The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-12-21

horror, the fat man-hs face covered with
soap suds,--thc towel tucked under his chin,
his hat off, and the horscman's pistols IN his
hand. He laughed and roared out Brush
away" as he pursued the wretched shaver
with speed miraculous for man of his un-
wieldy size. The moon which shone bright
y at this time ,Teudered every object tolerA-
bly, distinct. !"
Pushedto desperation, the Barber turned
his footsteps to the tower of the steepe,
the door of which stood wide open. He en-
Ftered, and attempted to close it behind him,
1t was too late; the other was close at his
heels and forced himself in. There was no
time to be lost. Our fugitive mounted the
stair OF the tower, and assembled with the
rapidity Of lightning. There was a door
nine stories up which opened on an outside
terrace upon the top. Could he only gam
this all would be well, as he could lock the
door outwardly and exclude his pursuer
| from coming farther. His exertlons to a
chieve this were tremendous, but without
much success; for, about yard behind
him, he heard the steps and unnatural
laugh. and Brush away" ct the stranger.
He even saw the light of his phosphores-
cent eye, glaring upon the dark starr OF the
tower, as he came behind him. Every ct
fort was in vain.-The Barber mounted the
topmost step and pushed through the door;
the fat man did the same.
| They were now on the tcrrace-abovc
them rose the church spire to one hundred
and thirty feet, below them yawned guiph
of as MANY more. The first salutation OF
the stranger to his companion was hide
Gus laugh, and followed by "Brnsh ava,
nothing like shavng', The barber mean
while, stood as far removed from him as he
could, the monument of pale despair HIS
teeth chartered, his knees knocked together,
and he knelt down with the agony of terror.
ala, ha!'' exclaimed his tormentor;
"what dost think now, old boye Brush a.
way, come, give me scrubbmg till SIX IN
the morning-only five hours more--nothing
| like little wholesome exerris-." He con.
cluded with one of his ntolerable laughs.
"Brush away" continued he, holding his
sides, and laughing at the mortal fear OF the
Barber.--"Out with thy lather box and thy
brush, man; where are they. old beard-sera-
PERI"
II have thrown them away" muttcrcd
the terrified shaver.
"Thrown them away Dundcr and BLK
nm, then have good mind TO throw thee
away also A toss from this tower would
be mighty pretty thing to look at in such a
fine moonlight morning"
So saying. he took hold of the Barber by
the nose as he knelt for mercy, lifted him up
with perfect ease, ana held him at arm s
length over the terrace. The poor man 5
alarm at being poised by the beak over such
a tremendous guph may be better conceiv
ed than describe. He kicked, and threw
out his long arms 10 and fro, like spider on
the rack. He roared aloud for mercy as
we'll as his pinched nose would admit
promised to shave his honor to the last mo-
ment Of his life mentioned tho destitute con-
tlition in which his wife and family would be
| left by his death, and made use of every
tender argument to soften the heart. 1t
was In vain-the fat man was not to ben
ed, for, in the midst of one of the most elo-
quent appeals, he opened his thumb and
forehnger by which the Barber was held
The nose slipped down from between them,
and its owner--body and soul, tumbled
headlong through the ABYSS of descent Of
one hundred and thirty feet. Down, down,
down he went, whirling round about like
a shuttlecock. sometimes his feet being up
wards, sometimes his head. During these
multiplied circumgyratonS, he had occa-
sional glimpses of his adversary above him.
There he beheld him leaning over the ter
race, with his soapy face and towel before
him holding his sides and laughing with in
conceivable yigor-whle every now and
then he could hear the hated, Brush away
coming from his lips. But the most dread
full ot all the scenes which greeted him,
was the glare of his ghastly eyes, which Shot
down spectral chances, and seemed like Sc
1 pulchral lights to illuminate him on his de-
scent. Dreadful were the feelings OF the
Barber as he approached the ground. His
frame shuddered convulsvely-h Breath
came fast-he felt almost suffocated, and
threw himself into the smallest possible di-
mensions, like snail within it's she'll.
4 The fatal moment came at last when he
was TO be dashed to pieces, but. contrary to
the laws Of gravitation, the nearer he APP
preached to the earth the more slow his
descent became. At last it was so gentle,
that he seemed to be sustained III air. Some
good angel had caught him in his fall, and
instead of being shiyered to atoms, he was
borne. as on the wings of light music to the
ground. On turning round he felt some
gentle one reposing beside him. 1t was his
wife. Worthy couple they were snug in
bed together; and the Barber found, to his
inexpressible satisfaction. that he had been
dreaming.