Typed and spelled as written: Kay Cunningham

The Marlin Democrat
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, February 4, 1904

Jim Johnson Tries
To Drive A
Bargain
~~~~~

    The inate desire to drive a bargain led Jim Johnson, a negro who wanted to get married, to make a novel proposition to County Clerk Rogers Thursday.  Jim was short on silver but long on pumpkins.  So he Conceived the idea of a barter and approached the county clerk about in this wise:  "Boss, I hears you am very fond ob pumkins and as I wants to git married, I hab come befo' you to gib you some of dem pumkins for a pair o' licens to git married wid.  Dey sho' is fine and I knows you would like dem.  I wants a good pair o' dem papers and will gib you all de pumpkins you wants."  Now Mr. Rogers is, in fact, very fond of the lucious pumpkin but as this is a little late in the season and the fee law very plain as to what constitutes legal tender for public services, he informed the would-be bridegroom that "no cash, no license."  Thereupon Jim proceeded to shell out the coin.

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