The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-12-09

of addressing MIR james J. Smlh?'
'Tha, is certainly my name," said |. But
"You hav'nt the honor of my acquaintance
interrupted the gentleman. Exactly so; but
have the pleasure Of producing my note of Intro
duc,ion."
And with that, the fellow, clappng one hand on
my shoulder, in very impudent, familiar way,
displayed under my nose, not note of introduce
ton, but note of hand, for some seventeen or
eighteen hunJrcd dollars, drawn in favor Of Il ST.
mon somebody, forget who, and signed, plainly
and strongly enough, James J. Smith.
"AIl this, my friend" SAID ], removing his
hand from my shoulder, sis, doubtless, good and
fair enough, The difficulty ishal it concerns some
other James ]. Smith, and not me: for never
wrote that note; nor, indeed, any other You have
made mistake.
"Vcry, Caceous, sir" said the person. 81
should inform you, sir, that poor Simon being in
difficulty, was under the necessity Of parting with
that little note to me, sir and paid him Il very
fair price for it, sm, because it was debt of hon
or; and debt of honor, sir" here The rascal look
ed rs If he meant TO Impress me with an awful
sense Of his courage and determination, "a debt OF
honor, sir never find any difficulty in collecting.
'rhc deuce take YOU aud your debt Of honor, -
said !, waxing impatient. 81 tell YOU, sir But
my gentleman interrupted me again,
$40 occasion to swear, my dear fellow. don't
intend TO trouble you just nor. | know what
brings you to town here: know Old Rusty is
coming, if he has not come already, and the rich
Young lady with him. The letter, sir. that you
gust received, sir" Here the fellow burst into Il
laugh at the look of amazcment put on, at fin
ding him so familiar with my mysterious epiStIc;
and added somewhat conlenp,uousy, 81 did not
think Mr. james J. Smith such spooney, as to
give to the public the benefit of reading hi, letters
over his shoulders in the street, In Short sir, as
| said, don't intend to trouble you jus, now, nor
to be ganlmoned hereafter. shall wait, sir, Ill!
the happy hour is over; and ;hen,sI humbly claim
to renew acquaintance, without renewing the note,
sir, ill wi en-, YOUR obcdient servant to command,
sir"
With that my gentleman bowed and stal!icd Off,
s,roking his whiskers with an mir of unul'eube
magniiccncc which have never seen cquacd by
any bu, blact'ess.
This little incident, besides moving somewhat
Of my cholcr, quite changed my resolution of re-
storing the eltcrlo the posi-. Office and thereby TO
my namcsakc /, seemed now apparent lha, m!
alter ego was sonc Iascally advcnturer the fellow,
us well ms prey, of him who bore lis note Of hand
and i! appeared, therefore, impossible that such n
fellow could pretend in an homes, way, to the
hand of the erich young lady," referred TO by the
note holder, and doubtless The fair l.. of the let
ter. ftls tia, should punish, If not defeat the
schemes of rogue, and perhaps protect dcscrv-
ing girl and deceived parent, by ksepNy Mr. II.
B.'s letter in my pocket, and into m! pocket nc
cordng'y, thrust it. At all events, the Interrupt
ton of the letter would create delay; and delay
might effect the desired parposc.
spen, the remainder Of the afternoon rambling
about the city, viewing it, and, MS thought III.
the las, moment without further adventure. But
just us was Aunting my way back to my boarding
house to ten, was stopped by sharp bu, rather
llmid-loohng young fellow, n Milor's clerk. whc
begged my pcrdon, believed was Mr James J.
Smith, reminded me that owed very long bill
to bis employers, Mcssrs Snip and Shears, limited
that They had written 10 Inc two or three time on
the suhjcct, observed that the times was hard, and
concluded by in>nualing the pleasure would con-
fer upon these gentlemen il | would be so good as
:, 20 walk with hia, forthwith down 10 the shop
which was only seven or eight squares oil.
replied to all this that he had mistaken hi
man, that owed Messrs. snip and Shears nothing
and upon lis prcsumins to express some incrcduli.
~ at the denial, | threatened TO break his bones
upon which he became alarmed and reireatcd. -
But observed him following me at u distance and
DIGGING he all the way to my boarding house.
Aiier tea, having no acquoinanccs in the cit,
went 10 one Of the theatres 10 pass the evening
and passed it, in the main, very pleasantly. was,
indeed II, one time annoyed by the conduct Of twr
CO three well dressed, but noisy Young fellows ia
tie next box, who, from their discourse, soon sci
down as gamblers and determined roucs. One o
them, who had rcd hair, observed was Of yer,
senlcel appearance, but IN abandoned desperate
in III. conversation: and liom some remarks wb;cl
he and his companions let C,ll was struck will
u sudden suspicion tia, he was no less personag,
than my worthy namcsakc, Mr. James :. Smith
himself Thus, in the mils, Of their laughing ant
Whispering, overheard the expressions, "OIt
Rusty" "ihc girl, erich and confoundcdy hand
some, "''hcad headed old hunks" &c. aud MI
Readlcad himself swore with an oath, III III,
blood suckers would give him but two days, h,
would hold up his head aglin with the best o
them" ] tiled in vain to catch the young fellow
nnmc: and soon after be Ind uiierel lie MnLds re-