A STEANGER’S LIBERALITY.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 155, 18 June 1879, Page 3

A STEANGER’S LIBERALITY.

A red-nosed stranger shuffled into a saloon where a crowd of loungers Averc discussing the political situation, and waiting for a candidate to drop in and “ say something.” Making a loav obeisance to the man behind the bar, the stranger turned to the loungers and said: — “ Glad you’re on deck, gents ; Avas afraid I would be obliged to drink alone ; and if there is anything I despise, it’s to play a game of solitaire at a public drinking fountain ; come up and join me. The boys rallied to the call, and half-a-dozen glasses Avcrc filled and emptied AA’ith “ my regards, stranger.” “ In the Avords of the Latin poet,” said the strange man, Avhirling his empty glass across the counter, “ Fill him up again !” , The order Avas obeyed, and the boAhrage drank to the health of the genial stranger. “ What’s the penalty ’?” he asked, Aviping Ixis lips on the back of his hand. “ Dollar forty.”

“ Only a dollar forty !” ho exclaimed; it’s worth twice that if it’s worth a cent. Why, my dear sir,” he continued, unearthing a greasy pocket-book, “ I’ve travelled from Maine to Californy, from Terre Haute to Kalamazoo, and dog my cats it I ever hoard tell of such a cheap entertainment.'’ “ We trv to do the fair thing by our customers,” said the barkeeper, visibly touched by the compliment. I have slaked my thisst at the Fifth Avenue, at the Palmer, at the Southern, at the Grand, at the Gibson, at the Galt, and I can truthfully assert that never before have ray lips touched ■juice of the corn that could ho’d a candle to that with which you have just regaled us. Dollar forty, indeed !” “ I won’t have any hut the best,” said'the barman, blushing slightly. u As I go up and down through life,” continued the stranger with enthusiasm, “ X will make it a pleasure to call every man’s attention to the fact that at ' your place—and I will note the street and number a? I go <mt—that at your place, sir, sign of Fambrinus sitting on a beer keg. is dispensed a balm of Gilead at ten cents a glass, that can be bad nowhere else on the footstool for less than twenty five.” I will be ranch obliged to you.”

“ Don’t mention it. I will go miles out of my way to call a traveller’s atten tion to the fact that iioneath yonr counter is a black bottle with a corn.cob stopper that contains the identical nectar that Jupiter sips. In addition to this full-paged advertisement, embellished with original cuts, I would gladly hand you the paltry dollar and forty cents,” and he unclasped the pocket-book and helped himself to a chew of due cut therefrom, “but the fact is, sir, the failure of the Bank of the City of Glasgow lias left me without a cent in the world ; ta-ta —come and see us often.” And he was gone. —Oil City Derrick.