The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-05

An Original Character.

whoever travels through any of the New
England States, and twigs, as he passes, the
leccentrcities Of some of the natives, can.
not fail to be amused aud gather new ideas
in respect to etymoI6gy and diversity of
character.
Some years since, an acquaintance of ours
was out on horseback, from the east part of
Massachusetts for the Green Mountains in
Vermont. While travelling through the
town of New Salem his road led into piece
of woods, some five miles in length, and
long before he got out Of WHICH he began
to entertain doubts whether he shoQi be
blest with the sight Of human habitaiion;
but as all things must have an end so at
last had the woods, and the nut brown house
of the farmer greeted his vision. Near the
road was tall, rawboned, overgrown, Ian
teSn-iawed boy, probably II years of age,
| digging potatoes. He was curious figure
to behold. What was lacking in the length
Of his tow breaches was amply made up be-
hind; his suspenders appeared to be com
posed of birch bark, grape vine and sheep
skin; and as for his hat, which was a dingy
white felt-poor thing! it had once evident
! ly 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 miss
ing, and through the aperture red hairs in
abundance stood six WAYS for Sunday. In
short he was one Of the toughest specimens
of domestic manufacture that ever mortal
beheld. Our travelling friend, feeling to
Iscrape acquaintance with the crltur, drew
up the reins Of his horse and began:-a
"Hollo, my friend, can you inform me how
far it is to the next house?''
Jonathan started up-leaning on his hoe
handle-rested one foot on the gambrel OF
his sinister leg, and replied:
"Hullo Yourself! how'd dew?-Wall guess
| can. faint near so fur as it used to be afor
they cut the woods awaY-then twas gen.
orally reckoned four miles, but now the sun
shrivels up the road ant don't make more'n
teW. The fust house you come to though
lis barn, and the next is hay stack; but
lold HOskin's house is on beyant- You'll be
sure to meet his gals long afore you gel
there; tarnal rompin' critters; they plag oul
folks more'n a little His sheep get in oul
paster every day, and his gals in our orchard
Dad sets the dog arter the sheep, and me
arter the gals-and the way we makes the
wool and petticoats fly, is sin to snakes
II see you are inclined to be facetious
young man-pray tell me how it ha ppen.
that one of your legs is shorter than The
other?"
Il never lows any body to NEEDLE will
nv grass tangllers, misthur; but seem it i
YOU I'll tell We. was horn so a: nv ticle
request, so that when hold plough, cal
90 with one foot in the furrer, and t'othe
on land, and not lop over; besides it is YER
convenient when NOW round side hill
every good indeed-how do your pota
some on this year?"
tThey don't come at all; digs 'em out
and there's an everlastin' snar on 'em i
each hill"
"But they are small perceive.''
eyes, know it you see we planted som
whoppin; blue noses over in that ERE pate
there, and they ffourished so all fredly thu
Il these ere stopt grewn' just out ofspite, caus
they know'd they couldn't begin to kee
up" ,Ak~A
: ''You appear to be pretty smart, and
: think you could afford better hat than ii
one you wear"
"The looks amt nothn', IFS all in the b
havior. This ere hat was my religious SUI
Is day -gO-to-meetin' hat, and its Just as choc
E. full of piety now as dog is full of flea
le I've got better one to hum, but do
lg dig Eaters i'll it no how"
''You have been in these parts sometin
IF should-guess?"
81 guess so tew. | was born'd and o
my broth up in that ere house, but my n
n tive place is down in Frodunk."
''Then you say it is three and half mil
e to next house?"
an "Yes sir; twas spell ago, and don't
he leve it's CROWD much shorter since"
"Much obliged. Good by"
"Good bye to ye-that's darn'd sill
boss of yourn."
There, reader-there is a Jonathan
ne YOU of the first water You don't find
he equal every where.
81 rrr1r rUv,0 TxtTTTUr, ~