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Show Helping the Heathen. " j Ho was a brisk littlo man with twink-' twink-' ling eyes, and as he stepped into the i omce of the hotel, wherein about twenty j j of us were lounging and smoking, he : cheerily called out: "Now, gentlemen, I want yonr attention atten-tion for a moment. Yon hc.ve all heard of Africa? It is a country of heathens. The nigger in his natural state is a bad, bad man. He must be improved morally and religiously. I am interested in improving im-proving him." He took a watch from his handbag, and holding the face agahist his hand continued: "Now, then, yco see this watch? It is not going. The hands are sot to a certain cer-tain figure. The man who guesses nearest near-est to that figure gets the watch. It is fifty cents per guess, and everything over and above expenses goes straight to the heal hen of Africa." i ' ;.!'"--;' you know it will?" inquired ! a di milting Thomas. "Becauso I shall leave the sum with the landlord, to b. handed to any local jreacher he electa." Kighteen of us at once laid down our "halves" and recorded our guesses, and when tho last ono was in the little man he ld up the watch and announced the winner. Then he continued: "(Jentleuien, that watch cost $2.80 at wholesale. I have received 9. There appears to be a balance of $0.20 in favor 'f tho dusky heathen who ache for religious re-ligious comfort. But let us see. My railroad' fare was Si.20; dinner and supper, sup-per, $1.20; two drinks, 20 cents; two games of billiards, 40 cents, and a cigar, 10 cents, making in all $0.15. Landlord, here is a nickel, and I charge you, as yon Hre an honest man, to see that it goes to buy tracts for our fellow men iu Africa. Rentlemen, good night." Now York sun. |