The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-08-16
FIDCLESTRINGS vs.. VEkNICELLI:
From the NJ q. Picayuns,

few mornings since, as the fu-loving clerk
Of one OF our large grocery establishments, moi
far from POydras street, sat quietly near the
door, smoking cigar and reading the morning
paper, he was interrupted by q male speci
men OF the ebony colored portion of humanity
with the question:: "Massa. please tell me wha
is dem ar things in dat box yonder?" The
questioner, a stout. innocent, simple-lookine
fellow, was pointing to an open box, which con.
tanned vermicelli.
Those = said the clerk gravely, seeing that
he had caught a stranger, "those are fiddle.
strings, Pompev."
my name, Tim-Tim, sa,' said the darky
grinning and bowling.
well, Tim Tim, that's new fashion of
6ddles,rings."
Dem fddles,ringl CORY, massa, day mus
be mighty dearl'
oh, no; only twenty cents pound. How
much do you wan, two pound., or two pounds
and sixteen eghteensT
'Ta'nt me wants 'ern, massa its my brother,
kneIius. K'nelius plays on the fiddle; plays
on de hfe.'
well, where's .Kerneliusl'
Not Ker nelius, massa,' said the negro earn
estly, and drawing out the Kerr but X 'nelius'
with quick jerk al the first sy liable. He's
nv brother, X 'nelius is; an he mighty smart
nigga, massa, tell you. Te'nt easy for COM
mon white trash to fool dat child; XII! ki! XII y
and the staple fellow broke out into loud
laugh.
TELL Ke nelus then,' said the clerk, much
amused, to come here and try some Of these
cheap fddlestrings."
Dat I'm gwlne to do, massa, right off. You
see k'nelius been sarchin tor dem string all
day." And off he went.
Presently he returned, his face glistening
with good humor and triumph, as he hauld
along a grave, digni6ed eaTky, whom he intro
duced TO the clerk as his, Tim Tins, brother.
Dat him, massa! Dat k'neliu,! 'Ta'nt
many white folks beat dat niger in sarcum-
spicion. Heah dey is, K'neIius-da'as de
fixins-dey jist fit your fiddle
What you ak for bunch O. dem article,
NASSAU inquired Cornelius, slowly and an
evident idea Of his own importance.
Yes, what you ak for 'em, massa? knelius
wants to know" put in Tim-Tim, admiration
tor his brother glowing in his features.
'We don't sell them by the bunch, but by
avoirdupois duodecimal weight answered the
clerk erayely. lin Tim stared at his brother
as these strange names were uttered; the wise
Cornelius stared at the clerk. How you say
dat. massa 2 he inquired, after while, gather
ing his faculties tor an intellectual conflict.
sAyoirdupois duoGecinal! That's ssescien'
thc name
Oh said Cornelius, throwing back hls head
and looking at a box o. tea over the up OF "na'
nose he had 'Hu!' he continued. ~ lo"rI.ns T;..s
his head and staring gloomily al u" IL"
shoes, 1im-Ti looked oe]soe
.Dars book larning. dat is' hnaIiy saio 0or.
uelus. raising his head proudly 10 us proper
. ,a.sI 9Th nr ur, as much as to say You can't
'ase "I ~ L;' burst forth Tim Tim, delighted;
m. von msssa. dat nigga mighty sarcum-
.;o;ou.. Muffin foo him."
sp,Ce C"me. bows, / can't stand here all day
Wbatd' you say
well. kaIkIlate I'll take some o dat article,
nassa.' said Cornelius, slowly mopping bis
forehead and face with an immense red silk
handkerchief.
How much do you wanti'
well, massa, you hin give me dunes wufi
of de book larnin' dat de way Idisperfers II.
And "dab' went the handkerchief into the
bottom of an old rusty beaver.
"A dimes worth That'il be the triangle
of the hypoihenuse OF paralelogFam.
Yes, massa; dats ii sdxackly, said Corne-
lus imper,urbably, while Tim-Tim wondered
with open mouth.
A Ahalfpound Of the 6ddlestrings was weighed
out, and the clerk was in the act Of putting j,