Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-01-17
THE SKIPPER SOLD HIS LIME.
After Failure Elsewhere He saw
Jackson and Made a Deal.

tnat tney are always fond OF telling
the stranger within their gates. II is
the story OF Captain Simon Shibles.
late OF Thomaston.
Captain Simon ShiDles was one OF
the brightest men that ever stood 10
the helm off the coast Of Maine. aud
that is saying enough for any man.
There are dozens OF stories of him. but
the one am going 10 retell is the one
that concerns his commercial dealings
with President Andrew Jackson.
Captain Shibles went out OF Rock
land one day with q cargo OF lime that
he wanted 10 dispose of al good rates.
He took his course down the coast and
IN due time made Richmond. He found
the market duh. anG he couldn't get an
offer that he hoC-ht would recon-
pense him sufficiently. 50 hn weighed
anchor and went up 10 Alexandria
Market was just the same there. All
the dealers had more lime than they
knew what 20 DO with. and they
wouldn't make any kind OF an offer for
the Rockland mans cargo.
He lay there for a day or so. and
then he had a brilliant idea. The next
morning bright and early. he boarded
river AID landed in Washington before
the fashionable people had opened
their eyes.
The captain took a farewell snin OF
the river and then struck ont for the
White House. II was still early when
he got there. He walked into the re-
ception room. and when the servant
came along 10 ask him what his busi-
ness was he s;raightened back.
Tell your master that Captain Simon
Shibles OF Thomaston. Ne. is here and
wants 10 see him." he said.
"io card. sah." said the negro.
card. Cardr' exclaimed the Maine
man. Why. I'm Captain Simon Shi-
bles OF Thomaston. Me. and want TO
see Andrew Jackson. the president Of
the United States. l ain't never used
no cards in my life. I want TO see your
master. and don't have TO have any
cards"
Now. it happened that the door into
the next room was aiar. and President
Jackson. who was there. heard all that
passed.
As the nigger paused irreSolutely.
not knowing whether 20 show i'm q
man without a card. he heard his mas
ter's voice.
show in Captain Shibles." came the
presidential mandate.
The captain was uShored into the
presence of the chief executive and he
found him clad in dressing gown and
slippers and smoking an old church
warden clay.
I'm Captain simon Shibles from
fTnnflnrsTnn 10 81 y,
Introducing himself. and have come
70 Alexandria with a cargo Of lime. l
. called At Richmond. and / couldn't sell
H. came on TO Alexandria. and /
couldn't sell it, And now have come
mp 10 see YOU. You're president of the
United States. and l want you 10 buy
It,"
Then. with Yankee shrewdneSS. be-
fore giving his man a chance 10 refuse.
the captain shifted the topic Of conver-
sation and began 10 tell the president
all the good stories he had heard for
the last six months. Jackson liked p
. good story as we'll rs the next man
and the ThomaSton man was a star
I when IL came TO spinning yarns. His
nrst few words made the president
smile. and before he had finished his
nrSt story he was playing To a most
enthusiastic audience Then he told
another and yet another till President
jackson was holding his sides.
ShibleS. seeing that the time was
ripe, again brought up his cargo OF
+ lime
Lime" said Jackson. "lime-ves.
now that You speak Of IT, recall thar
We are badly in need OF lime. You take
this down 10 the commodore In the riv-
er, and he will tell you where 70 IN.
load your cargo and pay YOU for the
same-and. Captain ShibleS. when YOU
come 10 Washington again be sure that
You come 10 the White House and tell
me some more OF your stories"
With that he gave the captain a Den
clled order 10 the commodore com
manding in the river. directing him 10
take Captain Shibles' cargo OF lime
and pay him a good price.
When the captain got back 10 Thoul-
aston. he told the story with a sfE
deal Of pleasure. and he said tharA2
long rs Andrew Jackson was presiden,
OF the United States he didn't care how
the market stood on me.-Lewiston
/ (Me) Journal