AN ODD AMBITION.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 9, Issue 78, 30 September 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

AN ODD AMBITION.

A commercial traveller tells of an old Yorkshireman whom be met in a shop in Leeds. The latter was anxious to buy a bedstead, and the upholsterer showed him several which he thought would suit bis means, for the old fellow was shabbily dressed, and it was concluded he wanted a cheap one. However, he would not have anything in the shop, declaiing they were not good enough. At length the tradesman approach d the “ commercial,” who represented a well-known bedstead firm, and told him of his difficulty. Now the firm in question had just executed an order for a massive brass bedstead for which they were paid a trifle over £IOO, and fortunately the traveller had the drawings with him. “ Ah, that’s surnmat loike,” he said, and finally gave an order for a similar bedstead, the cost with fittings, to be £75. The tradesman hesitated to book the order, for no one would have suspected by his clothes that the customer was worth as many shillings. The old man noticing the shopman’s demeanour, said to him: “Ah noa what yor thinking abaat; yer think 1 haven’t got th’ brass. Here's £SO to goa on with,” at the same time producing a bank-note for that amount. The order was duly executed, and the bedstead, which was magnificent enough for a king, was in due course delivered to a bumble cottage, one of a row, in which the old man dwelt. Heie for some days he held a levee of his neighbour, to whom he confided the fact that he had—- “ Allas wanted to dee iu a good bed 1”