Year: 1878

/ One Of the historians Of the great


emperor tells us that at st. Helena he
always shaved himself, saying that he


had always done so, as he could never


endure the hands of another man pass
| ing over his face. There is consider


able distance between the personal
| fame Of the First Napoleon and that of
humble Joshua limbs, bookseller and


stationer, and 1 don't want to be told


that the pubic have no particular in-
terest in my habits or ways. merely


state as a fact that ], like the great


Corsican, always shave myself, and


have done so for eleven years past, or
ever since I was married-befOre which


time 7 used to patrOnize the barber.


Now, my reasons for this change


ought to be good ones, since shaving


has always been a labOUrious and disa-
greeable operation to me, and have
not yet learned to do it to my own sat


israction. There is something Of a
story at the bottom Of this, which l beg
leave to tell; and then I think l should


stand justified in the eyes Of all bar


bers.


Eleven years ago the fifth day Of last


Mav-that was my wedding-day-at
two o'clock that afternoon, Miss Susan
Joiner became Mrs. Joshua limbs,
which have never since regretted,
and hope and believe she has not. I
was busy all the day before in getting
M affairs well arranged for the little
trip Of a week that we had planned,
and on the morning Of the eventful
day found odds and ends enough to
occupy me till eleven O'Clock. Then l
dressed myself very carefully, and,
looking at my watch, found that it was
A quarter of twelve. Almost two hours
vet before 1 should start for the house;
and in the meantime I was troubled by
the notion that 1 had neglected or for
gotten something. What could it beS


Ihad packed and strapped my trunk,
and sent it to the station. l surveyed
myself in the glass, and thought was
dressed about as bridegroom should
be. / had my pocketbOOk safe in my
trousers pocket, and my handkerchief
and white kids in my coat-skirt ditto.
Now what had 1 forgotten? In my
perplexity I passed my hand over my
face to rub up my ideas; and there 1
found il. My checks and chin were all
stubble; I had not been shaved for
week. 1 caught up my hat and rushed
away Immediately 10 the barbGr shop.
1 was lucky enough to find the chair
unoecupied, and seating myself, l
begged to be shaved at once.


1t so happened that I never had been
in this shop before. I had always pat
ronized the other shop, for the reason
that I was we'll acquainted with its
proprietor; and only went in here
now because it was much nearer my
clearinghouse, las the other was
nearer my stOre), and wanted to get
the thing done right of, so that IcOuld
have a little time to my myself if
wished, before the ceremony.


''Shave, sir?" said the barber.


eyes, Of course" =" I answered, rather
pettishly. He had heard my request;
and why should he ask that unneces-
sary question?


He took q razor from bis table, open
ed it, and began to strOp it up and
down. He had his back to me, but
his motions were so deliberate, and he
iook so long a time for it, that found
myself getting impatient. But he
went on, stropping up, strOpping down
until I believe he had forgotten there
was man waiting to be shaved.


Il beg you will make more haste, ,
1 said. 81 have a particular engage
ment to fulfil, and at this rate shall
be delayed"


1t was so strange he never took the
slightest notice of what I said-and I
know spoke petulanuy enough, He
turned around and held the keen edge
Of the razor up to the light, trying it at
the same time with lis thumb.


"Sharp-sharp-keen as deathI" he
said. ''Ah, ] think that would cut the
very bone!"


lie WASH looking at me when he
said this; he was looking at the razor
and with such a look of satisfaction
that I shuddered. He was a spare,
sallow-faced man, with black eyes, and
white teeth which showed most Of the
time; and his general look was serious. |
almost mOurnfUL Without having any
fear of anything amiss just at that mo-
ment, I felt a cold thrill run up my
back, and found myself intently watch
ing this eccentric barber instead Of
lapsing off into a pleasant Teverie |
about Susan Joiner, as 1 naturally
should have dOEe.


He laid the razor down, and lathered
my face. Then lie took up the TazO
again, and began to shave me. As he
progressed, I discovered that he was a
very skillful barber. He handled his
razor as only that man can who has
had long experience in its use, and who !
loves to use il; and it cVt clean and
smooth. watched him as he proceed
ed, and his face kept one unYarying
expression Of sober, melancholy repose |
He said not a word, but kept straight |
on with his work at a speed that prom
ised to dismiss me in a few moments;
and I, smiling at the nervousness on |
my part that had taken alarm at the |
careless speech of The man, closed my |
ewes and Mandrred off in my thOnghts |