Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-09-24
Turning The Tables.

/ Tom Hills, sometime huntsman of the
Old Surrey Hounds, were once sent to buy
fox in Leadenhall Market for service the
next day. The commission was not at all
TO Toms liking; but obeying orders, he
rode to town, got his fox, and putting him,
securely strapped, legs upward, in a capa-
cious pocket in his overcoat, turned his
horses head homeward. Somewhere about
midnight he reached Streatham Common,
to be suddenly stopped with the once
familiar challenge ''Your money or your
lite."
my money!" exclaimed Hills. -
haven't got any; am only a servant; and
you wouldn't take my life, surelyl''
The highwayman told him to look sharp,
emphasizing the injunction by pointing a
pistol at the huntsman's head.
''Well, my man." said the latter, ''we
won't fall out. want my life; so, as I've
no money, l suppose you must have
moneys worth. You'll find something
quite as good in my pocket here; so pray
help yourself
The robbers disengaged hand dived into
Toms pocket instanter. and Master Rey-
.4ersf's teeth closed rs quickly upon it, caus-
ing the fellow TO yel in dismay, and drop
pistol and reins: while Tom galloped off at
his best pace, leaving his unwelcome ac-
quaintance to bandage his hand and digest
his disappointment at leisure.
/ Relating his Indian experiences, Colonel
Meadows Taylor tells Of his being beset by
hundreds of pilgrims and travellers, crying
out against the bunias, or tlour-sellcrs, who
not only gave their customers short weight,
but adulierated the -four SO abominably
with sand that cakes made oft were utterly
uneatable The colonel determined TO pun
ish the cheats; and this is how he did it.
81 told, SAYS he, ''syme reliable men Of
my escort to 20 quietly into the hazars, and
each buy flour at a separate shop, being
careful to note whose shop it was. The
iour was brought to me. | tested every
sample. and found It full of sand as l
passed it under my teeth. l then desired
all the persons named in my list to be sent
to me. with their baskets of -four, their
weights and scales. Shortly afterward they
arrived. evidently suspecting nothing, and
were placed in a row on the grass before
my tent. Now, said l, gravely, each of
YOU is to weigh out a seer two pounds Of
! vOur -four which was done.
ssTs it for the pilgrims ? asked one.
seNo, said /, quietly, though had much
difficulty to keep my countenance, You
must eat it yourselves.
ssThey saw that l was in earnest, and
offered to pay any fine imposed.
'Not so, | returned; you have made
many eat your flour; why should you
object 10 eat it yourselves I?
t.They were horribly frightened; and
amid the screams of laughter and jeers of
the bv,tanders some of them actually began
to eat, sputtering out the half-moistened
Gour. which could be heard crunching be-
tween their teeth. At last some of them
flung themselves on their faces, abjectly be-
seecbing pardon" And so, with severe
admonition, they were let off. No more
was heard Of the bad flour
1t is a pity rascals at home can not
be served in the same way, pure food
would be the rule, if the concocters and
venders of vile make believers were liable
to compulsory consumption Of their own
wares.
Sir John Mcneil, shrewd Scotch diplo-
matist, gained the reputc of being the only
European who ever got the better OF derV'
ish. During the New Years festival the
Persian religious mendicants ply their voca-
ton most vigorously, not merely asking fol
aims but demanding such sums as they
, deem proper, according to the rank of the
river. A dervish tried to extract an ex
trayacant tribute from Sir John, and th'
ambassador proving obstinate, proceeded u
..sit upon him :" that is to say, he estao
Tsbed himself in Sir Johns garden, just be
: fore his study windows, and relieved III
faelinqs by making a hideous huilaDaio'
day and night. The diplomatist was IN
) c,;ned 10 make short work of the nuisance
hut was warned that violent measure
would be dangerous. ;. =, =;
ssGet rid of him if you can, SAID nl
. Persian advisers; ''but do not TOUCH HILL
SIR John sent for bricklayer, and CAV
r the order: s'Build a wall all round tina
! bowling beggar in my garden, and thel
l roof it in" o5,,, viii,
: The dervish looked on composedly VIM,
the wall slowly rose round him, anu niau
more noise than before; but when the rooi
ing process commenced, and he aWoke WOKE
the knowledge that it was really ln'ehae
70 entomb him alive, he clambered over III
wall and rushed away like mailman
never to trouble Mcneil again
Some sixty years ago, certain i0iA