Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-09-21

In one of the most beautiful coun
ties in Pennsylvania, and in the imme.
diate vicinity Of the Susquehannah
stood an old fashioned country tavern
known by the designation of the Gen.
eral Wayne. OF its landlord and his
/ fam some little incidents thai
took place within its precincts about
forty years ago, it is our purpose to re.
late few particulars.
The proprietor of the house and OF
the fine farm that surrounded it. was
by birth New-Englander; and hay
ing served in Washin gton's army dur
ing the whole Of the revolutionary war.
he was still distinguished by the title
of Colonel Brigham. When, on the
return Of peace, he resumed his origin
al occupation of farming, he concluded
to settle on the genial soil of Pennsyl-
vanla, and removed thither with his
wife, their little daughter, and an a.
dopted child named Oliver, fine bow
whom they boosted Of loving equally
with their own Fanny; that he was e.
qually INDUCED, admitted of no doubt
AS Oliver advanced to manhood, he
took the chief charge Of the farm, and
Mrs. Brigham, with great difficulty,
prevailed on her husband to set up an
nm; partly to give himself more occu-
patton, and partly because his bound
less hospitality in entertaining gratuit-
ously all strangers that came into the
neighborhood, had become rather too
much of tax.
Accordingly, range of stalls for
horses was erected at short distance
from the house, which was beautifed
with new porch, running all along
the front, and furnished with green ben
ches. A village artist (who was not
only painter but glazier also) was
employed to contrivc sign, which it
was expected wouldsurpass all that had
ever been seen in the country; it being
neither Buck nor Fox, neither Black
Horse, Green Tree, Conestoga wagon.
or any of those every day things.
The painters ideas were committed
to board in the shape Of the landlords
old command der, Gen. Anthony Wayne.
This effigy was evidently designed for
a human being, but the artist had be-
gun the upper part on SO large scale
that there was little or no room for the
body and limbs; the gallant general
looking asifcrushed down by the weight
OF his hat and head. He stood upon a
narrow strip of vcrdigris green, with
his two heels together, and his toes
wonderfully turned out. The facings
OF bis coat, and all his under clothes
were of gold. He welded in one hand
an enormous word-the other held out
: pistol in the act of going ofl-and he
leaned on cannon, from whence issu-
"a flash OF scarlet fire, and cloud of
'ky-blue smoke.
1t is true, that when the SIGN came
1ome, the colonel made many objec-
Ions to it, declaring that gold breech-
IS had never been worn in the CONT
rental army, and that no man ever
'tood sun u leaning on gun at the mo-
nent it was dischargcd-ncither did
re think it by any means good like
less of General Wayne. But Mrs
Brigham reminded her husband that
here was no use in telling all this to G. .
'ery body, and that it might suit some .
Peoples ideas Of General Wayne-ad-
ling, that she never saw sign that ayus
good likeness, except Timothy Grim
haw's White Lion, which looked ex-
city like himself.
Oliver averred that the artist was
ertainly liberal man, and had given
hem the full worth of their money, for
'eside the gliding, there was more paint
N it than on any signhe had ever seen. }!
Their neighbor, Tempy Walters,
vas, however, of opinion that they had
cen greatly overcharged, for that ]
ian had painted her brothers. cellar s
DOR, (Which was considerably larger
han this sign for half the money. "To
e sure" added Tempy, "there was
9 gold on the cellar door-but it must
ave taken twice the paint {
10 be brief, the colonel dismissed S
le case by paying the artistrather more a
ian he asked-telling him, also, that t
should be gladto see him at his house q
.henever he chose to come, and that +,
Is visits should not cost him cent. '
There never, perhaps, was less pro- S
liable { tavern than the General Wayne. '
ne people Of the neighborhood were 6
nazlngiy sober, and Mrs. Brigham al S
wed no tipplers to lounge about the r
lr-room or porch. The charges were h
moderate as scarcely to cover the a