Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-03-20

that it is positively unpleasant to our
selves and friends. The celebrated
Corsican brothers were not more alike
than we are; that is, as for as personal
appearance goes; beyond that Jim and
/ are utterly dissimilar. For instance
I am fond Of trade; jim hates it.
have O great dislike to horse racing.
Jim dotes upon what he pleases to
call the Turf" I avoid danger to
such an extent that I have heard some
uncharitable persons call my caution
cowardice; now, nothing pleases my
brother better than running risks;
am quiet and peaceable to a fault,
when Jim is always up to mischief and
constantly in hot water; in word,
two creatures more alike in features
and more unlike in character never ex-
listed.
How I did it I cannot tell, but by
some means managed to offend a big,
hulking fellow, whom recognized as
the owner of o butchers shop exactly
facing my establishment. I tried all
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 there
by to let the storm blow over. Vain
hope! the butcher being unable to
speak to me, in consequence OF my ST.
lence, vented his malice by speaking
at me. He complained about the trades
men opening new shops in opposition
to the old ones; he declared that he
had been made quite sick by some bad
butter he had seen that day, and hoped
that when the inspector of weights
and measures visited that neighbor-
hood, that lie would look after the
shopkeepers in particular, for he, Mr.
Grote, had watched one fellow tam
pering with his weights and measures
all day.
I knew that he meant me, for GER
tainly had amused myself in the inter-
walls of serving customers by polishing
up my scales and weights, and as /
saw by their looks that the company
knew that the wretch intended me, I
had no help for it but to reply.
"Sir," said I, in the most concilia-
atory manner possible, "I am exceed
ingly sorry that should have unwittingly
offended you, as it appears have done,
but I cannot fail to see that your OBJ
are evidently intended for
me-"
"If the cap fits, you may wear it,"
grinned the brute. I shan't mention
any names, to give any one the oppor-
tunity of getting the law on me; I amt
30 green"
"The cap does not it," replied,
for / beg to say that my butter is ex-
my scales just, and that all
your accusation are entirely false"
With howl of rage the brute sprang
from his seat and dashed his pipe in
my face. Luckily, two OF his compan-
ions seized him, 80 that I was able to
make my escape from the room, but as
fed ] could hear him vociferating,
' Come on, you coward-let me GO
yahl you curr' and so on, until I had
left the house.
From that moment my life was full
Of misery. That horrid wretch Grote
would not let me alone; he teased me
noon and night, until be-
came the laughing stock OF the neigh
borhood, and consequently my trade
Tell of until ruin stared me in the face.
Ny nsighbors avoided me as il had
The plague, and some even went so far
rs 10 join the butcher in annoying me,
20 that at last ] became frightened to
go out, and passed my evenings in tho
little parlor back of the shop in making
up my books.
One night while I was 80 engaged, q
ring came at the bell. I opened 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 no sooner re-
that ! prepared to rush out into
the street, but / cannot bear burglars:
but before I could execute the purpose
the fellow caught me by the shoulder,
and, in tones that froze my very blood,
in my ear.
Don't bs q fool, Dick, come in and
shut the door, or ! shall be seized"
/" Jimp / stammersd; "Why, what's
The matter 7"
" Shut the door and come into the
parlor. then ] will tell you"
l did as he commanded. and then
waited inpatiently for the explanation
OF this sudden and mysterious visit.
Phew, said Jim, as he threw off
his cloak, /" I've had narrow escape." !"
" But bow have you had an escape ?
and from what have you escaped ?"
" Dick, ! am ruinedi r said my broth
or. throwing himself into chair. at
backed the wrong horse for the st. Le-
ger, and have lost all my money"
{" I knew you would, Jim" I said: !:
II knew you would, but it's no use
crying over split milk, as the proyerb
nays; you must come and share with
me, though Heaven knows I have not
much to offer you, for that horrid butch
er has nearly ruined me-"
You're good fellow. Dick, but I
have worse news still. You must know