The value of a hat.
--A sailor who had received a considerable share of prize money at
Plymouth was on the point of proceeding to
London to spend it; but having heard of the various tricks and temptations to ease the unwary of their money, he hit upon an expedient to insure a safe return to his ship when she should sail again.
He, therefore, at every inn on the road where the coach stopped for refreshments, paid double, that he might have credit for an equal supply on his return, and agreed with each landlord that he should twirl his hat upon his stick three times in proof of his being the same who made the payment in advance.
He also paid fare back by the same coach.
As he feared, poor fellow, so it fell out; he was soon coaxed or cheated out of all his money, and took his seat on the
Plymouth coach to return.
At every inn on the road
Jack was gladly recognized by his merry twirl of his hat, and was never asked for payment.
Toward the end of his journey, a Jew, who had accompanied him all the way, and who had seen how the reckoning was paid by three twirls of his hat, could no longer refrain from expressing his wonder; and the sailor, to carry on the joke, said the hat was the most valuable article he possessed, adding that when he alighted at
Plymouth he would pay his fare in the same way. This being really the case, the Jew became quite anxious for the hat, and offered him twenty guineas for it, which, as a very particular favor, the sailor agreed to take, as he was about to join the ship, and the hat was no longer useful.
It was not long before the Jew was again obliged to travel, and of course this valuable hat was his companion; but the very first inn at which he took refreshments he was undeceived in a way that might have been attended with serious consequences, for when the waiter demanded his share of the reckoning,
Moses, with a confident look, twirled his hat upon his stick three times.
Upon this the waiter thought he was either tipsy or mad, and called his employer, who made the poor Jew twirl the quicker; and it was only by the interference of some humane passengers that the unfortunate Jew was prevented from losing his liberty as well as his money.
