A PRACTICAL JOKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 444, 16 October 1869, Page 3

A PRACTICAL JOKE.

A correspondent writing from Burlington, Vt., tells the following :—

A few days since Dan, one of the greatest specimens of the "beanpole" family now extant, was loafing about the Exchange Hotel, with nothing particular to burden his mind, and seeing the morning's paper iv the barber's room, he stepped iv and sat down to read. He had been engaged but a, few momenta when a portly Englishman, .just from the province, came , puffing in at the door. He looked round a moment in doubt as to the probability of his being in the right shop, and finally growled out rather than said— "ls the barber in ?" "I'am the person that shaves," said Dan, slowly erecting his long lank figure; " can Ido anything for you in ray line ?" John Bull eyed his anything bat Apollo-like proportions for a moment, and taking off his hat, he sat down with the air -of a person perfectly resigned to the ignominious fate of submitting his chin for tonsorial operation to a Yankee barber. After carefully tucking the clean white napkin about his customer's doub c chin, Dan proceeded to make some lather. With r, little trouble he found a small shaving cup containing a bit of " Windsor " somewhat larger than a big pea, into, which he turned a gill of warm, not hot water, and proceeded to beat up the soap in the most approved manner, until the lather, if so it may be called, was about the colour and consistency of milk. Then motioning his already somewhat impatient customer to lay back, he commenced covering his luce with the liquid, beginning at the tip of his nose and working backwards towards Ins ears. " What !— what— what's that's for ?" blubbered out Bull. "Keep your mouth shut," said Dan, as the brush slipped from the end of the nose into the cavity below ; "I can't work while you talk." Dan continued the operation of lathering until there was scarce auything uncovered but the forehead and eyes, and it was pretty certain the soap and water was undermining the very foundation of the Englishman's enormous standing collar, when suddenly he required a clean towel, and stepped out to procure one. The Englishman waited awhile, but no clean towel appeared. His neck was beginning to feel uncomfortable, and the liquid, devoid of anything in the shape of froth, was slowly trickling down his back and shoulders, when all at once the idea flashed across his mind that he was sold. " The vile Yankee I" was the first exclamation, then catching his hat he rushed to the door, but was too late ; he just caught a glimpse of Dan's skirt; as he turned into Main-street, and was soon out of sight. The discomfited Englishman turned back and began to pace the floor, swearing about the cursed Yankees. After taking two or three turns he stopped, thought a moment, and then burst into a loud roar. " Here, landlord, does that fellow board here ?" «He does." " Well, give him that tobacco-box, and tell him if he ever comes to Montreal, I want him to come and see me, and I will entertain him like a prince." Here the bell rang for the boat.