The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-11-10
TAKE MY HAT.


but few, we fancy. know its origin. One
Of our exchanges gives an account Of it,
which is good enough to be true. It runs
as follows:
About nineteen years ago. fine look.
ing old gentleman from Western Virginia
entered a store in Nashville Tennessee.
Said store was owned by bluff, honest
old trader, who knew great deal more
about the quality Of the liquor sold at the
back end Of the counter than he did about
the fneness Of the fabrics at the other,
nevertheless, between the two extremities
Of that shell, contriving TO make both ends
very comfortably meet ;he necessity Of the
case. The old Virginian cast his eye
around the shelves and finally remarked:
"Well, neighbor, / see you hev got
hats"
"A slight sprinkle" was the answer,
and then followed the query, "Whar yer
| 'front.'"
"Old Virginia," was the response.
"Right smart old State,'' replied the
Tennsseean. "but getting rather too old to
keep her har on" f
"What do you meant" inquired the
Virginian.
"Well, just what I say, uncle; it can't
keep her har on-for instance, now
should think you hev been right healthy
child of the Old Dominion but she has
"shed" you at last, and like Sampson Of
old, that's the way she's losing oil the best
har off her venerable head"
The old Virginian looked around the
store rather bothered with the liberty this
Tennesseean was taking with his mother
State, and finally remarked
81 came here to talk about hats, stran.
ger, not har." f
swell, we'll, uncle, don't get wrathy
now. was only venturing political
opinion about the population in general,
and on that head we won't quarrel; but
before we look at the hats, as they are in
timately connected with heads, spose we
take might Of bald-face." @
The proposition was agreed to, the IL
quor was imbibed, and next followed the
hats. The merchant tossed down four or
five wooden hats Of various sizes, and in,
vited the old gentleman to select one
which would fit. He looked at them, ex.
amined tho sizes, said they would do, and
requested the storskseper to hand him
down 4 few more. 8W M
"Thats all the sizes I've got" said he,
"but here's q few more If you think you'd
like "em better" and so saying he tossed
down three more.. a, J. ,.a
"Them's all right" said the old Virgin.
ian, turning them around, and the stou.
old storekeeper blowing with exertion, de-
scended from his perch, where he was
straddling from shelfto counter. As soon
as he reached the floor, the old Virginian
remarked that he had not enough yet.
20, you want en- for your niggars?"
says the storekeeper. swell, why didn't
you say 30 when | was upr' and again
proceeded to perch himself up like mer.
cantile Colossus. When he had blowed
himself into his former position, the old
man quietly remarked. q q, it
/ "Why, stranger, | warnt talking any.
thing about niger The fact is the old
man was rathor enjoying tno extra trouble
hs had put the Tennesseean to.
"Wsll, what do you want with so many
hatsi" s9a gas1 q
II want them for my sons" said the
old man. liei'f sie
Ths storskesper began to count them on
the counter. Eight" said he. "a pretty
big spread Of boys already. LII swear, but
here goes. /" and added one and then an.
other, and yet 8 fourth, and he picked up
! fith, and finally seeing the old man I'M
movable, earnestly counting the hats, he
tossed down three more, and was about
to descsnd himself; whom the old man told
him 10 hold on and throw. dovnlsa isw
moro. ess;alls "a FSel
20. coms, uncls;' = said hs you are iok.
IN" "'tua y Plssss hin hs threw down
twenty, eSs saS sl'lsse'F Q s4sa'