The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-02-25
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

My brother and [ are twins. There
can be no mistake about that, for our
likeness to each other is so great that it
Is positively unpleasant to our friends
and ourselves. The celebrated Corsican
brothers were not more alike then We are,
that is, as far as personal appearance,
goes beyond that Jim and [ were ut
terly dissimiiar. For instance [ 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.
L avoid danger to such an extent that I
have heard some uncharitable people
call my caution cowardice now, moth
ing pleases my brother better than run
ming risks [ am quiet and peaceable to
a fault, while Jim is constantly in hot
water; in a word, two creatures more
alike in features and unlike in character
never existed.
How did it [ cannot tell, but, by
some means, [ managed to offend big.
hulking fellow, whom [ recognized as
the owner of a 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 complain
ed about tradesmen opening new shops
in opposition to the old ones declared
that he had been made quite sick by
some bad butter he had seen that day,
and hoped, when the Inspector of
Weights and Measures visited theneigh-
borhood, that he would look after some
shopkeepers in particular, for he, Mr..
Groute, had watched one fellow tamper-
ing with his weights and scales all day.
I know he meant me, for I certainly
had amused myself in the intervals of
serving my customers by polishing up
scales and weights, as [ saw by their
looks that the company knew that the
wretch intended me, [ had no help for
it but to reply.
''Sir," said [, in the most concxliatory
manner possible, 81 am exceedingly sor-
ry that I should have unwittingly often
ded you, as it appears [ have done, but
L cannot fail to see that your observa-
tons are very evidently intended for
me"
eff the cap fits you may wear ii, -
Srlnned the brute, 81 shan't mention
names, to give any one the opportunity
of getting the law on me; 1 amt SO
green.
1.-The cap doesn't fit, I replied, ''for
I beg to say that my butter is excellent,
my scales just, and that all your accuse
tons are entirely false"
With a howl of rage the brute sprane
from his seat and dashed his pipe in my
face. Luckily two of his companions
seized him, SO that I was able to make
my escape from the room; but as I fed
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 full of
misery. That horrid wretch, Grote.
would not let me alone; he leased me
morning, noon and night, until I became
the laughing stock of the neighborhood
and consequently my trade fell off until
ruin seemed TO stare me in the face. Nv
neigllb ors avoided me as if / had tE..
plague, and some even went so far as to
join the butcher in annoying me, so that
at last became frightened to go out.
and passed my evenings in the little par
Tor behind my shop, making up my
books.
One night when / was so engaged, a
ring cane to the bell. 1 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 pas
sage, a proceeding I no sooner remarked
than Immediately prepared to rush out
into the street, for / cannot bear burg