“Why, we know little about the goods themselves—but I think a selection might answer.”
I ordered the bale cut in two, and took one half, at a venture.
“‘Opinions of Leaplow Literature, From No. 1 up to No. 100.’”
“Ah! it is proper I should explain,” put in the broker, “that we has two varieties of them ’ere harticles. One is the true harticle, as is got up by our great wits and philosophers, they says, on the most approved models; but the other is nothing but a sham harticle that is really manufactured in Leaplow, and is sent out here to get hour stamp. That’s all—I never deceives a customer—both sell well, I hear, on the other side, ’owever.”
I looked again at the brigadier, who quietly nodding assent, I took the whole hundred bales.
“‘Opinions of the Institutions of Leaphigh.’”
“Why, them ’ere is assorted, being of all sizes, forms, and colors. They came coastwise, and are chiefly for domestic consumption; though I have known ’em sent to Leaplow, with success.”
“The consumers of this article among us,” observed the brigadier, “are very select, and rarely take any but of the very best quality. But then they are usually so well stocked, that I question if a new importation would pay freight. Indeed, our consumers cling very generally to the old fashions in this article, not even admitting the changes produced by time. There was an old manufacturer called Whiterock, who has a sort of Barlow-knife reputation among us, and it is not easy to get another article to compete with his. Unless they are very antiquated, I would have nothing to do with them.”
“Yes, this is all true, sir. We still sends to Leaplow quantities of that ’ere manufacture; and the more hantiquated the harticle, the better it sells; but then the new fashions has a most wonderful run at ’ome.”
“I’ll stick to the real Barlow, through thick or thin. Hunt me up a bale of his notions; let them be as old as the flood. What have we here?—‘opinions on the Institutions of Leaplow.’”