at Squaw Neck Creek, in Massachusetts, one half gone, and tother half rotten eends.  I thought you had disposed of your last Clock, said I, at Colchester, to Deacon Flint.  So I did, he replied, the last one I had to sell to him, but I got a few left for other folks yet.  Now there is a man on this road, one Zeb Allen, a real genuINE skinflint, a proper close fisted customer as you’ll amost see any where, and one that’s not altogether the straight thing in his dealin neither.  He dont want no one to live but himself, and he’s mighty handsum to me, sayin my Clocks are all a cheat, and that we ruinate the country, a drainin every drop of money out of it, a callin me a Yankee broom and what not.  But it tante all jist Gospel that he says.  Now I’ll put a Clock on him afore he knows it, I’ll go right into him as slick as a whistle, and play him to the eend of my line like a trout.  I’ll have a hook in his gills, while he’s a thinkin he’s only smellin at the bait.  There he is now, I’ll be darned if he aint, standin afore his shop door, lookin as strong as high proof Jamaiky; I guess I’ll whip it out o’ the bung while he’s a lookin arter the spicket, and praps he’ll be none o’ the wiser till be finds it out, neither.

Well Squire, how do you do, said he, how’s all to home?  Reasonable well, I give you thanks, wont you alight?  Cant to-day, said Mr. Slick, I’m in a considerable of a hurry to katch the Packet, have you any commands for Sow West?  I’m goin to the Island, and across the Bay to Windsor.  Any word that way?  No says Mr. Allen, none that I can think on, unless it be to enquire how butter’s goin; they tell me cheese is down, and proDUCE of all kind particular dull this fall.  Well, I’m glad I can tell you that question, said Slick, for I don’t calculate to return to these parts, butter is risin a cent or two; I put mine off mind at 10 pence.  Dont return! possible! why how you talk? have you done with the clock trade?  I guess I have, it tante worth follerin now.  Most time, said the other, laughing, for by all accounts the clocks warnt worth havin, and most infarnal dear too, folks begin to get their eyes open.  It warnt needed in your case, said Mr. Slick, with that peculiarly composed manner, that indicates suppressed feeling, for you were always wide awake, if all the folks had cut their eye teeth as airly as you did, their’d be plaguy few clocks sold in these parts, I reckon; but you are right, Squire, you may say that, they actilly were not worth havin, and that’s the truth.  The fact is, said he, throwing down his reins; and affecting a most confidential tone, I felt almost ashamed of them myself; I tell you.  The long and short of the matter is jist this, they don’t make no good ones now-a-days, no more, for they calculate ’em for shippin and not for home use.  I was all struck up of a heap when I see’d the last lot I got from the States; I was properly bit by them, you may depend; they didnt pay cost, for I couldn’t recommend them with