The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-12-14
From Biackwood's MagaSine.
TIE BARBER OF GOTTINGEN.

| One night about 10 o'clock, as the Barber
of Gcttingen College was preparing to so tt
rest after having scraped the chins of up.
wards of dozen of students, the door of his
shop opened briskly, and a short, burly,
thick-set man made his appearance. lie
seemed to be about fifty years of age. In
stature he did not rise above five feet, but
this was amply compensated bya size, which
would have done honor to burgomaster
His face, his legs, and in truth, his whole
frame, gave equal tokens of en- BON foinf;
and spoke in eloquent terms of good living
and freedom and care. This worthy per-
sonage had on broad brmmed glazed hat,
brown frock coat, and brown small clothes,
with copper buckles at the knees. His hair
which was curly, and as black as pitch, de-
scendcd behind and at each side, underneath
the rim of his hat. His whskers were
thick and bushy, and his beard appeared to
be of at least four days growth.
The salutation which he made on entering
the Sancfum sdnrforHn of the Barber, was
more remarkable for freedom than for po-
liteness. He pushed the door roughly aside,
and strutted into the middle of the room,
placing his hands jockeywise into his coat
pockets, and whstling aloud.
"Can you shave ME, sayf" was first ad-
dress to the astonished tensor.
"Sir?," said the latter with stare of SUR
prise, as he turned round and encountered
the eye of this new arriver.
81 say, can you shave mel" thundered out
the latter with increased loudness.
The Barber was tall, meagre, spindle
shanked figure of man, somewhat up in
years, and not remarkable for an extraor-
dinary share of fcourage. He had, however,
4, .~l ,,F IL.
than peruke maker to the professors of Cot
tingcn; to stand tamely by and be bearded in
his own house. His Indignation got the bet
ter of a feeling of dread which. in spite of
himself began to creep over him; and he
heard the demand of his visitor with rath-
cr ain unsual share of resolution.
"You ask me if can shave your SIR" said
he, ceasing from the operation Of strappng
razor in which he was engaged, II can
shave any man that ever wore beard; and
see no reasons why you should be more
difficult to shave than other people, uniess,
peradventure, your chin is stuck over with
bristles like hedge hog or some other such
animal.
"Well, then, why don't you shave mes"
returned the other, throwing himself upon a
chair, pitching his hat carelessly to one side,
and stretching his short plump legs as far
as they would 60. Come along, my old
boy; now am ready for YOU" So saying,
he unloosed his neck-cloth, laid it down. and
prasped and rubbed his neck and chin with
both hands, with an appearance of peculiar
satisfaction. But the College Barber was in
no mood of mind to relish such freedoms.
He stuck his Dutch spectacles upon the tip
of his long skinny nose, projected forward
hispeering chin in sarcastic, sneerng man
ner, and eyed the stranger with a look any
thing but favourable. At last he broke
silence.
II said, sir, that could shave any man
but"
"But what?" said the other, aroused by
the gravity of his tone, and turning round
upon him.
"But it is not my pleasure to shave you."
-And he commenced strapping his razor
as before, without taking any further notice
of his neighbour. The latter seemed aston
ished at what he heard. He, in fact, doubt
ed the evidence Of his ears, and gazed upon
the Barber with look of curious astonlsh-
ment. His curiosity. however, soon gave
way to anger; and this was indicated by
most portentious heaving about the chest,
and an increased flushing OF his rublcund
face. His cheeks were at leHgth blown out
and distended with genuine rage. till they
acquired something2jof the rotundityl and
proportions of good large pumpkin.
shot shave mel" calculated he, emptying
his lungs and cheeks at once OF the volume
of air accumulated within them. The rush
ing out of this hurricane of wrath was tre-
mendous. The Barber tremhled from TOT