Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1886 — Josh Billings’ Dog. [ARTICLE]

Josh Billings’ Dog.

A good story is told of the humorist being thrown, on one occasion, among a batch of students in a country town near New Haven. He was tramping along with a yellow dog, and entered the bar-room of a hotel for some refreshments. A group of the Yale lads chanced to be there on a frolic.apd immediately interviewed Billings,whom they evidently mistook for a farmer. They inquired with affected interest after the health of his wife and children, and Josh, with counterfeited simplicity, gave them a graphic account of his family and farm. “Of course you belong to the church ?” asked one of the boys. “Yes, the Lord be praised, and my father and grandfather before me.” “Now, I suppose you wouldn’t tell, a lie,” said one of the students. “Not for the world.” “AVhat will you take for that dog?” pointing >to Josh’s cur, which was crouching beneath his chair. “I won’t take S2O for that dog.” “Twenty dollars! Why, he’s not worth 20 cents.” “I assure you I would not take S2O for him.” “Come, my friend,” said the student, who, with his companions, was bent on having some fun with the old man. “Now, you say you won't tell a lie for the world. Let me see if you will not do it for S2O. I’ll give you S2O for your dog.” “I’ll not take it.” “You will not? Here! let me see if this will not tempt you to a lie.” added the student, producing a small bag of half dollars, which he built up into small piles on the table. Josh was sitting by the table, with his hat in his hand,apparently unconcerned. “There,” added the student, there are twenty dollars, all in silver; I will give you that for the animal.” Josh quietly raised his hat to the edge of the table, and, as quick as thought, scraped all the money into it except one half dollar, and then exclaimed: “I won’t take your S2O! Nineteen and a half is as much as that dog is Tirorth; he is your property !” ' A tremendous shout from his fellowstudents clearly showed the would-be wag that ho was completely sold and that he r.eed not look for sympathy from that quarter, so he goodnaturedly acknowledged himself beaten.—Philadelphia Tunes.