Life and adventures of a country merchant : a narrative of his exploits at home, during his travels, and in the cities : designed to amuse and instruct

Front matter

f/ t

LIFE Am ADYEITURES

OP

Preface

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

The similarity of title might lead some of the author's friends to suppose that this work is merely a revised edition of the "Western Merchant." But such an impression will be removed upon an inspection of its contents. Yet it must be owned that it was the success of that work, and of the "Wild Western Scenes,"* which emboldened the author to undertake the preparation of a new volume, — one of greater magnitude, based upon broader foundations, and embodying characters and occurrences of a later date. And this he submits as a substitute for the "Western Merchant," believing it will afford a greater amount of entertainment, and quite as many useful lessons of experience.

The Author.

BUKLINGTON, NeW JeRSEY, \

* Five editions of the " Wild Western Scenes" were sold last year. The large edition of the "Western Merchant" is entirely exhausted.

The Publishees.

OF A

COUNTRY MERCHANT.

Chapter I

On the banks of the *'Mad Missouri" — Nap and Jack watching for a boat — A brief retrospection — New goods — Ambitious longings.

It was upon the right bank of that gigantic river, the <«Mad Missouri," and surrounded on every hand by wild scenery. Two young men stood near the edge of the water gazing far dow^n the stream, in momentary expectation of seeing a steamboat come in view.

"Jack, I think I hear something!" said the shortest, but not the least of the young men.

"So do I, Nap," replied the other, "but it is not the boat. She is not yet in sight ; and as we can see several miles down the river, it is not probable we shall hear her before we see her."

"But, Jack, don't you hear a puffing sound? I think it must be the boat. They say, on a calm, clear morning like this, the boats may be heard before they come in sight."

"I hear the puffing, Nap ; but I'm very certain it comes from Mr. Black's great Newfoundland dog, lying yonder under the wild gooseberry-bush."

"I believe it does !" responded Nap, looking and listening. "But the boat is coming, I'm sure; for now I hear the wheels."

<'The wheels of Mr. Black's wagon, Nap; and yonder it is. Don't you see the oxen winding down the hill ? I engaged it to haul up the goods ; but it comes too soon."

Nap turned, and perceived the wagon lazily descending the road from the storehouse on the summit of the hill.

Nap Wax and Jack Handy were nearly of the same age, and both were young adventurers from Kentucky. Jack was a slender youth of fair complexion, whose teeming imagination had preceded him to Missouri, and which was apt to picture scenes in a seemingly fresher and brighter world than the one he had hitherto inhabited ; and hence he had determined to abandon the old one.

Generally without patrimony, and hence with no means of acquiring professions, and always too proud to learn any of the mechanic arts, it is surprising to contemplate the vast number of youthful adventurers from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, who annually go to the new States in quest of fortune. And it is no less astonishing to behold the large proportion of them that succeed in achieving their object.

Jack Handy had been preceded several years in his emigration to Missouri by his brother Joseph, who was his senior. Joseph had risen from an humble clerkship to become a partner in a branch concern ; then he had bought out the interest of his partners, and found himself possessed of suflScient capital to commence business at a new point of his own selection. The place pitched upon was that where our young Kentuckians are introduced to the reader. A town had been laid off on the hill, by commissioners appointed for the purpose, and who bestowed upon it the inappropriate name of Tyre.

Jacl^ Handy was now to be his brother's clerk, and was to receive a salary of one hundred and twenty dollars per annum besides his board, for which Mr. Black, whose house was within a hundred and fifty yards of the store, (and there were no other dwellings in the town,) was to be paid fifty dollars in merchandise.

