Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-10
THE WRESTLING COON.
How He Recently Called Down
Very Fresh Mortal.
Three Other Short Yarns Cleaned from
Among lac cossipets.

The well known and versatile Profess
sor Baker so well known throughout
Maine as the "whistling COON" was the
cause Of great sport one day not long
ago for the passengers upon the boat
he was travelling.
AS usual he had his au'toharp and was
whistling and playing Among The
passengers We're three men who would
pass for the class of men known a;
dudes. One of the men proved him
self little more entitled to the name
than the others.
The first man spoke up as the profess
sor played upon his instrument, -
Hello, have you got time to take a
little money!" The professor kept on
playing. only he nodded and quickly
took off his hat, caught the coin in it,
and putting the latter into his pocket
resumed the tune
Soon after another of the three men
said. HEY, professor. have you time
to take some money!" The professor
nodded and again caught the coin.
There was something about the air of
the man that the people did not like,
as they thought he was rather too nica
for this world. The professor thought
50. too, and he resolved to give the men
call down. Taking the coin out OF
the hat he held ii up to the view of the
| public and said: Hello, what have l
| here. a whole cent? Guess good
| things come in small punches, this
year. Goly. guess this am the widows
mite, though it might have been
larger" He continued his remarks
about the men, ending with the remark
that he couldn't believe the man was
honest when he threw away money
like that One man near by suggested
the free hearted man ought to have n
| guardian appointed or he would soon
give away all his money
All these remarks did not cause thu
iite-Htai teu iHdh W enJuy tHe "TRIP any
too well. and he went to another par.
of the boat to enjoy the scenery.
He looked so young and innocent"
said the attorney who was telling the
story. that l couldn't bring myself to
believe that he was guilty. While l
was there. he was brought before the
court on charge of picking pockets
represented by an attorney. Some
thing in his appearance attracted me-
and l volunteered to defend him. The
evidence against him was very strong,
but l fought the case to the bitter end
and succeeded in clearing him.
THE next day I received visit from
my client. who assured me, with tears
in his eyes, that he never could repay
me for what ! had done. Then very
in his pocket and asked how much ne
owed me.
Thinking that he asked out of mere
greenness, having an idea that my bill
would be for a dollar or so, thought I
would stagger him, so I put it at 500.
But when he pulled huge roll of bills
out of his pocket, counted out the
amount and handed it over, it was my
| turn to gasp. Then he shook hands.
| " N nj n vo in nd Loft wing m
staring at the money he placed before
me OH my desk
when i recovered from my trance /
started to put it away with a matter of
5000 that deacon Of a church had paid
me shortly before for winning a line
fence suit for him.
young whelp had touched me, and then
had the nerve to pay his bill from my
roll.
| THAT is what comes from being too
charitable. If had charged him what
l should ] would have received all my
money back and still left him in debt
to me.
| IF he ever gets into trouble again l
will take care to see that he gets 40
years"
An Augusta man, whose business is
to write a great deal, and not in the
shape of correspondence. would rather
take quinine than write letters. His
wife is a great letter writer, and when
she goes away she insists on receiving
daily letter from her husband. If he
fails she comes home in short order.
and for a time the atmosphere of the
home is frigid.
A short time ago the wife went on n
visit to her parents, and before leaving
gave her husband explicit instructions
to write every day He promised to do
So and meant to keep his promise. He
forgot t1e first day until too late. SO he
wired that he would write the following
day. That night he secured the ser
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