK- ening, and that heavy portentious clouds wererolling up ominously from the west. : But such was the case, and for the frst time since he had been peddling and putting up lightning-rods there seemed to be a chance comfay “ test them, if " to hten the people into buying them. ad like a drover® said the bold committee- ookiag along the weather line. ; 4% muess there's lichtping in those clouds,’ Sam, taking also a look. Say, arn't yu skeered ?”” asked the old man of Sam. “Scared! -Why shovid I be?” = : “ Why, oner connt of ther lightnin’. Oh, no, my dear sir. I know I am on the cow $ side, and that my rors will safely carry away all the electrical venom that the clouds contain,” sald Sara. “Yn don'tsay so! I'll bet yn’ rumat ther fast clap ef thunder.” scintillations darting all around him. up at the angry clouds now soaring up from the west in dark folds, while that dead calm before a storm settled almost sullenly upon the scene. “1am glad of it. Hurry up there, Spot, and send down that ground connection,” he added, calling to Spot and the carpenter. “ Dar’s gwine to be trouble np heah, Sam,’’ called the darky from the school-house roof. “* Oh, that’s all right, Spot. Hurry and send down the ground connection on this side, and there’ll beno danger.” “Gracious! what angry-looking clouds!’ the com- mitteeman said, addressing Oldgun. “Why, nater’s humpin’ herself tu show yu whata fule yn are. It'll be the means ef knockin’ this ’ere new-fangled scule-honse alltu flinders.” he replied. “ Wait and see,” said Sam, who knew that ground connection had been made on one side of the building, and he was now hurrying to complete the other one, The carpenter was already frightened half out of his wits, and was on the point of going down the Jadder for solid earth and cover. while Spot, without looking np at the black masses of clonds overhead, was doing his best to complete the connections. All at once there came a terrific fash and thunder- ing crash right out of the black cloud overhead that TATE SveTT thing ity toe The lightning had tndeed struck the school-house, | bat, it being partially protected. the worst of tt hac atientiy follow? the rods to the growed «9+ # Gu ther fork of it that would have teen Garth Gi, 2-5 sere way had the greend connection been Oetapediod canght the rod upen which Spot was at work, And the next Mmatant thar npfortemice <oe9. ehh clinging to the detache rod, was Cangiiag ® Tahiger 7 with a hundred electric scintillations darting alt around him. It also caught Oldgun, and for an instant he was seen to be standing on his head, and yelling quite as loud as was poor Spot, CHAPTER XXIII. Ir was a regular old-fashioned thunder-bolt, and Sam Spry’s partially adjusted lightning-rods had un- doubtedly saved the school-house from utter destruc- tion. As it was, there had been a terrible rattling, and poor Spot as well as that Yankee kicher and crank, Mr. Oldgun, lay prone upon the ground, while the others were wildly dancing around from the effects of the shock, without knowing whether they really stood on their heads or their heels. g to the detached rod, was dangling in mid-air, with a hundred electric |. But. almost immediately following the thunder- bolt, the rain came down in ragged. raging torrents, and the wind, not to be left ont in the cold, began to howl. surge, and-hoop it np in the wildest manner. Naturally, everybody got wet, for not one of the party was there that knew enough to go in when it rained, just then, and it only took about three seconds to drench everything capable of‘ taking water.” But the committeeman and Sam were the first to recover and make a dive for the basement donr of the school-house, whither the carpenter soon followed them. with his hair on end and his eyes protruding. Crash followed crash. and the bolts of fire darted wildly about in every direction. as thongh anxions to test. not only Sam’s rods, but everything else cn earth. Spot and old Oldgun lay sprawling and kicking upon the ground, wet to the skin, of course, butshow- » ng conclusively that they had not been killéd. Sam looked ont into the descending deluge, and saw poor Spot kicking about there in the mud and water. AS for Uldgnun, he didn’t care a snap for him, any- how. He was a blooming old crank at best, anda smart stirring up by lightning would do himgood, more especially as he didn’t believe in lightning-rods,_ or ake Taaok eck ia danger from lightning. Bot be reshed back ovt into the rain to where Spot | tay. and_seieing lim by the shoulders, dragged him tote the house, leaving Oldgun to soak, Soot wae breething heavily, and so they sat him up | &© The corver to drain off and allow the waler to ron } Sut of tem, < i Poeeenmtiy be opened bis eyes and looked wildly Bepees, it was evident that he had received a severe
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42 : shock from the electric spark that went fooling and ; sizzing around that ligitning-rod upon which he was al work, but he wasn’t dead yet. Tt takes a first-class thunderbolt to knock outa ihealthy coon, unless it hits his shins. *- How are you, Spot—are you hurt?’ asked Sam, with some anxiety. “Is [hurted! Whar be I?” * Right here, my boy.”? * Whar right heah ?* he asked, looking around. ** Just on the same old spot.” “Who hit me?” “ Nobody.” “ Who fire dat gun ?”” “here was no gun fired.”* * Well, den, who fire off dat mountain ?? *“ Been no mountain shot off, Spot.’ It was only a Mash of lightning,*’ said Sam, SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. “ All right,’ said Sam, who by this time had got the SE ae Se AS Ree eee SS tee eras es omens oeneseeegeemne eee me *-G—racious!. Great storm, eh?” said Oldgun. best of tue wild, reckless storm that was orevailing | wringing the water from the sleeve of his coa outside, and was once more himself again. with you.”’ Together they made a dive ont inte the storm, and after much» slipping, slushing, and wabbling around they managed to get citizen Oldgun by the arms and dragged him into the school-house basement. He was almost unconscivus, and so they placed him up in the corner, jeaning against the partially re- covered Spot. The wind kowled, and the dampness descended from the clouds at about the rate of an inch a minute, Also the thunder howled and bellowed, and snapped around like a forty ton Fourth of July fire-cracker. There was a smell of sulphur in the air, at least so soure old and timid sinners said, aud the rain god seemed to have on his coarsest sieve. “Lil go * Oh, my, oh, yes!"? murmured Spot. 3 “Say there’s nothing in lightning, eh?’ said Sam to Oidgun. E “Whoop! hear that!? he exclaimed, as another crasy, ripping thunderbolt went zig-zag through the air, leaving the smell of sulphur and a rip tearing with those who hesrd it. a ial you don’t believe in it?’ said Sam, confiden- tially. “Oh, my! Hear that?” . 8 * Of course; but what do you care?” “¢1—I—what is it, anyhow ?”” ‘A thunder storm.?? *G—racious! what's the matter with it?” * She's broke loose.’? i} j } Yi H LPT / 2S SE There came another crash, louder, if possible, than any of the others had been, and it seemed to shake the very earth from center to circumference, **¢ Wa!” howled Spot. **Oh, my!” moaned the carpenter. ** Boo—hoo!” cried Oldgun, and again he fell upon his marrow bones. . “ Flash ob what?’ 2 “ Lightning.” - “ Whar am dem ligbtnin’-rods?"” “ You were clinging to one of them.”’ * Am dat so?” ** Certainly.’ *“ Did it s*plode ?*” “ No, you simply got a shock.”’ s “ Oh, my, oh, yes! I know’d dat somefin’ bust or a - happen to me,” said Spot, refiectively. * But how abont Mr. Oldgun ?’’ asked the trembling committeeman, for the storm was yet at its height. ** Oh, let him soak,” said Sam. “ Soak Yr? “Yes. It may open his pores so that there wil! be @ chance fer a little modern intelligence to get 1n.”’ ; “ But he is a rich man.” > “ Well, can’t he stand it?’ ; “ Oh, let’s go out and bring him in.” ““ Nonsense." Why?’ * Nonsense! “ Because he is just as wetas he can be,” replied t. “ Oh, my, oh, yes!’ put in Snot. “ Bat he may have been struck,”’ “ By what? * Lightning.” é “Oh, no, Lightning would have no show on that skull of his. The resalt weuld be greater if it struck a baleof cotton.” = | ; -“ Oh, no, Let's bring him fn,’ plead the com- = ‘ Tor he wanted to do something for netgh- bor Oldgun, because he was one of Winstead’s rich / Spot had closed his eyes for a rest, and was trying | mh Tie her up!’ exclaimed Oldgun, now thoroughly to get his bearings. Citizen Oldgun was trying to open his, He felt that he had no bearings. Spot felt that it would be all right if he didn’t hap- pen to find his. : He was utterly indifferent. The committeeman felt it to be his duty to rub Mr. Oldgun. He was a rich man. And finally Oldgan opened his eyes and began to take in his surronndings. About the first thing he saw was our friend Spot, whoin he remembered to have seen before, putting up lightning-roda. Putting forth all his strength, he roused himself and looked at the coon, who was also gasping for breath. Mind you, the storm was even then at its height, and Oldgan in his shelter was draining os at least three gallons a minute from his person, while Spot had got rid of the most of his catchings, “* Y—yo—yn’re a nigger,” said he. But Spot made no reply, * Or—well, maybe—say, what was it, anyhow?” Stilt Spot refused to speak. “Thunder shower, eh? Maybe you was struck by lightnin’ an’ tarned black. » They say Hghtnin’ does Strange things. Say, who be you, anyhow?’ ‘ Spot still refused to speak. “That is all right, neighbor Oldgun. It’s a great storm,’ suggested the committeeman. * Well, I should say so. Look at Brother Pinch! ** Oh, yes,” sald commitiee.’ “Ligh ightened, **Can’t do it. She’s only commenced.” *Oh, my gracions!"? “ From twenty-Ove to fifty doilars will insure you. Have it?” “Oh, my—oh, yes!’ put in Spot ‘Wal, say, what’s gol into things?” asked Oldgun_ Sencouy half-paralyzed by the terrible storm around 0 ne “ Will you insure against lightning?” again asked Sam, clinging to him. *How much did yon say?" . “From twenty-five to filty dollars, according to your house that you wish insured against lightning.” ** Oh, my—oh, yes!’ put in Spot, who was gradual- ly recovering. “Jeisn’t worth it,’ growled Oldguan. But just as he said so there came a clap of thunder, accompanie: by a fash of lightning, that seemed to - shake the earth from core to circumference. ** What is that you say?"’ asked Sam, catching him just as he got the shakes. *J—I—well, perhaps you are right, so put 'e he moaned, “All right.’ replied Sam, having caught-a hot from the bat, ae “Oh, my—ol, yes! But how "bout datr’’ asked Spot. “Oh, Lord! Say, did hgatnin’ strike your’ asked Oldgun of Spot. a ~ “Strike me !"’ he exclaimed... Se een “ Did it hurt you?” > . “ Hurt me |"
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SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER, “* Well, how !bout dem clos, if it didn’t hurt me?” 2 manded Spot, at the same time struggling to his eet. ie ‘T_T guess you're hurt !"? sald Olagan. ; ‘Now, where do’ new inventions come’ in?” asked Sam of the old crank. — How?” ; 4 “Well, how wonld a modern wringing-machine come in about now ?” he asked, laughing heartily. ** Gosh ! I wish I could be put through one on ’em ‘hous now,” he growled, as he squeezed water from cone of the legs of his old baggy trousers, Then came another clap of loudness, that shook things worse than ever. *. Oh, Lord—oh, Lord!’ cried Spot, and he went right down on his marrow bones, instantly followed by Oldgun. ** Save me, too, piease !”? he whined, and seemingly 43 ‘“Now what do you say?? asked Sam, placing his hand upon his shoulder. ‘* Hal’ and he 100ked aghast. “ Lightning-rods ?” “ Y—yes,” ** Give me an order to put them on your buildings ?” **Y—") and he was about to hesitate again, when another “rip’’ brought him to terms, ““What do you say, Mr. Oldgun?” asked Sam, cool asa watermelon, *“Y—yes, put ’em on,’ he moaned. “You witness this?” said Sam, addressing the com- mitteeman. “Yes, I do.” “Good enough. Consider yourself protected for the remainder of your life,’’ said Sam, writing in his order book. “Oh, my—oh, yes!’’ put in Spot. s. =} d everybody else shouted Pee eager ee nde the infuriated horse go ther crash, | in answer to his prayer there came ano! ‘and a shade tree standing across the way aba ire formed into toothpicks in about the sixteenth p: . B second. low some This caused both Spot and Oldgun to be! more, and brought the frightened carpenter ys a knees also. In fact, the committeeman looked w and shaky. aur dae “ Brace up, gentlemen, brace up. There ger so oie saa one of our rods has & ground con- va Sam. Be on secon. yes!” Spot murmured, sadly. ~ {—}_isn't it dreadful?” said Oldgun. conte “ Yes, for Oe by lightning-rods, c said Sam. ae ns soy guess so,”? he arent nf ut you up a se | well, jet mit itil the shower is over,” he alteringly. . See hit na tar after the danger is over you won't think there is any use in putting up protectors. “ Wal, then there’s no need of "em, oy earls fered He was about to continue, for there was jus peed Inll. and he rose to his feet, feeling that the ange was over, But.as he did so there came enotier a louder, if possible, than any of the others Star m and it seemed to shake the very earth from ircumference. = _ © Wal’? howled Spot. “Oh, my!” moaned the carpe Iged in the belief that the worst © passed. he fell upon * Boo—hoo!? Oldgun, and again he 3 ogee dA AS with upturned eyes muttered ers for forgiveness. who also had ene f{ the trouble “How vane are all things here below!” moaned the | carpenter. ‘pe “Why, cert, if you hayen’t lightning-rods,” replied | down on you knees dar, hey?” m. “Oh, my—oh, yes!”? ; It had really been a terrific thunder-storm, and the lightning had struck several houses in Winstead, and at least three people had fallen victims to the heavenly bolts, all of which stirred up business for Sam Spry. It was just what he bad been wishing for, knowing from what he had heard that when such storms did come to northern Connecticut they came to make business lively for somebody. But, notwithstanding its potential fury while it lasted, it was quickly over. At a)l events, it over Winstead in a few sensational minutes, and again the sun came out behind the dark clouds that were sailing away to the northeast for the benefit of other towns, That frightened gang crept from the room where they had been sheltered, and gazed wildly around upon the washed and Jightning-riven scene, the shree mostly frightened ones drawing sighs of relief at the prospect, the evidences being strong that the racket was.over with. “Oh, it’s all right now,” said Sam. “Thank goodness!” exclaimed the committeeman. * Oh, my—oh, yes!’ put in Spot, for he was getting brave now that the danger was past. | wili be over to put up your rods the first thing to-morrow, Mr. Oldgun.” = * Wal- 2 “That is all right... You have ordered them, as. I have good proof, and [ cannot think you would be so sinall as to try and back out, now that this litde spurt is over, and more especially since your life has un- donbtedly been saved by the single rod—eh?” he added, turning to the committeeman. ““Most undoubtedly. Why, I think we should all of ns have been killed had it not been for that light- ning-rod,and the school-house would in all probability have been ruined, if not a heap of smoldering ruins, Oh, you owe Mr. Spry your life without doubt, neigh- bor Oldgun.” * Wal, put ’em up. Goldarn ther thunder, any- how! he growled, as he walked away. *- Yoo’ve got him!” “You bet I have!” “Ob, my—oh, yes! He war scarred right inter it,’ said Spot, and he laughed loudly. **No—he wasn’t the only frightened man there was,”* laughed Sam. “Who war frightened ?—not me?” and a yellow dog would undoubtedly have put in some fine work had + his in first and kicked the mongrel over the fence. “Oh. nho—I should say not!’ putin the carpenter. “ Wha’ dat? Who war frightened? Wha’ you do I went down to see what you were doing on yours,” : Then the carpenter laughed. “ How *bout dat lightnin’-rod ?? ““Well, what of it?’ “How ’bout gettin’ strack by lightnin’ like I was an’ all broke up? Dat war what made me fall on my knees, ‘Look at me! See dem clus? Guess you'd fall down if you got dat strackin’ I gor,” said he, most indignantly. “Come, now, pull yourselves together and finish this job,” said Sam. ‘The storm and everything is lovely again.” Both Spot and the carpenter Som up at the sky with evident concern, but seeing everything lovely once more, there was no excuse for their not going aloft to finish their work. As for Sam and the committeeman, they employed themselves in looking around to see what damage had been done by the lightning. There were startling evidences of its work all around, and one buiiding at least wasin flames, al- though the school-house had escaped injury. *See?”? asked Sam. ‘ Great protectors.” ** Great,’’ replied the comiaitteeman, in earnest, for the evidence was right before his eyés. Well, Spot and the carpenter finished the job, and it was pronounced perfect. But the great boom had been inthe destructive thunder shower that caused sich a loss of property and life, and, besides that, had nearly frightened the life out of people.
