The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-08-08
Al BoIl.Rinelur Row.

"I would like to ring that bell Say,
won't you let me ring that bellp That
must be a fine-sounding bell. I'll
give you fifty cents if you let me ring
that bell"
The speaker was a a.mild-eyed young
fellow with an innocent look upon his
face that inspired confidence at the
irst sight. Hewa Boston boy, and
was in Waterloo, Canada, with only
fifty cents in his pocket. He hadn't
had any breakfast or dinner, and when
he offered Charley Hall, the proprietor
Of the hotel, fifty cents for the privilege
Of ringing the huge dinner-bell that
set in the Office, he was playing for
stake.
Charley gave the youth a casual
glance, sized him up" as u "fresh,"
and then told him he could ring the
bell rs long as he wished to for fifty
cents.
The young man laid down his last
fifty cents, seized the bell and began
vigorous ringing.
AS it happened TO be about the
1inner hour. the proprietor thought
this good joke.
In through the parlors, out upon the
veranda and even up into the chambers
sounded the clang Of the bell. The
guests soon became annoyed and then
eXasperated. "What in the deuce have
you got that bell ringing for2" asked
one. "Tie a rope to chat calf and haul
him in said another. elf you don't
put a stop TO that blame nuisance We'll
quit your house, said a third.
The landlord, thoroughly bewildered,
both by the ringing of the bell and the
complaints of the guests, went out to
the fellow and said: "Come, haven't
you rung that bell long enough? The
guests are all complaining about it.
"Rung it long enough? Bless you,
1 haven't hardly begun yet What do
you suppose paid you the last fifty
cents that l had in the world for !?
Long enough? Pshaw You must
be crazy, man. Just listen TO that
bell Amt that a splendid sounding
bell? What a magnificent bell Listen
to the fine tone of that bell, man, and
then think how you could ask me to
stop ringing that bell. I'd rather ring
this bell than eat my dinner. Doa't
keep bothering me; let me attend to
this bell"
BY this time the attention of the
town officers was attracted to the mat
ter, and the landlord was told he must
discontinue the ringing of the bell.
"Condemn it." said the now thor
)ughly exasperated landlord, " Pm not
hnging the bell"
"Well, you must stop it, no matter
who it is that's rim lg it,"
To the bell-ringe; again went the
annoyed landlord and repeated his re-
quest, this time little more severely.
Il want you to let up on this business.
You have made noise enough, and |
think it's time to stop. DO you want
to alarm the whole country"
"Just listen to that bell; amt that
a daisy bell ? That is the best bell l
think L ever heard. Where did you
get this bell Oh ! it's splendid Say,
Just listen to this bell. What an eX-
ceptionally fine sounding-bell. What
will you take for that bell p
"The question amt what I'll take
for the bell, but what you'll take to let
up" said the excited landlord.
"Well, 1 don't know that | care tc
stop, but amt that fine-sounding
bell-if it's all the same to you, about
ten dollars, 1 think, would be about
right"
81 won't give you ten dollars, but
I'll tell you what 1 will do; I'll give
you five dollars and the best dinner
you ever had if you'll stop right where
, you are"
Agreed; let's have your five dol
lars. Thanks. Now we'll go tt
dinner" and in a few minutes thu
ravenous youth from the 4" Hub " was
,, putting away roast beef and CHECKER
salad at marvelously rapid rate
! Boston Globe.