," taking up the blank paper,
"that such flimsy stuff as this should make such strong hawsers; vile
hawsers, too. Barber," starting up, "I won't put it in black and white.
It were a reflection upon our joint honor. I will take your word, and
you shall take mine."

"But your memory may be none of the best, sir. Well for you, on your
side, to have it in black and white, just for a memorandum like, you
know."

"That, indeed! Yes, and it would help _your_ memory, too, wouldn't it,
barber? Yours, on your side, being a little weak, too, I dare say. Ah,
barber! how ingenious we human beings are; and how kindly we reciprocate
each other's little delicacies, don't we? What better proof, now, that
we are kind, considerate fellows, with responsive fellow-feelings--eh,
barber? But to business. Let me see. What's your name, barber?"

"William Cream, sir."

Pondering a moment, he began to write; and, after some corrections,
leaned back, and read aloud the following:

"AGREEMENT
Between
FRANK GOODMAN, Philanthropist, and Citizen of the World,
and
WILLIAM CREAM, Barber of the Mississippi steamer, Fidele.

"The first hereby agrees to make good to the last any loss that may
come from his trusting mankind, in the way of his vocation, for the
residue of the present trip; PROVIDED that William Cream keep out
of sight, for the given term, his notification of NO TRUST, and by
no other mode convey any, the least hint or intimation, tending to
discourage men from soliciting trust from him, in the way of his
vocation, for the time above specified; but, on the contrary, he
do, by all proper and reasonable words, gestures, manners, and
looks, evince a perfect confidence in all men, especially
strangers; otherwise, this agreement to be void.

"Done, in good faith, this 1st day of April 18--, at a quarter to
twelve o'clock, P. M., in the shop of said William Cream, on board
the said boat, Fidele."

"There, barber; will that do?"

"That will do," said the barber, "only now put down your name."

Both signatures being affixed, the question was started by the barber,
who should have custody of the instrument; which point, however, he
settled for himself, by proposing that both should go together to the
captain, and give the document into his hands--the barber hinting that
this would be a safe proceeding, because the captain was necessarily a
party di