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. that he Tex And the story of that storm, as told by those who | at the moment He was giving the horse another apple, had experienced it at the school-nouse, created great interest, especially when it was learned that Mr. Old- gun had acknowledged that his life had been saved, and that he had ordered a set of rods for hisown buildings. It created a boom for lightning-rods right away. Nature had certainly putin a good stroke of busi- ness for Sam Spry, for almost before he could realize it he had orders enongh to Jast a month. Everybody in the town of Winstead seemed deter- mined to have lightning-rods, and Sam was perfecily willing they should have all they could pay for. In- deed, he had to employ two other men to put up his orders, and his employers in New York were knocked silly by the extent of his orders for lightning-rods. But, even tnough business is good, we must not for- Os Spot’s horse. Somebody teid him that the great secret of Rea success as a breaker and trainer of horses was is Kindness to them, and when he spoke toSam abont it, that bright and ne prdntery pee Sno man fell right in with the idea and advised “Funny you’ never jad ages of tt yas before, Spot. You are too easily discouraged. Now wake your horse out for a little walk, just to exercise him, but before doing so buy a dozen apples and put them in your pockets. Be kind and gentle with him, and every now and then take an apple out of your pocket and give it to him.” “Ob, my, oh, yes!" replied it, and, as the idea was endorsed by Sam, he went at it to work it out as a as pomne. Sam watched him with a smile, for he had arranged with the pore keer where he knew Spot would go sate apples, and wanted to see how it would wo CHAPTER XXIV, . - Spor got his coat Le cee fall of apples and started for the stable where he proposed to be kind to his horse, for Sam had told him that he could manage ey ae if he only treated him with apples and ndness, Le St SRP ree Ee roe SrTneat by the quart as well. Seni him by ates; Spot Ca hen Dade **Ca name, Spo e (=p egal ang ‘ee bh. Ta: The Hiternian hone. confronted a nim, and it was evident that he was not feeling a * Ol soy, Mr. 5 , aythur thatonid hoss ay yourn bas gotter lave t barn or Ois » said he, “ Wha’ de matter wid yo Spot. _ “Sure, an’ there’s nothin th ther matter wid me, but it's er huss as has ther Ould Nick in him.” low dat?” ‘*Do yees moind that howl in ther doore?’’? he ask- ed, pointing to. a partition door that looked somewhat broken up. “ “Yes.” “Wal, be the shillalah ay St. fatrick, 2 that same how! ene ee Sy Soe my sconce, so it 4 dat?” - = _ “Sure, I tack him out av ther stall ther mornin’ afther tratin’ him teras dacint a breakfas’ as ivera oss stuffed out his stomach wid. I tuck him out ter curry him down an’ make him feel Joike a gintleman’s aeepat war all ight.” replied Spot. -“Allroight! Who was itall roight for? Fust of, - he lay fb Oh gare him a cl “rd ther comb an bd é . ve a wid ther comb, an Pie, bat a ip Fr bone in his body, an’ wid that he croid jehaw, ny let go his noigh hoind fut, that went within an inch av me head, an’ made ther howl in ther doore beyant, bad Inck ter him.” “ Dat, yer see, was cos he feel he oats,"? said Spot. “Well, not another oat will he fale by me givin’ him onything bat straw. Sure, that’s dacint enough for a dirths baste loike him.” “ Now dat’s because you isn’t kind to him.” “Koind! Bad luck ter ther four-legged spalpeen! He wants murtherin’, that’s ther sort of koindness he wants,” replied the hostler. * Ever heah "bout dat Reary, de hoss-tamer ?” “ Faith, [knewed a meting named Rory onct, but he had nothin’ ter do wid bi “ Dat yer hoss am a pinin’ ain’ fo! kindness,” said Spot, going toward the stall where the animal in question was da pee SRE, = “WwW begorra, ve poine. = Spot n’t know for a certainty whether the horse hot mee A for sympathy and kindness, but be took Sam’s oe for it, as he did for everything else. Dude, whoa, nants te ‘ot somefin’ vou,” said Spot, y golmg of the animal. ould on there, nauger!’ cried the Hibernian .- “* Shad Oi go for a doctor?"? pe Bead give bir a show,” Suggested Sam. : he’ll get 2 foine wan.” = acatWioa. dar Dudey—whoa, boy! Oh, dar amn’t matter wid you. Ob cose not. An’ whade ar “wid dat? dat?” meh Spot, holding an apple to the Flees t peeethentgteent tobe anything the matter with There didn’t appear to be anything the matter with the animal's appetite, either. Whether or not he was yearning for kindness was - stilla probians,. as there was no sort of doubt but re at for apples very muchly. asked, looking at “See dat yer: at the hostler during which he nearly lost a finger with it, * Oh, pegorrs, Al BS an’ you Jale it,” replied the Irishman, 1a’ ughing. “ Oh, mesa my!"? they heard bim moan. ““ What's the matter, Spot?” “Numin much,’ he replied, holding his thumb in his mouth to ease the pain. Bout while he was doing this the horse got away with the apple, and began nosing around for another one, -And he soon discovered that Spot had them in his coat pocket. He made a determined nip for one of them, biting righ throngh the coat,and taking the apple as well asa large piece of coat. “Whoa, dar—whoa!?” he yelled. “ What's the matter now, Spot??? *N—nuflin much." ‘Oh, he’s allright now, What did I tell you? Why, afew apples and alittle kindness will make a good horse of the worst one that ever lived.” “Oa, my, oh, yes!” TTA, Oi don’t belave that all ther apples an’ Bue in Connecticut wud make a dacine baste av m, ” said Pat, ell, you just wait and see.’? , “Sure, Oi might not live long enough,” “Oh, yes, on will. Give him all you have got with you, Spon @ added, “Oh, my, you bet,” he answered back, for he Gaston he had discovered a brand new way ‘to make something of his horse. “Who wud have such a baste as that? Ifyees war goin’ a few moiles yer'd have ter take a bushel av apples along ter coax him wid.” “Oh, I's only reget on de right side ob him now, ae ethat 4 pote tages ee bo the right sid d “That's agen y,, get on e an you will have no trouble. “Oh, my, you bet!” Sam began to get uneasy for.some reason or other. “Given them all to him yet?*? he asked. “ All but one. Now, Dude, heah am de bes’ one ob de lot fo’ de Jast,’’ he said, holding it toward him, The horse made a wicked snap for it. * Hole on dar, chile. You mus’ kiss.me_befo’ you gets dis yer,’’ and he began patting the horse’s neck and say - Shag: sorts of.kind and endearing things while holding the apple behind him out of his reach. But this didn’t appear to please the Dude at all, and he began to get fractious and to dance around, to the imminent danger of his owner's big feet. Spot gave him the remaining apple. * Dar you is, you pig!” said Spot “ eee begorra, he’ll kick ther ears off av yees, now leary tes have no more,” put in the hustler. no. Spot is cetting in his a now,” a Sam. “Just watch him, - Faith, Oi will’? “So dar, Dudey—so!" they heart Spot’ say, as though addressin ~* Well, no. Your optical apparatus seems to in ssession of its cal color,” _ But is af are, you know.” 4 eeewal, yes, oy it ain’t my style of business a bas crazy bosses, Now, he tanst pay the dam done and possibly he may do more out on —oh, my!’ Le open bs for the idea was ‘forced ‘upon-him that be made liable to dam- ages enough on account of horse t 4o sénd lim to prison. eS Oh, that he hac never thought ot buying a horse? Oh, that he could set that horse upon the tricky farm- Seer eer | bate po ou; you you a horsee<tuat} you wan a horseman /i.said Sam, after a use, * Sam) if dat am/a horse I gibs it up.” = “Bnt you must pay the damage he has dene, all the same,” said the landjord. ” “Oh, yes; of course he expects to do that!” sald Sam, airily. ..