Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-09-02
The Nan With the Coon-skin.

He halted in front Of grocery
and. drawing from under his coat q sinai;
parcel tied around with a string, he II.
qnired of the grocer. who sat by the
door:
.How's trader
pretty fair for hot weather. was the
answer.
Are you upto bargains ?" continued the
stranger as he united the parcel and took
out oon-skin-a coon-skin which seemed
to have been kicked about the house eyer
since the close Of the war.
Humphr' sneered the grocer, as he
contemptuously regarded the old skin.
You may thumphr and humph . and
humphr all you want tor exclaimed the
stranger in loud voice; but If You want
coon skin to sell again this is the arti.
.le.''
az don't think | want to invest
You don't, Great heavensl but I
took you for q man Of talent and enter
prisel"
/" No one ever buys coon-skins or furs In
the summer" said the grocer.
81 know It's little late in the season.
and therefore I'm willing to throw off
something. | shouldn't have the face to
ask over fifty cents for this ere coon
skin"
81 shouldn't want to pay that price" re.
piled the grocer.
!" You wouldn't Mercifiil stars! But
is il possible that you would take bread
from the mouths Of my starving children,
my innocent darlings, who don't know
coon skin from COW hideT'
The grocer was silent and the stranger
smoothed the brindled hair with his right
hand and continued: ~
Il will go before any court in the land
and take solemn oath that this is one Of
the best coon-skins offered in this market
for the last fifteen years Observe the
varieeated colors! Behold the tender soft
ness! just put your hand on this coon
skin, mister~
@ don't think / want to buy any furs
before November" quietly replied the
grocer.
" You don'ts Is it possible that you
will deliberately let this great bargain slip
through your fingers? MOI i cannot be-
lieve it! Dozens Of grocers in this town
want this coon-skin; want it so they can't
keep still: but Twas recommended to come
to you, and am here
at isn't prime skin" said the grocer,
as he glanced at the flesh side second
time.
1T amt? Here, mister, shoot me!
Draw your revolver and send bullet
in here, right through my quiveriug
heart ~
He dropped the coon-skin and held his
coat and vest open, but as the grocer
didn't shoot he presently picked up his
merchandise, and continued in sad
voice:
mister, do look like a pirate, or
robber, or liar? Do you suppose I'd 90
and tell you a deliberate lie. and peril
my chances Of ever reaching heaven, for
the sake Of selling you this coon-skin?"
mo, l suppose not" replied the grocer,
leaning back in his chair.
''Ahi no, wouldn't. antiquity, nor
I don't wear many store clothes on my
person, but I'm honest--yes, as honest as
The day is long. If 1 should SO far forget
my early training as to tell you a lie about
this coon-skin never could enjoy another
nights est-never!'
well, guess I don't want it, said
the grocer.
will let me return to my loving wife and
! fond children without bread to appease
their hunger. Will you deliberately and
willfuly sit there and see me tie this coon
skin up and walk away when | am offer.
ing it to you at one its market value?"
"You can perhaps sell it elsewhere"
| 81 know | can. | know a dozen men
who want it, but they are not men of your
reputation. When you hand me fifty
| cents know it is the genuine scrip, and
go away satisfied The others might
! pass counterfeit money on me, and l
might be arrested and jailed, and my fam
| lily be exposed to the scorn of this cold
( world"
- don't want the coon-skin," said the
! grocer, but If your family are suffering
! for the want of food I'll give you fifteen
cents for it, and throw it back in the loft"
| "Fif-fifteen-fifteen centsi" exclaimed
the stranger, dropping the fur and spring
ing off the STEP Now let the angels
look down and weep! Let that bright sun
be obscured by clouds blacker than mid
night rolled in tar! If life has come to
this let me die at once!''
The grocer picked up newspaper, and
the stranger waited two or three minutes,
sighed heavily, and then handed out the
skin, and sadly said:
Take it, and give me the paltry pit
tance am going home to die in the
bosom Of my family I'll gather them
around me once more, take last fare
| well, and then I'll drop into the turbid
| river and be seen no more''
! The money was handed him, and he
passed down the street two blocks, turned
to the left, and as he kicked open the
| blind-doo Of a saloon he said TO the bar
keeper;
"Juleps for one, and fll the glass