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The Peddler

The Peddler
Uploaded for the Vintage Photos Theme Park Theme of HORSES, CARRIAGES, OR WAGONS. This cadaverous looking man would have made a perfect driver of hearses, but I believe that this is a peddler with his wagon of notions, must-haves, and treats. (I'm guessing about this - there's no info.) Please let me know if you have a different theory.
When I was in 5th grade in Connecticut, we used to sing a song, "I'm A Peddler From Connecticut" which listed some of the things the peddler sold.
And thanks to the internet - here it is:

THE CONNECTICUT PEDLAR

I'm a Pedlar, I'm a Pedlar, I'm a Pedlar from Connecticut,
I'm a Pedlar, I'm a Pedlar, pray don't you want to buy.
Many goods have I in store, sir, Listen while I name them o'er sir,
Finer goods than e'er you saw before, sir,
Very splendid goods have I to sell in store, sir,
Listen while I name them o'er.

Wooden wares, carpets for parlors and stairs,
Matches and Spanish cigars, Articles splendid I tell you,
Here are tins, papers of needles and pins,
Tracts upon popular sins, Any of which I would sell [you]

And here is Thomsonian medicine, Richest beyond all comparison,
Killing the seeds of diseases, Appetite while it increases,
Hot drops and strong composition will keep you in healthy condition,
So you will ne'er need a physician again.

Here are combs, Elegant brushes and brooms,
Made for the sweeping of rooms, Finish'd both smoothly and neatly,
Here are knives, Ribbons and silks for your wives,
Whistles and jews-harps and fifes,
On which your sons will play sweetly

And here is the seed of asparagus,
Lettuce, beets, onions and peppergrass,
From the United Societies, Seeds of all kinds and varieties,
Shaving soap, excellent razor-strops,
Razors that smoothly will shave your chops,
Swaim's panacea, and Jones's drops, too.

I'm a pedlar, I'm a pedlar, I'm a pedlar from Connecticut,
I'm a pedlar, I'm a pedlar, pray don't you want to buy!

Alan Mays, Smiley Derleth have particularly liked this photo


Comments
 Smiley Derleth
Smiley Derleth club
Thank you for sharing this. What a bear it would be to memorize!

I see that a man named Rick Spencer performs a version of it on youtube, perhaps the same tune your class used.
6 years ago.
Deborah Lundbech club has replied to Smiley Derleth club
Thanks, Smiley! I checked out Rick Spencer. He does a good job, and it's the same song - but we sang it much faster and the phrasing was quite different. That's how true folk songs are interpreted and passed along, though!
6 years ago.
 Roger (Grisly)
Roger (Grisly) club
Great find, and the photographers shadow made the image.
6 years ago.
 Deborah Lundbech
Deborah Lundbech club
Thanks, Roger. I like that detail, too. Here's another photo from the same album with (probably) the same photographer caught out again!

Blacking the Boots
6 years ago.
 Alan Mays
Alan Mays club
Interesting photo and song! And I like the photographer's shadow in the two photos, too.
6 years ago.

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