OF A COUNTRY MEBCHANT. 11

Now tliis was a larger salary than other novices were in the habit of receiving; and the fact that Jack had secured it, was an indication that he was not deficient in business tact and mercantile genius. It was managed thus : — When he received Joseph's letter, inquiring what amount of money would be requisite to fit him out and pay his travelling expenses from Kentucky to Missouri, it immediately occurred to Jack, who had been writing in a lawyer's office without pay for several years, that whatever sum he might name would have to be repaid to his brother out of his first earnings. For several days he studied the matter very assiduously. He did not want additional clothing, and he had been informed that twenty dollars would be amply sufficient to take him to Missouri, in a cheap way; and so twenty-five dollars might have answered his purposes very well, had he not been actuated by the spirit of acquisition. The conclusion he finally arrived at was this ; — that as he had nothing but his mind and body to speculate upon, his debts would have to be paid, as well as all necessary expenses in Missouri, from purses that had something in them — his being empty. Hence, if he could obtain a large advance from Joseph, his employer, his salary would be fixed, in all probability, at a figure which would enable him to reimburse the loan at the end of the first year. In short, the more deeply he could get in debt to his brother, the more liberally his brother would be likely to compensate him for his services, that he might the sooner be enabled to discharge his obligations. Jack therefore named fifty dollars in his reply to Joseph, and knowing that he could wear out at least seventy dollars' worth of clothing, he felt very well satisfied, before joining his brother, that his salary could not be fixed at a less sum than one hundred and twenty dollars. When they met, Joseph smiled and agreed to it.

The other young gentleman standing on the margin of the "Mad Missouri," and who will figure as a hero, was likewise from the same village in Kentucky. Nap had been Jack's schoolmate, and always his admirer and friend. Indeed, he seemed to find a delight in yielding to the caprices of his early associate, and was ever willing to be governed by his superior judgment. Jack had saved him from many a beating at school; and the poor boy, although he might be deficient in courage, was never wanting in gratitude. His father had been a tallow-chandler, like Benjamin Franklin's; and it seemed that it was partly owing to that fact, as well as to the humble condition of his widowed mother, that he had been made the scape-* goat of the school. ' Jack, however, was quite as poor as Nap, and there were some twelve or fifteen brothers and sisters in his family ; whereas Nap had neither sister nor brother, and his mother owned a small tenement in the

village of C , besides enjoying a moderate income

from the sale of candles and soaps. But Jack was ever sufficiently courageous to defend both himself and his friend with his fists, and hence he was respected by the sons of richer parents. Thus time progressed until the boys were both taken from school. One departed for a neighbouring village to learn the mystery of copying pleas, and the other became the moulder of wax and tallow, bearing himself the name of one of the materials of his vocation, and being in his nature almost as impressible, and liable to be moulded by others to suit their purposes. This was Nap's predominating characteristic. Like the chameleon, he assumed the hue of the last object that had interested him. And when Jack, after an absence of several years, returned to his parental roof to spend a few days with the family before setting out on the long journey to Missouri, he was surprised to find that the lapse of time had wrought but little change in the mind and disposition of his early friend and protdg^.

Nap, however, had hugely grown in body ; and although he was quite as much disposed to be inoffensive, and as peaceable as ever, yet his fully developed physical dimensions were not so likely to invite the most pugnaciously disposed of his old persecutors to a renewal of their cuffing sports. But Jack found him the very embodiment of gratitude, and was embraced in his herculean arms with hearty affection. Yet there was a habit that Nap had recently fallen into, which Jack could not avoid observing with surprise. He was amazed, if not mortified, to see his friend constantly assuming the tones, gestures, or attitudes of certain physicians, lawyers, politicians, or other prominent individuals in the community, or visitors of distinction from a distance, who had sojourned at the village inn. His mother declared that the boy (now weighing nearly two hundred pounds) could not help it ; for, as his father before him had done the same thing, of course it was hereditary, and therefore ineradicable. Even if such was the case, the singular habit of Nap afforded diversion for the whole village. At one time he might be seen walking the streets with the hobbling gait and patronizing smile of Colonel R. M. Johnson ; at another he would imitate the lofty carriage of Mr. Clay, and enunciate his words in a similarly distinct manner. In short, whatever might be the nature of the prevailing man or idea of the time, it was sure to take possession of both the body and soul of poor Nap, and sweep him along like the thistle-down in a hurricane.

