New-York tribune., 1841-10-07
From the GIN for ls
THE TOUGH YARN:
OR, THE CAUSE OF JACK RoRrSsoN's LA,rrSEss.
Ri SEBA SMITH

~ >i.iia .>Al Ii.
MAJOR GRAFT Of Massachusetts was returning
home from NIooschcud Lake, where he had beci
10 look after one OF his ncwly-purchaSei townships
and to sell stumpage 10 the oggers for the en.u
ing winter, whea lac stopped for the night at
snug tavern in one of the back towns in Maine
and bnying been to the stable, and seen with hi.
own eyes that his Lorse Was well provided with
hay and grain, ne returned to the bnr-room, LAID
aside his cloak and took seat by the box stove,
which was waging not WAY with the cold ana
raw atmosphere OF November.
The major was a large, porily mar well TO do
in the world, and loved his comfort. Having
called for mug ofhe, flip, be loaded his long pipe,
and prepared fer long and comfortable smoke.
He was also a very social man. and there being
but one person in the room with him, he invited
him 10 ioin him in Il tumtler o.. Zip. This gentle
man was Doctor Snow, an active member OF u
temperance society, and therefore he politely beg
ged to be excused but having good share Of the
voubili,y natural to his profession, he readi!y en-
tered into conyersation with the major, answered.
many of his inquiries about the townships IN that
section of the State des .rbed mnu,ely process
of numbering, cxplnined how il might be mae.e
profitable. and showed wtN il was oiien attended
with great loss. A hal: noun thus passed 'nPer-
ceptibly away, md the doctor rose. drew hs wrnp-
head The major looked round The room with an
air of uneasiness.
What going So soon Docior2 No more com
pany here tonight thni, Doll business, Doctor,
10 sit alone one OF these long tedious evenings.
Always want somebody 10 talk with; man wasn't
made to be alone, YOU know
True. said the Doctor and | should he
happy to spend the evening with you bat | have
10 90 three miles 20 patient yet tonight, and
its high time was of. Blu; luckily, major, You
won't he left alone aiier all, for there comes Jack
Robinson, driving his horse and wagon into the
yard nov and presume he Il not only spend the
evening with YOU, but stop all night
We'll, that's good news said the major, if
Ike II only talk VIII he talk, Doctorl'
Talk yes! till all is blue. He 5 the greatest
,alker you ever met IL tell YOU what lis, major
II bel the price of your reckoning here to Hght,
that you may ask him the most direct simple
question you please, and YOU shant get an answer
from him under half nm hour. and he shall keep
talking steady stream the whole time too
Done said the maier; lis bet. Let US
understand it fairly You say may ask him
any simple, plain question, please and ne shall
be half an hour answering it, and talk all the time
too and you will bet my nights reckoning OF il.
That 5 the bet exactly said the Doctor
Here the parties shook hands upon it. lust as the
door opened, and Mr.. Jack Robinson came limp
ing into the room, supported by g crutch, and with
something OF buStling, care-tor-noihlng air, hob.
bled along toward the fire. The Doctor intro
duced MIR. Jack Robinson 10 Major Grant, and
alter the usual salutations and shaking of hands,
AIR Robson took his seat upon the other side Of
Inc stove, opposite the major.
nt' Jack Robinson was small, brisk man,
win a gray twinkiing eve, and knowing express
SION oi ooun'euance As he carefully settled him
se'' mo ms chair, resting his lame limb against
inc cage OF the stovS-hearth he threw his ha,
leSsy upon the fcor. laid his cyutch across his
knee and looked round with satisfied air, that
seemed 10 say, Now, gentlemen. If YOU want TO
tell We.
Allow me, Mr.. Robinson, to help YOU to ,
mug from the stove.
with all my heart and ,hanl, ye too. said
Robinson taking sip from the lumber. be-
lieve there 5 nothing better for cold day than
hot flip. We known II 70 cure many ono who
was thcught 10 be in q consumption. There >
something So
And have known it, said the Doctor, shrng
siug his shoulders, sto Kill many that wa
thought 10 have an excellent constitution ans
sound health
There's something SO warming, csn,inue,
Mr.. Robinson following up his own thoughts st
earnestly that he seemed no, to have heard the re
mark Of the Doctor there 5 something SO warm
lug and 50 nearishing in hot Rip, It seems to give
new life 70 the blood, and puts the insides all il
good trim. And as Tor cold weather. it viii keeF
that eut better than any double-luilled kersey u
iearnot great coat that I ever see.
1 could drive twenty miles in cold day with
good mug OF not flip easier than | could ten mile.
\ nd +4lS - ,,1l
real cold day, there ; no mistake about it. Thi,
norwester cuis ike razor. Rut Tain, nothing
near so cold as twas q year ago. tke twenty-second
elsy of this month. That day, ii seemed a. i
vour breath would freeze stiff before il get inch