Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-06-01
A Live Yankee.

Entering an estdnquiiio, or shop licensed to
sell cigars, we met two or three faces so de-
cidedly Anglo-Saxon in complexion and fea.
tufc that we at once accos,ed them in English
and we were answered by one of the party
with drawl and twang so peculiarly "Down
East" that Marble, Hacket, or Yankee Hill
might have taken lessons from him. We soon
ascertained that they belonged TO the American
circus company then performing at San Luis,
and on telling them who we were, they at once
invited us to heir meson to supper. The first
speaker, who proved to be regular Vermont.
er, was not little surprised to see us without
guard, and asked if we had received perms.
sion to that effect. His astonishment was re-
moved when we told him that we were allow.
ed to leave our quarters on parole.
In five minutes after our arrival at the hotel
of the equestriuns, found that our Vermont ac-
quantance was one of the qnainest specimens
OF the Yankee race had ever seen, and not a
few examples had met previous to my encoun.
ter with him. He had dro impediinent in
his speech which gave to his actions and ges.
,ures turn irresis,ably comic, and then he told
an excellent story, played the trombone, trian-
gle, and bass vio, spoke Spanish well, drove
one OF the circus wagons, translated the bills,
turned an occasional somerset in the ring.
cracked jokes in Spanish with the Mexican
clown, took tickets at the entrance with one
hand, while with the other he beat an accompa-
nlement to the orchestra inside on the bass drum,
and, in short. made himself generally useful"
After partaking of an excellent supper, we spent
an agreeable hour in his room, listening TO sto.
ry after story of his adventures. He came to
Mexico, to use his own words, by way of Cbihu.
ahua, accompanying traders from Jonesborough,
on Red River, in the first and only expedition
across the immense prairies. They were some
FIX OF eight months on the road, and suffered
incredible hardships for want of water and pro-
visions. Onr Yankee was stout man when
we saw him, but he told us that he was a per-
fecr transparency when he first arrived at the
Mexican settlements-so poor, in fact, that ac-
cord!ng To his own account, "a person might
have read the New England Primer through
him without specs"
When 10 o'clock came we rose to depart
but the drol genius insisted that we should first
Pariake ot = glass fegg-nog with him, and
then help hun to sing "Old Hundred" in re.
memhrancc of old times. There are few per-
sons in the New England States who cannot 90
through this ancient and well known psalm
tune after somc fashion, and although neither
time nor place was exactly beitting, we all
Unopened to be from that quarter, and could not
resist complying with his comco-serious re.
quest He really had good voice, and. for
amght know, may have led the singing in his
native church. After humming a little appar-
emily to get the right pitch, he started off with
iuil rich tone; but suddenly checking him.
self in the middle of the first line, said that the
thing was not yet complete. Taking double
bass from It's resting place in one corner of the
room, he sooli had the instrument tuned. and
then recommended with this accomplishment.
Never Eave heard performance So strangely
mlng'ng the grave and the comic. 1t was odd
enough to see one of his vocation in strange
land thus engaged; and the soIemnity and
z'a! with which he sawed and sang away
were perfectly irresistible. did not laugh
but thoughts arose in my mind very little &C.
cordant with the interest and devotional spiri,
with which our strange companion went
through his share ofthe performance. This
curious scene over, scene which is probably
thunt parable! in the history of San Luis
Po'osi, we took leave ofour singular acqnalnt.
ance' who promised to call at the convent early
nex morning, aud to do every uhng in hls
power to assist those among the Texans who
were the most destitute.
I,,r p,,,.x.... ,,----