Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-09-10
IS A Keen Reminder ]

" - hoou h6ullQuers
wish you could have known Souire .Jonao}
Lutton-Tit would help you to appreciasa orr
story. But I'll tell you as near as can. 6
was fat. fabby. heavy featured man IT,
seventy>hve; rich enough own thousanio
OF dollars hidden away in Savings Banks ;u
other States; and mean enough 70 swear q,
false returns to the Assessors, and to pick .up
his kindlings in the cutters of the highways.
And yet the old rat could be Jolly and goods
natured and though now, in his old age. he
was one OF the main sleepers of. the church
he could tell, with gu,to, of the mad pranks
which he had cut in his youth, He still
pract,ced in the courts, aud held great honor
IN being the Oldest living member of the Dan. 3
lap County Bar say, he still practiced in
the courts. but his business was confined 10
looking after the real estate and probate in
terests of ancient clients.
Billy Walton keptthe largest of our village
stores. DE was Young man Just entering
upon the active business of life, aud from his
!ather, who had kept store before him. be had
Inherited good business capacity, and had Also ]
learned many of the tricks of trade AMI
among other things, he had, learned ersctlv
bow TO estimate the value of Squire Luiton;s
custom. As Luton had done in the time Of
the elder Walton, go be continued to do nnt,t
tue latter. He would enter the store ana
salute the proprietor aud his Customers ms
seit>satistied father might greet his children
Then he would get off an old joke, and ex mend
one OF his greasy, cultural laughs. Then he
would go to the raisin box and get a handful
OF ralsins-then cracker was taken from III ~
barrei-then slice of cheese was annronris
ated And this proceeding the old rascal
carried on day otter day, as be had done il for
long, long time; and TOT give the matter the
color OF joke, he would often, whom aware
that tue keeper was watching him, laugh;nrly
remark that the things be bad taken might be
charged to the town. "Charge this TO tbs
Town, Billy" he said, rs he munched away
at an apple which he had appropriated AZ
mrs. Billy used to look grum at tho ,oftsre-
peated order but at length change came
over the spirit of his manifestations. and it was
observed that when the old Suuire issnedI bis s
Jocuar mandate of "Charge this to the Town .
Billy would go into his little oountinp,room
and make an entry in his Day Book.
at length the day of the Presidential Elee.
ton arrived, aud among the first at the poIl,
was Squire Luton. He was an ardent psr,y
man, OF the old Hartford Convention stamp.
aud believed in doing his whole duty TO his
country: As be was about to deposit his vote
"t challenge Squire Luton vote r,
He looked up and beheld Billy walton
standing by the side of the Selectmen who
had charge of the ballot.box.
"Challenge my vote?" be gasped, com,
pletely dazed by the suddenness aud the au.
dacity of the thing.
vote |" ''1.
"Wh-wh-wha. d ye mean 2"
II challenge the right of u Paupe, TO vote {"
Luton thought he saw joke. aud he tried
to laugh, but Billy cut him short with
Squire Luton, you are Town Pauper by
your own act and choice. At sundry times
during the past year / have furnished you
with the means of sustenance. and a. vonr
own request have charged Me itep. to ne
1oDn. / think that is sufficient to constitute
q pauper." .. 5-s,
There was hardly man in the hall who did
not at once appreciate the thing and the up
roarious laughing and stamping and clappine
told how keenly it was relisbed And. TO
cap the climax, the old skinAint did dreally lo,e
his vote. Having enjoyed his joke aud given
hls reminder. Billy would gladly have with.
drawn his ridiculous charge; but Luton could
not stand the press. 10 the midst OF the wild
outburst Of merriment he slunk away. and the
minority on that day was reduced lust ope
vote lower than it might otherwise have been.
But the lesson to Jonas Luton wss healthy
one; and be sure the result was o very saving
one to the traders Of the village.
TIE STRAY MuLE.-At a meeting in a
frontier Western settlement several nresen,
stoutly opposed to the organization of I sun.
day School. Not being able 10 svrse. tho
meeting was breaking up, whes the chair.
man said he had very important notice 10
read to them. Quiet was soon restored 70
hear this rather novel religious po,ice.p
"strayed-A large blsck mule. He had
halter when he left, and il branded On stha
left hip with the letter s. ANY. ONE ret,,rn-
ing said mule will be HberaIly rewarded
The keen Sunday School Union miissiouarv
quickly announced that he also had verv
important notice to give out. y
"strayed number of boys from their home
near this place. this Sunday morning They
had guns and fishing poles ON their shoulder
when they left They are branded by . holv
God. as Sabbath breakers. Any one return.
ing said boys, and placing til EN- in sunday
School. will be iiberaliy rewarded at the day
OF Judgment"
The tact of ths. missionary carried tho
vote in favor of q Sunday School. and those
stray boys were duly returned 70 il.
Horss,,, :. a. .,,a., ,s.,,,,.s