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J. H. Stickney

The Charcoal Burner and the Fuller

A CHARCOAL burner carried on his trade at his own house. One day he met a friend who was Fuller, and begged him to come and live with him.

"We shall be far better friends if we live together," he said, "and then our housekeeping expenses will be greatly lessened."

The Fuller replied, "The arrangement would not suit me in the least, for whatever I should take pains to whiten, your charcoal would immediately blacken. I am afraid we should not grow better friends under such circumstances."