A SURPRISE FOR THE OLD MAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 272, 20 October 1883, Page 2

A SURPRISE FOR THE OLD MAN.

THE FI»pE; : :; ,

/ A dilapidated man walked -into a Pittsburg shoe store a few days ago and; said that he desired to make a pur^ chase. Bis need of a new outfit was apparent, but his coarse, soiled and ragged cl otb.es and general air" of decay forbade the supposition that he would desire or could pay for a fine article. "But"' " he "eratemtuoWy^rejecWd^the clerk's first offers, and fina ly accepted an excellent pair of handmade shoes. I When hp had ascertained the price he s drew*"frorn a btmdWdf va*ribus articles held together sby 5 by a r bandana handkerchief a, cigy^box, an'di quietly opening it disclosed to the clerk's astonished /gaze about 15j000dols m bills and coin. After some adroit questioning he explained that he % had away from -his fathera^farm.many^ years ago and had drifted around the country without "■■'■ gatberirig : any; moss,! finally, not long ago, he "struck it in' a western mine and had made -a foctune,. of which the contents of the pigar box, were only a small part. He was on L his ; way <hpme>tb seeUiis parents and,- -in oader to make their consternation and .his., own amusement complete, he purposed to appear before them m a poverty-stricken guise, and ,not .divulge his real condition until he enjoyed .their, .tears and welcome and sympathy. Then he* had intended to complete the melodrama by setting it uj> f the old folks -in gprgepus. sty^e? 1 and j the'*Tiew-^oes«were^for^n^^inT the^' transformation* scene.