The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-02-23

How TO COLLECT LITTLE BILL.-some years
ago David Britton, who is enjoying his otiatna
dig. at his pleasant villa the south shore of
Staten Island was engaged in an extensive grocery
business in this city Mr. Britton dealt in rstclass
articles, and enjoyed the patronage and acquaintance
of Secretary Fish, Gov Morgan, Commodore Van
derbilt and other prominent citizens. AT that time
the Commodore's mind was not obyious to tran
sactions Involving less than millions of dollars in
fact, he scrutinized even his household bills with
keen eyes
The Commodore was in the habit of dropping into
Mr.. Britton's store once month for the purpose of
having a friendly chat and settling his bill. One af
ternoon he came in apparently in great hurry,
claiming:
Britton, if you have my account made out I'll
cash IT," q
IAN right, Commodore; here are the items foot
ed up"
Vanderbilt glanced down the list until he had
nearly reached the bottom, when he calculated:
"How's this, Britton? / never ordered those
things"
"What things ~
brandy, wines, cigars, sardines anchovies
crushed, sugar, lemons, etc"
Why, yes, Commodore, you ordered them two
days ago. Young Cornele came after them with the
light wagon. ! suppose you were going to have an
"Party be hanged He had partysomewhere,
reckon, and nice one IT must have been. He was
sick all day yesterday. Scratch the things off my
bill m not going 10 pay the young rascafs debts"
'sYou allow him to order things here, and you
must pay the bill, Commodore" replied Mr.. Brit
ton, firmly
You wiz never get that money out of me- Dave
Britton."
AZ wnI get it out of you, Commodore"
Come, come scratch those items of, now; Pm
in hurry"
'.Well, Pill strike EN- out bnt next month you'll
have TO pay up if Cornele don't"
"Pll see you hanged first You were fool to let
him have then" roared the now irate Commodore,
as he handed over the money for the remainder of
the bill.
1t is needless to say that young Cornele never set
tied that little bill II was inserted regularly in the
Commodores account for some three years. Regu-
larry the two old friends had their little encounter
over it. 1t served to keep their blood in healthy
circulation.
Finally the Commodore ceased to visit the store,
when Mr. Britton sent the bill 20 the bluff old Com
possessed as much hrmDess and determination as
his father. The Brittons were bound to triumph or
die in the attempt.
One evening Aleck found the old Commodore in
good humor He had just returned from drive af-
ter passing everything on the road This was before
Bonner had bought DEXTER.
"Well, Aeck,n said the old sport, "your father
sticks ii out pretty well that bin; when does he
expect to get the money!
Oh, he's In no great hurry, Commodore; he says
II will be year yet before it is out-lawed
There is plenty of time to stick compound inter-
est and place 1t in the hands Of the lawyers y
The Commodore hesitated moment and then
quietly remarked Aleck, III settle up that old ac
count while have the money 10 my pocket; but
rascal have another dollars worth Of goods Pll see
him in Topbet before he'll get cent out of me-"
Capt. Aleck Brtfon served bis country well in the
late war, but affair ever gave him more satisfac
ton than the victory over the sturdy Commodore
-Nep York SUN