- ; s) Samipomi it will ruin mel’? whispered Spot to him. “Oh, well, I can’t help that. You said you knewal about horses, and wanted to. buy that one. It’s no sickness of mine; S80 brace up and get down to busi- ness,” said Sam, walking away. The truth was he wanted to get out of sight some- -where so that he could have an uninterrupted langh; and so he left Poot Spot to the tender mercies of the landlord and the less tender jibes of the Irish hostler, neither of whom Jet up on him in the least. Poor Spot wished that he were dead, that the earth wonld open and, if not to swallow kim up, to at least hide him until the storm of his present troubies had passed and a little sunshine come ent on him again- There was only one ray of consolation gleaming through smack cloud of misfortune, and that was that the ho! surely escaped; that he had per- née outon some open plain and become a witless c of the pampas, cr an untamed steed for some future Mazeppa to be bound to. He had all he wanted of him, and Sant particular what became of him, so long as he saw no more of him. Badly broken up, he imped from the barn to the becuse, where the landlord appiied a lotion to his rnises. Pat, the hostler, looked on and wished that he had _ also heen bruised. Meantime, the four-footed terror was being freely aie cussed by the citizens, who bad about the — peared to be what the deuce was the anyway, for no pars in his penses. any such a way as he would betare i nee ; Take him for damages’ ‘and then haye the pesk a. ee ne ee ee
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> cir ve SAM SPRY, THE NEW YORK DRUMMER, Tout, while this discussion was going on, and while Spot wus resting and thinking what was likely to hap- pen him next, up marched a couple of citizens, lead- ing the horse, one on either side. ‘There was a scattering frou 1 front of that tavern, and Spot tried to craw) into a burglar-proof safe out of danger. “Take him away!” shouted several. “What for? Whose horse is it, anyway ?’ * Where did you find jim ?*" asked the .andlord. “Down here trying to drink the mill-pond dry,’ re- plied une of the citizens. ; “Something must be the-matter with him,’’ said he other citizen. ‘ ™ Well, I should Bay so,’’ said the landlord, and then several loungers helped him laugh. “Te spit and kicked, and something red came out of his month. ud Ld | may r ‘cumanannias MAN Hy | After the expiration of the honeymoon, “Tt was deviltry, I guess.” ” © Well, say, who owns the horse, any wa. Spot "That man,’ replied ae landlord, pointing to Spot, Who was still trying to hide. “ Here’s your horse. mister, and you want to pay 8 two dollars apiece for returning him. 3 oh Idon’,’’ said Spot. but you must.’ = “Took hin away! He’s no hoss ob mine. Took tim away, or he kick you dinner outen you fust you know.’* ee Rick! Why, nds aan now. The trouble was had something in his mouth.’ R “Tn he’s mourt I funk it war in he’s heels, de way © ehncked ‘em round.”’ "No. Somebody has been playing a joke en him, hats all.’’ ; joke on me I’s no » Ai!” Wal, you can't play no joke 0 q Reg an’ [ kions when ’s got all I wart. Took him away” r * We shall do nothing of the kind, and if you sa eer down with four dollars. we have you 2 ed and put in pond with your horse. " SS Wel, ear wilt you took dat hoss fo’ de fo’ dollars?”’ ) @ es Soot, earnesily. tkind "59h, no.’ You can’t catch us in a snap of tha Festa ' then have us arrested [oy ieee a ith Sut ifwe know oufeelves. = dollars, or we will call an officer. What do sayy’ : looked beseechingly around. ier do it.’’ said tne landlord, aside to him, ‘Wave the law on their side. 45 “Sure, fie’s worth four dollars," said the lrish hos- tler, as. “You gib. Pi dollars eae 2? asked ee : “* Nova ur cints. But yees can get that much for his Maen hocfs.”? “Oh, the horse is all right now,” said one of the men, who held him by the head. “Somebody gave him something that made him wild.” * Apples make a hoss wild?’ asked Spot. “Yes, if there's red pepper in ’eni.”” “Allright. Toox him outen de barn, an’ heah am your fo’ dollars,”’ said he sadly. In a few minutes this transaction was finished, and the horse put back again into the barn he had so near- ly ruined. He was quite nervous and frothed consid- erably at the mouth, but the ugliness seemed to have been taken out of him in some way, although Spot was not the man to believe it. ing ceriain that he could ride as fast as the horse could possibly run. Spot watched him out of sight, but as it was early yet, Sam was not there. And how he did laugh! His mouth seemed to be trying to take in one of his ears on either side. - “Oh, by golly, }ook at him!’ he roared, as the landlord joined him. ‘Look at dat Italian! I bet he ee de sickest man in dis yer State befo’ dis time,” said ne. ~ And what did you get for him ?”’ “Look a dar,’’ said he, pomting to the bear that was chained to a tree close by. “What! Swapped for that bear?” “Oh, my, you bet.” “Thunder! eat of the frying-pan into the fire. And what are you going to do with him, I’d like to know?” = That night an Italian with a tame performing bear put up at the tavern, and Spot became greatly inter- ested 1n the animal. : But the Italian iooked weary and sad, just as though life to him was not one continued round of festivities; just as though there was some other line of business that would please him better than the one he was en- ae evatiled to Sam the fact that he was greatly taken with the Italian’s bear. And Sam turned around s0 as to have a good chance to wink all to himself. CHAPTER XXV. Ir might not be said that Spot wanted the tame per- forming bear that the Italian had. but it is safe to say that he had much rather have him than his horse. And the Italian evidently was in that condition of mind that he would attach himself to almost anything yut the bear, and so it is not to be wondered at that when they began cautiously to compare notes that a bargain was reached, and that Spot swapped his flery steed for the performing bear, thinking that after all he might sell him for enough to realize whathe had hoped to get for his horse. 3 Sam had quietly sanctioned the thing, although Spowieeioeteerlly told him insomany words that he ought-of trea og. Oot earty tv 1extmorning that Italian mounted his swan ao) we) immediately run away with in the direction of Sey York, but as that was exactly the way he W to- go, and ashe had the faculty of ¢iinging “=, 2ised not the slightest objections, feel- , t ry ates: eS a ; PUD 2CcO there was a change in the firm name, so that it read Jub, Spud & Co. “Sell him fo’ raoney. Oh, you bet dat I get hunk fo’ de cash dat hoss cost me,”’ ~ “Oh, you will, hey?” **Don yon forgot it, boss.” * What can he do?” ; “Do mos’ eberything. You oughten see him play champion Sullivan.” - ‘“*Did the Italian spar with him ?’? *Cose he did. It wur tfun.”? “ Well, I should like to see him spar,’ replied the landlord, and just then Sam Spry joined them. “Hello. Spot.. Where's your horse ?”? **Dar he am,’ replied Spot, proudly, as he pointed to the tame bear. “What! Did you swap your kicker for that bear? Well, I’ll be hanged.”’ “Yes, an’ fo’ dis time dat Italian am half de way to New York or dead. by de roadside,’’ replied Spot, laughing heartily: % : “You had better have kept the horse and bought the Lear right out, then you would have had some- thing to feed him on.’ < “Dat’s allright. 1's gwine ober heah to de butchier’s as get bim_some meat,” said he, starting oif reso- utely. " Sam and the landloré enjoyed a good laugh while he was gone, and on taking a closer look at the bear it was very evident that he stood very much in need of eee internally npholstered with meat or something else. : Spot soon returned with a pound of cat meat—just about a good mouthful for the beast. “What did you buy so much for?” asked Sam, as he and the landlord swapped winks,
