Burlington Free Press

Want of Confidence.
BY J. P. MORRIS.

A little Frenchman loaned a merchant five
thousand dollars when the 'times were good.'
He called at the counting-house a few years
ago in a state of agitation not easily described.

'How do you do?' inquired the merchant

'Sick—ver sick,' replied monsieur.

'What's the matter?'

'Detimes is de matter.'

'Detimes?—what disease is that?'

'De Maladie dat break all de merchants, ver
much.'

'Ah!—the times, eh?—well they are bad.
very bad, sure enough; but do they affect you?'

'Vy, monsieur, I loose de confidence.'

'In whom?'

'In everybody.'

'Not in me, I hope.'

'Pardonnez moi, monsieur, but I do not know
whom to trust at present, when all the mer-
chants break several times to pieces.'

'Then I presume you want your money?'

'Oui, monsieur. I starve for want of largent.'

'Can't you do without it?'

'No, monsieur, I must have him.'

'You must.'

'Oui, monsieur,' said dimity-breeches, turn-
ing pale with apprehension for the safety of his
money

'And you can't do without it?'

'No, monsieur, not von leetle moment longer.'

The merchant reached his bank book, drew
a check on the bank for the amount, and hand-
ed it to his visitor.

'Vat is dis, monsieur?'

'A check for five thousand dollars, with the
interest.'

'Is it bon?' said the Frenchman, with amaze-
ment.

'Certainly.'

'I have you de l'argent in the bank?'

'Yes.'

'And it is parfaitment conveniently to pay de
sum'

'Undoubtedly. What astonishes you?'

'Vy, dat you have got him in dees times'

'Oh, yes, and I have plenty more. I owe
nothing that I cannot pay at a moment's notice.'

The Frenchman was perplexed.

'Monsieur you shall do me one leetle favor
en'

'With all my heart.'

'Vell, Monsieur, you shall keep de l'argent
for me one leetle year longer.'

'Why, I thought you wanted it?'

'Tout au contraire. I no want de l'argent
—I want de grand confidence. Suppose you
no got de money; den I want him very much
—suppose you got him: den I no want him at
all. Vous comprenez, eh?'

After some other conference, the little
Frenchman prevailed upon the merchant to re-
tain the money, and left the counting-house
with a light heart, and a countenance very dif-
ferent from the one he wore when he entered.

His confidence was restored and although he
did not stand in need of the money, he wished
to know that his property was in safe hands.