THE "HEATHEN CHINEE."

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5192, 7 September 1885, Page 2

THE "HEATHEN CHINEE."

" John" has the reputation of being • great cheat, but I am inclined to think that, in common with other races we charge with the same rice, he is what wo have made him. For an example—John comes into the yard of a suburban resi* dence one morning with his baskets of Tegelables. " Carbagee I" cries John, thereby meaning vegetables generally and cabbages in particular. "Well, John," says the lady of the house, coming out to his baskets, " what hare you this morn* ing?" "Ebbytiug, mum," says John, showing his yellow teeth in broad grin. The lady selects a bunch of turnips, and says, "How much, John P." "Fourpenny," nays John. The lady looks inexpressibly shocked and drops the turnips. "Too dear, John—much too dear. You mean twopenny. I gire you twopenny; that's all—you sarrie?" "No, no! me no savvie twopenny—three* penny ?" holding out three bony and long-nailed fingers. And so they fence for some time, until the lady at last retires triumphantly to her kitchen, having secured the turnips for twopence halfpenny, an I *' John" mores on aontentedly, knowing full well that, had he asked twopence halfpenny in the first instance; ha would hare been beaten down to three halfpence.