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| BY JOE BIRD,


| A nev Missouri correspondent.


| had business with gentleman living near
Norfolk, Va, which called me from St. Louis
in the fall Of 1874, during the most exciting pc.
rod of the race between Mes CLAW and Polk
for the Presidency. The popular mind was mos,
fearfuy excited, yet it could no. extlnsush that
zest for amusement and the Iudicrous which is
every whero found in young men. The follow
ing relation will show how rife it then was in the
sold Dominion


On finishing my breakfast the morning after
my arrival. | mounted my horse to visit Mr.. D.,
whose residence was few miles from the town.
had no, gone more than four miles, in a musing
mood and in slow walk, when met man with
a large lire coon strapped upon his back. The
man was tall, salIow, and of a strangely awkward
appearance. broad ard simple grin Of inward
joy made me venture parley with him.


"Friend. what on earth is that you have on
your shoulders!'


"Pul them strings. Mister, and stop your brute.
l'm gwinc for 10 go for to tell you,' said Pump
kin-face, who seemed to be miserable from perfect
joy. ''My name is Dick JONES, but they call me
mostly, Long YaHer. lives back here in the
Dismal Swamp, and makes my living by selling
taters, mush- millions, fish, and such like ycarbs
up in town, and -


Stop. Mr.. Jones, | only inquired what YOU





"Well, was coming to that arter a while; but
III tell you now of you'll promise not to tell it,
for ef you does III have compertilon."


"l'lI PROMISE" said | impntientIy.


swell, Stranger, coons is in great demand Jess
now for the Wing rally, what's gwine to be next
Thursday, and cos the supply is skace | know
ken get $50 for this piece o. personal property


"You mus, be dreaming, Mr.. Jonos!"


"Dreaming, h--ll. Does you think | would
hunt four nj gifts in recession in the Dismal Swamp,
up TO my knees in mud and water to boot, an cut
down seven trees, four foot in the butt, an kill
one dog, an sprnin my wrls'. an'-an' without
being sartain Of the speculalionl Catch ,cho?'
said Mr.. Jones, with most knowing wink, US he
started on his way rejoicing.


/ i pursued my way, arranged my affairs with
Mr.. D., partook Of his dinner his wine, and his
cigars, and mounted my horse to return TO Nor
folk. AS was going throug h the outer gate Of
the plantation met the son Of Mr.. D., whom
had got acquainted with in town, and who was
then returning home. Virg ginians never in
hurry; and when they meet they invariably stop
to talk. Young ID. asked me if had, in the
forenoon, met "Long Yaer" with his coon going
in to town. On my replying in the affirmative
and expressing a wish to hear more of the matter.
Mr.. ID. proceeded thus


"Poor Dick is simple, unsuspec,ng, good.
hearted green horn, from dry spot in the Swamp,
and is often the dupe of wild fellows, he is in
this instance. 1t was Preconcerted affair among
some half dozen or moro. Dick was promised
by ono of them $50 for lire coon. On Dicks
presenting the TO his employer, he said 10
him


Il would at once give you $50 for that animal.
he $ beautiful fellow, but | would be cheating
you. You can get 500 for him. There's Mr..
JOHN Smith who will give it. You know where
he lives?'


| Dick makes a rush for J. Smiths, who says
to him: Here is n 500 note would give you
at once for your coon, but heard my brother .Ioe
say only this morning, that he would give any
man 5000 for live COON


| 'Whar does he persdeF asked poor Dick, who
thought his fortune was eternaIIy made, and
trembled like an aspen, from the intensity Of his
hopes Joe being found, he takes Dick aside and
whispers in his car: My good friend, would
give 5000 for that fine coon, and | have chance
of cheating you, but my conscience will not allow
me; honesty requires me to tell you, tina, believe
if you will sell that animal at auction, there are
so many men who want him, he will bring at
east $780,


Heaven and yearth! You don't tell me so,'
and Dick squeezed the raccoon with grateful
and nervous embrace closer to his body.
Co. said Joe patronislngly, ito JACK RAWLINGS
auction store-he opens at half past 2 o'clock,
ana will then sell your COON.


81 saw Dick" said young D.. "on his way to
the auction room in state Of the widest excite
menl. His agitation the trembling of his hands,
the shaking Of his knees, and the wildness of his
eyes, showed to what fearful pitch the tension
Of his mind had reached. | was anxious to wit
ness the denouemem, but was obliged to reach
home at this hour"


continued my way, and when got within
two miles of town, who should meet running
towards me, but Dick Jones himself He was in
state of complete exhaustion, being now the
very picture of woe and grief rnutterabls and the
dog, that followed him, hung out his tongue, and
painted for BREATH


sinister, for the love Of God, has you seen my
coon?'


"Tell me, Dick, what has happened?" 4


"Ah! Mister, he was selling beautifully at the
auction--he runned up to $500 75;-the crier
said 'goin-goin-goin at ONLY fifteen hundred
dollars and sevenly-fve cents! 'GOne' said
somebody for the string is cut lsl'members
nuthin else, Mister. They say | tainted away,
but riz and called "Towser," and took this track,
kase 'spicions he's gone back 10 the Swamp.
Goodbye. Mister, Pm rested now. Here Tows-
er, here!" and away went poor Dick, whom
pited from the bottom of my heart, and was
ry he did not allow me time to explain the trick
of the rnscaIs who had 'duped him.
have since hea rd that Dick was taken sick on