Smyrna times., 1871-12-27

holiday AS | strolled leisurely up the main
street newsboy darted out Of paper office,
crying:
Daily Baner-extra edition, all about the
murder-great accident on the F. road,
etc, etc. Have an extra?'
" | took the sheet and thrust my hand in my
pocket for the money without moments
thought You may imagiLe my feelings when
compelled to return that two penny-blt OF
paper to the boy with the muttered excuse
that | had no change, and the utter contemptu-
Ous expression on the boys face as he received |
it. ] Immediately stepped into the office OF
| the D0dy Banner and wrote a paragraph of |
my recent mshap, taking care to make it as
amusing as possible. When complete handed
it to the clerk. He read it, laughed, and took
it into the private Office. Coming back a few
minutes after he told the boOkkeeper to give
me fifty cents 1t was not much, but more
than | expected. Well, | continued my walk
until | finally reached the end of the street,
which terminated at the s river, here
spannrd 10y long covered bridge. | crossed
the bridge, and was surprised to see, upon
reaching the other side, that | would be re-
quired to pay toll. y young girl came to the
door OF the little Office | stepped up, and
inquired how much | should pay, drawing
forth my solitary shnplaster
"Oh, said she, with smile and slight
blush, eve do not charge ministers any
thing"
g 1t was not bad joke, but | suppressed
the laugh that rose on my lips, and thanking
her for the consideration shown to the clergy
| turned about and retraced my steps to the
hotel, not without slight twinges of conscience
for allowing the mistake to pass, and taking
the advantage of it.
My first duty next morning was to seek some
knight of the razor | had noticed pleasant
little shop at no great distance from the hotel
in my walk the previous day. Thinking that
should do no better by looking further, re
paired to that There was in attendance boy
about twelve years Of age, who stated that hi
father, the proprietor of the shop, had gone t,
neighboring city, and would not return belor
noon. Without any hesitation | asked for tn
loan of a razor, and proceeded to operate o
myself. While thus occupied, the customer
began to present themselves, and expresse
great dissatisfaction on learning how matter
stood Now, although am proud man,
am not thank God, cursed with that species {
vanity which prevents a mans doing certal
- kinds Of honest labor, simply because they ar
not gentecl. Here was an opportunity atforde
me to at least earn the price of my breakfas
= | took advantage Of it; told the first man VIII
entered after had completed shaving mySel
| would shave him. ibid So In fact | d
quite brisk business for couple of hour
lg, and if any of the unfortunate individuals wi
ng came under my hand had any doubt of my fl
ness for the business they certainly express(
none.
ed AT the expiration of this time I began
think had done sufficient, and feeling rath
ty hungry. having had no breakfast, divide
ing the proceeds with the boy, and prepared
ap- return to my hotel But | was not done yC
ing As was brushing my hat young dandif
g." specimen of humanity came in; resolved tn
But he should be the last went to work upon hi
1" When he came to pay me was, to say t
least, somewhat surprised to see him delib
ately produce my own pocket-book-the one
ed had lost. Standing on no ceremony, snatch
my it from his hand, and demanded it in no g
tie tone, how it came in his possession.
nay Without stopping to reply other than by
.ket volley of imprecatiOns as he reached the DO
he tumbed rather than ran down the sta
into the street Waiting for neither hat
1ne coat, followed, the pOcket-boOk in my bal
fold We measured off considerable ground in
k it short space of time. On, on. 1t was an ex
ing chase Men, boys and dogs joined
tua- pursuit; the cries of Stop thief grow
don louder and increasing. What an uprOar tn
you was. Suddenly there came a flash Of lig
sharp and vivid for an instant, then vi
darkness A policeman, mistaking me for
thief, had gently tapped me upon the head
Veil, their custom is, and with the usual result;
.ory. thief escaped, and |, the victim was apl
1t hended Myappearance told heavily agal
f no me, but my story being fully corrobOrated
PRESS the boy AT the barber shop, | was released.
,thcr Upon examining the wallet | found
or as own money intact, and about one hundred
per thirty dollars heSiles. gEhis is all the story.
days Not bad speculation, after all, said
wake he concluded
The "Well, perhaps So No, it was not
und still my advice holds good. Never plac
i; in railway ticket in your wallet"