Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-08-04

Mr.. SpiggS, fat man, OF Sammer street,
owed Mr.. Shrimp, the grocer ard provision
dealer, a bill which the latter gentleman
was anxious to collect, but which, for some
trivial reason, the fat man had declared he
would settle when he got ready and not Il
minute before. This saucy independence
on the part Of Spiggs irritated the grocer :
nature to such an extent that, finally, he
made the bold statement to hi bookkeeper
that if he didn't m0rtily Spggs into paying
that bill within thirty days he would sell
out bis business to him for 30 cents on
dolla-
The next afternoon Spiggs was passing
the store on the opposite side Of the street
when shrimp ran to the door and yelled
Come in here and piy that bill OF yours,
and don't 60 sneakiug down the stree; with
your head hung down like Sheep
SpggS took no notice Of tins demand,
which seemed only to heighten the creditors
indignation.
The following day he saw Spiggs down
town in company with friend, when he
approached him and said
You're a pretty man to be wearing
beaver hat, and here you are owing me Tor
the victuals you and your family stuffed your
selves with last Thanksgiving -
Returning home he encountered one of
Spiggs's daughters on her way with an as
sociate to take music lesson, when he said
Il should think, young lady, that you
would rather 90 without knowing how to
play and sing tail your father gets 50 that he
can pay for what you eat.
A day or two later be saw, through the
window ,one of Spiggs sons getting measur-
ed at the tailor's for a SUIT OF clothes, when
he opened the door and said:
"Don't YOU trust him day for those
clothes. His father has owed me $50 40
for sirloin steak and such things for over six
months, anu can't get one dollar Of it. "
Soon after this he saw Mrs. Spigss aud
her daughter chatting with some ladies IN
the horse-car station, when he entered and
said
This woman's husband owes me for the
soap that was used in washing that collar
she's got on her neck, and want my pay
for it,"
About week later he saw Spriggs riding
out with clergyman. when, after beekon-
ing him to stop. ne said
'You ought to be ashamed Of yourself
Here you are passing yourself off to this
minister of the Gospel as an honest man,
when you are owing me for the starch used
in doing up your shirt bosom
The next evening Shrimp called at the
house of SpigGs to see if he was ready to set
tie his bill, but Spiggs was away. Mrs.
Spiggs was at home. however, entertaining
some of her lady friends at the tea-table
Shrimps pushed his way into the dining
room and said
Ladies, the family whose hospitality you
are now enjoying owes me for the flour that
those hot biscuits there. on the centre of the
table, are made from, and should like to
get my money for it most confoundedly
we'll"
Passing out of the gate he met Mr.. Spiggss
Oldest daughter in company with young
man whom the suspected was her afEanced,
when he said
"That girls cheek wouldn't look so plump
and fat If it hadn't been for me. | have
been letting her have all the fresh doughnuts
and bologna sausage she wanted for the past
six months, and the bill hasn't been paid
yet"
The young man looked as though he felt
little ashamed to be found in such company,
and was commencing to move down the
street, when the young lady gave wild
shrek and fell senseless to the sidewalk.
He came back and assisted her into the house,
and that night Spiggs came in and paid his
bill in full, with liberal interest thereto
DanbUry Nesss.