The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-02-11
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

A SLIGHT MISTAKE. B..
Ny brother and are twins. There
can be no mistake about that, for oul
likeness 20 each other is so great that il
is positively unpleasant to our friends
and ourselves. The celebrated Corsi
can brothers were not more alike thar
we are; that is, as far as personal ap
pearance goes: beyond TINT Jim and ]
were utterly dissimilar. For instance
l am fond OF trade, Jim hates it; I have
a great dislike for horse racing, jim
dotes upon what he pleases to call "the
turf" avoid danger to such an ex-
tent that l have heard some uncharita.
bic people call my caution cowardice
now, nothing pleases my brother better
than running risks; am quiet and
peaceable to fault, while Jim is con-
stantly in hot water; in word, two
creatures mere alike in features and
unlike in character never existed.
How l did it / cannot tell, but. by
some means, I managed to offend big,
hulking fellow, whom I recognized as
the owner of butchers shop exactly
facing my establishment. I tried all I
could to soothe the monster, but he
glared at me like an ogre, and made
such very strong remarks that I thought
it better to keep silent, hoping thereby
to let the storm blow over. Vain hope!
the butcher being unable to speak to
me, in consequence of my silence,
vented his malice by speaking at me.
He complained about tradesmen open
ing new shops in opposition to the old
ones declared that he had been made
quito sick by some bad bitter he had
seen that day, and hoped, when the in
spector of weights and measures visited
the neighborhood, that he would look
after some shopkeepers in particular,
for he, Mr.. Grote, had watched one
fellow tampering with his weights and
scales all day.
know he meant me, for 1 certainly
had amused myself in the intervals of
serving my customers by polishing up
scales and weights, and as 1 saw by
their looks that the company knew that
the wretch intended me, had no help
for it but to reply.
"Sir," said I, in the most conciliatory
manner possible, 81 am exceedingly
sorry that should have unwittingly
offended you, as it appears 1 have done,
but cannot fail to see that your obser-
vations are very evidently intended for
me-"
eff the cap fits, you may wear it,
grinned the brute. shan't mention
names, to give any one the opportunity
of getting the law on mo; amt go
green"
"The cap doesn't fit," I replied, "for
I beg to say that my butter is excellent,
my scales just, aud that all your accusa.
tions arc entirely false"
With howl of rage the brute sprang
from his seat and dashed his pipe in
nv face. Luckily two Of his compan-
ions seized him, so that was able to
make my escape from the room but as
I fled / could hear him vociferating,
"Come on, you coward-let me go
yah you cur |" and so on, until / had
left the house.
From that moment my life was fnll of
misery. That horrid wretch, Grote,
would not let me alone he teased me
morning, noon and night, until be-
came the laughing. stock OF the neigh.
borhood, and consequently my trade
foil off until ruin seemed to stare me
iu the face. My neighbors avoided me
as il / had tho plague, and some even
went 30 far as to join the butcher in
annoying me, SO that at last became
frightened to go ont. and passed my
evenings in the little parlor behind nv
shop, making up my books.
One night when was so engaged, q
ring came to the bell. I Iopened the
door, and man clad in long cloak,
the collar OF which was turned up SO
as to conceal his face, rushed into the
passage, q proceeding I no sooner re.
marked than l Immediately prepared to
rush out into the street, for I cannot
bear burglars; bnt before I could ex
ecute my purpose the fellow caught me
by the shoulder, and in tones that froze
my very blood, whispered in my ear:
"Don't be fool, Dick; come in and
shut the door, or shall be seized"
"Jim !" T stammered. "Why, what's
the matter2"
"Shut the door and come into the
parlor, then I'll tell you.
I did as he commanded, and ther
waited impatiently for the explanation
of the sudden AMI mysterious visit.
"Phew |" said Jim, as he threw of
his cloak. "1've had narrow es
cape"
"But how have you had an escape
and from what have you escaped?"
| "Dick, I am ruined |" cried m.
brother, throwing himself into chair
"I backed the wrong horse for the 81
Leger, and have lost all nv money"
"I knew yen would. Jim," l said
"I knew you would. But it's no us
crying over split milk, as the proven
saws you must come and share wit
me, though heaven knows that I hay
not much to offer you, for that horri
butcher has nearly ruined me-"
j "You'rs q good fellow, Dick, but
have worse news still. You must kno
that had 1000 placed in my hand
10 buy horses for gentleman. So col
] v;rnaJ ,yoo T thak Vandardecken xvOul