A CALCULATING CANADIAN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 543, 13 September 1872, Page 3

A CALCULATING CANADIAN.

There was Hugo Himmelman, who made his wife dig potatoes to pay for the marriage license. “ Lawyer,” he continued, addressing himself to Barclay, *’l must fell you that story of Hugo, for it’s not a bail one; and good stories, like good potatoes, ain’t so plentiful as they ns si to be when 1 was a boy Hugo is a neighbor of mine, though considerably older than I be ; and he i« a mean neighbor too. Will, when he yas going to get married to Gretcheu Kolp, he goes down to Parson Rogers, at Dig by, to get a license, ‘’arson said said he, ‘ What a the price of a license?’ * Six dollars.’ Says lingo, ’That’s a dreadful sight of money ; couldn’t you take no less?’ ’ No,’ said he; ‘that’s what they cost me at the secretary’s office at Halifax. ‘ Well, how r much do you ax for publish! g in church, then?’ i Nothing,’ says parson. ‘Well,’says Hugo, tbai’s so cheap I can’t exp. ct to iet any change hack. I think I’ll he published. How long does it takt” ‘Three Sundays.’ ‘Thne Sundays!’ says lingo; well that’s a long time too But thne Sundays only make a fortnight after all ; two of than covers and one for the inside like ; and six del ars is a great sum of money for a poor fellow to throw aw’ay. I must w ait, So off he goes jogging tow aids L me, and looking as mean as a new sheared she. p, when all at dice a bri ht thought can e into his head, and hack he went as hard as his horse could carry bun ‘Parson,’ says he, ‘l’ve change'' my mind. Hen’s tlie six <li Ha s. I’ll tie the knot with my tongue that I can’t undo with my teeth.’ ‘Why what in nature is the meaning of all this!’ says parson. ‘Why,’ says llugo i ‘l’ve been cyphering it out in my head, and it’s cheat er than j üblishing banns after all You see. sir its potato digging lime . If J wait to he called in Lurch, her father will have her work for nothing ; and as hands are scarce ai d wages high, if 1 marry her tonight she can begin to dig our own to-morrow and that will p.-.y for the lie nse, and just seven sh llings over; for there ain’t a man in the Clements that c n nig aid carry as many bushels in a day as Gretcheu can. And, besides, lic.-h wives, like fierh servants, woik like smoke "fit first, hut they can get saucy and lazy after a while.”