The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-08-23

t1asNa - htfAHSsh t"Nta hfM y
no pleasant, frame Of miad. and wiihou
other ssluiation, exclaimed. 'tolone
w. yen have cheated me, sirlT
J Without altering his position. the Colo
mel looked mp calmly. and said in hi'
blandest tones, made more provoking b,
bis ianiaiising lisp: Coed morning. Ma
ior Yen theem 10 be thomewha, pei.
,nrbed II your remark wa,h addrc,het
10 me. hope you viii cr,hcuihe me II |
inquire to what yon have rcferenthe,
i ',iou know very we'll, MI, !" replied tbs
Major. siih glowing indignation, lyon
deceived me about that negro ] bought
yesterdy. Why. eonfound III he shutters
so badly he can't hardly make himself un-
dersiood, 1t is absolutely painful to Try
TO talk with him.
"My dear thin" responded the Colonel.
with an air Of injured innocence. and with
a sly glance at the bystandcrs, who were
enjoying the scene. you ought not 10
blame me in the matter. / thought you
wanted thcrvant 10 work for you. II
You had told me yon wanted niger TO
converth with. would have taken psinth
TO thelect you better thonverihathional.
itht."
This reply raised laugh at the Majors
expense, and so exasperated him he turned
abruptly on his heel and left the suave
Colonel master Of the situation.
Colonel W was not much Of n
church. .goer, but he occasionally dropped
into one Of the churches, and taking q
back seat, paid marked attention TO the
services. One Sunday morning he took
his seat in church Just as the deacons
were taking up collection. He took
from his purse half dollar to contribute,
but his good intention was cooled when
he saw approaching him deacon who
had gotten the better OF him in some sharp
trading, and Of whose picty he had no
very exalted opinion. 10 make matters
worse, the good deacon, knowing that the
Colonel had much OF this worlds goods,
endeavored to stimulate him to liberality
remarked, "you can give several dollars
out Of you abundance, Colonel. You will
never miss it,"
"What do you propothe to do with the
money!" inquired the Colonel
Give it to the Lord" unctuously res.
pondei the deacon.
"Well thir,' said the Colonel "ath i
think my chantheth of theeing the Lord
are about ath good ath yourth, prefer to
wait and hand il to Him in perthon," and
he put the halfdollar back in his pocket
Before the Colonel became comfortably
settled in life he had many ups aud downs
in fortune. Once he carried a number OF
slaves to New Orleans, aud made very
successful sale. He undertook, however,
to increase his supply Of money by meth
ods which involved more elements OF
chance then were connected with his reg
ular business. git was an unlucky ven-
tnre. aud in short time he found himself
with only money enough to pay his fare
on boat as far up the river as Natchez.
Although he had not dollar in his pock-
ct, when be reached Natchez he put up at
the best public house. He wore broad
cloth suit and silk hat, and sported
gold headed cane with which he would
not have parted for many times its value.
He bore himself with an easy dignity,
calculated to impress all who saw him
with the belief that he was a capitalist
with abundant resources, who might be
Induced TO invest some thousands in the
in the town. A week had near.
passed, and he had not succeeded in put
Ting enough money in his purse to pay
his landlord One Sunday afternoon,
when he was seriously thinking Of making
|, stealthy exit at night, he learned that
he rougbs and gamblers. who at the time
Tormed a considerable part OF the ropula.
ion OF NatcLez had assembled on a pnb.
c road not far from the town to witness
,ome foot races. He at opre started
and reached the place just as
IN athletic and ferce-looking fellow. who
vas exnting over his victories, offered in
loud voice to bet fifty dollars that he
,ould beat anybody 90 the grounds in a
ace Of one hundred yards. The Colonel
emembered that he had himself been
ieet Of foot in his younger days, and
PRESSED by dire necessity, be resolved to
ry his luck on this occasion. so in the
,auss which followed the champions
he stepped forward, and making
stately bow, said, quietly. Il will take
our bet, thr" The bully looked at him
few moments In contemptuous surprise,
nd said, Well. put up your money"
With courtly wave Of the hand the
,oionel replied, depreciatingly, 'There ith
70 need OF that, thir, Of that formality be-
wecn gentlemen. ] am getleman. and !
take you TO be one. III loothe the rathe /,
will pay you fifty dollars; il you loothe
{, do not doubt that you will act with {,
N equal honor. The word Of gentlemen
th hith bond.
The rough and desperate men present
eemed 10 regard this as very remarka-
lie proposition, and for time the chal. :
enger was nonplussed He steadily and
uspiciously eyed the polite and we'll
ressed stranger. and finally said with sig
ificant emphasis. "All right, old boy;
mt II there's any fickefin in this thing
'on may know what to expect"
without further parley the Colonel d..
est himself Of coat. vest, hat and placing
hem with his cane upon the grass. step
mt upon the road. and put himself in po.
ition by the side Of the champion. The
pectators eyinced the liveIiest Interest 10 .