The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-07-21
BEATING A LANDLORD.

How n Western Transformer Manager
Worked q Hotel Keeper.
A western manager had been many
years carrying sorrowful little COM
pany about the country. Besides the
with him his entire family, consisting
of his wife, and children of all sizes.
The latter subsisted mainly on fruits
and berries which they could gather
from the wayside in summer. Some of
the children were of the height to pick
ON strawberries, the next older ones
could reach the blackberries, next in
order could reach the pawpaws, and
the oldest could even feed from the
persimmon trees along the roads. Their
sorest grievance befell this poor mana
ger whenever it came time to get out
of town, for he couldn't escape the
board bills without the greatest ma
neuvering. He had tried every different
style of escape, the bluff system, the
soft soap system, and the pitiful tale
system. Many time had each variety
been called into service. One Sunday
evening he sat on the front porch OF a
village hotel with heavy heart. He
had acted hard all the week in that
village, and here the day to depart
had rolled around and he found him
self without the necessary current
coin of the realm to extricate him
self. This was his normal condition,
but yet it made hin. sad. No money,
no credit, no va1uables to leave for
security He sees the landlord ap
preaching. He brightens up, happy
thought has struck him. He calls to
mind his children. He remembers that
the landlord also has quite a number OF
children There's where / will find a
tender chord" thinks he, for does not
lone touch of nature make the whole
world kim" The landlord has seated
himself and lighted his pipe, crossed
his legs and leaned back against the
post, the expression in his face asking
the question: "When will you settle
your bill?' The Thespian has drawn
down his face into a heartbrolen ex-
preston. He takes from his pocket a
battered gold-plated little locket.
Landlord" says he, in fearful voice,
81 cannot get money until l reach the
next town. have only enough to take
my company there, and have nothing
of the slightest exchangeable value to
leave you as security for the weeks
board you have furnished my company.
] have encountered few cases of hor-
rible luck, but here is something have
never offered to part with till now.
You, yourself, are father, and you
must know how sacred this little trim
ket is to my heart when tell you that
all my children have cut their teeth on
it. 1t is of no value to you, but you
must know as dearly as love my chill
dren l would never lose that precious
lnemento for the small amount of fifty
dollars" Then tears came into his
eyes. Long years of hard luck lad
taught him to produce tears by pressing
upon certain muscles in his head. Then
gentle, honest tears glittered in the
landlords eyes also as he took the locket
with the comforting words: "Yes, sir,
will take the locket as security. /
know that man who loves his children
Send the money whenever it is conven-
lent, and I'll take the best of care of the
1ocket and return it to you." The land
lord pressed the hand of the actor,
wiped away his tears, and sauntered off
to the Office to deposit the precious
treasure in the safe. The actor brushed
away his tears and bounded up stairs,
light and happy as a lark. Dashing
into the room where his wife sat, he
exclaimed: Hurry up, Annie, and
chewupanotherl ocket. Chicago Inter
Ocean.