Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-12-15
AN UNPLEASANT SHAVE.
the Victim of n supcrstltlous Notion Re-
lntes n Story.


1T was in the year 1s47," said tho
raconteur, as he took the speakers
chair; 81 was making trip from 0ns'
low to the village OF Londonderry, n.
S., on the north shore of the bay Of
Fundy. Before reaching my destina-
ton it became dark, the night setting
in rainy, and the roads in such state
that the walking became very tiresome,
''The country here was sparingly set
tied, and the few inhabitants lived in
log cabins of the most primitive kind.
They were a course, but not vicious
people, making their living 10y
Il rude kind of farming. Their
farms consisted of few acres of
stump land upon which they raised
meager crops of buckwheat, potatoes
and turnips by grubbing around the
stumps. Well, just as I was about to
sink with fatigue saw dim light in
the distance, and decided to ask shelter
for the night at the first cabin
reached, which proved to be the one
where saw the light | knocked at
the door, which was closed and un-
friendly looking, and was answered by
gruf voice with single monosylla-
Bile, Gomez ! entered and found a
number of men sitting around rough
deal table. Their hats were on and
they looked at me with a singular eX-
preston that ] could not define
asked them if I could lodge there for
the night.
Yes, said one of the party, but you
must come in an stand your chance
with the rest. mister.
81 asked what that meant.
1.-The men looked ut each other
then another Cne of the company
spoke.
I'VE are to draw cuts to see which
one of us will have to shave a dead
man.
81 was prepared to hear that some
dark crime was to be attempted, but
this very unexpected proposition sent
cold chills down my back, at the same
time that broke out in profuse per-
spiration.
II consented, however-what else
could l do?-and then was told that
one of their number had died that
day, and it was the custom to
shave the dead, and to draw cuts which
decided the one who was to per.
form the disagrccable task. The mode
of procedure was TO cut straws in diff.
fnrent lengths, and the duty fell to the
one drawing the shortest straw.
"As luck would have it | drew the
| shortest straw!
"Well, ] offered them everything
had to get out of it-money, my watcl
but no, their superstition was stronger
than their cupidity. and was
roughly told ! must do the barber act
with the best grace | could. They
were determined to see me through.
Zone handed me bowl of water, an
other brought a bar of brown soap, anC
a black bottle with tallop dip in il
furnished the light.
"The dead man was in a shed bacl
of the cabin avoided looking at him
as much as possible, and, with the
razor III my hand and my knees knock
ing together. performed my first and
last tonsorial effort. and did the bust
ness much better than | expected tC
under the circumstances.
"But you can easily imagine that
did not close my eyes that night, an(
horrible fear assailed me that he
the dead man-might need shaving
again in the morning. So the moment
it was light rose from the roug
bench on which lodged, and by sun
rise was many miles from the scene o
an experience which should never for
getif | lived hundred years. De
troit Free Press.