Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-01-12
From the Now Orleans Sunday Mercury.

From the Now Orleans Sunday Mercury.
AN AMUSING SPECIMEN OF HUMANITY.
Whoever travels through any of the
New England States, and twigs as he jour
MES, the essentricities of some Of the ma
tives cannot fail TO be amused; and may if
he choose, derive many new ideas in res
pect to etymology and diversity of charac-
ter.
Some years since an acquaintance OF
ours set out on horseback, from the east
ern part of Massachusetts for the Green
Mountains of Vermont. While travelling
through the town Of New-Salem, his road
led through piece of woods, of some five
miles in length, and long before he got out
of it, he began to entertain doubts whether
he should ever be blest with the sight Of
human habitation; but as all things must
have an end, SO at last had the woods, and
The nut brown house Of farmer greeted
mis- vision. Near the road was tall,
rawboned, overgrown, lantern jawed boy,
probably seventeen years Of age, digging
potatoes; he was curious figure to behold.
What was lacking in the length of his tow
breeches, was amply made up for behind;
his suspenders appeared TO be composed Of
birch bark, grape vine and sheep skin; and
as for his hat, which was Of dingy white
telt-poor thing! it had once evidently seen
better days, but now alas! ii was only the
shadow of its glory. Whether the tempest
of time had beaten the top in, or the lads
expanding genius had burst it out, was diff.
ficult to tell; at any rate it was missing
and through the aperture red hairs in
abundance stood six ways for Sunday. In
short, he was one of the toughest speci-
mems of domestic manufactures that ever
mortal beheld Our travelling friend feel
ing an itching to become acquainted with
the critter, drew up the rens of his horse,
and began:-
Halo. my good friend, can you inform
me how far il is to the next house?"
Jonathan started up-leaned on his hoe
handle-rested one foot on the gambri of
Of his sinister leg, and replied:
Hullo yourself-how'd dew?-wall,
just can. faint near so far now as itused
to be afore they cut the woods away; then
twas generally reckoncd about four miles
but now the sun shrivels up the road, and
don't make more than two. The fust house
you come TO, though, is barn, and the
next is haystack; but old Hoskln's house
IS on beyani. You'll be sure to meet his
gals long afore you get there; ,arnal
rompr critters, they plague our folks more
than little. His sheep gets into cur pas
turo every day, and his gals into our or
chard. Dad sets the dog arter the sheep,
and me arer the gals-and the way he
makes the wool and the peticoats fly is
a sin to snakes"
81 sec you are inclined 10 bo facectous
young man-pray tell me how it happens
that one of your legs is shorter than the
otherW
4" never lows any body to NEEDLE with
my grass tang ers, mister, but seen' it's
you I'll tell we. was born so at my tick
Ter request, so that when holds the plough
/ can go with one foot in the furrer, and
'tother on land, and not lop over; besides,
it is very convenient when | NOW round a
side hill"
every good, indeed-how do your po-
tatoes come on this year?"
=" They don't come on at all. | digs
Penn out; and there's an everlasting sight
Of 'em in each hill"
" But they are small perceive"
Yes, | knows it-you see we planted
some whoppen' blue noses over in that
patch there, and they fourished SO all fired
ly that these ere stopt groin iist out Of
spite; cause they knowed they couldn't be-
gin to keep up"
You appear 10 be pretty smart, and
should think you could afford TO wear
better hat"
" The looks amt nolhin'; IFS all in the
behavior. This ere hat was my religious
Sunday 60 to meetin' hat, and its jist as
chock full of piety now, as a dog is full
of f1eos. Pve got better one to hum, but
don't dig taters in it, no how"
"Then you say it's about three and
half miles to the next housoE"
"Yes sir, twas spell ago, and don't
believe it's crowd much shorter since"
Much obliged. Good bye"
"Good bye 10 ye-that's darn slick
mare of yourn."