American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-08-14
The Man With the Coon-skin.

The Man With the Coon-Skin.
HE halted in front of grocery-store,
and, drawing from under his coat small
tparcel tied around with string, he in
quired of the grocer, who sat by the
door: -
{" How's trade ~
Pretty fair for hot weather." was the
answer
! care you upto bargains y'continued the
stranger, as he united the parcel and took
out a coon -skin-a coon skin which seemed
to have been kicked about the house ever
| since the close of the war.
Humphr' sneered the grocer, as he
contemptuously regarded the old skin.
:" You may 'humphn and humph = and
humphp all you want to-" exclaimed the
stranger in a loud voice; :" but if you want
coon-skin to sell again this is the arti-
| Gle"
II don't think Iwant to invest"
You don't? Great heavensl but I
took you for a man of talent and enter
prise!'
No one ever buys coOn-skins OF furs in
the summer" said the grocer. 49,.
/" l know it's a 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"
|. :" ! shouldn't want to pay thatprice, y re-
You wouldn'te Merciful starsr But
isFit possible that you would take bread
from the mouths of my starving children,
my innocent darlings, who don't know a
coou-skin from a cow-hideT'
The grocer was silent and the stranger
smoothed the brindled hair with his right
hand and continued: f
Is 7 will uO hafnro apu co,,rf tho 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
variegated colors! Behold the tender soft
ness! Just put your hand on this coon
skin, mister!" ~ r.-ss-ssslt
:. 1 don't think l want to buy any furs
before November" quietly replied the
grocer. r. 49,
&c You don't? Is it-possible that you
will deliberately let this great bargain Slip
through your fingers? No! l cannot be-
lieye 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''
GO 1t isn't prime skin," said the grocer,
as he glanced at the flesh side second
time. a
at amt? Here, mister, shoot mel
Draw your revolver and send bullet
in here, right through my quivering
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:
"AIister, do look like a pirate, or a
robber, or a liar? Do you suppose I'd go
and tell you a deliberate lie, and peril
the sake of selling you this coon-skin?n
mo, suppose not, !" replied the grocer,
leaning back in his chair.
@ All! no, I wouldn't. antiquity, nor
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
lights rest-never!"
well, 1 guess L don't want it," said
the grocer. - '-1e'e-s=ss
Heavens! but is it possible that you
will let me return to my loving wife and
fond children without bread to appease
heir hunger! viii youdeliberately and
willfully sit there and see me tie this COON
skin up and walk away when | am offer
ing it to you at one half its market value?'
Z" You can perhaps sell it elsewhere"
Il know can. 1 know a dozen men
who want it, but they are not men of your
equation. When you hand me fifty
,ents l know it is the genuine scrip, and
go away SatlSueu. Ine OlnerS might
PASS counterfeit money on me, and L
night be arrested and Jailed, and my, FAM
ly be exposed to the scorn of this cold
world"
g don't want the coon-skin," said the
yrocer, " but if your family are suffering
or the want of food I'll give you fifteen
ents for it, and throw it back in the loft.''
Fif-fifteen-fiftcen cents," exclaimed
he stranger, dropping the fur and spring
ng off the step. % Now let the angels
ook down and weep! Let that bright sun
Nc obscured by clouds blacker than mid :
light rolled in tar! If life has come to
his let me die at oncer'
The grocer picked up a newspaper, and
he stranger waited two or three minutes,
ighed heavily and then handed out the
kin, and sadly said:
Take it, and give me the paltry pit
ance! ] am going home to die in the
osom of my family! I'll gather them
round me once more, take last fare
veil, and then I'll drop into the turbid
liver and be seen no moren'
The money was handed him, and he
assed down the street two blocks, turned
, the left, and he kicked open the
lind-dOor of Il saloon he said to the bar
eeper:
"Juleps for one, and fill the glass
hook up.-N. r. Sun.