of judgment, Daniel had, and knew
just when to use 'soft sodder,' and when not to. On the road that he
traveled there lived a widow woman, who had the reputation of being as
ugly, cross-grained a critter as ever lived. People used to say that
it was enough to turn milk sour for her even to look at it. Well, it so
happened that Daniel had never called there. One night he was boasting
that he never called at a house without driving a bargain, when one
of the company asked him, with a laugh, if he had ever sold the widow
anything.

"Why, no," said Daniel, "I never called there; but I've no doubt I
could."

"What'll you bet of it?"

"I'm not a betting man," said Daniel, "but I feel so sure of it that I
don't mind risking five dollars."

"Agreed."

"The next morning Daniel drove leisurely up to the widow's door and
knocked. She had a great aversion to pedlers, and declared they were
cheats, every one of them. She was busy sweeping when Daniel knocked.
She came to the door in a dreadful hurry, hoping it might be an old
widower in the neighborhood that she was trying to catch. When she saw
how much she was mistaken she looked as black as a thundercloud.

"Want any tin ware to-day, ma'am?" inquired Daniel, noways discomposed.

"No, sir," snapped she.

"Got all kinds,--warranted the best in the market. Couldn't I sell you
something?"

"Not a single thing," said she, preparing to shut the door; but Daniel,
knowing all would then be lost, stepped in before she could shut it
quite to, and began to name over some of the articles he had in his
wagon.

"You may talk till doomsday," said the widow, as mad as could be, "and
it won't do a particle of good. Now, you've got your answer, and you'd
better leave the house before you are driven out."

"Brooms, brushes, lamps----"

"Here the widow, who had been trying to keep in her anger, couldn't hold
out any longer. She seized the broom she had been sweeping with, and
brought it down with a tremendous whack upon Daniel's back. You can
imagine how hard it was, when I tell you that the force of the blow
snapped the broom in the middle. You might have thought Daniel would
resent it, but he didn't appear to notice it, though it must have hurt
him awful. He picked up the pieces, and handing them, with a polite bow,
to the widow, said, 'Now, ma'am, I'm sure you need a new broom. I've got
some capital ones out in the cart.'"

"The widow seemed kind of overpowered by his coolness.