Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1910 — THE BUNDLE OF HAY. [ARTICLE]

THE BUNDLE OF HAY.

When traveling on foot from Rothenburg to the Danube, Everett Warner had the good fortune to put up at an inn, “The Sign of the Lamb,” where the charges were so small as to surprise him. He describes in Scribner’s Magazine this unusual experience; It was quite dark when I reached the “Lamb.” On entering the tavern, which I found crowded to overflowing, I sought the Frau Wirtin and made the customary inquiry about the charge for accommodation. "Twenty pfennigs,” five cents, “is the charge for a single room,” she answered, to my great astonishment. I barely recovered sufficient natural effrontery to inquire if light was included at that figure. It was. I will confess that, once irrevocably committed to the room, and following the Frau Wlrtin’s flickering candle up stairs, I had some furtive regrets for the haystack under the open sky; but when I reached my quarters, I found that the misgivings due to the alarmingly low. price were unfounded. I will not pretend It wa? a luxurious chamber into which I was shown, but it was reasonably clean, and, to be fair to it, many a better bed has not yielded me half so good a night’s rest. The next morning, while settling the most insignificant hotel bill that it has ever been my lot to encounter, I could not help thinking that those who pictured the country innkeeper as a rapacious brigand had certainiy never put up it the “Sign of the Lamb.” Personally, I have yet to be charged With a bundle of hay, but I understand it has happened. "How is this, Herr Wirt?” exclaimed the, amazed traveler, going over the Items of food and drink on his bill. “You have me charged with a bundle of hay.” “Quite right, quite right/’ responded the landlord, readily. "You complained last night of the mooing of a cow in the adjoining stable, and I gave her a bundle of hay to quiet her.” 1 -1 : ■. , ■ . The# roan who can flatter without overdoing it always makes a "hit with a woman.