Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1869 — Too Sharp by Half. [ARTICLE]

Too Sharp by Half.

An enterprising business man of this city runs two branches of trade, to wit: a grocery and a fish market. The grocery he runs himself, the fish market by a deputy, and every night the latter makes returns of the proceeds of the day's business to the proprietor. A day or two since tho grocer found in his fish market returns a counterfeit five dollar bill. He didn’t like to lose it, and he didn’t quite wnnt to take the chances of trying to pass it. So he called an old darkey who was hanging about the premises, and said to him : - “ Sam, here’s a five dollar bill that's a little doubtful. If you will take it and pass it, I’ll give you a dollar out of the change.” “ Very well,” said Sam, and he took the bill and went off. Later in the day he returned, having accomplished the feat, and handed over four dollars in good money to the grocer. Tliat night the grocer, in counting over the cash returns from liis fish market, was more surprised than delighted to find tlie identical five in the pile. „ “Look here,” said he, sharply, to his. market clerk, “ here’s a counterfeit bill—who did you take it of? Didn’t you know 'twas bad ?” Clerk took it and looked at it for a moment. “ Oil, yes,” said lie, “ I remember now ; I took it of Sam, the darkey. I thought it was a little doubtfiil, and wasn’t going to take it, but he said he got it of you, so I thought it was all right." Further explanation was unnecessary. —Hartford Post.

—The chief inspector of Russian railways has just published an account of the state of the traffic on the railways, of the Empire for the last two years. He states that the traffic of 1808 was carried over 004 miles of the Governmental lines, and 3,011 miles of private lines —the last having been traversed by 7,748,588 passengers in 1807, and 8,783,299 in 1808. The amount of the goods forwarded by the private lines in 1807 was 110,050,000 ewt., against 153,900,000 cwt. in 1808. The gross receipts of all the private lines are about £5,423,809 (87,999,405 roubles) lor 1807, and about £0,006,522 (40,005,742 roubles) for 1808; showing an increase of £1,287,713. This increase would probably be far greater if all the main lines leading to Moscow and 8t Petersburg were provided with double rails. The fines of Moscow-ltiazan and Moscow-Kourak are furnished only with single rails, so that the accumulation of goods at different stations is enormous. Properly Marked.—When Professor Aytoun was making proposals for marriage to his ttrst wife—a daughter of the celebrated Prof. Wilson- the lady reminded him that It would be neceseary to aak the approval of her sire. -Certainly,’’said Aytoua; "but at I am a little diffident in speaking to him ou this subject, you must Just go and tell him my proposals yourself. •' The lady proceeded to the library, and taking her father afecuonately by the hand, mentioned that Professor Aytoun had asked her to become his wire, ttk* added: “ Shall 1 accept hie Oder, papa? He says he la too diffident to name the subject to yon hIOMSIt” •TVo,” Mid old Christopher, -1 had better write the reply and pin It to your back.’* He did no, and the lady returned to the drawing room. The anxious suitor read the answer to his message, which was In these words, “ with the author’s compliments.”.