“Mr. Morgan, Head of Tariff Department,” he wrote. “Why do I say dago
pigs is pigs because they is pigs and will be til you say they ain't
which is what the rule book says stop your jollying me you know it as
well as I do. As to health they are all well and hoping you are the
same. P. S. There are eight now the family increased all good eaters. P.
S. I paid out so far two dollars for cabbage which they like shall I put
in bill for same what?”
Morgan, head of the Tariff Department, when he received this letter,
laughed. He read it again and became serious.
“By George!” he said, “Flannery is right, 'pigs is pigs.' I'll have to
get authority on this thing. Meanwhile, Miss Kane, take this letter:
Agent, Westcote, N. J. Regarding shipment guinea-pigs, File No. A6754.
Rule 83, General Instruction to Agents, clearly states that agents
shall collect from consignee all costs of provender, etc., etc.,
required for live stock while in transit or storage. You will proceed to
collect same from consignee.”
Flannery received this letter next morning, and when he read it he
grinned.
“Proceed to collect,” he said softly. “How thim clerks do loike to be
talkin'! Me proceed to collect two dollars and twinty-foive cints off
Misther Morehouse! I wonder do thim clerks know Misther Morehouse?
I'll git it! Oh, yes! 'Misther Morehouse, two an' a quarter, plaze.'
'Cert'nly, me dear frind Flannery. Delighted!' Not!”
Flannery drove the express wagon to Mr. Morehouse's door. Mr. Morehouse
answered the bell.
“Ah, ha!” he cried as soon as he saw it was Flannery. “So you've come to
your senses at last, have you? I thought you would! Bring the box in.”
“I hev no box,” said Flannery coldly. “I hev a bill agin Misther John
C. Morehouse for two dollars and twinty-foive cints for kebbages aten by
his dago pigs. Wud you wish to pay ut?”
“Pay--Cabbages--!” gasped Mr. Morehouse. “Do you mean to say that two
little guinea-pigs--”
“Eight!” said Flannery. “Papa an' mamma an' the six childer. Eight!”
For answer Mr. Morehouse slammed the door in Flannery's face. Flannery
looked at the door reproachfully.
“I take ut the con-sign-y don't want to pay for thim kebbages,” he said.
“If I know signs of refusal, the con-sign-y refuses to pay for wan dang
kebbage leaf an' be hanged to me!”
Mr. Morgan, the head of the Tariff Department, consulted the president
of the Interurban Express Company regarding guinea-pigs, as to whether
they were pigs or not pigs. The president was inclined to treat the
matter lightly.
“What is the rate on pigs and on pets?” he asked.
“Pigs thirty cents, pets twenty-five,” said Morgan.
“Then of course guinea-pigs are pigs,” said the president.
“Yes,” agreed Morgan, “I look at it that way, too. A thing that can come
under two rates is naturally due to be classed as the higher. But are
guinea-pigs, pigs? Aren't they rabbits?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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