TRANSACTIONS IN WORSTEDS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 169, 31 May 1872, Page 6

TRANSACTIONS IN WORSTEDS.

A man some; six feet three inches in height, and of herculean build, went into a Worcester shopkeeper's establishment, and asked if they had. got any " whirl ers " —hy which he .meant stockings without feet, supposing, of course, that they were to be obtained of any " worsted " merchant. , . .

"No," said the shopkeeper; " but .we have . got some famous big stockings as will just suit such a man as you." : "Let's ha'e a look at 'em," said the

man. The counter was immediately covered with a quantity. The working Hercules selected ; the 'largest pair—of mammoth size—and said: "What's the price of them?" " Four shillings and ninepence," was the reply. " Can you cut the feet off them ?" was the next query.' "Oh, certainly,", rejoined the shop-

keeper. ,: ; " Then just cut them off," was the laconic direction:

No sooner said than done. The long shop shears were applied, and instantly the stockings were footless. " And what is the price- of 'em now '?" asked the customer, with all the compossure imaginable.

" Price of 'em 'now ?" exclaimed the " worsted " merchant, surprised beyond measure at the absurdity of the question; "why, four shillings-and ninepence to be sure!"

" Four skillings and ninepence !" exclaimed tlie customer; " I never gave but one shilling and sixpence for a pair of ' whirlers' in my life," —and he laid down the amount upon the counter.

"Well," replied the tradesman, chopfallen and fairly outwitted, throwing the mutilations at him, " take them and be off with you! You've 'whirled' me this time, but I'll take good care that neither you nor any of your gang shall do it again as long as I live." . This case.is similar to that of the 'cute Yankee auctioneer, who, after disposing of a violin, after a hard bidding, to a closefisted buyer, went on—" Now. gentlemen, how much m' offered for the bow ? —how much—how much—how much m' offered for the bow ?" Expostulation was useless. The fiddle and the bow, he said, were in separate " classes;" so that the former proved not so .veiy cheap all. ...