The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-10-30
Take nv Hat.


of it, which is good enough 10 be true.
ltruns as follows:
About nineteen years ago, a fine
looking old gentleman from western
Virginia entered a store in Nashville,
Tennessee. Said store was owned by a
bluff old trader. who knew a great deal
more about the quality of the liquor
sold atthe back end of the counter than
he did about the fineneSs of the fabrics
the other: nevertheless, between the
two eXtremities of that shelf contrived
TO make both ends very comfortably
meet the necessity of the case. The
old Virginian cast. his eyes around the
shelf and finally remarked:
"Well, neighbor, I see you hev got
hats.n
I" A slight SPRINKLE was the answer
and then followed the query, "Whar
yer fromP
4Old Virginia" was the response.
Right smart old State" replied the
Tennessean, "but getting rather too
old to keep her har on"
"What do you mean 2n inquired the
Virginian.
"Well, just what I say, uncle; it
can't keep her har on-for instance.
now, | should think you hev been a
righ: healthy child of the old Domin-
ion, put she has 'shed; you at last, and,
like Samson of old, that's the way she
is losing all the best har off her vene-
rable head.n
The old Vlrginian then looked around
the store rather bothered with the
liberty the Tennessean was taking
with his mother State, and finally re-
marked:
Il came here to talk about hats,
stranger, and not har.n
Well, well. uncle. don't git wrathy
now. was only venturina political
opinion about population in general,
and on that head we won't quarrel: but
before We look at the hats, 'spose we
take mite of baldface."
The proposition was agreed to, the
liquor was imbibed, and next followed
the hats. The merchant tossed down
the four or five wool hats of various
sizes, and invited the old gentleman to
select one which would fit him. He
looked at them. examined the sizes, said
they would do. and requested the store
keeper TO hand him down a few more.
"That's all the sizes Eve got" said
he ''but here's few more if you think
you'd like 'em better" and SO saying he
tossed down three more.
"Them are all right" said the old
Virginian, turning them around, and
the old storekeeper, blowing with ex-
ertlon, descended from his perch, where
he was straddling from shelf to counter.
As soon as he reached the floor, the old
Virginian remarked that he had not got
enough yet
30, you want 'em for your niggers 2"
says the storekeeper. "Weil, why
didn't you say so when | was up" and
again proceeded TO perch himself up
like a mercantile Colossus.
When he had blowed himself into
his former position the old man quietly
remarked:
"Why, stranger, | waru't talking
about niggersm
The fact is the old man was rather
the extra trouble he had put
the Tennessean to.
" Well, what do want with so many
hats p'
II want them for my sons" said the
old man.
The storekeeper began to ocount them
on the counter.
:" Eight" said he, "a pretty big spread
Of boys already, I'll swear, but here
goes" and added one and then another
and yet fourth, and he picked off a
fifth, and finally seeing the old man
Immoveable, earnestly counting the
hats, he tossed down three more, and
was about to descend himself, when
The old man told him 10 hold on and
throw down a few more.
20, come, uncle" said he, "you are
okiug," but to please him he threw
iown twenty.
"That's just one too many" said the
I'D man with much gravity.
"What you don't mean to say you
lave nineteen sonsm
Yes: | do mean to say So" was the
id mans answer.
And whar, in the name of the State
if Tennessee, are theyn
We'll, they are in Tennessee, right
iere in this eity,-up at the hotel"
Stranger" said the store keeper, |
Iis incredulity making him sputter
nd stutter as he said, "if you can
how me nineteen boys of your raisin,
hairs the hats.o
"Hold on, then" said the old man,
nd off he started. In about ten min
tes, down the street he came, heading
little line of nineteen boys, marching
Ing!e file, each bearing a good gun,
,llowed by their venerable mother
hey catered the merchant's store and
anged along his counter-the store
eeper ran his eye along the line with
" And you say that these boys are
Il yours" he inquired.
ASK their mother, she says they
-e," replied the old man.
" "Doyou say so, madam !n
ayes, do, and I ought TO knowm
as the reply.
"Well, you might, Pll swear,n said