The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-02-13
SALTED HIM.

A correspondent Of the Spirit Of the
Times, under the caption of "Salted him !;
Or, An Auctioneer Doing AL the Bid
Ding" tells n capital story concerning the
manner in which AN Alabama auctionecr
(Adjutant General Of the Slate,) was Bit
ten by Bibb County colonel in the salt
| trade.
The parties Wore acquainted, and the
colonel having arrived in Tuscaloosa from
Bibb County, with his wagon, for the pur-
pose Of carrying home his supply Of salt,
met the auctloneer standng at the door
Of hi. establishment, and impaired to him
the information that he had come down
for salt, among other notions.
| "Ah, my friend," said the general, ta-
king spnch Of snuff, and disposing Of it,
while he gracefully presented the box
with the other, "you are in streak Of
luck-decidedly a streak Of luck-my
aunt in Gsorgy was once in just such n
streak Of luck-but never mind-vou
haven't engaged it-you want it cheap
La tho very man you are looking for
I'll sell it for = bit less than anybody else
in towa-don't take my worl-go around
town-inquiro--sse what you can get i.
st-thsn coms to ME, and I'm bit less
-scoot around"
"Wsll, ginersl," said Tie BibL County
e9ionel, hi. keen grey eyes twinkling with
. light which clearly indicated the man
who picked him up for a fool would be
sadly out Of the reckoning, II want salt
- that's fAct-and l want 1t chcp rs
caa get it; but / woulI like to trade with
you. and IT, | can 60 better with YOU than
anybody else, why, you gee, on account
Of being old friends, l reckon shall have
to give you chance, They tell me at
the far end Of tho street, that they will
sell salt At dollar snda lxf a sack"
"Ag.1ackIr,' promptly responded the
general, "and will let you have it for a
bit les, than them you saw" or any body
else take just As much as You want for
one dollar thirty seven and = half cents a
sack. But raro round town ef any man
will let you have it fo- that figure, I'm a
bit loss than that, and no mistake"
After about half an hours peregrina-
ton, the colonel, in passing the auction
house, was brought to halt with
"Well, gineral, I've bsea round with
some and can jest tell you that I've seen
= man. who told. me L could have jest a,
much salt As wanted for one dollar and
thirty.ssveu and hall cents sack; that.
talk"
"Yes; he did, did hel Well, my
friend, (pinch Of snuff I'll jest tell you
what I'll do; I'll let you have it for bit
lss'--one dollar and a quarter, and NO
mistake. Is il a tradel Say?"
"S.op, gineral just you wait till can
pcrambulate lco,le, and then we'U
talk"
Scarcely had smother half hour elaps-
cd. when our salt purchaser found it con.
venient to Pass within haiing distance Of
the now much excited and excessively
snnf taking military salt vender. Militia
ry Nan, snuff takers or not, are apt to
get in passion, and a fuc:uating salt
market. is no protection against this msl-
ady..
"Iay, my friend, have you been clean
rovnd T.
mo stree, not clean yi., but, as I'm
passing; I'll tell you that I've seen man
that told me that he would let me have
any quantity Of salt for one dollar and a
quarter sack, and"
Thunder exclsimed the general,
more fdgetty and excited than ever. and
resorting 10 the ever handy suuf moro
frequently and more emrhatiealIy.
A blind man could feel, il hs could not
see. that crisis was approaching. The
general seemed TO feel that his honor was
at s.sse-,hat most priceless treasure OF
a, military n,an-:-aud resplute deternina-
ton TO keep bis word was manifested in
the curves of his firmly compressed lir,
and in the emphasis Of that grasp on the
silver mounted hickory walking stick.
Drawing himself up TO his fullest height,
be said impressivsly in the most magnif-
cent manner
II. said / would sell you salt at bit
'eas than anybody else, and by the eternal
and everlasting jiDgo, my words my