How Shrimps Got Spiggs

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 691, 18 November 1876, Page 2 (Supplement)

How Shrimps Got Spiggs

Mb. Spiogs, a f»t man, of Summer Street, owed Mr. Shrimp, the grooer and pTOviiion dealer, a bill which the latter gentleman was anxious to collect, but which, for aome trivial reason, the fat man had declared he would settle when he gob ready and not a minute before. The laucy independence on the part of Spiggi irritated the grocer's nature to such an extent that, finally, he madb the bold statement to his bookkeeper that if he didn't mortify Spiggs into paying that bill within thirty days ne would sell out his business to him for oO cencs on the dollar. The next afternoon Spiggs was passing the store on the opposite side of the street, wben Shrimp ran to the door and yelled : ' Come in here and pay that bill of yours, and don't go sneaking down the street with your head hung down like a sheep 1' Spiggs took no notice of this demand, , which seemed only to hightea the creditor's indignation. The following day he saw Spiggs down town, in company with a friend, when he approached him and said : • You're a pretty man to be wearing a beartr hat, and heio you are owing me for the victuals you and your family stuffed yourselves with last Thankigiring !' Returning home he encountered one of Spiggs daughters on her way with an associate to take a mono lesson, when he said : ' I should think, young lady, that you wonld rathsr go without knowing how to play and siag till your f*ther gets so that he can pay for what you eat.' Adayortno later he saw, through the window, one of Spigg's sons getting measured at the tailor's for a suit of clothes, when he opened the dour and said : ' Don't you trust him a day for those clothes. His father h&s owed mo 86 49 dols. for sirloin sceak and such things, for over six months, and I can't get one dollar of it.' Soon after this he saw Mrs. dpiggs and her daughter chatting with some ladies in the horse-car station, waen he entered and said : ' This woman's huaband owes me for the soap that was used in wasniug that collar she's got on her neck, and I want my pay for it \ About a weak later he saw Spiggs, riding out with a clergyman, wh<m, after beokonlng him to stop, he said : 'You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Here you are passing yourself off to this minister of the Gospel as an honest man, when you are owing me lor the starch used in doiug up your shirt bo3om.' The nexc evening Shrimp called at the house of Spigg* to see if ne was ready f.o settle his bill, but tfpigqs was away. Mrs. dpiggs was at home, howover, entertaiuing some of her lady friends at the tea-table. Shrimp pushed his w<*y into the diningroom and said : ' i_r»die», the family whose hospitality }ou are now enjoying owes me for the Hour that those hot bascuits there, on the centre of the table, are made from, and I should like to get my money for it moat confoundedly well.' Passing out of the gate he m«t Mr. Spigg's oldest daughter in company with a youug man whom he suspected was her affianced, when he said : ' That girl's cheek wouldn't look so plump and fat it it hadn't been for me. I have been letting her hare all the fresh donghaucs and bologna sausage she wanted for too past six montns, and the bill hasn't been paid yet.' The young man looked as though he felt a little ashamed to be found in such company, and was commencing to more dowu the street, when the young lady gave a wild shriek and fell senseless to the sidewalk, lie came back and assisted her into the house, and that night Spiggs came in and paid his bill in full, with a liberal interest thereto.