Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-09-25

prophetP'
The prophet againw cried I. snow
for it!''
Annie clutched my arm and tried to pull
me away, but ! refused to depart.
My dear" said |. "a dime museum ia
very vulgar show. but | intend to inter.
view that prophet and tell him my opin.
ion OF him and shall be obliged to take
you In with me-
AS | spoke | stalked through the door
and. having bought my ticket. made my
way directly to the curtained archway
over which ! saw the words:
"The prophets cave. Mr.. Mesrom is
the only prophet yet alive"
"Ah." | said as I read this, "and it is
very probable that in a little while the
world will be entirely destitute of proph.
cts. intend to finish off this one"
As expected. Mr.. Mesrom was our old
original prophet-white wig, beard, robe,
baskets, parrakeets and all as before.
Two young people were just departing
with their envelopes in their hands, and
we had the place to ourselves. / walked
up TO the counter, and. fixing stern gaze
upon the prophet. said, in low voice.
MIR. Mesrom, have an account to set
tie with you"
The prophet retreatsd as far as the
wall Of his cave" permitted.
Look a-here, sir" said he, 81 don't
wish no trouble with no gent, but if you
are looking for any you win be bounced
My remarks are not personal, but any
gent making trouble in this museum will
be bounced by the management"
"All right" said /. Il suppose being a
prophet, you don't mind answering a few
questions"
'Not If they're CIVIL" said he.
"What l want to ask you, Mr.. Mesrom,
is this" said l. what the deuce do you
mean by putting up In your envelopes
prophecies calculated to alarm nervous
females-prophecies of death and dsas-
ter? Such a one. bought of you, has
done more mischief than l can tell. 1t is
absurd that it should be so, but it is a
fact. You have upset lady's health and
unbalanced her mind"
"Oh, Johnr' whispered Annie reproach-
fully, but | went on, shaking my fist at
the prophet:
"a woman who believes that your nom
sense is prophecy got hold Of one Of those
yellow envelopes that foretold her speedy
death, and, as l said, the consequences
were deplorable and are still. She will
not listen to reason. She may die of over
wrought Imagination. and If she dies you
die also! I've a mind to kill you now"
The prophet retreated again as l shook
my fist at him, but he stared at me in
amazement as he did so.
Look here, sir" said he, 1--WE don't
put no prophecies OF that there character
into none of our envelups. Them sort
wouldn't be popular. Our'n is all favor
able and encouraging. We make rule
they shall be. Besides,
Him that prigs what isn't his'n,
When he's cotched shall be sent to prison,
which is in the gents basket and is re-
garded as a joke There amt no evil
some other prolAzs. There is two or
three of them along the Bowery. None
genuine but me-"
MY friend" said I, you are the per-
son who had a booth at the state fair at
Hobbswich last autumn"
Eyes, l was there" said the prophet,
"but, as l said, our'n especially for the
ladies, is all encouraging"
"Do you call this encouraging" l ask
ed, taking the envelope from my pocket
DOCK, Whcfe hau kept IL SINCE that iatai
day. Read it'
Mr.. Mesrom took the slip of paper from
me, gazed at it, and read it aloud:
Lovely lady, you will die before the
violets blow" he repeated.
"Now, eff that amt blamed shame,
I'm a donkey! See here-that amt no
fault of mine. I'll explain. But the lady
hasn't read the rest of the printing; It's
been folded up and tucked under some
how-readlng it altogether amt so bad.
lie had smoothed the paper now, and 1t
was evident that it had been folded so as
to conceal several words which followed
those had read.
Lovely lady, he began again. 'yon
will die before the violets blow if you lei
that cold run on and don't take good old
DIR. Dodds' Magic Cough Slrup this win
ter. For sale in the great hall. One dol
lar per bottle.
Don't you see?' Mr.. Mesrom said, ap
pealing to me, that that amt no proph
ecy, but just regular ad.? III tell yor
nau ms cough silup Ut 'ue iah' "nu nv
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