To rescue his early friend from the ridicule of which he was rapidly becoming the victim. Jack sought an opportunity to expatiate in his presence upon the delights of the romantic wilds of Missouri, and to describe the brilliant successes met with by intelligent and enterprising Kentuckians who had gone thither but a few years previously without money in their pockets. Nap listened for a long time in silence, and with dilated eyes ; then, as was his habit when a revolution occurred in his mind, he sprang up abruptly, and hastened away to his mother. He returned the same hour, and announced that he had induced his parent to accept an offer of five hundred dollars made by a neighbour, for a portion of the lot of ground on which her house stood.

The money was to be his, and he was already impatient to depart for Missouri with Jack Handy.

The only serious regrets the young men had experienced upon setting out on their far-western expedition, were caused by the treatment they met with at the hands of their sweethearts. Miss Kate Frost, who had long since captivated the heart of young Handy, very wisely refused to surrender her own until he had acquired more years and experience, — more beard, and, perhaps, more money. But Miss Molly Brook had flatly refused her hand to poor Nap, without deigning to vouchsafe any reason for so doing. She merely hinted that he might renew the offer at some future day. Nap, however, was at no loss to attribute a cause for it ; he had no doubt it was owing altogether to his want of fortune. Our adventurers, having thus bid adieu to their mistresses without anger, as they could not consider themselves quite rejected, secretly resolved to achieve ample fortunes before they returned to renew their proposals.

But enough of this retrospection. Nap and Jack were watching and listening for the boat which was to bring the goods that were to lay the foundations of their fortunes. Joseph Handy was understood to be on board, and Nap was all eagerness for his arrival, having made up his mind to accede to a proposition that had been made him. With some five hundred dollars in his pocket, he had concluded to act as a sort of volunteer salesman, or amateur clerk, until he should acquire sufficient knowledge of the business to set up for himself. Such had been the nature of th« proposition made by Joseph, who, while devising what would be undoubtedly the most proper course for the young man to pursue, had an eye also to his own interest. Nap was to be his first wholesale customer. He was to spend his five hundred dollars with his preceptor ; and besides the merchandise thus paid for, he was to have in r^ddition five hundred dollars worth on a credit of six months.

At length the steamer turned a distant point of land and hove in view. And by the time there were upon the ground a sufficient number of wagons with their long oxteams to convey the packages up the hill, the boat had landed, and Joseph Handy leaped ashore and grasped the extended hands of the young novices .who were to be his only assistants in the store.

Then followed the boxes, bales, barrels, &c., which were piled up on the river-bank under the spreading forest trees where Daniel Boone had once killed the buffalo and chased the roving savage. Such a novel spectacle made the natives stare. It was the first assortment of goods direct from the eastern cities that had ever been landed in the new town, and they looked upon the elder Handy as another John Jacob Astor.

It had been rumored by a store-keeper located some twenty miles distant, and who had bought his own stock of wares in Boonville, that Handy's goods would be nothing more than remnants picked up in St. Louis. A single glance at the cases was sufficient to detect the calumny. They bore the names of jobbers of the highest standing in New York and Philadelphia ; and the Rockhills, Chittendens. Copes, Woods, Bowen & McNamee; the Stuarts, Conrads, Drapers, Siter, Price & Co. ; the Moultons, Sowerses, Wards, Lippincott, Grambo & Co. ; the Schaffers, Carpenters, Kobertses, Hendersons, &c. &c. &c., were deliberately spelled and distinctly pronounced by many an honest pioneer, who believed that henceforth he would be enabled to purchase his merchandise on reasonable terms, and without -having to go out of the county for them.

