Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-04-03
A NiEEabie Shilling.
BY SOLITAIRE.

BY SOLITAIRE.
1t is a matter Of eongratulation that,
with the progress of refinement in the
west, the common use of alcoholic
drinks as beverage is fast getting out
of fashion, and many of our oldest and
most respected citizens who, in the
primitive days, were engaged in me
traffic, have seen its evils, and set their
faces against it. We know that some
Of the captious old topers, who still adj
here to theardent, sneeringly say their
neighbors did not quit until they had
made their fortnnes-but what OF that?
ii is evident they are sincere in their
opposition to spirituous liquors when
they themselves cease the use, as well
as the sale, of the article. In gather
ing material for future history of
the west. we are often struck with the
fact of how steadily that evil agent,
whiskey, has advanced with civiliza-
ton how many tragedies marked lis
baneful march, and how many humor-
Gus anecdotes it has given birth to-
Our purpose at present is to chronicle
one of the latter: but as the family Of
old Illinois whiskey dealers have dis
carded the article, and have, in the
course of time and progress, risen to
wealth and dignity, we will of course
omit names.
During the last war, when the "Ran-
gers" were on duty through Illipois,
whiskey was deplorably scarce arti-
Gle, and the money to purchase it, when
found, equally hard to obtain. Among
the old Rangers the "corr juice" was
considered necessary to subsistence as
'corn dodgers" but having received
no pay for long period, their small
stock of funds had entirely run OUT
In the mean time an old dealer had
succeeded in raising two barrels of the
comfortable liquid, and erected small
shaniy near the camp, where his shin
gle, in chalked capitals, declared that
"achiskeg isarriv at sic sense q sac"
Major Murdoch, one of the old vete-
rams, had for two days, in wofully
parched state, been searching his "kiv-
ern," for a stray bit that he knew was
somewhere about him, but all his ef-
forts to chase it up appeared unavail-
ing-there were so many patches on
his hunting shirt that it was impossi-
BILE to find the one which he had made
pocket to contain the precious coin,
and at last he had given it up. He
tried to get trusted for two drinks until
he could find it, but the owner of the
shanty knew better than to trust any
of that crowd.
"Try again, Major" said dry cro-
ny, who knew the circumstances; 'stry
again; never give up in good cause;
shillin' in silver now is wuth gold a.
nuther time"
The Major did try again, and at
last, down in the seam at the tail, the
major discovered the little joker, and
prehaps he hailed the discovery with
a yell of satisfaction.
"Now, Bill" says he swell give
that old fellar's barrel rip for two
inwigoraters, and no dispute"
They accordingly adjourned to the
shanty, and called for the "medicine. !"
The owner looked at the major doubt
fully, but when he displayed the bit,
hesitation vanished-he instantly drew
the "sucks," handed them over, and
took the change. The first taste
frightened the major as keen as an
Indian. He observed while drinking
that the dealer placed the money on a
little shelf behind him and just above
his head; it was within reaching dis
lance too, from his stand beside the
temporary eounter:-upon this discov-
cry he at once acted.
"Well. rally" says he, "that stuff
is suthin' like; thar's BODY to il that
tickles feller's vitality at the extreme
pints. Bill" added he, II could fight
Ingins at half wages eff the'd only feed
me from sech cows milk as in that
barrel. do think wen 90 anuther."
Bill signifed assent, but looked at
the Major with some surprise and in
quiry in his countensnce, as to where
he would find another bit; but the old
Ranger soon opened his eye wider
The dealer had no sooner stopped to
draw from the barrel than Major pick
ed the shilling from the shelf, and
paid it over again for the drinks.
81 know'd you had money Major"
said the dealer, ''ef you could only con-