Smyrna times., 1872-09-04
The Storekeo nar's Trick.

/ wish you could have known Squire jonas
Lufton-it would help you to appreciate our
story. But II tell you as near as | can. lie
was fat, habby, heavy featured man of
seventy five; rich enough to own thousands of
dollars hidden away in savings banks in other
States; and mean enough to swear to false re-
turns to the Assessors, and to pick up his |
kndlings nthe cutters Of the highways. And
yet the old rat could he Jolly aud good natured;
and though now, in his old age, he was one of
the main sleepers Of the church, he could tell.
with guSto, Of the mad pranks which he had
cut in his youth lie still practiccd in the
courts, and held great honor in being the old
est living member Of the Dunlap County Bar.
| say, he still practced in the courts, but his
business was confined to looking after the real
estate and probate interests of ancient clients
Billy Walton kept the largest of our village
stores. He was young man Just entering
upon the active business Of life, and from his
father, who kept store before him, he had in
herited good business capacity, and had also
learned many of the tricks Of trade. And
among other things he had learned exactly
how to estimate the value Of Squire Luton ;
custom As Luton had done IN the time Of
the elder Walton, so he continued to do under
the latter. lie would enter the store and
salute the proprietor and his customers as a
sell.satisfed father might greet bis children.
!
one Of his greasy cultural laughs. Then he
would go to the raisin box and get handful
|, of raisins-then a cracker was taken from the
) harrel-then slice OF cheese was appropriated.
5 And this proceeding the old rascal carried on
: day after day as he had done it for a long
long time and to give the matter the color OF
e Joke, he would often, when aware that the
keeper was watching him, laughingly remark
!. that the things he had taken might be charged
! to the town. charge this to the town
S Billy" he said, as he munched away at al
a apple which be had appropriated. At frs
. Billy used to look glum at the Ott-repeateC
e order; but at last change came over th
|, spirit of his manifestations, and was observed
e that when the old Squire issued bis jocula
e mandate Of Charge this to the Town," Bill
5, would go into his little counting-room an
q make an entry in his day hook
e At length the day of the Presidential eleC
to tion arrived, and among the first at the pol
was Squire Luton. lie was an ardent part
ic man, Of the old Hartford Convention stamr
h and believed in doing his whole duty to b
e country. As he was about to deposit his vot
a he was Interrupted by rempt0ry voice
ly Il challenge Squire Luton vOte!'
er He looked up and beheld Billy Walton stant
in ing by the side of the Selectmen who ha
ly charge Of the balot-bOx.
it Challenge my voter he gasped, complct
at ly daZed by the SuddenneSS ana the audaclty
p the thing.
an Yes, sir" said Billy, 81 challenge yo
by votel"
"Wh- VIII what dye mean2"
81 challenge the right of a pauper to vote
Luton thought he saw a joke, and he tri'
to laugh, but Billy cut him short with.
esquire Luton, you are a Town Pauper
US your own act and choice. At sundry tim
ITS during the past year have furnished you wi
ur the means Of sustcnance, and at your own
tn quest have charged the items to the Tolcn.
,ut think that is sufficient to constitute pauper
nd There was hardly man in the hall who &
me not at once appreciate the thing; and t
nd uproarious laughing and stamping and clappi
are told how keenly it was relished. And, to C
of the climax, the old skinfint did really lose
be vote Having enjoyed his joke and given
ess reminder, Billy would gladly have withdra
'e's his ridiculous charge; buJ Lufton could
put stand the press. In the midst of the wild o
our burst of merriment he skunk away, and
less minority on that day was reduced just one v
But lower than it might otherwise have been.
ers the lesson to Jonas Luton was a healthy ol
and and be sure the result was a very saving one
c the traders of the village.