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46 SAM SPRY. THE NEW YORK DRUMMER. “Oh, 1 b’leaves in feedin’ animals well,” said he, | ers, at which he turned and went for him, 1 ving throwing the meat down before him. The bear snapped it up, paper and all, about as quick as ahen would have collared a hopper. He didn’t even growl, as bears generally do when eat- » ing anything, but looked up earnestly for more. Youu want at least ten pounds of meat for that bear,” said the landlord. 5 “Ten pounds!’? “Yes, ten pounds three times a day,” added Sam, at which Spot opened his eyes * Why, dat cost mo’ den a hoss,”’ said he. “Of course it does. Costs as much to keep a bear as it does four horses,”’ **Oh, Lord—oh, my!"* he groaned. “ And if you don't give him all he. wants he’s liable to eat you, or some sleep, which you will have to pay r. ” ** Oh, Lord—oh, my! .No wonder. dat he want to swap lum fo’ a hoss,” he muttered, and away he started for some more meat. Buthe orly invested in five pounds more, and even that made him feel poor and sad, | the life was nearly Spot a cance to leap into the highway and r for dear life. ee Sam gave him another pill, seeing. that he seemed anxious for it, and then he retreated so as to give the lapdions & chance to ill his hide full of buckshot oles, That being a larger dose thanhe had yet received, seemed to discourage him, and after attempting to stand ug some more, he concluded that lying down to take his pills was easier. Sum gave him auother one, and then he weakened. He was 2 good bear then, but not worth # cent at doing tricks. He was tired. A great crowd gathered around the defunct, but Spot was not among them, nor was he much missed, so long as the bear had been rendered harmless, but there was great excitement, However, they found Spot not long afterward in the top of # tree where he had climbed for safety, but htened out of him. “ Come down out of that! called Sam. * ~ Oh, my, whardat bar?’ moaned Spot. at which That bear jumped for it so ferociously that it nearly | there was loud laugh. frightened the life out of Spot, and the growls uttered over the repast frightened also every snimal on the mises. Prput he got awa: stood lic ter for more. growl. od “ Now put him through some tricks,’ said Sam, in- tent on having some fun. Z “ Yes, make him show his sparring sciénce,” added the landlord. , “ Oh, yon may bet that he'sa good bear if he can ; get away with Spotin sparring, for he has downed best in the land,’ said Sam, half aside, but so that Spot could overhear him, “ Put him through his courses the same an did,” said the landlord. * to 1% was a comical better than he would the not been chained, could but Spotevidently felt much } before it was finished. and he ~ He’s dead, so come down,”’ said Sam. “Oh, my, oh, yes!? he moaned, and began slowly to descend, with it su quick, and} ‘gat he was a sight to bebold, with his clothes his ¢ ops and winking at his new mas- | nearly all torn ofc aud his eyes bulging out, and they gave him the grand laugh all around, ‘You gets no mo’, an’ dat’s got to last you fo"one| and what aaick- mar he wasl day at least,” said Le, at which the bear gave asarage |, There jay the last of his horse trade with all that good meat inside of his skin, besides the ruin he had yet to pay for. Oh, he wanted to go oif somewhere Bat Sam braced him up. and encouraged him with a new suit of clothes, and finally made a dicker with the landlord to take the carcass of the bear in on fs for the damage the horse had wrought in rn. - Of course the affair became the laughing talk of the town, but they soon got out of that and into the next one in the pursuit of business. _ But you needn't beta nickel that Spot ever indulged in any more trades and speculations, for you would lose. No, he wasasad and w coon, and from that time forth attended strictly to | And so did Sam Spry, although, of course, he had at which Bruin rose | nis fun as he went along. and Spot was occasionally tapped for that purpose. TS Sag hat circuit kept them on the road for two montlis he made at the lightning-rod business knocked dry- dance out of harm’s way after get- oats Srominins vight Coe ee quite as much But finally the season was over, for you can’t sell a tning-rod when there js no rT from light- ning, and being on the road home to New York once ee he concluded to give it up until the next year, and, in the meantime, do something hot pecans try drumming again. ° 4 4 3 But he had something else in view for the future that pernaps the reader does not dream of, and he felt. as jolly as.a big sunflower after closing up busi- ih vain did ‘Spo Stands erouedt Oe tea omit ness and they were on the road lack to New York. , | stil more, as well as his fearlessness, Le slap of his jowl, hard eno’ te make iim shake his and uttera growl. [ “ Go for him, Spot!’ cried Sam. “ Yes, it will make him afraid of you, so that you + Agai! > more the bear before him. | Fae ee Take dat! hersaid. n getting in one on the bear’s mug, much to the it It generally makes a New Yorker feel first-rate after a long absence from home to find himself on the road back to it again, bnt Sam Spry felt unusually jolly be- several more cause of something else. john de aries Sd stan Hora dt see And Spot began to act like himself again, for he was Once the bear gave his guard a whack with his | 25° w pot man- aged to give him a whack alongside of his conk at the same x It was getting awfal funny for the spectators as wel] as Spot, bat it somehow didn’t seem a bit funny . for the bear, whose former master~ eviden! never hit him a hard blow. He growled and showed ve him two or three good ones, red by the on-lookers. “Oh. come see me! Come hab some fan wid me!” eried Spot, dancing out of reach the greater part of the time and getting in a gocd showing of blows with seeming ease. ‘*Come see me!” he cried again be- cause the crowd lauched. back to New York, and his ola haunts and the prospect of little or nothing to do during the winter, as Sam had assured him of a good job in the spring. and that he would take good care of him during the winter. : s “Oh, maybe not!? he wonld chuckle to. himself while thinking of it, and thinking also of the yarns he would have to astonish his colored friends'with.. ~ They were ont altogether pearly three months, but during this time don’t forget that Sam Spry was in communication with his friends, and knew exactly how the iand lay in more places than one. And on his arrival home, he received a grand recep- tion from Smith, his employer, and congratulated muchly npon the success that nad attended him on S first trip. hi + Bruin seemed willing and even anxious to doso, ‘And his old friends at Jub & Spud’s gave him a ; for he pulled fiercely at his chain and showed a fine ; nS set of teeth for the meat business. ia ; : Spot was winning more laurels than ever Sultivan | did. Sam was thinking that most /Jikely the bear would get square on some other occasion, when all of asndden the chain snapped and ‘the enraged brute sprang toward Spot. Uttering a yell of dismay, that coon made a break for somewhere élse. as did the spectators who hed been enjoying the set-to. Over the first convenient fence he went like a wild- eyed, frightened deer, closely followed by the bear. Murder was no name for what he yelled hearty welcome, and a supper on his return, at which ~ept theni in convulsions Regus. all night, relating the adventures of Spot, who always had been a soffce of fan, but never thoroughly developed until now. But the old friends of the store were not the only ones to welcome him home, for none of them conld found that the money | 2° casion, being no less than the glad, beautiful, plump aud blushing Annie Jub. _ Nor wus it any surprise ta the Spud family to see Aunie and Sam.meet as engaged lovers, for they had known pretty well for some time which way the wind was blowing. They knew it was a‘south wind, ladenea with the perfume of Sowers, and they were pleased with the prospect, Mr. Spud and his wife were delighted, as well as his children, for they detested old Jub and the moldy old money bags he was trying to marry his beautiful and only daughter to, and the prospect of his heing bested Hs Sn of love against ducats pleased them won- lercully. 