Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-24
OUT WITH A BRICK.
Two Augustans Want Man
Who Put Up Job.
Were Willing to Pay for Dinner Even
At Poor House.
But the Joke Leaked Out and They
Take the Consequences.

| The posting of the voting lists in tn
town is a pretty sure indication tina
spring is approaching and that the sea
lson of sulphur and molasses is near a
hand.
! When / was a small sized youngste
I used to dread this birthstone era as
would the plague for l well knew i
meant for me lots of trials and tribula
tiCns for about one month out of The
year. l was sort of travelling mattel
with more birthstone circulat:n:
around on the inside of my anatom!
thar tradition says is laying rouL.
loose where the wicked are sure t
bring up if they don't mend then
ways, but as this is not a Lrimstonc
grafton or a free advertisement for tn,
a:cient spring tonic | will contin2 my
SELF strictly to the text.
| The posting of the voting lists recall
to my mind a funny instance that be-
! fell two Augusta business men whl
i took a day off and long drive in the
GENTRY sometime ago and who now
wisi, they had stayed at home. Tht
| two young men in question had bust
noes Wa over in another township, sc
ono fine day they hitched up an ancient
stccd and drove out over the
hills. They travelled till about noon
VIXEN they got a little hungry and
commenced 10 cast their eyes out for
The Wcit,In INC sign. Man and Beast Fed
Hcra." But no sign did they see. The
further they drove the more remote
the prospect was of satisfying the
inner man.
They stood it as long as they could
until the situation had become des-
perare and when they saw sub
|stantial looking dwelling In the dis
tarce they made up their mind they
would gently touch the bloated land
owner for a little provinder SO they
drove into the dooryard and made their
wants known. The farmer who an
sWcred their summons was very cordial
and after some talk told them that if
they would drive their horse into the
barn he would provide ample filling for
thcm and their fiery, untamed steed.
They accepted the invitation and drove
in. After seeing the horse made COM
70; table they followed their benefactor
into the kitchen. The spread he set
chocolate colored servants or cut glass
finger bowls, but good wholesome coun-
try food and plenty of it to which they
did ample justice. After devastating
the good mans table and lowering the
contents of his cider barrel several
inches they arose from the sub
stantial repast very much refreshed
and assured the honest tiller of the
soil that they had more than enjoyed
his hospitality and wanted to glisten
his palm with silver coin. But the
farmer assured them that they were
welcome. as he did not keep a hotel.
They told him that they had no idea of
cannibaling on him and would feel bet
ter Ii he would allow them to liquidate
but the host was firm and positively
refused to accept the filthy lucre and
to make them feel at ease said. Gen
tlemen, this is the poor house and we
feel in duty bound to fed the hungry
and clothe the naked"
The young men were somewhat taken
back but accepted the situation and
smilingIy said they had always had an
idea they might eventually land on the
town farm but was not aware they
were approaching it so rapidly. After
considerable good natured chatting on
both sides they babe their hospitable
friend adieu ard drove off and in due
course of time arrived home.
They had well nigh forgottdl the
poor house episode when they were
forci5ly reminded of it the other day
by their friends. They received a let
e l. he nf
the town, saying as they had been
helped by their town they. the select
men. had charged it up against the city
of Augusta.
Now these two gallant youths had
bumped up against some pretty violent
shocks and surprises in their day but
this one was par. excellence, the king
bee of them all and they commenced to
hustle and write letters for they had nc
idea of having their right of franchise
taken away. The poor man who be
friended them in their hour of need got
a long sample of their letter writing
ability Offering him a liberal strip off
their roll of green to settle the bill
Strange as it may seem they failed to
get any response and every breeze
Indt plpW tIty tiity 'Cui'
hear gentle voice saying: You have
been helped by the town. You can't
vote" They stood the nervous strain
/ for some time, but when some of the
boys who thought the joke too good to
keep asked them about it they began to
think there was something decayed ir
denmark and wondered where they
were at.
They are now out with a half g
! brick and an old stocking looking fol
the rlan who with the aid and as
sistance of the keeper of the town farm
put up the job and should they sue
coed in getting their eye on him first
somebody is liable to carry his eye IL
n slinG or have his bump of combative
ness drummed on with brick. In thu
meantime they arc trying to keep thu
matter quiet by liberal distribution
of good cigars and cracked ice miyet
with ox-goad tonic.
/ Ag~AA~:M