The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-03-31
"A THRILLING SKETCH.
AN ADVENTURE. IN A BARBER SHOP.

(. sel vas lying al, Mobile. went! Ashore
6np bright morning. to. do some business
with the hoyseito wbisA !. was consigned,
and % I.passed. along the street, n occur.
rcd 10 me that ] might as we'll have beard
Hoi n weeks growth reaped, before pre-.
1nted myself at'she. counting. room. I
ped into a batber's shop and told the
(er TO proceed::s
p was,a bright mulato, a good-looking
hg fellow, not more than two and twen-
years Of age.it appeared. His eyes
We're large. black and unusually lustrous
His manner at first was quiet and respect.
sul, | thought be was long while lath-
ering my face, and told him that he must
have bought his soap at the wholesale price.
Laughing. he replied that mine was a
long beard. and that he knew what he was
about
"Are you the boss here, my mani"
asked.
"Yes," he answered. "my master set
me up. and pay him twenty dollars a
month for my time"
g.. "Thas is good interest on the capital
invested" remarked; "can you pay your
rent and live on the balance of your saw.
ings7"
"Oh, yes! and lay up something be-
sides. Sometimes | receive thirty bits
day" .....
''Then suppose you will buy your free
dom one of these days" s
AS for that" he replied II care but lit
lie. have all the liberty want. and ell
10y myself asI 90 along"
BY this time he had laid down the brush
and commenced running his razor over
she strop. looking at the blade every time
he drew it across the eather. His hand
srembled little. aud his eyes absolutely
burned like coaas Of fire did not feel
unsasy, but co~ld no, avoid watching
him closely. .a..
Al last he commenced shaving me. Nv
hsad being throwH back | was abb. to
keep nag eyes Gxed directly on his. Why
I did SO, canao, tell. certainly appre.
hended np,hiug bnt did not remove my
gaze for single instant while the razor
WAS passing over my neck aud throat
Ne seemed to grow more and more un-
easy; his eyes we're as bright, but not so
stesdy, as when first observed them. He
could act, meet my fixed and deliberate
look. As he commenced sl,avingmy chin,
he said abruptly ........ ...
.BarSers handle deadly weapon. sir"
True enough. my man" | replied.
sbut you handle yours sklliully. although
4 S, hanIo oh .I,, HttIo
..That's nothing. sir--I can shave just
as well. NY hand shakes because | did
not have much sleep last night. But was
thinking just now" he added, with laugh,
''how easy II would be for me to cut your
shrost."
"Very likely."I replied. laughing in re.
turn. but looking sternly at him.-'.very
likely, but would not advise you to try
the experiment"
Nothing more was said. He soon fin
ished, and arose from the chair Just as
an eldedy gentleman was entering the
shop, The last conner divested himself of
bis coat and cravat, and took the seat
had vacated. g,
went to the glass, which did not reflect
the chair, TO arrange my collar. Certainly
I,had not stood before it single moment.
when I heard something like suppressed
shrek, . gurgiing. horrible sound, that
made nay blood run cold. turned
there sat the unfortunate gentleman. COW
cred with blood, his throat cut from ear to
ear, and the barber, raving maniac,
dashing his razor with tremendous vio-
lsnce,. into the mangled neck On the in
slant the mans eye caught mine. the razor
dropped from his hand, and he fell down
10 . it, rushed towards the door and
called for assistance.
The unfortunate man was dead before
ws resched the chair. II.
We sscurfed the. barber. who, as sub
ssquenily learned, had been drinking.
deeply The night before, and was laboring
snder ssania,a-poiu. His fate l. never
heard, II, "a
All who wish to be rich must spsnd-less7
than thsy earn. @ & &.