Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-09-07
Pictorial Baok.keepinr.

-
in specie of,heiroglyphics somewhat 10
sembling Mexican picture writing, which
no one understood but himself, and he
occasionally mistook. All one time he
sold q neigbor . grindstoneI which he en-
tered on bis book. Afterwards, on ex-
amining bis book, he demanded payment
fora cheese, which his neighbsr declined.
70 do. and denied ever having received
any fromhiIn. On this the farmer whose
name was Bunker, sued him. On the tri-
al. the following scene took place
Now, Mr.. Justice, T said Bunker, af-
ter explaining in direct, of hand manner,
his peculiar method Of book keeping,
s'now, the article herekchargel, the man
had. ! will and do swear 70 IL, for here
it is in black and white. And have de-
manded my pay, and he having not only
refused il, but denied ever buying the ar
ticle in question, have brought this suit
recover my Just due. And nov wish to
see if he will get up hero ID court, and
deny the charge under oath. 1.-The viii,
let him may the Lord have mercy upon
his soul.''s
''Well, sill, " replied thedefendaat, "you
shall not be kept from having your wish q
minute for | here under oatbs doswear
that ! never bought Or had i cheese Of yoW
in my life.''
'.Under oath you declare it, do you ~
sharply asked Bunker.
Il do sir," firmly answered the, other.
"WelL well, " exclaimed tie farmer,
with looks of utter astonishment, / would
not have believed that there was a man I'm 5
der the horns of the moon who would dare
to do that.i' EIs
After the parties had been INDUCED in
the usual amount Of sParring br such oc-
easions, ths Justice ilterposed, and sugr
gested that, as the oaths ofthe parties
were atcomplete variance, the evidence or
the book itself, which he seemed To think
was entitled to credit. would tufn the scale
in favor ofthe plaintiff. unless lie defend
ant could produce some rebutting testi-
mony. Upon this hint. the latter called
up two Of his neighbors, who testified in
his behalf that he himself always made a
sufficient supply of cheese for his familys
and they were further knowing that on the
year Of The Ialledged purchase, instead OF
buying. he actually sold considerable Of
the. article.
This evidence seemed tosettle the ques-
ton in the mind Of the justice, snd he now
seon announced that he felt bound to give
judgment to the defendant fol Ills cost.
4 Judged and sworn out ofthe whole
of 1t. as lam a sinner ), 1, said the discon-
certed Bunker, after sitting moment,
working his rough features III indignant
surprise. = yes. fauly sworn. ont oft, and
saddled with 4 Bill Of cost to boot But
I can pay it; soIreckonit Up, Mr.. Justice,
and we WIN have il all squared On the spot.
And on ,the whole. I am not % sure but 4
dollar or two IS well spent at any time III
finding out fellow to be a scoundrel who
has been passing himself off among PEG !
pie as an honest man, lie added, pulling
out his purse, and angrily dasfing the re-
quired amount down upon the table.
!" Now, Bill Bunker" said die defend
ant aftercpolly pocketing his qpsts. ..you
have flung out q good deal Of your stuff
here, and / have borne il without getting
rilad hair, fol- saw allthe time that YOU
didn't know what you was about. But
now its I'LL fixed ana settled, Lam going
inst to convince you that / ana not quite
theone that has sworn 70 aperjury lin this
business. 2 u n
& Well, We viii see : reioinad Bunker,
cycling his opponent with an air Of min-
gled doubt and defiance.
.'Yes, we viii see, |" responded the 9TH
er, determihedly stdEwe will see If We can't
make you eat your own words. But I
want first toItell YOU where you missed il.
When you dunned me, Bunker, for the
pay for a cheese, and I said ISneyer had
one Of you, you went of little 100 quick !;
you called me liar before giving me 4
chance to say another word. And then I
thought I would let you take your own
course till yon took that name back II
you had held on minute, without break
ing out 50 upon me. I should have told
you all how it was, and YOU would have
gotyour pay on the spot; but
Pay Il iareely interrupted Bubker:
8 then you admit you liadlthe cheese. do
you NJ
1"No. sir. / admit mo such thing, \
quickly reloined Tie former, Il tor I1slill
say never had Il cheese Of you IN the
world. But didEhave q smsIl grind
stone Of yop at the time, and af Just the
price you charged for your supposed
cheese; and herei il your money for it. sir.
Now, Bunker what do you say 10 that q"
sGrindstone- cheese-eheese grind
stone must think this matter over
again" exclaimed the now evidently
doubtful and non-plussed Bunker, taking
a few rapid turns about the room, and
occasionally stopping At tie table to scru.
tenize anew bis hieroglyphical charge
4" Grindstope cheese - cheess-grind-
stone. ALL Ihaveit; butmaY God for
give me for what have done! It was a
grindstone. but I forgot to make hole
in the middle for . crank. =
Upon this curious development, as will
be readily imagined. the opposing parties
were not long in effecting an anlicable
and satisfactory arrangement. And ia 4
short time the company broke Up and DEF
parted, al obvious as much gfatiied al
amused atlhis singular but happy result
Of the lawsuit.
WHIcH Can IS rHE SAFKsrg AT the
late railroad accident at the Sanquoit