And Nap and Jack, who had been upon the ground several days, stimulating the carpenters to have the house in readiness for the reception of the 'goods, had received many flattering attentions from the neighbours interested in the growth of the place and in the probability of an increase in the value of their property, situated in the vicinity of a well-established store. They had not failed to perceive and appreciate the importance attached to their persons, and they really began to feel as if they were the undisputed lions of those bushes where the town had been staked off. Being looked upon as oracles and benefactors, it was natural that they should take advantage of such an opportunity to exert their newborn influence in behalf of their employer. Hence they promised much, and boasted a great deal, as young merchants have been known to do occasionally. And if the expectations thus raised were not to be realized to the letter, they created at all events a very favourable impression at the beginning.

It must be remarked, however, in passing, that the distinguished attentions which Nap received had begun to have the usual deleteriou's effect upon his susceptible nature ; and Jack became somewhat fearful that his companion might, in a moment of lofty aspiration, suddenly relinquish the idea of becoming a merchant. There were decided indications in his self-complacency, and in the expression of his conviction that the Missourians had chosen less eligible men than himself to represent them in Congress, to afford reasonable grounds for an apprehension that he might sacrifice his fortune and character and sink into a mere politician. But when at eve they were left to themselves, it was no difficult matter to chase away the absurd notion. Then Jack would fill his friend'§,head with romantic fancies, and make him believe that life in the wilderness, without disputation, and beyond the reach of the caprices of a more fastidious society, was the happiest condition in which one could be placed. He cited the contented lives of Boone and other pioneers, who had not only enjoyed supreme happiness amid those beautiful scenes of nature, fresh from the hand of the Creator, but had likewise been ioudly heralded to the world by the trumpet of fame, and whose names were more likely to go down to posterity than those of ordinary members of Congress. In short, he procured for Nap a copy of the "Wild Western Scenes," which most effectually banished his ambitious longings.

Chapter II

Opening and marking the goods — Curiosity of the crowd — Snakes about — Sleeping and snoring — Nap dreams — The footing of it.

Joseph Handy's first day as a merchant at Tyre was a busy one, both for himself and his inexperienced clerks. The opening and marking of goods, and arranging them in order on the shelves, occupied the whole of the day, retarded and obstructed as they were continually by the careless remarks and curious inquiries of the eager crowd around them. Every piece of goods taken from the boxes was subjected to the inspection of the bystanders ; and those that were wrapped in papers, such as Irish linens, the contents of which could not be readily s^en, were 'pinched by the ingenious youths from the country, to ascertain, if possible, the nature of the "plunder," as they called it, hidden within. Some smelt the parcels whose contents they could not ascertain either by gazing or pinching. And it might have been impolitic to repulse such an interference. All of them were very honest and wellmeaning people ; and it was the policy of the merchant to keep them in a good humour. Yet some were not destined to escape vdth impunity. Nap had wrenched oif the top of a box from the drug-store of the Messrs. Harris & Co. ; and the force of example being as usual irresistible with him, he regaled his nostrils frequently with the highly perfumed soaps, essences, &c. But happening to apply a parcel of gum foetid to his nose, he started back and suffered it to fall upon the floor. The pack of juveniles, supposing its fall to have been accidental, and having hitherto enjoyed all the sweet odours of the parcels as they were lifted from the box, pounced upon it like hungry wolves, and were instantly set to howling by the disagree able smell.

Toward night all the inquisitive people departed for their homes, many of them promising to bring their wives and daughters the next day, or in a few days, when the young gentlemen would be prepared to wait upon them. Nap, observing the condescension of his principal, and the tact he employed to create the impression that great bargains were to be undoubtedly had at his establishment, giving way to the enthusiasm he felt, launched out in a strain of superlative extravagance. He not only assured the gaping and staring portion of the crowd that Handy' s goods were to be offered at lower prices than usual in that section of the country, but that they were absolutely superior in quality to any others ever imported.