4 That aight while Sam was walking home with her certain arrangements were completed. for Annie had oe secretly at work preparing for this a long time fore. The next day they.met.at Mr. Spud’s.honse again, omg a dozen or more of their friends = in wait- ng. Presently some carriages arrived. and the entire” party rode away to the residence of Rey. Dr. Hough- ton, who gracefully responded when asked by Sam Spry to make him and Annie Jab man and wile. Then they rode back again to Mr. Spud's, where a ‘wedding breakfast awaited them, and Mr. Spud felt 80 delighted that he wanted to dance, Here Annie wrote ner father a letter, while Sam was dispatching notices of the marriage to all the afer- noon and next morning’s papers. This done, the happy couple took a carriage for the Grand Central Depot. where they started of on a month’s honeymoon tour, followed by old shoes and the good wishes of everybody in the secret. And so we will leave them for the present and turn to ok? Jub. As for his partner. Spud, he felt so inuch like danc- ing and cutting up that his wife wouldn't allow him to go to the store that day, for fear he would slop over, so he remained at home and pounded himself so as to keep from exploding over the thought of what a joke there was in store for Jub. : Jub was fretting all the forenoon and wondering why Spud didn’t show up, and finally came to the conclusion that he must have had a party or some- thing at his house the night before, and that he was roa suffering from it and he would have a good augh at him the next day. % lt was only a sliort time afterward when the first edition of the afternoon paper came in, and mechan- ically Mr, Jub picked it up and began to read the ws. | . And since having made up his mind to marry his daughter, he naturally glanced at the marriages to see how the market ranged. : a All at once his eyes began to protrude, as he read the following notice: * Married, by Rey. Dr. Houghton, at the trey Samuel Spry to Annie, daughter of Abel Jub, Esq. No It is # wonder that he didn’t rupture a blood-yeaser ell and kick, before he got the strength to how! and t notice over The first thing he did was to read e again. Then he yelled and kicked over a chair; then he picked up the chair and threw it through the glass partition, creating a rush of employees to the scene, and a general consternation, The old bookkeeper ventured to go into te private office to see what the trouble was, but Jub went at him like an infuriated bull ata red petticoat, kicking him out and calling for somebody else to kick. 4 Of course there was only one conclasion, and that was that the boss had gone off his nut. and they were ate weee send. for. an officer, when they beard him wi: : - ** My daughter, eg het child, married to a light- ning-rod peddler!- Why don’t the earth open and swallow me? Why don’t somebody else come here and get kicked? = 25 0 3 a TAF te Then they all took a tumble, and knew that Sam Spry had married the old man's daughter, and so they all went down in the cellar to laugh and shake hands over the hurrah. Big thing for Sam Spry! Finally, aftér the irate father had howled’ and whooped around for abont half an hour, he crashed his hat down over his head and staried out to see about this terrible thing. : But wherever he went he found it perfectly and everybody glad of it, even his own wife, and he kicked himself anti] he hadn’t strength enough to do so any more. Whenever he tried to get sympathy he got laughed at, at least by everybody but the old fos- sil who expected to marry Annie, and it threw lim into a fit of sickness, But there was no help for it. of course, and finally have greater admiration for the handsome drammer } he was persnaded to make the best of it and. send his than did Mr. Spnd, the janior member of the frm, “Come right home with me, my boy. It’s il right. I understand it. I was a youngster once myself. It’s all right. Ofcourse you know all about it, and don’t Even Sam was frightened for his man. and whipping | carea bent pin for what o'd Juh says, Come right out his revolver. he ran in parsult of the late antago-| along!’ and, in spite of his gentle rotests and nists, while the landlord ran to get bis gun, and the ut-} blushes, the vivacious old merchant hustled him along . Most excitement was manifested all over the neigh- - + _ borhood. au : “Murder! murder! yelled Spot. “Help, help! 2 Shoot him, shoot him?’ and the bear got near enough ‘te claw the seat ont of his trousers just as he’ was vaulting over another fence. Then Sam ed him to a bullet, while he was . Waiting to see eae waseay mee’ in Spot’s trous- rascal . toward his mansion. T said that Sam blushed, s0 you must know that there was some occasion for it more than erdinary. It requires something very fine to bring the blush to a drammer’s cheek. And that “something very fine” was right there in Mr. Spud’s house, visiting her friends, just as the sly knew would be the case on this particular {THE END.] PPS! Fe oc- ' and admirers of Sam SPRY, THE NEW YORK DE Bissite to the young couple, who were then at Niagara ‘alls. ‘ , “ Bnt Tsay. Spnd,?’ said he, a week or so after he had cooled down. ‘I can never have my son-in-law a lightning-rod agent, or eyen a drummer. What do yon sav?" ‘Why. take him rightinto the firm. We want some young. blood in it, andit.may not be long before = have a son-in-law to admit.” And Jub finally consented. ce So, after the expiration of the honeymoon. there was a change in the firm name, so that it read Jab, Spud & Co. ‘All of which is respectfully submitted to the
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The Great 5 836 aeviae the Flood; or, The Res Fight of * Two Johnstown Boys...... ~by Ro T. Emmet 887 Muldoon the solid Man—consic.. . by Tonur'Teaser 888 The Boy Star; or, From the Footiights to For- tune... N.S. Wood 989 The Young Commander; or, A New! York Boy in the Souther War... 3... 2.by Ralph Morton *$90 Two in a Box; or, The Long and Shert or MECOMIC. Fs Et STAT CR by Tom Teaser 691 7 Soldier’s Son; or, The Secret ofthe House of Eight Pines. "A Story of New York. 40. by C. Little -. by Panl Braddon The Funny Four-comle. «siceedeeveesDY Peter Pad 694 The White Queen of the Aztecs; or; Two Yau e kee Boys in Mexico.............by Ru. Emmet $95 The Deacon’s Son; or, The Imp of the Village COMIC. cecceececssvecess ---,-- by Tom Teaser 696 The Boy Slave of the Galley; or. the Mystery of the Treasure Ship....... by Perey. B. St. John 97 A Bad Egg; or, Hardto Crack—comic , by Tom Teaser ¢93 Two Years With a Pirate; or, The Prantom Ship of the Gold Coast... «by J. G. Bradley 699 Muldoon’s Boarding House-coniic.by Tem Teaser 900 The Boy Diamoud’ King; or, The” Young Monte Christo of New) ork... -by C. Little 901 Ikey;or, He Never Got Left-comic. by Tom Teaser 902 The Armorer’s Son; or, The Mystery of the 2 Tower of Londor....:... teVIe. «by Ayo Draper 903 Jimmy Epaeess or, Sharp Smart & Sassy— 3 CONNCE., cn ecw we serene S00 TS .by Tom Teaser ~ 904 Dick Getaway; or, Fightivg fora Fortune..... by Corporal Morgan Rattler 908 Tom Quick, the Avenger of the Delaware. .... : - by RTO Emmet _ 906 Sam Switch the Boy Engineer; or, Begtaping at the Bottom... odecwcsveus by A Sibert Booth “907 Daring ae the Diver; . or,. ‘The Nw of * Batin Sam the Young Western Sport Swim Rant doce scstecoluanere voles y O. Little 908 Sam; or, The Troublesome. Finny eonte by Peter Pad 909 Velvet Van; or, Deadly Gnp and His Demon Hand... et by Paul Seeds 910° A Smart New York Boy; 0 m Povert WEGIED Sad eusduipesevcwese secs Dy Jown Sh Pate 911 Foretop Tom; or, A ‘Yankée Sallor: Boy Aniong the Malay Pirates......by J. G. Bradley 912 Bulger Boom, the Inventor- comic. -by Peter Pad @1S Out mi the Streets. A Story of High and Low Life in New Yorks! 