The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-05-04

|
that you have beaten me at my own
game"
What do you mean by your own
game, sirl" he asked in open-eycd
| wonder,
1 did not deem it necessary to ex.
plain just then, but said: Il think Wen
quit this job, Willie. I've about con-
cluded to buy another dictionary-if
need one. Here is your balance, and
I'll put you into the post-ofiice next
Monday"--1 was postmaster among
other things. But tell me, my boy,
how long would you have kept to that
dreary task of copying the diction-
airy"
Until it was finished, sir. Then 1
| should have had money enough to
take mother and sister home and carry
me through college," was his quick
and frank response.
surrendered.
San performed well all that was re-
quired of him in his new position.
One day the boy came to inform
me that he had bought rabbit, and
asked If l would allow him a day off
so that he might go to the neighboring
city of Tokyo and sell 1t. OF course l
gave him the desired permission.
1 should explain that about the years
1923 the japanese took silly craze,
first for rabbits and next for pigs, two
species of animals not indigenous to
the country, and speculation ran riot
upon them. l have known a miserable
rabbit to bring the incredible sum of
five hundred dollars. Exchanges were
even organized in which, like stocks or
wheat, the animals were bought and
sold over and over again in a single
day upon certificates, without the pur-
chaser ever seeing his property.
Willie had no exchange membership,
however, so he proposed hiring O
jinrikisha and, with bunny in his lap,
going to seek buyer in Tokyo.
His knowledge of the language
served him well, and he found pur-
chaser soon after arriving in the capt.
tai. The next morning he exhibited
to me thirty rios as the net profit of
his transaction. | shall never, I hope,
forget the look Of transcendent pride
and joy that lighted up his bonny face
rs he told of his first mercantile ven
ture, nor his intensely eager, "Oh, sir,
could make toxon (plenty) If l only
had more klnsats (money)."
Did furnish the small merchant the
| needed capital? Haven't / already
owned that I was practically a fool
about that day? Yes, let him have a
hundred dollars, and in two weeks he
| paid it all back and had five hundred
! dollars for himself besides. He cried
and laughed and laughed and cried as
he counted it out before me, and just
10 make him feel comfortable-not that
was at all affected by his enthusiasm
II laughed and shed a tear or two
] myself. A craven image cousl have
done no less.
When his excitement had moderated
l said: Nov, Willie, will you keep
| your head If I propose something?
| Remember mother and sister, and
don't, as most grown folks would in
your place. make a fool of yourself"
He promised, and told him that 1
would pay bis passagc-which could
| get at a reduced rate-and he, taking
MS five hundred dollars-and perhaps
a little more-should go to San Fran
| cisco with letters of Introduction to
Ex-Governor Low and others, there in
vest in rabbits and pigs, and hurry
back before tie craze should die out.
The little mans delight at my propo-
sition was unbounded. He laughed
again, and jumped and clapped his
hands and tried to thank me, but in
stead burst out crying. However, 1
understood, and presently we had
everything planned.
| 1t was no easy matter to gain the
| mothers consent to the voyage, but
| finally secured it, and in n week that
fifteen-year-old boy was off, in the
| care of the captain. While on ship
board he bore himself most discreetly,
| and even earned a little extra money
| by copying for the purser. He was
| received with open arms by my friends
| in San Francisco, who We'd with each
| other in helping him to buy to the best
| advantage. 1 even suspect, too. that
they failed to report to him the whole
| cost of the menagerie. Suffice 1t to
say that he took the same steamer
| back in few days, having with him a
goodly stock of rabbits and littl. pigs.
The three-weeks' voyage fold severe
| ly on the former; so much so that
about one-quarter of them died en-
route. But nature interviewed and
| brought 1t about that Oh landing he
| nevertheless found himself actually
possessed of more rabbits than on leav-
| ing San Francisco: an unearned incre-
\ ment for which I hope he was proper
| ly thankful.
In due time our little merchant re-
appeared at the consulate in robust
health and spirits. The japanese Gus
| tom-house authorities let him through
easy. Even his rivals in trade helped
him along, so that in two weeks Chez
sal Willie San disposed Of his entire
stock at profit of no less than five
thousand dollars. This statement
seems incredible. but people who were
in the Land of the Rising Sun during
the pig-rabblt insanity period will bear
me out as to the probability of the
statement.
Our hero brought all mis- gains to me
and begged to be allowed to repeat the
venture. Oder heads. however, saw
tie beginning Of the end of the pig