Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-10-15
THE OLD FRENCH BARBER

everlasting good motto-.sBe sure you're right,
then go ahead 20 his wisdom would stand a
pretty good wrestle with tide and time, be-
fore his standing as man of genius would
pass to oblivion-be washed out in Lethe's
waters. We remember hearing Colonel Crock
ct relate, during q sspeech,'' short time be-
fore he los, his life at the Biamo. Texas,
little incident of his being taken up in New
Orleans one night, by gen d'arme-lugged to
the calaboose, and kept there as an out-and-
out s.hard case,' not being able to find any
body, hardly, that knew. him, and being total
ly unable TO reconcile the chief of police to
the fact that he was the identical Davy Crock
EFT, or any body else above par. ssIf you want
to find your level-ad pdlorem, wake up some
you 2" said the Colonel, and if you ever
feel SO essentially chawed up, rar, as did
in the calaboose, the Lord pity yon-"
There was a ssmodern instance OF Col.
Crock ett's ..wse saw in the case of a cer-
tain Philad elphia milIionaire, who was in the
habit of cartng himself out in a very ancient
and excessively shabby gig, which, in conse-
quence of its utter ignorance of the stable
boys brush, sponge or broom, and the hospi-
talitics the old concern nightly offered she
hens--was not exactly the kind of eqnipa ge
calculated to win attention or marked res
pcct for the owner and driver. The old mil
lionaire, one day in early October, took it
into his head to ride out and see the country.
Taking an early start, the old gentleman and
his old bob-tailed, FROST bitten. looking horse
with the same old shabby gig. about dusk
found themselves under the swinging sign of
a Pennsy lvania Dutch tavern in the neighbor-
hood of Reating. As nobody bestirred to
see the traveller, he put his very Old fashion
ed face and wig outside of the vehicle and
called:
s.Hoilo Hos. .e-lar! Landl lord 20
Leisurely stalking down the steps, the Dutch
hostier advanced towards the queer and ques-
tionable travelling equipage.
"Vel, vot you want, all ~
ssVot sal vant3 sal want to put oup my
hoss, viz re ztab'l, viz two pecks of oats and
plenty of hay, hos-e-lar.'
"Yaw,'' was the laconic grunt of the bosler
as he proceeded to unhitch old bald face from
his rigging.
ssStop one little,'' said the traveller. al
see tits very mosh like rain to- night /; put CUP
my gig in re ztab'l, too.''
s.Boosh, tooner aud blitzen, der rain cannot
hurt your old gig l''
81 pay you for vat you sal do for me mind
vat sal say. sair, if you piease." =
The hostler very surlly led the travellers
weary old brute to the stable; but. prior to
carrying out the orders of the traveller, he
sought the landlord to know if it would pay to
put up the scabby old concern, and treat the
old horse to real feed of hay and oats with
out making some Inquiries into the financial
condition of the old Frenchman
The landlord, with country lawyer and a
old fashioned salted coops in corner, pecu-
liar to Pennsy lvania, discussing the merits of
lawsuit. seizure of the property, &C., OF
deceased tiller OF the soil in the vicinity. Bu-
silly chatting and quaffing their toddy. the en-
trance of the poor old traveller was scarcely
noticed, until he had divested himself of his
old, many capped cloak, and taken seat in
the room. The hostler having re-appeared,
and talked little Dutch to the host, that
worthy turned to the traveller
ssGood even'ns, thravel'r.o
'sYes, sair," pleasantly responded the
Frenchman, ga little.''
ssYou got boss, eh 7'' continued the land :
lord.
eyes, sair; Wish ze hos e-lar to give mine
IN hoy
plenty watair, sair.''
'Yaw," responded the landlord eden ia
cob, give'm der oats, and der hay, and der
wates;' and with this brief direction to his
subordinate the landlord turned away from
the way y-woIn traveller to resume his conyer.
sation with his more apparently influential
friends. The old Frenchman very patiently
waited until the discussion should CEASE, and
the landlords should be dsengaged that
he might apprse of the fact that travellers
had stomachs, and that of the old French gen.
tieman was highly incensed by long delay, and
more particularly by the odorous fumes of
roast fowls, ham and eggs. &c, issuing from
the inner portion OF the tavern.
''Landlord, win take suppuir. if you please. %
''Yaw; after desc gentleman's shall eat der
suppers, den something will be prepared for
you.''
"Sair 10 said the old Frenchman, firing up; !;
SCI will not vait for Ze shentlemen want my
supper now, directly-right away; / not vait
for nobody, sair.''
s'lf you no like 'em, den you go off out
mine house, answered the old sour crout,
ssyou old barber 20
e" Bar -bair - gasped the old Frenchman, in
suppressed rage. s.Sair, will go nowhere
will stay here SO long by gar as-a.-s