09s. 0. sede ae by N. S. Wood (The Young Américan Actor). The Swanp Demon; or, Lost For Two Years by Ru T. Emme* Pa) > aed Pare, ir. the Stage Drivers or, The Golden Gulch : -by Paul "Braddon 1g A Sheen at. Pifteen; or, From ‘Cabin Boy to ere, «by J. G. Bradley. a Henpeckea—somic. <e. -by Peter Pad 920 Homeless ‘Haljor, A Poor Boy's Life in a Great City. .........06 by Captain Wil Dayton 921 Wild Bill's-Boy Partner; or, The Redskins’ Od Secret os oc cc cadecccocves by Paul Braddon 92% Mr. McGinty—comic Tom Teaser 926 Lineman Joe, the Boy Telegraph ctl. oo ©. Little 927 mer og to China; or, The Life of a Wieaway -by J. G) Bradley 928 Searshing for Stanley; or Tom. Stevens’ Ad- ventures in Africa.........52 +.by R. T. Emmet 929 Boarding-Sehool; or, Sam Bowser at Work and Play comic... .-by Peter Pad 930 Young Magic; or, Th a Charmed Life by Paul Braddon -by Tom ‘reaser 932 ‘The Koy Treasare Silat or, Searching for "LOSt Monsy.....eees -by John Sherman $33 Senator Maldoon—comic --by Tom Teaser 934 ~am Johnson, the Negro , by Harry Kane 925 Frank Reade, Jr,. in the Far West; or, The Scurry for a Lost Gold Mine. coe by “Noname”’ * price, 5 cents. Address ae bie op Oe Publisher, [957 The Boy Surveyor; Cent Wide 936 The Waif of Mystery Island: or, The pent tures of a Boy Who Was Kidzapped.... 938 Isluntl No, 7; or, The t Pirates of Take ah 939 Our Landlord; or, “Life in Frenen f 940 From Jockey to Judge;:or, The Boy W hin Was Always Ahead. oak J2.0 00s ve Seve e ei by C. Lite 941 Alonein New York; or, geed Rob the News- boy. by N.S. Wood (The Young American Actor) 942 The Boy Express Messenger; or, Fighting the Train Robbers...00...2 55.050. by John Sherman 943: Next Door; or, The Trish Twins—comic eed by Tom Teaser 944 The Limbless Hunter; or, Si Slocum/’s Revenge by Roger Starbuck 945 The Boy in Red; or, The Czar's Masked Mes- SOYMET Io. Goes ctv ccsvewkoecce by R. T. Emmet 046 Adrift.in .the. Antarcti wo Years on a Continent. of Ice -by £1 Little 947 The Aldermen Sweeneys of New ¥ ork—comio y Tom ‘Teaser 948 Pawnee Bill; or, The White ie eee War PUR Bic ddcvswweccSvoeewtvetae by Paul Braddou 949 The Boy Showman; ‘or, A Circus Manager (at Sixt€ens..ces vee .by'John Sherman 950 Tip Top Teddy. the. Young Foretopman; er, Four Years Before the Mast.....by J. Gy "Bradiey 951 Mrs. Brown’s Ko pity! Sere ees eset ie y Peter Pad 952 The Boy Sherif, or, The Regulators of Peco*: Valley. ‘T, Emmet Ghost. 954 Our Futare President; or, Ti . From the Acorn—comic +.-.-by Peter Pad 955 General Crook’s Boy Gnide; or, The Great Indian. Fighter’s Black Hills Trails ik by Paul Braddon 956 Three Yankee Boys in Africa; or, The Giants of the Congo..s....0.0..3..by Percy B. St.John or, Running Out a Rail- road in the Indian Country...by John Sherman 953 Rob Rounds, the Young Fireman. ....by C. Little 959 Maldoon's Base Ball Club—comic. bs. Tom Teaser 960. Fair-Weather Frank, the Dashing Sailor Boy.. by J. G. Bradley 961 Fagle Dan the Boy Hermit of the Rockies. by R. “a iuumet | oS Muldoon’s Picnic by Paul Braddon: 962 Captain Lewis, the Pirate.......se0....by C. Little 963 Mu!doon’s Base Ball Clab in Boston=seomic.. by Yom Teaser 964 pats Herton; or, From 4 Wait to.a Million- TOisee cegeseecvoos, . Captain Will Dayton 985 The Prairie Post Boy; Scalp Hunters of Apache Land., - +N by Paul Braddon 966 Chums to tlie Death; or, The Adveptures of a Boy Marine. Ss eis abkatotey DY Roger Starbuck 967. Muldoon Abroad—comilc..........by Tom Teaser 968) An Engineer at 18; or, The Boy paiver of the Lightning EXDPre3s. -ecceses eee 0D: y R. T. Emmet 969 Hardpan Harry, the Hunted Boy; or, A Young New Yorker Among Western Outla ~aghe i by ©. Little 976 The Property Roy; or, Before the Footlights and Behind the Scenes...........by N. 8: Wood 971 Muldoon's Base Ball Club in Fijadedpiia COMIC. .cewese see eseseeese- Dy Tom Teaser ‘2 The Mystery of the Fire-Ship; orA hate Bo Saliing Master...............by Roger Starbuck 973 The Loy Bicycle Scouts; or, On the Wheel Among the Redskins. RS Pan] Braddon 974 Rob Rider, the Circus Equestrian; or, Two Years Under the Canvas......by Geo. W. Goode 975 The Shortys’ Minstrels; or, Working the Same Old Rackets—comic................by Peter Pad 976 The Tunnel Under the Sea; or, The A of Two Drowned Boys, ........by R. T. Emmet 977_Pawnee Bill Doomed; or, The Great Scont in No Man's Land............-...by Paul Braddon 978 The Buffalo Hunters; or, Wild Life on the~ PLAINS, ...0ree++eeeeeeee--++-DY Robert Maynaril 979 Little Tommy Bounce; or, emer Like His Dart — COMIC. «050 cece csececesseeeee- DY Peter Pad $80 The Treasure Trove; or, The madsaeiocs of the Dineen caneernnene ality J. G. Bradley +} 1011 The Traveling Dude; or, The Comieal Adven- e+ DY {1013 The Yankee Yacht Club; or, Leber For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, or sent to your address, post-paid, on receipt of LATEST ISSUES OF Awake Libravy. 981 Alone.on a Wreck; or, The Mystery of a tt. Jed Ship ii, 3 .e.h 2d. ae de by R. T. (ammes hree ey Lue ky- acation..... by H. K. Shaegleford ++++ssby Tom Teaser= {984 Luke Lines. the Boy Stage Driver: or, The . Four-in-Hand of Keno Camp...by Paul. Braddox 985 Jockey Jim, the Paring: Boy Rider; or, Win- ning His Fortune in the Saddle... .,....... by Robert Maynard: 986 The Lost Boy Captain; or, The Secret, of the Hidden W hirlpool..... eeRG « by Roger Starbuck 987 Honest Jack Jarrett; or, How He Made His Money,...s..0......-.se00e-bDy H. RK, Shackleford 988 Rob Rivers, the Ratt Boy; or, Log Driving on - the Missonri River..,.,,..«:4..by R.T. Emmet 989 Muldoon the Cop, Part I.—com c. -by Tom Teaser 990: Muldoon the Cop, Part 11.—comic..by Tom Teaser 991 The Boy Wrecker; or, ‘The Young Pilot of the ~ ~ Rreakers.... ».-.by Roger Starbuck 992 Born to be Ri oy’s Adventures in - sby H, k. Shackleford the ‘Clouds Part Viseve 994 Frank Reade. Jr., and Bi the Clonds—Part JI 995 The Boy- Lawyer; or, For. a Stolen Million... ......+. sby R..T. Emmet ~ 906 Little Tommy. Bounce on Bis rravelaceamaicl by Peter Pad 997 The Little Piack Rover;_or, The Mysterious Privateersof New York’ Bay.: 2s Tseeee bee cokes! = by Corporal Morgan Rattler 998) Pa wnee “sans Mecece. "yhe Oklahoma Scout's: - rr sckepeae. Paul Braddtn sons wo ““Noname ** age—cr ++--by Tom Teaser 1 1000 The Pirates! of the Black Cave; or, The Mys- tery of the Hidden Lake.....by Roger Starbuck 1001 Through Thick and: Thin; sor, Our: Boya jAbroad....... vecseeesoees DY Barton Bortren 1002 Jack and: Jim;sor, Rackets and Semper: at. Echool—comic..s.0-.+- pay 1003 Lithe Quick-Shot;»or, Buflalo Pill’s Wilde West in Enrope....s./.é+.+..-by Paul Braddon 1004 The Mysterious ee Ship; or, The Smug- glers of the Death Coast/... by Reger Starbuck 1005. Muldoon’s Grocery Store—comic. Part I... by Tom Teaser 1006 Muldoon’s Grocery Store— comic. ae |) y Tom Tr 1007 Frank Reade, Jr., and His Menitor of tle Air; or, Helping a Eriend m Need.by “‘ Noneme” 1008 Gerald "O'Grady's Grit; or, The. Branded Trish Lad... J. .66..by Corporal Morgan Ratter 1009 Denver Dan, Jr... the Silver King; ot The: Richest Lode in Nevada,........by ‘}Nename ” 1010 Six Weeks in the Saddle; or, The Adventures of a Boys" Riding School,.......by R. Ty ‘easer tures of Clarence Fitz Roy Jones—comic. by Tom Teaser 1012 Black Brow, the Pirate;. or, The Cruiser of” the Dark River....es--ese. Roger Starbuck World by Water...........0s.. 1014 Frank Reade, Jr.. Exploring a River tery. A Strange Story of Atrica. 1015 tle Trip Around the Wor! — ¥ 3 vos tece Se ddeseces’ sobeee me - 1016 Auldoos 3 Trip Aronnd the Worl 4-comile, fee ag ed a eat rEeva iia Lg 101 jar Boat or. The bare wamp Hun- ter of Louisiana... «...0s: Shackictors 1018 Among. the Sun Womens = ato News York Boys in Peru..........,by Berton Bertrew 1019 Jack Magic, the Boy Wonder; or, The Smart- @st On the Stage... .ce..0.-s oesseee- bY C. Litde 1020 Frank Reade, Jr., and fils Ele: c Air Yacht: or, The Great Inventor the Aztecs 1021 Two Boy Wanderers; or, stud Lost Tvland....... 2. re eee =, 1022 The Wender of Wall Street; or, A Boe Aste Fe the Bulls and Bears.......b y H. K. Shackleford 1023 The Unknown..........06-.se-.0¥ Paul Braddon — 1024 The oer Adventures of Two Dades— oy sveces-ceee-- DY Tom Teaser 1025 Cast t Adri: cr, One Year on a _ , ba Mee cev cess : by J. G. Bradiey
