FRIGHTENED AT A, GONG.
{"newspaper_name": "The Columbian fountain.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": ""}
{"character_count": 2285, "word_count": 427, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9871000051498413], "ccnet_perplexity": [1210.5999755859375], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
We have heard funny story told of young
fellow, residing in one Of the tobacco growing
counties of Virginia, who recently made his first
visit TO the capital of the g Old Dominion !" for
the purpose of selling his CROP seeing the sights,
and rubbing off some of the rust which his back
woods g fetching up" had thrown upon his man
ners. aH ~


He reached Richmond about the middle of the
forenoon, and was fortunate in selling his crop
at an advantageous rate and almost Immediately.
Meeting with an old school boy--one who had
lived in the city long enough to know its ways
he was advised to take up his lodgings at Boy
den's, the crack house of the place, and thither
he at once went with bag and baggage. just
before dinner, his country friend called upon
him. and found him comfortably located in
room just at the head of the first stairs. II was
closely upon dinner time. eU


"Supposng we take something to start an ap-
petite" said the chap who had "just come
down. u 81


agreed" rejoined the city friend, " glass
of wine and bitters for me-"


Let's 90 down to the bar and get it-din
ner's most ready" continued the tobacco-grower


'We might as well have it up here, y was
the rejoinder.


Good luck but how are we to call for it %


:" Ring that bell there"


ssWhat bellP'


'Pull that rope hanging there" a5a


The young fellow laid hold of the rope and
gave it jerk, and just at that moment the gong
sounded for dinner. Never had he heard such
a sound before, and the rumbling crash came
upon his ear with report that stunned him.
He staggered back from the rope, raised both
hands with horror, and exclaimed


|" Great Jerusalem, what a smash! I've
broke every piece of crockery in the house -
There amt whole dish left You must stick
by me old fellow" addressing his friend . don't
leave me in this scrape, for my whole crop won't
half pay the breallage. What did you tell me
to touch that cursed rope for %


But before his friend, who was all BURSTING
with laughter, could answer, servant entered
the room with


!'Did you ring the bell sir, sir %


"Bell. no, d----n your bell. / never touched
q bell in my life-what bell 2 never saw YOU
bell"


" Somebody rung the bell Of this room, that't
certain" continued the servant.


No, they didn't. There's nobody here tha