Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-08-11

faggots are not alike" seems to be con-
fined to the pleasant old seaport town
of Wismar, on the coast of the Baltic /:
for nowhere else in Germany did l ever
hear it quoted. Allow me to tell you
the history of its origin. l am from
Wismar and l heard it from one of the
descendants of the hero Of these lines, a
certain Hans Stechert.
1t is now almost two centuries ago,
when one evening a jovial company had
assembled at the house of Mr.. Gertz,
the burgomas.er of Wismar, whose
birthday they were celebrating. The
worthy aldermen, senators and other
dignitaries of the good old town, were
having good time, slipping their 10.
hannisberger from silver bumpers and
smoking some delicious tobacco, which
Captain Schmidt, the burgomasters S
schoolmate, had brought from Constan-
tinople, and OF which he had presented
whole hogshead full TO his friend, on
whom he dotted.
Among the guests was Hans Stechert
who, besides his chair as Senator oc
cupied also that of an organist Of St
Mary's Cathedral.
Everybody praised the wine and the
fragrant herb; fragrant weeds, alias ci
gars, they had not in those early days
Hans Stechert was perfectly delighted
with the perfumed clouds that ascended
from his meershaum pipe.
"To-morrow is my birthday" ex
claimed he: "Could but tomorrow
evening enjoy pipe full of this delic'
ious tobacco.
Mr. Gertz took the hint: "Send me .
pipe, my dear Hans, and | will fill it fol
you"
"Does it make any difference, which
pipe l send 2" inquired Hans, will
archness upon his brow.
''Noue in the least; send your largest.
And Mr.. Gertz smiled beniguantly
as he thought of Hans celebrated Hoo
kah, which held half a pound at time
aud needed filling but once week.
Thank you kindly sir, quoth Hans
You are gentleman as well as a bur
gomaster, and pipe is pipe! ]"
"a pipe is pipe" repeated Mr.. Gertz
and they shook hands on it.
The quiet hour Of midnight had pass
ed by, and the Stars began already L
look sleepy, and the cocks chanted thei
morning hymn, when the compan.
broke up, and each one bctook himsel
unto bis own house as best he could
Mr.. Gertz awoke little later than usu
al the next morning, or rather the sam'
day, and it was nearly lunch-time whal
he had done dressing and sat imbibinl
his morning chocolate. He rang tn
bell, whereupon John, his contidentia
servant, appeared.
"Potz Tausend! John, why don't yo
come instantly when | ring?"
"To be sure," taltered the domestic
81 came as soon as heard"
''No contradiction! can't stand that
Fetch my pipe, and light!' said hi
honor with angry dignity.
John brought both, and Mr.. Cert
tried to smoke his bad humor away; 70
in a bad humor he was, or he woul,
never have addressed John in that an
CRY manner. / do not know, was it on
ly his headache, that made him so irk
some, or was it q curious dream whicl
had haunted him during his few hours o
rest He dreamt that he was buried il
the bowl of an immense pipe, which
Hans Stechert was smoking, and tha
all efforts to extricate himself we're fruit
less. While he was yet musing upor
his dream, a knock was heard at th'
street door. The old gentleman wen
out himself, and beheld four men stand
ing, having some long, heavy objec
upon their shoulders.
"What in the name of sense are yor
going to do with that piece of machine
ry2" inquired he angrily.
$50 please your Honor" answer one
of the parties: "Mr Stechert sends this
He says, "a pipe is pipe, and would
please fiji it for him
Imagine the old worthy's consterna.
ton at beholding the pipe, Hans Stech-
ert had sent him; i. was an organpipe,
fully sixteen feet long!
Itwas beneath his dignity as bur
gomaster, TO leave his promise uDfulfll.
ed and half the contents of his barrel Of
tobacco disappeared within the vast
hollow of that gigantic pipe.
In the afternoon he went to Hans
Stechert's house, fully prepared to show
er vast lot of "blessings" upon Hans
devoted head. But his wrath disap-
peared fast, when Hans met him cordi-
ally at the door, took him by the arm
and said:
81 arm so glad to see you, old friendl
/ was JUST thinking of You. | have a
lot of nice tobacco in my house, and l
want you to try it"
With bottle of wine between them
and pipe between the teeth of each Of
them, they talked the matter over. And
when they shook hands at parting, they
were as excellent friends as ever, and
both agreed that "a pipe is pipe"
+. MESSAGES.
The Democratic Convention OF Ohio,
at Columbus, on Wednesday last nom
mated for Governor, X. NJ. Bishop of