The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-06-06

"SEI.LING" A FELLOw.-I.ast sum-
mer while engaged in the tobacco and
cigar business, | used to have for Gus.
toner in cheap cigars one of those know
ing fellows whose knowledge serves better
to bore his victims than advancing science.
You couldn't make him believe that-O,
no! Tell him they were regala cigars
that cost $40 per thousand 1T might do
to stuff down the throats of those who
knew no better; he was none of them.
And so it was with everything: he al
ways knew best. 1t always appeared to
be his delight to draw me INTO some con.
troversy, no matter what the subject, in
order to himself hold forth tried every
way | could think of to circumvent him.
but at last did succeed in laying him
out as Hat as a founder.
1t was on Saturday afternoon he came
in, made his purchase, and seated himself
to deal me out las usual portion; but
was awake for him.
"Captain," said I, II have mad, up
my mind to 90 TO California, and if YOU
wish to 80 into Il speculation, now is your
time"
"As how ?" said he.
"Why, you see them fifteen hpxes OF
cigars! Well, there are two hundred
and fifty in each box, and | will let Won
have the whole fifteen at low rate, prv-
viding you take them all
Every WELL" said my friend, "lct's
hear the conditions"
"1ou give me one cent for the first
box, two for the second, four cents for the
third and 50 on, double up Or every
box"
"Done !" said he ''fetch on your ci.
gars. S'posc you think ! haven't money
enougl-ch p
"Not at all; so lets proceeds here's
the first box"
lie drew ont from his pocket lea,l,-
ern purse, and took out a handful of
com.
".\nd here's the cent" said he, depos-
iing IL green, discoIorcd copper on the
counter.
''iicrc'S your second box"
''And here's your two cents"
every well; here's your third box"
"And here's your four cents" said he,
chuckling,
"lIcre's your fourth box"
"ENactly; and here's your eight cents
lla! ha ha old fellow g on :"
''llerc's your fifth box" said /. hand
ing down another,
"And here's your sixteen cents"
'llcrc's your sixth box"
"And-ha! hal ha here's your
thirly-two cents"
"lIere's your seventh box"
"And here-ha by Jove, the joke is
getting too rich-and here's your sixty
tour cents, and nearly half of your cigars
are gone"
"llere's your eighth box" said |, as
suming cool Indifference that perfectly
astonished the fellow.
"And and here's your dollar and twen-
ty-eight cents"
''llere's your ninth box"
"And here's your-let me see-ah
two dollars and tiity-six cents"
''llere's your tenth box"
Here he drew his wallet thoughtrullv,
and on the slate made small calcula-
ton.
"And here's your five dollars and
twelve cents'
''IIeres your eleventh box"
'And here's your-rwice five is ten,
twice twelve is twenty-four-ten doll, rs
and twenty-tour cents"
AT this stage of the game he got quite
docile, and | continued:
"llere is your twelfth box; hand over
twenty dollars and forty-eight cents"
Here the globuless of perspiration,
large as marowiat peas, stood out in
bold relief on his tuce, but at length he
doled out the sum.
''llere's your thirteenth box; fork over
your forty dollars and ninety-six cents"
AT this crisis he looked perfectly wild.
The sweat was pouring off him in streams,
and the tobacco, juice was running out his
mouth,
"F-o.r't-y n-i-n-e-t.y-six. If I do
do, hut lt | 10 | will be hanged, viii !"