The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-10-26


fractious disposjtion-all we're remark.
able. There is in the profession d
shaving, something tl,at warns tic
heart. while it clcvatcs the understands
ing; 1T will smooth the asperities ,f
an lrasciblc temper, and relapse the
grim features Of rrisanthropc into a
grim of universal suavity. Butt was
Intellectual with Solomon, Avar;cc, Ike
worm, had eaten into his heart snd
wltlercd him up like a dried hazel
nut. Envy and bile had yclowcd linn
like ounce, and made him as
sour and as grabbed. His eternal fret
fulncss WAS past endurance. The dull
ness of the times the nggnrdiness of
customers, the mystery of lIaggelwet-
ter, excited continual murlnurs. He
would dcclaim on these grievances, in
passing his razor over the throats Of
his customers, with such a frcrnicd
rchcmcncc, that, in trembling alarm,
they would try to suoth him by pro-
mise of double remuneration for his
labour. In these transports, razors,
soap, pinplcs, or even ,hroats, APP
pcarcd to him Of no consequence.
1t grew ut last to be almost rs much
as Il mans life was worth to sit down
in his chair.
Perhaps this consideration operated
with others to reduce the custom of
his shop. Pcrceiving his business
decline, he became more and more
pcnuri"us and passionate. He all
stained altogether from the use of
soap, alleging that hot water was pre-
terablc to lather for softening the
beard. To this the u;itnrtunat, oc-
curants vi his chair grinned melan-
choly asseut-,hcy did not dare to do
otherwise. He also substituted can.
dlc-cnd for pomatun. and rye meal
for hair-p"wder; and finally ceased to
sharpen his razors, or to wash his
napkins, because they wore out
Sd fast. 1t was outrageous it was
intolcrable-his customers were near.
ly tiaycd alive!
But while he .harrasscd tllc nerves,
md senriiied the xipaues of hisariends.
he was not more easy With Himself.
Continual murmurings and complaint
had worn upon him until he was
as poor as Il snake. He was like
barber that had talked himself to
the very edge of TIE grave. What had
he to live for! His shop was deserted,
his customers were continually drop
ping away, and he WAS nearly dis
tractcd. To be sure, old lIagglewct
ter stuck to him, but the time might
come when even his extensive chin
would be withdrawn. In fine. he
sunk into the deepest dcSpondcncy
and would spend whole hours in mel
ancholy anticipation Of the period.
when himself, his brush and his razor,
would be left in the bleak world alone.
One night he was sitting in his
shop buried in a profound rcvcric. New
CT before had he felt 50 depressed and
torl"rn. \ long day had passed away
without dcposi,ing III his pocket sin.
gle penny; and he had stormcd and
ragged until he sunk down in state OF
exhaustion. His head leaned back on
the chair; his eyes were half closed and
his whole frame was relaxed and pow.
crless. 1t was towards the close of
autumn, when tic criclcts chirp in
their shrilcst tones and an occasion
al gust of wind, will sweep around
the house, and moan plaintvcIy in
the key-holc for admittance. 1t was,
in fact the appropriate season for rev
cries and visions.
AS Solomon Soper sat musing in
his chair, it seemed to him as il
some wonderful change had taken
place before him. His shop had
gradually assumed the appearance OF
the interior of church; the black crick
cts which had hoped about the
floor were transformed int, human
beings, dressed in the sable habili.
mcnts of mourners who formed q
funeral procession, and slowly march
ed up the grand aisle, raising the
solemn anthem for the departed. How
full, how deep, how rich was the
volume of harmony that swcllcd on
iiio Sii lb'lI lol "lR'lll WAS INC re.
qieum! y melancholy prcsentmen,
filled the soul Of Solomon. Was il
for himself! Or had the jaws O
death snapped up another Of his Gus
toners! lie was alarmed. Mean
while the procession reached the
centre Of the church; the chant ceased
the velvet pail was uplifted; but he
strained his eyes in vain to read tn,
inscription on the coffin lid. As h,
gazcd still more sharply, the spec
tacle slowly faded away, and h,
found himself standing alone in hi.
shop. A huge winding sheet was OF,
the point Distinguishing his candle
lie snutled the light with his fingers
The bell struck Twelve. Soon at,cl
a knocking was heard ut the door. L
slowly opened and q mulllcd figure