A RICH STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 739, 13 March 1877, Page 5 (Supplement)

A RICH STORY.

A TALL awkward looking chap just from the Green mountains of Vermont?, came on board of one of the splendid North river boats at Albany. His curiosity was amazingly excited at once, and he commenced "peeking," as he called it, into every nook and corner of the boat. The captain's office, the engine room, the water closets, the barber's shop, all underwent his inspection ; and then he went on deck and stood m amazement at the lever beam, the chimney's and the various " fixins," till at last lie caught sight of the bell. This was the crowning wonder, and he viewed it from every position, walked around it, got down on his kilees and looked up into it, and ex- ' claimed : : "Wall, raly, this beats the bell on onr meetinghouse a darned sight." By this time, the attention of the captain and several of the passengers was attracted to this genius. . <' How much would you ask to let a feller ring this bell?" " You may ring it for a dollar, sir," said the captain. " Well, it's a bargain, all fair and agreed, and no backing eout." "It's a 'bargain, sir," said the captain. Our hero went deliberately and brought a seat, and took hold of the bell rope, and having arranged everything to his satisfaction, commenced ringing, slowly at first, and gradually faster and faster, till everybody on board thought the boat was on .fire, and rushed on deck, screaming with alarm. There stood the captain, and there sat the "Varmounter," ringing away, first slow and then fast, and two or three taps at a ' time. The passengers began to expostulate ; the captain said it was a oargain. But the became urgent that the eternal Mangor should be stopped. All the "while Iliere. sat our hero xindisturbed, ringing away mbre ways than a cockney chimeringer ever dreamed of. At last the captain bWan to think it time to stop the simpleton 5 tufc his answer was : "A fair bargain and 119 backing eout," said he and rang away for dear life,. "Well," says the captain, "what will you tajke^i stop ?" ■''.". „ •••-"=:^^^kp'n; I guess I sheant lose ,-noth- ; ing if f^fislfve "dollars and a free passage to°New Ydrki fyut not a/ darned cent less. ' " \yell. Sy4s $W n f° *V °^ Q > $ n A ge * your money,^pi| ; *p^^ e U^i" Baicl'tiie captain^- . ;^H'--, ■ ■ '' ■'. • •