After night, and deep in the night, their labours were continued. The practised merchant will need no special assurance to believe it was no slight undertaking for them to open, mark, and properly arrange, ready for business, some six thousand dollars' worth of goods in one day and evening. At length the work was completed, and they sat down on the log steps before the door to rest, and to arrange their plans for the next day. But they were completely exhausted, and mused long in silence. The loneliness of the scene made a deep impression on Jack. The moon was midway in the heavens, casting down a flood of light, which caused the smallest objects to be distinctly visible. The river, so turbid by day, resembled a sheet of liquid silver by night. The trees that fringed its margin, and those around the rude house, were perfectly motionless, not the slightest breath of air disturbing the repose of their half-grown leaves. The only sound they heard was the plaintive note of a solitary whippoorwill. The Btillness which brooded over the scene threw but a momentary shade of melancholy over the face of Joseph, as he was less susceptible of poetical influences than his brother. His mind was more inclined to dive into the chances of the future than to dwell upon the past ; and so Jack found all his romantic meditations suddenly put to flight hy the following inquiry:

«' Jack, what amount do you say we will sell to-morrow?"

"I suppose," said Jack, after some little bewilderment and hesitation, "about seventy-five dollars' worth."

"I say a thousand, at least!" said Nap, slapping his hands together violently.

"Nonsense, Nap," continued Joseph. "If we sell that amount in a month, at the prices marked, it will not be a bad business. But, Jack, how much of your seventy-five dollars will be in cash?"

"I think about half."

"And I say about a quarter," said Nap; "for they don't look as if they had much money."

" You must not judge people by their clothes in Missouri, Nap. You believe about half, Jack?" continued Joseph, smiling. "Now I will venture a prediction. I say we will sell about one hundred dollars' worth, and seventy-five dollars of it will be in ready money. The first day's sales in a new establishment exhibit a larger proportion of cash than subsequent ones."

Though almost exhausted with fatigue. Jack listened attentively to the many other w^ords of wisdom and experience which his brother uttered for his edification. But Nap was soon quite oblivious of every thing that had been said after he ceased to participate in the conversation. His head was thrown back, his mouth wide open, his eyes closed, and, as usual when asleep, he began to snore most astoundingly. Indeed, at the conclusion of Joseph's lecture, he gave vent to so startling a snort as to awaken himself.

"What's this? What's the matter?" cried he, spring ing up.

"Oh, nothing. Nap," said Jack, "only you were sleeping too fast, and I suppose you got off the track in your dream."

"Well ! I really dreamt there was an earthquake ;"

Soon after, all three of them entered the store and prepared to take the rest so necessary after the incessant exercises of the day. They had no beds ; but it is a part of the country merchant's discipline to do without one. So it was not long before the rubbish was swept from the floor, and three pallets, consisting of coarse cotton cloth and saddle-blankets, with three pieces of flannel covered with muslin for pillows, were in readiness for the repose of their weary limbs.

Nap was the first to sleep, as wag ascertained from the unmistakable signal of his nasal trumpet. Joseph soon followed, notwithstanding the annoyance of the disagreeable sound in his immediate neighbourhood. But it was in vain that Jack sought repose. His overwrought body and mind seemed to repel the approaches of slumber, and it was long before he ceased to turn uneasily from side to side. And when some degree of bodily composure was attained, the perturbation of his mind continued. In his snatches of dreams he beheld only venomous snakes, and heard the startling rattle of the fatal reptile. Once he sprang up and awakened Joseph. He could not be sure he had not heard the rattle in reality instead of merely dreaming it. And so he and his brother placed their pallets on the counter, and called to Nap to follow their example. Nap ceased to snore, and growled some unintelligible mutterings, but could not be so easily awakened.

''Awake!" cried Jack, going to him and shaking him violently.

«0h yes, very well, then," responded Nap.

" But why not get up ?"

"Very well — all right, I say," said Nap, closing his eyes again.

"Nap, there are snakes about! JJ)p, before you are bitten!"

" Snakes !" cried Nap, his eyes now wide open.

"Rattlesnakes," said Joseph.

" Wake snakes and come to taw!" yelled Nap, springing at one bound, heavy as he was, into a chair, at another on the counter near the window, and was then in the act of leaping out upon the ground, when Joseph, laughing heartily, seized him by the leg.

