The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-07-24
The Man with the Coon skin.

Icbly ldlI iOl AOb WedIn6Ii was
the answer.
Are you up to bargains 2" continu-
ed the stranger, as he united the par eel
and took out coon skin--a coon skin
which seemed to have been kicked a.
bout the house ever since the close of
the war.
Hunph - sneered the grocer, ,as he
contemptuously regarded the old skin.
You may humph 4 and humph =
and 'humph 7 all you want tOi" ex-
claimed the stranger la loud voice,
but if you want coon skin to sell
again this is the article 70
Z" don't think 1 want to invest"
You don't? Great heavens but
took you for man Of talent and enter
prise -
"No one ever buys coon skins. or
furs in the summer" said the grocer.
81 know it's a little late in the sea-
son, and therefore I'm willing to throw
off something. | shouldn't have the
face to ask over fifty cents for this ere
coon skim"
81 shouldn't t want to pay that price,"
replied the grocer.
"You wouldn't? Merciful stars But
is it possible that you would take bread
from the mouths of my starving chill
| dren, my innocent darlings. who don't
know a coon skin from a COW hide 70
The grocer was silent, and the stran-
| ger smoOthed the brindle hair with his
right hand and continued
"I will go before any court in the
land and take a solemn oath that this is
one of the best coon skins offered in
this market for the last fifteen years.
Observe the variegated colors Behold
the tender softness! Just put your
hand on this coon skin, mister -
"I don't think want to buy any
furs before November" quietly replied
the grocer.
You don't? Is it possible that you
will deliberately let this great bargain
slip through your fingers? No! can
not believe it u Dozens of gr0cers in this
town want this coon skin want it so
they cannot keep still but I was re-
commended to come to you, and am
here -
7" It isn't a prime skin, "said the gro
Ger, as he glanced at the flesh side a
second time.
at amt? Here, mister, shoot me
Draw your revolver AMI send bullet
in here, right through my quivering
heart"
lie dropped the coon-skin and held
his coat and vest open, but as the gro
Ger didn't shoot he presently picked uI
his merchandise, ard continued in
sad voice
Mister, do look like pirate, or 9
rosbeF, or liar? Do you suppose Ia
90 and tell you deliberate lie, anc
peril my chances of ever reaching
heaven, for the sake of selling you thi'
coon skin ?"
"No,I suppose not" replied the gro
Ger, leaning back in his chair.
"Ah, no, wouldn't. amt purity
9 nor don't wear many store clothes ol
my person, but Pm honest-yes, al
I honest as the day is long. If shouli
SO far forget my early haining as t.
.. tell you lie about this coon skin,
never could enjoy another nights res
never -
"Well, l guess 1 don't want 1t,
/, said the grocer.
Heavens but is it possible tha
D you will let me return to my lovin
wife and fond children without bread t
appease their hunger? viii you deli
berately and wilfully sit there and Sc
. me tie this coon skin up and walk a
way, when / am Offering 1t to you a
" one half its market value?"
n "You can perhaps sell 1t elsewhere.
know l can. know doze
men who want it but they are nc
men of yonr reputation. hen y0
hand me Gfty cents l know it is Tn
!. genuine stripe, and l go away satisfied
The others might pass counterfeit mor
= ey on me, and might be arrested an
Jailed, and my family be exposed
J the scorn of this cold world. 3"
81 don't want the coon skln," sal
the grocer, "Dut if your family are sn
fering for the want of food, I'll Civ
yon fifteen cents for it, and throw
back in the loft.''
f-fifteen-hfteen cents !" e'
Is claimed the stranger, dropping the fu
Y, and springing off the step. Now Il
u the angles look down and ~eepl Ii
that bright sun be obscured by clouC
blacker than midnight rolled in tar
. life has come to this, let me die
once %
The grocer picked up a newspape
and the stranger, waited two or thr'
minutes, sighed heavily and then ham
ed out the skin, and sadly said (:
"Take it, and give me the palti
pittance am going home to die
the bosom OF my family III gath
at them around me once more, take la
farewell, and then III drop into Il
turbld river, aud be seen no more j.
Tho money was handed him, and
passed down tia street two blocks, tur
ed to the left, and as he kicked open &
IS blind door of q saloon, he said to 4
barkeeper
IF "Juleps for one, and fill the gla
Q. chock up!"
The subject " hotel a0eOm1 dhtion for /
expected mulutuue OF visitors TO Philadelpl
hu-h h.aan MI IA