Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-01
WAS A. powM.eAsreR.
4 travelling Gentleman from New York ", a
Played With Fire.

A friend of the Journal who r,,.,r
fails to have good story A. ~.
tongues end dropped in the otho, ave-
ming and spun this yarn. we
II had occasion some time .
!, pay visit to the Berkshire hills nm in
western massachusetts. KNOWING.
that my business would take me some
time. I made my headouartcrs ~
Springfield on the +. e. A. Railroad
and not caring particularly for the
hustle and confusion of n botel 7
looked up friend of mine and a s.od
him to recommend to me some Good
first-class boarding house whe,a
could have all the comforts of h,,ro
and yet be free to go and com. &c
+ choose He said: Como ovc, ,,;t,. w.
to Mrs. s., where | am bo.rd;rr
know .;h" has got spare room and ,,o
would all he delighted tn have ,.o,,
The place IS very select and 7 vii, IN
troiuce you into our set 7 ,eo.,i,,.
agreed to the proposition and after
making the preliminary ARRANGEMENTS
had my belongings sent over to the
house and. at night, accompanied my
| friend to the broWn-stonc front and
was presented 10 the inmates.
| 1T vas the usual fashionable hoard
ing house party. A sprinkling of
young lawyers, newspaper men. bank
clerks and their wives and ore or two
ladies Of Questionable age, and last
| bu: not least, Il drummer for a whole
sale grocery house in New York. and
his wife, who made their hca,,al:a rtcrs
here. He was an cosy, ovprrrowD
| Gtinrt IF dor pit
thought Himself funnior man ;nan
Eill Nyc in his nalmy days. His VIE
! good. patient soul. was very much in
love, rs she should be. with her legal
lord ard fully agreed with him TINT he
WAS the whole works. full iewclcd
patent levcT with a % years rua.an-
tee. ] did not discover all this ., ono
sitting but it gradually Gawncd crnn
me after y few meetings AS we he
came better acquainted noticed Il
tendency on his part to be sarcastic
and 4 trifie pointed in his jokes and
tho good Old State Of Maine came in
for good share Of his ridicule. He
evidently sized me up for vertiant
doWn-oaster. don't know whether it
was on account Of my nasal twang or
my personal appearance. | will admit
| shade n little on the bright green and
oftimes have to go on the inner side
of the walk 50 the horses won't grab
me for bunch of undried hay and I'm
often told I'm the most refreshing
sign Of spring they have seen. sort Of
travelirg st. Pa;rick's day sign: one of
those dead easy" pliable mor:als
that ANY old thing" can warm their
Dn1 ln I'd 70, Xii,
am building bakers oven with
what ! have already bought and still
the sign is out: Cold bricks wanted.
inquire Within Ar u the three-card
monte sharps and bunco steerers look
NE up in the directory before leaving
New York. yet | have a sort of
state pride that I did not want our
illustrious friend, the mola dis
tributor. to drum on my coop.
AT the dinner hour. the most fash
ionable hour Of the day. our mutual
friend. the enemy, would direct his
conversation to me and ask if we went
round by blazed marks on trees and
did we shoot deer and wolves in our
front dooryards in Maine and other
equally sensible remarks. / answered
all his questions in good humor, told
him | often got lost in going from
Water street to my home and the day
before | came away. shot a bear with
a bow and arrow. He did not know
whether | was playing with him or he
was up against the real thing. /
thought as | looked at him: My boy
YOU are fast mellowing for the gibbit
can see your finish in grand
spectacular tableau. with red fire,
lime light and slow music by the
band
He had previously told us he was
looking for a situation as his house
WAS gong out of business, and at every
meal he would ask if anyone had
heard of q good situation, as he was
quiet anxious to remain in SPRING
field One Saturday. after putting in
a very busy week up north. | reached
the house on the late train and did not
meet the hoarders until the following
Sunday Mt dinner. After they had all
got seated and the conversation had
become general. I said: by the way.
Mr.. -. | think I have found a situa-
ticn for You All eyes were focused
on me The lady said, How kind.
The gentlemen ell expressed pleasure
at my thoughtfuIncsS. | continued,
TIE situation is opon and | know M.
- IL capable of filling il. In fact re
is especially adapted to it.. Tney All
said in chorus: What is the situation:
DO tell us l said: The man on 6os-
ton Common. who fills those little toy
balloons with gas and sells them to
children. dropped dead, yesterday.
with heart disease. and Mr.. -- can
have the situation. All he has got to
do is buy the empty balloons and a
spool of thread and he can furnish
the rest all right.
There was n slight pause. .ncn the
house came down with crash |
was the only one who did not smile.
and turning to the boarders said;
Pardon me. l fail to see the 1'ke l
guess I'm not in it The re- inder
of my stay. my friend the respected
balloon and his wife handled me like
Dresden china vase, with gloves. ana
their smile would have frozen the iner-
curry in a ten-Ccnt thermometer.
w. III. Gannctt of this city, has very