The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-01-22

ness myself"
The Jew looked at him for a full minute be-
fore he answered. He was taking his meas
ure, and he thought he had it.
Taking Charley conhdentisliy by The arm.
and leading him out of hearing of the Hoosier,
he said to him, e't@a
swell, now, my goot frent, viii tell you
iusht how it ish. Ihave been in dish business
jusht three yearsh, and have made all so
mush monish as want. only vantto shell out
my shtock and quit de hishness, and live upon
my farm in Ohio, de rcsht OF my life. My
goot trent, will sell my shewelry to you SO
sheap as you cannot bny it in New York
You shall have It vor jusht vot ii cosht me in
de old country. shall sharge you nossing
vor re carriage, and Messing for re duties."
"Well, that's fair enough, al any rate,'' said
Charley, "but how am to know what they
did cost?' III tf~ ~fExrf2
"Oh, my goot frcnt, yon vii take rny wort
vor dat, k,owsh,, said the Jew, with an air
of half-injured lnnocehee. -
1t was now Charley's turn 10 take the Jews
measure; and after look, which the latter
sustained with a placid smile Of virtuous con-
fdence, he said
.rWell, old hoss. Won heve got an uncommon
honest face, that's afact Give us your hand;
could take your word for load Of corn,
without Iaeasmin' it, any day; you'll hex to do
the calculation,' for ] aint got no lernin."
The Jew took another long uneasy look at
- ,&<I;l
which the latter met h,s gaze, was too much
for his penetration, and he sat down beside
the pack to make All inventory of it's con-
tents.
''Just the cost in the old country, remember,
ole feller."
"Yesh--yesh, iusht De cosh.; Messing vor
re duties or carriage ~
The Jew drew forth greasy memorandum
book, and opening at blank page, spread it
upon his knee preparatory to taking an sac
count OF stock p as the merchants say.
The hrst thing taken up for appraisement
was hashy watch chain, which the Jew ven
tured to value at ten dollars.
'Cheap az dirt. said Charley; "couldn't be
made for twice the money in this country.o
The Jew WINGED; he had evidently lost five
dollars by not saying fifteen, and he determine
ed to make il up on the next article, which
proved to be breast pin of even more impos-
ing proportions than the one which had first
captivated Charley's fancy, and the Jew bold
ly put it down at fifteen dollars.
s.Come, come, old hoss, that's pilin the ago
ny little too high"
"Bon my onner, my frent, it cost me ffdeen
dollarsh, in Baris."
"Too much--too much -say ten dollars, and
put it down."
"My goot frent, you will ruin me--say twelve
dollars-come now, 'low me little brofit."
The winning smile with which this was said,
conquered, and the pin was put Gown attwelve
dollars.
Two long mortal hours, did the Jew perspire
over his task. The sun seemed to have been
gotten up especially for the occasion, and new
er shone half as intensely before, while the
wind brought the dust from all points of the
compass at once. 81 a
AT last, the inventory was completed, and
footed up some nine hundred and odd dollars.
The Jew rolled the pack up, and for the hund-
redth time wiped the mingled perspiration and
dust from his brow.
"Well, what about the leather contrapticn
that you carry 'em in-you'll throw that in
s'pose, won't you." @s&.stfW
"Yell, veil, s'posh musht do dat,o said
the Jew with rleasa II smile.
elbow much did you say il all comes to?''
"Nine hundred and vorty doc dollarsh end
WITTY een'sh.v SM3#
"You must throw of the two dollars and
fifty cents, and call it even nine hundred and
forty" @s.@
"veli, veil, We won't shtand upon trifes-it
shall be ash you say, my frent.''
"Ail right, then, old feller; have you got a
pen and ink about you9n
Hyot vor You want pen and ink, my frent?o
81 want to give you my note for the money!
"Your note? Vot vor shall want your
note? Ivant your monish, net your note;
don't know you.''
"Neither do know you," said Charley,
$50 there's no advantage on either side. Be-
sides, that's the way ! always trade. Twas
willing to take your word for the cost Of the
things, and it's darned strange il you can't
take my note for the money" 80
The Jew fairly danced with rage.
"Well, old feller,n said Charley, during
temporary lull in the storm, sare you going to
stand to your bargain?"
"No--no--no," screamed the infuriated
Jew, "giye me my monish, and you shall have
re goodsh."
"Young man." said Charley, turning to the
Hoosier, "can you tell me where can find
justice Of the peace inths neighborhood.o
"Daddy" happened to be justice of the
peace. and the young man gave very explicit
directions how to fnd his house, about two
miles further on; and mounting his horse,
Charley rode of, vowing that il there was any
law in the land, he would see whether a man
could make q fair bargain and then back out
from II.
The young Hoosier is prepared to make his
affidavit, that the oaths and curses in which the
Jew sought to relieve his overcharged feelings
for the next hour, actually killed two young
birch sAplings that stood near.
Atss fat n 3.t