Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-09-05
[Fron the Model American Courier.
The Slight misunderstanding
A Scene in the Railroad Cars.
BY PAUL CREYTON.

Not long since, a sober-aged gentleman wa
quietly doing in one of the Eastern railroad
trains, when his pleasant, drowsy meditation
were interrupted by the sharp voice Of the indl
Virtual by his side. This was no less a person
age than a dandified, hot-blooded, inquisitiv'
Frenchman, who raised his hairy vlsage close tt
that of the gentleman he addressed.
"Pardonne1, sarc; but wot you do VIZ re pic
tair-hein?7
As he spoke, he pointed to a pair of beautiful
steelplate engravings, in frames, which the que
gentleman held inilis lap, and which suited the
fancy of the little French connoisseur precisely
The quiet gentleman looked at the inquisi
tive foreigner with Il scoWl, which he meant tc
be torbidding, and made no reply. The French.
man, nothing daunted, once more approached
his hairy visage to that Of his companion, anG
repeated his question:
Vat you do viz de pictair-hein"
81 am taken them to Salem" replied the quiet
gentleman, grufiy.
"Ha. YOU take 'em to sell 'em?' chimed in the
shrill voice of the Frenchman. Il be glad OF
Eat, by car. | like re pictair. buy 'em of you.
How much you ask"
They are not for SALE" replied the sleepy
gentleman, more thoroughly awake, by the way:
and not a little irritated.
"Hein?7 gruntcd monsieur, in astonishment.-
Vat you say, sare!!'
Il say | don't want to sell the pictures"
cri> / the other at the top of his voice.
r. car. c'es droh," exclaimed the French
| man, lis eye beginning to flash with passion.
" L IS one strange circumstance. parDlue. ask
YOU vat you do viz re pictair. and you say you
will notsell EN-, Vat you mean, sare-heinz'
Il mean what I say" replied the other, sharp
". Il don't want to sell the engrayings, and |
didn't tell you did"
"lNor6leu!' suffered monsieur, in a tone loud
enough to attract the attention Of those Of his
ACCOMPLISHMENTS who were net already listen
ing. " M0rbleu! YOU mean to say | ave rot any
ear! Non Monsieur! By gar, Ihear ver' well vat
you tell me, You say you sell re pictair. Is it
becose | be one F~renchman: Eat you will not
sell me- re pictair!'
The irritated gentleman, hoping to rid himself
of the annoyance, turned his back upon his as
~sallant, and made no reply.
But monsieur was not to be put off thus. He
laid his hand on the shoulder of the other, and
showing his small white teeth exclaimed
"Sacristie! Monsieur, Zis is too much. You
ave give me one insult, and | shall ave sa~tlsfac-
tom
"Bv oar, monsieur, continued the Frenchman,
"you are not one gentleman! ] shall call you
one poAroon-vat you cali 'em!-coward!"
"Nhat do you meant" retorted the other,
afraid the affair was beginning to be serious, Il
hav'nt insulted you, sir"
"Pardonnez, monsieur, but it is one grand in
suit! In America, perhaps not-but IN France
me blow your brains out for zat."
For what, pray??'
"For vat? Parbleu. you call me one mentucr-
how you speak 'em-liar! you call me one
liar.r'
"Oh, no sir. You misunderstood"
"No by gar. | ave got ears. You say you will
sell re pictair; and when I tell you vat you say
re contraire-zat it is not SOL"
aBut | didn't tell you / would sell the pic
tures,' demonstrated the man with the engra-
wings, beginning to feel alarmed at the passion
manifested by the other. "You misunderstood"
"Iteel you no! 1t is not poseebl! When Task
you vat you do viz re pietair vat you say"
q said | WIS taxing them to Salem"
ayes parbleu.' exclaimed monsieur, more an
cry than ever-"you say you take 'em to sell
'en."
"No-no,' interrupted the other; "not to sell
them, but to Sa-em--the city of Salem"
"Ze city of Selemy" exclaimed the French
man, amid the roars of laughter that greeted
"Sacristie! Eat is one grand mistake. Par
don, monsieur. Duel bette, Re city OF Sellem!
Ha-ha! will remember Eat, by gar" .
And he stroked his moustache with his fin
myers, while the man with the pictures once
more gave way to his drowsy inclinations.