Year: 1876

lie thought he recognized me the moment
entered the door, but refused to encour-
age him in that belief. 1t was strange
town to me, all the people were strangers.
and | was so far from home that doubted
if man, woman or child in that locality had
ever met me before.


The barber smiled tenderly as he pointed
to the chair, and then led off as familiarly
as if he had shaved me every day for a
month past. While mixing the lather he
remarked on the weather, the crops, the
panic, the lost ballooni Z, and other matters,
and although | did not pretend to hear him
he was not to be beaten.


81 hope you'll do well here" he said, as
he pushed my head over and daubed the
lather on my right cheek, commencing at
the butt Of the ear.


(Silence on my part.)


This town needs another dry goods
store" he continued after a moment, land
| shouldn't wonder if you just coined
money"


Long silence.)


Perhaps it was the silence that convinced
the barber that he had made mistake, but
he was not discouraged. As he lathered the
left cheek he Suddenly said
|
now, but as Christopher Columbus said.
There is room at the top of the heap and
| think you will be full of business all the
time"


He was looking right down into my face,
and through the foam of lather he might
have detected faint smile, a frown or some
other expression which hurt his conceit. He
instantly suspected that he had made anoth
er mistake. | was looking into the glass on
the wall and saw his coun,enance change.
Some BARRIERS would not have pushed the
subject further, but he was the only barber
in the village, and he felt that he had GER
tain rights that was bound to respect.
lie might have reasoned that | was mulish
and obstinate and needed coaxing and fat
tering, or perhaps he theorized that was
timid and hesitating and wanted encourag-
ing. At any rate he attacked me again,
saying


This is nice village, but never saw so
much sickness in all nv life as we have had
| this year Our doctors don't seem to know
enough TO manage the diseases, and ! am
glad YOU are going to open an Office. | am
pretty healthy, as general thing, but if
get sick I'll give yon my custom in prefer
ence to any one else


Still watching the glass, saw self
satisfied smile ripple across his face. For
about half minute he was dead sure in his
own mind that be had boxed me up.


Then again shade of suspicion crossed
his face. Silence sometimes gives consent,
but in this case, after scrutinizing my face
sharply for an instant, he interpreted it to
mean that he mad blundered again. lie was
/ | 10 -. %. md
his round cornered queries with such con-
temptuous silence. He would pay me for
such conduct. | saw the spirit of resolve
creep into his face, and he said


II was saying only the other day that
this town was able TO support another
blacksmith shop. Old Jones il good heart
ed, but he knows no more about shoeing
horse than a coon does about sailing canal
boat -


His eyes glistened, ard he took no pains
to keep down the the chuekle Of satisfaction
bubbling up in his throat. lie regarded it
as a line shot-a crusher-and if he hadn't
been shaving nv chin at that time he would
have been unable to suppress laugh.


His razor crossed the chin and scraped ny
and down and skipped around to the jusIlar
vein before the BARRIERS smile faded. He
had been watching me to catch start Of
surprise or look OF displeasure, or some
thing to guide his opinion; and as he had
been unsuccessful, he renewed the lather on
the left cheek and sighed drearily. | hoped
he was = man of determination, and trusted
that he would not give it up. Fearing that
lie would. | was about TO speak, when
he smiled blandly and remarked.


Il can tell a school teacher the minute |
set eyes on hin"


Lather and shave


well, suppose teaching i good pay
ing business, he went on, as be looked
my face over to see if he had skipped spot
-"and I'm willing to help you all can. |
haven't any children-am not married-but
if ever get married and have children III
send them to you


His persistency and fattery deserved some
encouragement, but was determined to
hold out to the last ditch. He shut up his
razor with quick, vexed motion, tossed it
on the stan regardless Of damages, and he
smiled maliciously as he got down his bottle
of adulterated bay rum. knew that itwould
bite like a serpent and sting like an adder,
but could | show less stoicism than he had
shown diplomacy and persistency Didn't
| commence the struggle?


shut my teeth and looked straight into
the glass, and be soaped the fiery stuff over
my cheeks and chin. He expected a squirm
and a yell. and his surprise was great. The
light Of revenge had crept into his eyes, but
it quickly faded away, and as he replaced
the bottle and wiped my face with the towel
he said


81 never saw but one man who could
stand bay rum like that, and he was re-
turned California. The climate of that
country hardens the flesh. suppose"


| refused to reply. He got angry again,
dug my scalp as he combed my hair, gave
my head several unnecessary twists and
knock and pushes, and he jerked the big
calico apron of my lap as if be hated me.
However, curiosity suddenly overcame his
vexation Of spirit, and as he brushed me of
he said


This town ought to support another IN
dertaker, and if | can be Of any assistance
in finding you a shop you can call upon me,
dav or night


wouldn't speak, and heard him grit
ting his teeth. He also struck me several
hard blows with the brush, and once tried
to hit me fair on the nose. thought had
discouraged him, but Just as put on my
hat and opened the door he made last
desperate charge Smiling sweetly, he in
quired


LESS see nd-Reverend-wha
did you say it was Reverend Mr.. Brown p


| didn't say