The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-05-06


piest barber In Stocksbawler.
After q restless night, Hans rose
the next morning with the oldest SEN
satIOn in the world. lie fancied that
the bed was shorter, tue chairs lower,
and the room smaller than on the
preceding day; but attributed this
feeling to the feverish sleep he had
had, be proceeded to put on his pant
aloons. With great care he thrust
his leg into its proper division, when
to his horror and amazement, ne found
tibet he had crown tt0O feet at least dur
ing the night; and that the pantaloons
when had fitted SO admirably before,
we're now only knee breeches. He
rushed to the window with the inten-
ton Of breaking his neck by a1eap in
to the street, when his eye fell upon
the strange customer Of the preceding
day, who was leaning against the ga
BILE end of the house opposite, quietly
smoking his meerschaum. Hans
paused; then thought, and then con-
cluded that having found an appetite,
he had repented of his boast at part
ing, and had called for his teeth. Be
ing a good natured lad, Hans shufhed
down stairs, and opening the door,
called him to come over. The stran-
ger obeyed the summons, but honora-
bly, refused to accept Of his teeth, ex-
cept on the condition of his wager.
To Hans great surprise, he seemed
perfectly acquainted with the phenom-
enon Of the past night. and good-na-
turedly offered to go to Stitz, aud in
form him of the BARRIERS dilemma.
The stranger departed. and In a few
moments the tailor arrived, and having
ascertained by his inch-measure the
truth of Hans coDjectures. babe him
be of good cheer, as he had a suit of
clothes which would exactly fit him.
They had been made for a travelling
giant. who had either forgotten to call
for them, or suspecting that Stitz
would require the gold before he gave
up the broadcloth.
The tailor was right-they did fit
and IN an hour afterward Hans was on
his way to the fete. When he arrived
there, many of bis old fiends stood
agape for a few moments; but as stang
er things had occurred in Germany
than a man growing two feet In one
night, they soon ceased to notice the
alteration in Hans appearance. Ag-
mes was evidently struck with the i'm
provement of the BARRIERS figure, and
for two whole hours did he enjoy the
extreme felicity Of making half-a-doz.
en- other young gentlemen miserable by
monopolizing the arm and converse
tioa Of the beauty Of Stocksbawler.
But pleasure, like fine weather, lasts
not forever; and, as Hans and Agnes
turned the corner Of a path, his eye
again encountered the stranger.
Whether it was from fear or dislike
he knew not, but his heart seemed to
sink, and so did his body; for, to his
utter dismay. he found that he had
shrunk to his original proportions,
and that the garments of the giant
hung about him in anything but grace
full f%estoons. He felt that he was q
human telescope, that some Internal
power could elongate or shut up at
pleasure.
The whole band of Jealous rivals set
up the Laughing Chorus" and Agnes
in the extremity of her disgust, turned
up her nose till she nearly fractured
its bridge, while Hans rushed from
the scene of his disgrace, and never
stopped running until he opened the
door Of his little shop, threw himself
into the chair. and laid his head down
upon an old family Bible, which
CHANGED to be upon the table. In this
position he continued for some time,
when, on raising his head, he found
his tormentor and the two ladies
grouped like the Graces 10 the centre
of the apartment.
well, Schrapschins," said the gen.
tleman, L have called for my teeth.
You see l have kept my promise"
Hans sighed deeply, and the ladies
giggled.
NAY, man, never look 80 gluml
Here, take the hask-forget Agnes,
and console yourelf with tie love
Of"
The conclusion of this harangue
must forever remain a mystery; for
Hans, at this moment, took up the
family volume which had served him
for a pillow, and dashed it at the
heads of the trio. A scream, SO loud
left ear, seemed to issue from them
the room, which gradually cleared off
aud left no traces of Haus' visitors
but three small sticks of birthstone.
thS bAuth haShSN uPOn thC boADSA
it was the far famed Mephistophiles.
Hans packed up his remaining ward
robe, razor, strop. soapdish scissors
and combs, and turned his back upon
Stocksbawler forever. Four years
passed away. and Hans was again a
thriving man, and Agnes Flirtitz the
wife Of the doctor Of Stocksbawler.
Another year passed Oh, and Hans
was both a husband and a father but
the coquette, who had nearly been his
ruin, had eloped with the chGsseUr of
a travelling nobleman.