"Herman," said a Poydras-street merchant clothier, addressing his clerk, "haf ve sold all of dose overgoats vat vas left over from last vinter?"
"No, sir; dere vas dree of dem left yet."
"Vell, ve must sell 'em right avay, as the vinter vill not last, you know, Herman. Pring me one uf de goats und I vill show you somedings about de pisness. I vill tell you how we vill sell dem oud, und you must learn de bisness, Hermann; de vinter vas gone, you know, und ve hav had dose goats in de store more es seex years."
An eight-dollar overcoat was handed him by his clerk, and, smoothing it out, he took a buckskin money-purse from the showcase, and stuffing it full of paper, dropped it into one of the pockets.
"Now, Herman, my poy," he continued, "vatch me sell dot goat. I haf sold over dirty-fife uv dem shust de same vay, und I vant to deech you de pisness. Yen de nexd gustomer comes in de shop I vill show de way Rube Hoffenstein, mine broder in Detroit, sells his cloding und udder dings."
A few minutes later a negro, in quest of a suitable pair of cheap shoes, entered the store. The proprietor advanced smiling, and inquired—
"Vat is it you vish?"
"Yer got any cheap shoes hyar?" asked the negro.
"Blenty uf dem, my frient, blenty; at any brice you vant."
The negro stated that he wanted a pair of brogans; and soon his pedal extremities were encased in them, and a bargain struck. As he was about to leave, the proprietor called him back.
"I ain't gwine to buy nuffin' else. I'se got all I want," said the negro sullenly.
"Dot may be so, my dear sir," replied the proprietor, "but I shust vants you to look at dis goat. It vas de pure Russian wool, und dis dime last year you doan got dot same goat for twenty-five dollars. Mine gracious! cloding vas gone down to noding, and der vas no money in de pisness any longer. You vant someding dot vill keep you from de vedder, und make you feel varm as summer-dime. De gonsumption vas going round, und de doctors dell me it vas de vedder. More den nine beobles died round vere I lif last week. Dink of dot! Mine frient, dot goat vas Russian vool, dick und hevy. Vy, Misder Jones, who owns der pank on Canal Streed, took dot goat home mit him yesterday, und vore it all day; but it vas a leedle dight agross de shoulders, und he brought it pack shust a vile ago. Dry it on, my dear sir. Ah! dot vas all righd. Misder Jones vas a rich man und he liked dot goat. How deep de pockets vas! but it vas a leedle dight agross de shoulders."
The negro buttoned up the coat, thrust his hands in the pockets and felt the purse. A peaceful smile played over his face when his touch disclosed to his mind the contents of the pockets, but he choked down his joy and inquired—
"Who did you say wore this hyar coat?"
"Vy, Misder Jones, vot owns de pank on Canal Streed.
"What yer gwine to ax for it?"
"Dwenty dollars."
"Dat's pow'ful high price fur dis coat, but I'll take it."
"Herman! here, wrap up this goat for de schentleman and drow in a cravat; it vill make him look nice mit de ladies."
"Nebber mind, I'll keep de coat on," replied the negro; and pulling out a roll of money he paid for it and left the store.
While he was around the next corner moaning over the stuffed purse, Hoffenstein said to his clerk:—
"Herman, fix up anudder vun of dose goats de same vay; and doan forget to dell dem dot Misder Jones vot run de pank on Canal Streed vore it yesterday."