The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-07-20
Selling a Steamboat Owner.
BY MIKE.

quired an inveterate joker of one of our
wealthiest steamboat owners, few days
since.
II believe I am. SIR replied the me.-
chant. complacently looking over his
spectacles at the inquirer, but why the
question p
Because in passing her few moments
since, I observed that she had whole
stove in her, responded the wag.
A hole stove in her = exclaimed the
merchant, hurriedly starting from his
desk; how in the world could that have
happened p
Cant say, SIR
'Is it very large and is she in sink
ing condition p eagerly asked the owner
as he seized his hat and oveycoat
well, sir, 1 think might put that in
it, pointing to a scuttle of coal.
Whether that would be likely to injure
her or not can't say
Confusion = gasped the merchant
some carelessness of the stevedores again
Only day or two since, fine steamboat
was sunk by their negligence, by letting
a block of marble fall on her deck, and
now one of mine is to share the same
fate.'
Without stopping to thank our joking
friend for his unwelcome intelligence, the
owner started for Walnut street wharf,
at. for him, very unusual pace.
She amt sunk yet, at all events ex-
claimed he, as he approached the boat,
which lay quite unconscious of the scci-
dent reported to have happened her. And
there are the men at work loading her
with castings. Surely that fellow must
have mistaken the boat The merchant
did not. however, relax his speed, but
walked hurriedly up to the captain, who
vas quietly overseeing the workmen, and
exclaimed
'How's this, Captain c. -? A
gentlemen just informed me that the boat
has hole stove in her.
, "A hole stove in her where It's
, the first tidings I have had of it = cried
,Ghe captain, looking rather incredulously
.Rt his employer. You must have been
misinformed, sir, for am morally certain
that nothing of the kind could have pos
sibly happened. But your own eyes viii
e satisfy you that your information is incor
r rect"
(! i am very glad to hear it, drlly re,
e piled the owner; yet it appears yer!
, strange that this man should have mad
so gross blunder. Has such an acci
e dent happened to any other boat alons
: the wharf p
2 Not that have heard said the cap
e tain, and am very sure that if anythin!
q of the kind had occurred, we would hav
e known it,
d :It's very singular If it wer
! the first of April instead of the middl
of December, would think the fello,
It designed making an April fool of me
= He appeared so earnest that l cannot bu
e think he really believed that such an acci
|, dent had happened
y Saying this, the merchant turned hi
e steps homeward, when his eye fell upo
ii S., Who was too fond of jok
e not to place himself where at a prope
K time he would be forthcoming. AS 500
e as the old steamboat owner spied S.
he beckoned to him. With mischiev
Gus eye, S. approached the old may. who
looking sternly at him, enquired:
Are you not the person who called a
IS my countirg-house few minutes since
a, and told me that the steamer A.
IT had hole stove in he: bottom p
F. 4 did not say in her bottom said S
le demurely, Il merely stated that she had
whole stove in her.
g well, sir, will you have the goodnes
J. to inform me precisely in what part of th
y steamer it is. You said, if recollet
~ arightly, that scuttle of coal might b
8. put in it, a asa
J. Il did, sir, and am prepared to prov
le my assertion, said S., spiritedly; but fir
;" sir, permit me to ask you single que'
es tion.'
v Proceed, SIR s s5l
3 We'll, then, what do you call that
? said S. pointing to large stove whic
IL the hands were lowering into the hole
RS the boat. aa
IS That, sir cried the merchant, lookin
u sharply at S., that, Sir, is stove.'
re "A complete stove p
~ DO you think that stove would hol
10 scuttle ofcoal as large as that in yol
v counting room p
"A I should think it would, sir.'
I'd is there no other of the same kind {
e. board now ? asked S. eaqui.ingly of IL
IT. captain.
IS, There is, sir, replied that dignitary.
en- We'll, then, said S., looking very SCI
20 ously at the boat owner. If that's
~ complete stove, it must be ,ohoIs stow
and you will at once agree with me tn
10 your boat has ,ohole stoUe in her, larI
~ enough to take in that sknttle of coal
~ -. your Office. Good morning, siS Y al
" with wink at the captain, who now u
derstood and relished the SELL the jok