The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-11-24
HOffenstein's Prize BrOgan.

Hoffenstein was hasily engaged mark
ing the selling price on some clothing
which had just arrived, when suddenly
stopping in his work he turned to the
clerk and said:
"Herman, had forgot if We sell and
all uf dose plack jean bants vat vas dam
aged. Vas any more uf dem in de sdore
yet?"
eyes, Misder Hoffenstein. I dink
dere vas dree bairs left haf been dry
ing to sell dem but de beople say dey
don't want to go around de sdreet init
bants on vat makes dem look like cir
Gus procession. Dere vas yellow spots
all ofer de kants, you know"
'sVell, subbose dey haf got spots on
dem, vas you going to let de beople
dink dey vas damaged? My GRACIOUS,
Herman, de longer you vas in de pisness
de more you don't learn noding. Wy,
ven a man comes in de sdore und dells
me dot dose bants vas damaged dells
him he vas mistaken und asks him if
he know biece uf quadrup.e, vox finish,
needle point, hand dwisted WOOL from q
blece vat vas Won ply, cotton stitched
und NIT beveled edge Ven ask him
dot he don't can say noding. Den I
dell him dot de bants vas not damaged,
und dot dey vas made uf vot vas called
in de old world Spanish spot WOOL, de
best ardicle made dere. In a couple uf
minutes alder dalk to de customer he
buys de bants, und half sell nine bairs
in dot vay."
Hoffenstein had scarcely finished
speaking when negro with a bundle in
his hand aud considerably excited en-
tered the store.
"vell. my trent, vat can do for YOU"
said Hoffenstein, advancing toward him
and smiling pleasantly.
"You can't do anything fur me, )" re-
piled the negro, angrily, "but I want
yer to glib me back my money what l
paid fur des hyar shoes or Use gwine to
take de matter fore de law. I glib four
dollars for dem shoes an nebber wore
dem but six days fore de soles drapped
off, an when I 'zamined dem dar warn't
Gods blessed ting dar but paper.
Use bin cheated, and when man thinks
he can come miratin' around me an /
amt gwine to say muffin he's apt to find
hisself in de nine hole"
"My frent," said Hoffenstein, quietly,
"did you find anyding in de soles uf dem
shoes?"
"No, sah," replied the negro.
"Vell, dot vas biece uf hard luck,
my trent. De shoes vat you buy vas de
| Louisiana brize shoe, und ven you dake
| bair uf dem you vas liable at any mo-
ment to find dwenty dollar gold biece
| in de soles uf dem. If de soles uf de
brize shoes vas made uf hard ledder, dey
wouldn't year out, and de consequence
would be you don't can find de dwenty
dollar biece, und dot vas de reason
de soles vas made of baper SO dot dey
will year oud soon, und let de beople
know if dey git brize, you know"
| els desc hyar shoes de regerler prize
shoes? ?" inquired the negro, greatly in
terested.
"Vell, my trent, if ye see man val
come in de oder day und show me o
couple uf dwendy dollar bieces vot he
got oud uf dem shoes, you would say dey
vas gold mine"
eff de shoes is dc regerler prize shoes
I'll take 'er nudder pair"
"Certainly, my trent. Herman, wraI
de sheutleman up bair uf dose Louisi
ana brize shoes, and dake dose vat yor
dink de money vas in.
When the shoes had been paid for anc
the negro had gone, Hoffenstein said:
Herman, did you see how work of
dose old star brogans ?"
eyes, Misder Hoffsnstein."
"Vell, ven efer customer comes il
de sdore, recgolleck dot dey vas de Lou
isiana brize shoe NIT dwenty dollar
gold biece in de sole uf dem. think
will learn you someding about de bust
ness yet. ."-Ne,O Orleans Times.