The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-12-17
AN AMUSING SPECIMEN OF HUI
MANITY.

a
4 AN AMUSING SPECIMEN OF HUI
! MANITY.
| Whoever travels through any Of the
N. England States, and twigs as he jour-
ncys the eccentricities of some of the
natives, cannot fail to be amused, and
may, if he choose, derive many new
ideas in respect to etymology and diver
slty of character. l.s IS
Some years since an acquaintance of
ours set, out, on horse back, from the
eastern part Of Massachusetts for the
Green Mountains of Vermont. While
travelling through the town of New Sa-
lem, his road led into a piece of woods,
lof some five miles in length, and long
before he got out of which he began to
entertain doubts whether he should ever
| be blest with the sight Of a human habi-
Itation. but as all things mus. have an
end, SO at last had the woods, and the
nut-brown house of farmer greeted his
vision. Near the road was tall raw
iboned over-grown, lanthernj awed boy,
probably seventeen years of age. digging
lpotatoes. His was curious figure to
Ibehold. What was lacking in the length
of his tow breaches was amply made up
for behind, his suspenders appeared TO be
composed of birch bark, grapevine and
lsheep skins, and az for hat, which was
of a dingy white felt--poor thing! it had
once evidently seen better days. but now
alas, it was only the shadow of its glory.
Whether the tempests Of time had beaten
the top in, or the lads expanding genius
had burst it out, was difficult to tell: at
any rate it was amusing-and through
the aperture red hairs in abundance stood
six ways for Sunday. In short, he was
one of the toughest specimens Of do
mestic manufacture that ever mortal be-
held. Our travelling friend, feeling an
itching to scrape an acquaintance with
the critter, drew up the rcins of his
horse, and began:
Halo, my good friend can you in
form me how far it is to the next
house 2
! Jonathan started up-leaned on his
hoe handle-rested one foot on the gam
bril- of his sinister leg, and replied:
Hullo yerself how d-dew wall, !
juss can. Taint near so fur now as il
used to afore they cut the woods Always.
Then twas ginerally reckoned at four
mile, but now the sun shrivels up the
road, and don't make more'n tew. The
fust house you cum to though, is barn,
and the next is haystack, but ole
HoskIn's house is on beyant. You'll be-
! sure TO meet his gals long afore you ge
there-tarnal robin critters, they plague
our folks more'n little. His sheep get:
in to our paster every day, and his gal:
; in our orchard. Dad sets the dog hun
ter on the sheep and me arter the gals
and the way he makes the wool, and
the petticoats fly, is sin to snakes
Il see you are inclined to be- face,ious
young man, pray tell me how it happens
that one of your legs is shorter tina,
: the other 2
+ Il never lows any body to meddl
: with my grass tanglers, mistur, but seeil
it's you I'll tell ye. l was born so. a
: my tickerler request, so that when hol'
the plough, can go with one foot il
the furer and t'other on land, and not lo]
over, besides, its very convenient whel
I NOW round side hill .,
e very good, indeed, how do your Pc
tatoes come in this year 2 They don
7 come at all digs EN- out and there
; an everlastin snarl of 'em in each hill.
II But they are small l perceive
yes. l knows it, we see we plante'
= some whoppin' blue noses over in tina
! ere patch there, and they fourished so a
: freddy, that these ere here stopt CROWN
;. just out O. spite, cause they know'd the
. couldn't begin to keep up
Il You appear to be pretty smart, and
9 should think you could afford better hi
than the one you wear
The looks amt nothin, its all in tn
81 behavior. This ere hat was my religion
u lSunday-go to-meet in hat, and its just a
: chock full Of piety now, as a dog is {
! aeas. I've got better one to hum, br
IS l don't dig taters in it, no how
: You have been in these parts som
N time, should guess.
" 81 guess so tew. I was born'd an
. got my bro't'n up in that ere house
but my nativ place is down in Pordunk
Then you say it is about three and
~ half miles to the next house,
y Yis, sir, twas spell ago. and don
y believe its crowd much shorter SINCE
Much obliged. Good by
al Good by TO ye-that's darn slic
ID mare Of yourn.'
e. There. reader-there is Jonathan f
&c you of the first water! You don't fin
at his equal every where.
in -
- t93 From the NO. Picayune.
- RECORDERS COURT. -2nd Municipality.