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.. . 7 z ee ee ila § = PE ee ee = r —— “Sk $ “DHE FIVE CENS WIDE AWAKE LIBRARY—Continued- 693 The Sunken City. A Tale oe Mexic0.~...ccs0 181 Dick Spray; or, A Stowaway's Tp to china. $21 Up and Down; or, The Life of an Elevator Boy by H. K. Shackietora by J. G. Bradley Percy B. St. John. 694 Royal Dick; or, Standing by His Chass 1758 Barnum’s Hunters; or, Trapping Wild Ani- 822 Dick = TE = A ee Life on a Man-o?- tandish | mals for the Greatest Show on Earth...... onesquce 695 Wing and Wing; of, The Young set ‘or = the Flyaway. socccssecessDY Kit Clyde 696 Dick Dayit, the ‘American Boy Middy..By C. Little 7 Frank Keade, Jr., With His Alr-Snip in Africa By ** Noname 698 Trusty Joe, the Brave Old Seout...By “* Noname’? 699 Found at Sea; or, The Secret of a Boy’s Lite. By Hal Standish : 700 Little Ned, the Leader of the School......... By Captain Will Dayton 701 Will o’ the Wisp; or, The Wila Man of the CORSE... cece ewcececsvcccece-oss Dy Kit Clyde 702 Acrobat Ned, the Prince of the Air.. seedy ©. Little 70S Jack, the Wrecker’s Son; or, Adventures on * the Coast...........ess.s0e+-eby J. T. Brougham 704 The Fire Bugs of Chicago....by Jas. D. Montague 705 Lighthouse No, 6; or, The Ghost of the Sea.... by Allyn: Draper 706 The Wolf-Fighters; or, The Adventures of Two By Richard R, Montgomery 759 The Seven Masks; cs The quae City League By Percy B. St. Jom 760 Muldoon’s Night School—comic....by Tom Teaser 761 The Uniucky Miner; or, The Rivals for Dead Man’s Claim.. .......by Paul Braddon 762 Nee does Cowboy;- or, “The Young King of Las- oO sesseeeeess ly D. W. Stevens 763 Bis First ‘Drink; “ora posney Boy’ 3 Life in w York............s6+e.by H. K. Shackleford 764 The Crar’ 's Boy Mail- Carrier; or, Young Amer- ica in Russia . -.e...bv C. Little 765 Trappers and Trailers; ‘or, Battles With the Red Men.......s.«» bidocstded aa *Noname” 766 On the Queen’s Service.....,.....by J. G, Bradley 767 Tick Tack, the Messenger Boy; or, Sharp W ork for @ Million..... aeesaaUy, Robert Lennox 768 Sam Spry, the New York Drummer; or, Busi- ness Sefore Pleasure—comic.......by "Peter Pad 824 A ‘Rolling Stone; or, Jac vs Lite of Fun ~—COMIC....52..-s2- oes medics + 3 Peter Pad 825 The Secret of the Tattooed Map..by R. T. Emmet 826 Custer’s Little Dead Shot; or, The Boy Scout _ of the Little Big Morn.......... ..by* Noname”? 827 A Queer Race, The Story ofa Strange People by William Westall © 823 Kit Carson’s Boy ‘Trapper........by Paul Braddon * 829 Slippery Ben, the Boy Spy ofthe Revolution. 830 Paddy Miles” Luck; or, ae lrish Boy Miner.. y Corp. Morgan Rattler 831 The Boy Fish; or, Little Dick the eee by R. T. Emmet 832 Ben the Bowsman; or, Adventures in the Mon- tezuma Swamp...... oeveesecncsebdYy Cy Little 833 The Mastodon’s Cave Two Wide Awake Boys in the Far Wes! .by Perey B. St. Johm New York Boys in Minnesota......ceeseseee 769 A Lost Boy; or Homely Jack’s Luck...... 834 The Boy Stage Driver; ne Hero of Rocky by Howard De Vere by R. T. ‘Emmet Pass.. o-seees- DY Paul Bracdom 707 Railroad Larry; or, Always in on Time...... 770 The Black Rider. A Story of = Howpintion: 835 From Ne A New York Boy in by Albert J. Booth y Ralph Morton Business. .......+ : obvece 708 Bound Together; or, The Youn Fire Laddies 771 A Week Above the Clouds; or, ee Adrift in by N. S. Wood Young American ‘Actor a Balloon sises .--by Hal Standish | 836 Alonein the Wild West; or, A New York Boy’s Fl Search for Buffalo Bill,.........by R.T. Emmet f 837 The Secret of the Sealed Gold Minesby™ Nonaine ™* j 838 Little Blondin, the Tight-Rope Walker..by C, Little : 839 From ade! York to San Francisco in a Catama- scesecesvecccccsocseseesebY JOhn Sherman oy Amorg the of S TINGAle. veeceeesescsece y Robert Lennox 109 Two Weeks on a Wreck; or, Abandoned in Mid Ocean......c.c-sseee wees DY Hal Standish “> J10 The Jolly Travelers; or, Around the World for Fun—COMMC. ..eescccescesee-eee-sesby Peter Pad ¢ 711 The Haunted Pioneer; or, Fighting for Texas 4 by **Noname” M 774 Little mae the Pi Lake ee eee eeeeweressnee 72 ae From a Diary; or, A te Clerk's Money Kings. by H. K. Shacklefora Whfall....se+..+-sseeee0-Dy H. K. Shackleford by 841 Only an Errard Getting Up in the 713 Boone and the Renegade; or, Tite in Ken- TIGA Se Among Pirates; or, The Blue-beards Orld......-. «seedy KR. 'T. Emmevy ? LUCKY... -ceccorneceseccseeseoesesby Kit Clyde of th e Sea... Sexdecnew ..by Kit Clyde | 842 Jack Ready’s School Scra omic.by Peter Pad Sailor Boy’s Travels in 843 The Ice-Boat Boys; or, Cruising on Frozen Waters in the Northwest.../.....-by C. Little $44 Little Blind Joe; or, The Sharks of New York. hy N.S. W ‘ood (The Young. American Actor) 845 Young Ironclad, the Boy Gunner. by John Shermam 74 rs the Mast; or, A : ANY S€RS....0+-eeeeeeee-eeDY Jas, D. Montague 715 arpauen the Jaguar Hunter..... by Hal Standish 716 POD Page to Senator; or, Working his Way covesceessccsceseeesDy H. K. Shackleford .-by Hal Standish 779 The School-boys’: Leag Working His Way Against Odds.. | BIOCKS—COMIC, ,.0 00 sescevesseeesee by Peter Pad | 80S The Haunted Bell Tower; or, The Hidden Mys- 815 General Washington's Boy; or, The Youngest 3 747 Dick Walton Among the Cannibals.......--.« TETY sees eee eeee ee eeeeeeeee ‘by Percy B>-St. John Soldier in the Revolution.....by Ralph Morton | by W. I. James, Jr. an Island of Ice..by Albert J. Booth | 3;¢ Pawnee Bil! and the Oklahoma Boomers..... = 743 The Six Swordsmen; or, The-Boy Cavailer.. R'S LNCK. «+ s-+-eeeeeee «----by C. Little by,Geo. W. Goode by Richard R. Montgomery 877 Frank Reade, Ir.’s Search for a Sunken Ship; = 149 The Mutineers; or, Dick Walton in the South of Miles Through the Air....-.-.by R. T. Emmet or, Working for the Goverament.by “ Noname* 812 The Fur Hunters of Winnipeg. wt Paul Braddon $13 ‘Six Weeks Under Ground.....2.2.-by Kit Clyde 878 Young Captain Tom Drake; or, In™ Sea chi of ; Seas.... eos ----by W. I. James, Jr. the Pirate’s Home.....--..+ exico In His pie haar te y Noname ”? | 814 The Ereeidenys Bey: or, The Hero of the White by the Anthor of = Gaptain fom D Drake, y Sten gnting Twins; or, The Cavaliers of Mys- HONS. -.. 1. ssaewseee+e es by H. K. Shackleford | g79 4 Bad Boy’s Note Book—comic...¢.-...by “¢ Ed v.cseeeesby Richard R, Montgomery | $15 The lectrie iiorse: or, Frank Reade, Jr., and 880 The Young Railroad King; or, From Brake- ; OF, A Cheap Revenge..... oe Father in Search of the Lost Treastire of s man to President.......--DY *Col. Ralph Fentong by Percy B. St. John $16 Li tae? soon se , Noname” } 1 Joe Junk, the bbs os or, Mike McGuinnéss; Or, ‘Traveling for Fess: us on “Fe ne Boy bale _ —comic « as ons ~ UTO—COMICy. «oe esncererercenftans m Teaser io} onthe the {cont; or, The Castle on n the Or 1883 Monitor Matt; or, ..by “ Noname ”? by : r} = Story of ‘the Great) Rebellion... the Ralph ‘Morton fon "Boy Jumper ¥ ars 884 The Boy Rovers; wate 2 d re of Tw oby Tl, Ks Shacklefor 108t - ! — _ Placky Boys. 3 tle y Firemen.s.+.. * g oft | 885 His Own Boas; « a. Boy Gaptain® “Cae — % Robert Lennox, Mas na head Lak é Jo Cah .