John Chinaman Driving a Bargain.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 55

John Chinaman Driving a Bargain.

A traveller was sitting with some naval officer* in front of a hotel in Java, and vras approached by a forlorn-lookii g Chinaman, who had a swoidcane in his hand. "Want buy ?" said he, bowing profoundly to the group. The others paid no attention to him, but { (says the traveller), being Eomewhat inex-^ perienced, took pity on him and asked him hit price. " Six dollah," said he. "Six dollars'^ I exclaimed. "That is too much." "Vi-lly fine aword-c»ne. Chinaman velly hungly," whined he plaintively. "Help huDgly man. Five dollsh, sab." " No," said I, " five dollars is too muoh." "Four dollah; little, little four dollah I* persifitsd tho miserable little object. Still I was firm in my belief thit I could buy a 6word-cane tor much less, if I really needed one, and declared that I would not pay four dollars. " Tlee dollah ! Two dollah I One dollah /" groaned the beggar. Then, as I nhook my head in obedience to ft - btealthy wink from a lieutenant sitting near, the fellow bfgau to cry, "Velly hungly ! Die! Fifty cane?" I relented, and Bg-eed to buy it for fifty cenU (half a dollar). But an investigation of my purse showed nothing but a piece of gold. " I oan't take it after all, unless one of these gentlemen can change this piece," said I regrtt« fully. Imagine my amazement when, after one keen glance at the coin, tho Chinaman dived down his ileere and brought out a double handful o( silver, counte'l out the change, took my gold, handed me the cane, and turned away with ft placid Btnile and a bow, amid the shouts and laughter of my companions. Tbe lieutenant then took me to a neighbouring shop, where thoro was a shelf full of swordcanes just like mine, marked twenty-five cent! each !