Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-27
ouired from The ola clotbesman.

CURED from the old clotheSman. Ter
francs" replied the latter. "Oh
you are joking" replied the student; II
francs ~fur such a villaiDous beast ~
that! Come, now, will give you
three. Done" exclaimed the old
clothes merchant, and away went the
student with his purchase, taking care
to bring it into his lodging at nightfal
in order that his landlord should not
see it.
He set to work to restuf' the croco
die, and by dint of hot water and paint,
varnish, false teeth, and glass-eyes, sue
ceeded in restoring the animal to life
like similitude, and making it very a
formidable-looking crocodile. When
he had completed his task he purchased
z arrows, attached feathers 10 them of
the most snowy plumage, aud then
thrust the points into the sides Of the
crocodile This done, lie placed the
beast i'll "a closet in his room; dispnsing
of it in such a manner that, by leaving
the door open, it might easily be seen.
Many days had not elapsed before the
landlord paid his ledger an early visit.
The student, who had not yet arisen,
hearing his landlords voice outside the
door, and conscious of the object of
being waited on, opened the closet door,
requested the landlord to enter, and
then jumped into the bed again.
The students Apr ,hens.ons were
true, the landlord hal come for a por
ton, at least, of his rent. He was. at
first, disposed TO deal Ieniently with
his ledger, until the latter declared that
he was soulless, aud, moreover, did not
think it at all probable that he should
be able to discharge his lodging debt. -
On hearing this, tie landlord became
furious, aud was proceeding to threat
en- the student with legal proceedings,
wnen, turning round, his eyes fell on
&c magnificent crocodile within the
closet. His curiosity being aroused, he
requested to know how his ledger be-
came possessed of the animal, and
whether any history attached to it
On this, the student, who desired moth
ing better, and who had laid his plans
to entrap his landlord, proceeded 10 in-
form him that the crocodile in question
Was on the point of devouring one of
his uncles in South America when it
was pierced by arrows still in its sides
discharged by savages, who appeared
on the scene at the critical time.
During the recital of the story. the
landlord regarded the animal with great
admiration, and when the student had
finished, he exclaimed, edo you know
that the crocodile would make an tx.
ceilent shop sign-cOme, what will YOU
sell it TO me for?" The student declar.
ed that to part with so interesting a
family relic was out of the question:;
but when bis landlords offer ran high.
he gave way, and the crocodile finally
became his property for the sum of
1000 francs, and the further under
standing that the students debt was to
be cancelled.
This price was certainly extravagant,
bearing in mind, that for which the
student had obtained tie animal; but
the landlord had no reason to repent
his bargain, for it made not only his
fortune, but that of his two successors.
and is. moreover, kelly to make that Of
a third.
Suspended from the ceiling of the
wine shop hundreds came to see the
great crocodile which was killed when
about Ia tievour a man, and now the
of the wine shop, lately de-
molished. had carried its on with the
rest of his stock i'll trade for the pur-
pose of setting it up in his new prem
lSpS