"Let me go!" cried Nap, with a cold perspiration on his forehead. "Dod blast the snakes ! Where are they?"

<'I doubt, Nap," said Joseph, "if there is one within a mile of us. It was merely one of Jack's dreams. His imagination is so strong that the creatures flitting in his dreams are remembered as realities. His dream of snakes awoke him, and then he believed it was no dream."

"Was that all?"

" Or perhaps it was only to frighten you, and stop your snoring until he could get asleep. He is sleeping now : I am certain of it, from his deep breathing."

"I wonder if it was a trick of that sort? But do I snore, sure enough?"

" Does the escape-pipe of the old steamer Boreas make a noise ?"

"Don't it!"

" Then taking into consideration the difference in your dimensions, I must say you can beat old Boreas. If you were as large as the boat, you could be heard all the way down to St. Louis."

"Well, now, I wasn't aware of that! But don't you think there might be a rattlesnake under the house ? Since snakes have been mentioned, I'm afraid there is some danger. I'll lie here between you, my head to your feet, and my feet to Jack's head."

Nap adjusted his couch accordingly, and continued to talk long after Joseph ceased to make any answers, for the latter endeavoured to take advantage of the cessation of sound from Nap's escape-pipe, to sink into a recreating slumber. Nap finally composed his limbs as well as he was able on the narrow counter, and fell into an unquiet doze, being encompassed by rattlesnakes in his dreams.

Again Jack became restless in his sleep. The light had not been long extinguished, and Nap's organ had just run its discordant diapason, when Jack, making a sudden lurch, tumbled from the counter, but luckily alighted on his feet.

"What's the matter now, Jack?" inquired Joseph, who had failed in the attempt to slumber before Nap's organ sounded its alarming tones.

" Oh, nothing at all," said Jack. " I merely rolled off the counter."

" You must learn to lie better than that : the counter is nearly thirty inches wide," said Joseph.

Neither the fall nor the colloquy that ensued seemed to have any effect on Nap, who, although he seemed to turn and writhe as if tormented by unpleasant visions, still blew off his steam as loudly as ever. Indeed, sometimes it would come in such startling explosions, as nearly to arouse himself, and which Joseph declared was almost sufficient to awaken the dead, if there could be any virtue in braying trumpets. However, the imperious demands of nature had to be answered, and all of them finally succumbed to the approaches of oblivious slumber.

Yet the brothers were destined to be startled once more by the provoking Nap. It was just about the dawn of the morning, and at .the still and solemn hour when the whippoorwill utters his last plaintive note, that Nap, from dreaming he was the victim of hissing and rattling serpents, awoke with a conviction that his peril was real, and not the mere "fabric of a baseless vision," which was to "leave no trace behind." Within, an impenetrable darkness still reigned. But in the silence, rendered more profound by the cessation of his own inharmonious snoring, his quick ear was conscious of a low sound in his immediate vicinity, while a slight gliding motion could be distinguished near his head. With eyes dilated, trembling limbs, and a violently beating heart, poor Nap remained horror-stricken, and for many moments knew not what to do. If he moved, he might be bitten ; whereas he had heard it said, or had read somewhere, that a snake, and particularly a magnanimous rattlesnake, would never strike its fangs into an inanimate object. Such thoughts as these ran through his brain with the rapidity of lightning, during which time he continued perfectly motionless. Again the rustling was heard, and the movement continued, even touching his hair, which stood straight out from his head. At last he could no longer bear the loathsome proximity of the venomous reptile. By a desperate effort he succeeded in springing to his knees, and seizing his pillow (a piece of flannel) as he faced about, began to belabour the deadly foe most furiously, striking rapidly to the right and left, for the purpose of dashing it to the floor. It may be supposed the poor fellow's surprise was great, and relief profound, when Joseph exclaimed —

"Nap, what are you beating my feet for ?" "I thought they were snakes !" said Nap, panting. "I was dreaming! I beg your pardon!" Saying this, he embraced the feet most affectionately.