The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1856-11-08
NORTH CAROLINIAN.
AsECroTE ec oLDEs TEE.
ElYETTETLLLE. ~ G.


The following good story is taken from
New Hampshire paper, bearing date nearly
twenty years agos- - .:.;...
- Mr. -, asreputable and thrifty merchant
Of the last century, was possessed CT great
deal OF natural shrewdness, together with
tact tor turning every circumstance to .llis own
advantages. We, have heard many anecdotes
of him, and among others the Following. which.
perhaps, will better show of his pecnliaritiea tan
Il .:tabored description. He kept a grocery
store near Spring Hill, which like tie grocery
stores OF that period. was filled .-itsr variety
of notions; among other things, the was famous
for tho good Quality OF R:y .cottes, sa article.
which ut that time was very scarce and high
One day ~ customer from the country drove up
to his door, and inquired the price 0f his cotton
''Ehree and sixpence per pound" Replied s.:
weigh me dozen pounds" says the coun-
tryman, at the same time stepping into the
store With large bag to put it in. ..... !:
The cotton was weighed apd pat into the
bag, and Mr. S - stepped into the ccIning-
room to make bill, leaviag his customer
busy engaged in ,tgipgnit up Now, it 50
happened, there was,n small lot of good-lookng
cheese near the spot, aud the acoantryman
though right from the Land Of Mill, and honey,
could not resist the propensity to crib one Of
them. He accordingly took Que up, and after
looking about to see that,Bone were observing
him, slid into the bag, which he Immediately
tied up, and patiently awaited the return eof
s., who soon after cama out, and presented
the. bill, which the countryJnap paid. );
Now, Mr. s. Of the most polite
men of THO age, and at once his quick eye bad
detected the abduction of a cheese. H. was at
no loss to account for it's ;disappearaDae, and
instantly prepared to act as circumstances
might require The countryman, after one or two
animportant observations. Was preparing to
depart s.. who we before Observed was
excessively polite, would by no means suffer
him to carry his own bundle; but offered his
services, ana at tlfa same time took up. the, bag
to carry it out. He had proceeded nearly to
the door of his shop when he stopped. a.:
'"rhis bag is very heavy-I must have made
Il mistake ia the weight of the cotton"
"l-l-I guess not" says the eountryman.
"But have certainly" says s.. Il can
hardly carry tive must weigh it again."
BY this time. s. had it brought back to
the counter, aad was preparing to unite it.
Here was dilemma. It the bag. united
the theft would be discovered, and if weighed
as it was, it would be paying nssnstrously high
for the cheese The countryrsan henld and
had and scratched his head, but without getting
step out Ut the dsculty.~ eo;nplete s5
CONSERVATION, at that moment another person
entered the store this decided him, and after
drawing long breath lie stammered out,
Mr. s. dou't trouble yourself to unite the
bag, it weighs just poun6-pve weighed it
hundred times"
'No consequence" said $. and he put
the whole into tile, scales-'I knew l must
have made mistake. 1t weighs. thirty-eight
pounds- block head that am! Let me see:
twelve that you paid for, and one for the bag is
thrteen-thrteen from thirty eight leaves
twenty ty7Gxe.-Twenty-f i've ibss at three shlings
and xrence is a4 Is. Cd. Wait moment; I
will make another bill.
The countryman did wait, received the bill,
and paid "a 7s Cd. for his cheese He then
flung the bag into the wagon-jumped in and
drove off, with a-face glowing like ignited char
coal. .~ Mr. s. remained.in the door rn-il he
had bowed his customer out .of sight, then turn
ing round he cooily Observed TO the person
within:- "Our friend there has a fine horse;
good Georgel how fast he trotsp.