Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-05-09
Couldn't tell by his Dress.

Some years ago a wealthy carriage maker
residing in Philadelphia, was very much an
noyed by calls of hackmen, cabmen, omni-
bus drivers, ETC., who under pretence Of
wishing to purchase would put him to CON
siderable trouble, in showing them all the
various vehicles he had ON hand and telling
them the difference, the very lowest price
of each and would leave with the consol
ing idea that they yonld ''think on it and
if they concluded to purchase, why they d
call again tomorrow But it 50 happened
that they never called again the second time
This daily inquiry, we say, had become so
annoying that the owner, IN seifdefense,
had resolved on not paying any attention to
customer, unless he came well dressed.
About this time the owner was one day
standing, in his door, when up came rough
looking man, well bundled in his overcoat
wearing coarse, unpublished boots, and carry
ing in his hand a whip, who thus accosted
him. a ,,eff
"Good day sir Are you the owner of this
establishments"
swell, l am" replied the other, with a
look which seemed to say" Now you
want to try it, don't you?"
Have you any fine carriages for sale ?'
inquired the stranger, apparently not heed
ing the boorishness of the other.
''WeI, 1 have. +"
AT what price?'' ef
Different prices Of course"
"Ah yes. Can J. look at them?"
You can do as you please, stranger =
They are in there"
The stranger bowed politely, passed in,
examined the vehicles for q few moments.
returned and said:
There is one think viii answer my pur-
pose, " pointing toward one "What is the
price?' ehf 90
''Two hundred dollars, sir. -
rs that the lowest ?'
''That is the lowest iA
''Well, sir, 1 viii call and give you my de-
csion tomorrow - and the stranger walked
away. ~ ns
eyes. you'll call tomorrow o, yes GER
tainly, replied the owner in a tone of irony,
not so low but that the stranger heard him;
but he kept on his way, taking no outward
notice of it.
The next day came, and with it came the
stranger also.
Il have come according to promise, said
he.
Il see you have, sir - replied the owner;
little abashed.
Il Will take that carriage, sir, and to the
astonishment of the other, he pulled out an
old wallet well stuffed with bills, and delib-
erately counted out two hundred dollars.
The owner was completely staggered.
Here was something new, a cabman with
so much money! He took the money, look
ed at it, and then at the stranger, eyed him
from head too foot and examined his boots
attentiyely.a Then he counted his money
over and held up each bill to the light to see
if it was counterfeit. mol all were good.
A thought struck him. He would find out
his name sf
II suppose you would ike receipt?'
said he at length to the stranger.
1t may be as well.
eyes sir. What name?'
Washington Irving"
"Sir," said the other, actually starting
back with amazement, did understand
your name was
Washington Irving" replied the other,
an almost imperceptible smile lowering
around his mouth.
Washington Irving-sir-my dear sir, )"
stammered the owner, confusedly, 81
really, sir, beg ten thousand pardons, sir,
but pardon me II mistook you for cab
man sir / did indeed u
No excuse, my friend, replied Irving.
Il am no better than you took me for You
acted perfectly right, and having at length
succeeded in getting his receipt, amid host
of apologies, he politely bade the humble
carriage maker ''good day, and left him to
the chagrin that he had mistaken for a cab
man man whose lofty genius had COM
manded the admiration of the whole world.
The friend who related this anecdote as
serted that it was fact and told to him by
the veritable owner himself. 1t doubtless
proved lesson to him not to judge inen by
their dress.
Your MOTHER. Speak kindly to your
mother, and ever courteously, tender of her.
But a little time and you shall see her no
more forever. Her eye is dim, her form is
bent, and her shadow falls graveyard. 9th
ers may love Won when she is past away. a
kind-hearted sister, perhaps kind-hearted
brother or one whom, of all the world, you
may choose for partner, may love fondly !;
but never again, while time is yours, shall
the love of one be to you as that of your old
trembling mother has been.