Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-02-20
swoIIo,ting Oysters Alive.

At late hour, the other night, the
door of an oyster house in our city was
thrust open, and in stalked hero from
the Sucker State. He was quite six feet
high, spare, somewhat stopped, with a
hungry, anxious countenance, with his
hands pushed clear down to. the bottom
of his breeches pockets. After taking a
position, he INDUCED in lSng stare at
the man opening the bivalves, and slowly
CALCULATED listers"
Yes, sir, responded the attentive
op orator, and fine ones they are, too "
'"Well, I've heard of listers afore, says
he, "but this is the first time I've seed
EN-, and perhaps I'll know what thar
made of afore git out of town"
Having expressed this desperate in
tention, he cautiously approached the
plate and scrutinized the uncased shell
| fish with gravity and interest that
would have done honor to the most illus.
trious searcher into the hidden mysteries
of nature. AT length he began to solilo-
duize on the difficulty of getting them
out, and how queer they looked when
out.
ST." never seed anythin' hold on SO;
takes an amazin site Of screwin', boss,
to get them out, and amt they slick and
slip ry when they does come? Smooth
= ELL I've a good mind to give that
eoi,, s wv lodgin', jist to realize the effects,
IS as In lie Jess used to say about specula-
tion." >, .Lo nOl, udown
with two,bits, nd yoa can have dozen dozen.
STwo-bitslI Z exclaimed the Sucker
Now, come, thai stickln 1t on strong,
boss, for isters. A dozen on EN- ain
notbin to chicken, nd there's no get
tin more n picayune Niece for them. n.
I've only realized forty-f,Ee- pleayu91,e,sS mes
on my first ventur to st. l. 'uls' ! II
tell you what, I'll gin you two c. NSkens exc =
for dozen if you'll conclude to 4 se,, =
A wag, who was standing by ildulgi. W
in a dozen, winked to the attendant to
she'll one, and the offer was accepted.
The bargain was fairly understood,
our Sucker squared himself for the on
set; deliberately put off his seal skin,
tucked up his sleeves, and, fork in hand,
awaited the appearance Of No, l. II
came-he saw-and quickly at was
bolted! A moments dreadful pause en-,
sued. The wag dropped his knife and
fork, with a look Of mingled amazement
and horror-something akin to Shaks-
peare's Hamlet on seeing his daddy
ghost--while he burst into the exclama-
ton: r7ra
Swallowed alive, as | am Chris
-tianl"
Our Sucker hero had opened his
mouth with pleasure moment before,
but now it stood open. Fear-a horrld
dread of he didn't know what-a con-
seriousness that all wasn't right, and ig-
norant Of the extent Of the wrong-tne
uncertainty Of the moment was terrible.
Urged to desperation, he faltered out.
What on earths the row.
" Did you swallow it ahveI inquired
the wag. .i->
"I swallowed it just as he gin 1t to
mel shouted the Sucker, .r.ftrc... I
- You re a dead manl1 exclaimed nus
anxious friend; "the creature IS aive
and will eat right through you, acaeu
he, in a most hopeless tone. -,
Z "Get n pizen-pump and pumpit out
screamed the Sucker, in a frenzy, his
eyes fairly starting from their sockets.
20 graciousl-whatll / do2 It's got
hold Of my innards already, and I'm as
dead as chickenl--do somethin for
me, do-don't let the internal sea-toad
eat me mp afore your eyes. ..tr.l
why don't you put some OF this on
it2" inquired abe wag, pointing to a
bottle OF strong pepper-sauce.
The hint was enough-the Sucker