TOBACCO TOUGH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2435, 12 January 1876, Page 3

TOBACCO TOUGH.

(Vicksbwy Paper,) One dav when trade was dull, a Vicksburg frooery clerk procured a pieoe ot sole-leather rom a shoemaker, painted' it black, and laid it aside for future use. Within a few days an old chap from baok in tbe country oame in and inquired for a plug of ohewing-tobacco. The pieoe of sole- leather was tied up, paid for, and the purchaser started for home. At the end of the sixth day he returned, looking downcast and dejected, and walking into the store he inquired of tbe elerk — " Member that terbaoker I got here tbe other day P" " Yes.'' " Well, was that a new brand P" <• No— some old brand." " Regular plug terbaoker, waa it .*" "Yea." " Well, then, it's me • it's right here in my jaws," aadly replied the man* "I snowed I J

was gettin' purty old; hot I wus alius handy on bitin' plug. I nefer seed a plug afore thu one that I oouldnt tear to pieeea at one chaw. I set my teeth on to this one, and bit and pulled and twisted, like a dog at a toot, and I've kept biting aad pulling for six days, and thar she am now, the came a* the day yon aold her to me!" "

" Seems to be good plug," remarked tha clerk, ac he smell*d of the counterfeit. " She's all right} it* me that's failing!" exclaimed the old man • "pass me oot iotaa fine out, and I'll go home and deed the farm to the boys, and git reedy for th* grave i M •