Vainly did the despairing and
dispirited pedler implore a different judgment; the huge box which
capped the body of his travelling vehicle, torn from its axle, without
any show of reverential respect for screw or fastening, was borne in a
moment through the capacious entrance of the hall, and placed
conspicuously upon the table.
"The key, Bunce, the key!" was the demand of a dozen.
The pedler hesitated for a second, and the pause was fatal. Before he
could redeem his error, a blow from a hatchet settled the difficulty, by
distributing the fine deal-box cover, lock and hinges, in fragments over
the apartment. The revelation of wares and fabrics--a strange admixture,
with propriety designated "notions"--brought all eyes immediately
around, and rendered a new order, for common convenience, necessary in
the arrangement of the company. The chairman, chair and man, were in a
moment raised to a corresponding elevation upon the table, over the
collection; and the controversy and clamor, from concentrating, as it
did before, upon the person of the pedler, were now transferred to the
commodities he brought for sale.
Pages:
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151