Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-05-04
Taking The Starch ont Of ,em,

Taking the Starch out Of 'em.
The following "cold water sketch" is given in
late "Flag Of the Union:"
! A lot Of idIers stood upon the end Of pier
which ran out into The Hudson river, in one Of
the small towns near Albany, few days ago, a.
musing themselves with hurting stones into the
stream, each veing with the other in the attempt
10 pitch missile at the iarhest distance from
the shore, when tall rugged-bul Vermonter,
direct from the Green Hills, suddenly made his
appearance in their midst, and for a while re.
mained quiet observer Of their movements.
lie was brawny, strong. looking Yankee, and
was very decenty clad. The efforts Of the liz.
tie party had been exhibited over and over again,
when the stranger quietly picked up half a brick
which lay near him. and, giving it jerk, it fell
into the water long way beyond The line which
had as yet been reached by the foremost of the
crowd. At the conclusion of inis feat loud
"bravo!" went up from half dozen voices a.
round him.
1t was a cold, clear day, in October, and the
men determined not to be outdone, renewed their
attempts; but the Vermonter without saying a
syllable TO any one, continued 10 pitch the peb-
bles far into the stream, which seemed TO annoy
one of them, in a green jacket, the apparent lea
der of the gang, who declared he wouldn't be
beaten by a"leler ighlsIraigh O. the woods,
no how;" and siding up TO the stranger, he de-
termined to make his acquaintance.
"Where do you come from, neghborl" in
quired the other.
"Mel Wal, halls from Vermont, jes naow,
friend "
"Haint bin in these parts long, reck'nl"
"Wal-no. Not edzackly yers-bu' up and
daown, sorter." 8
"Yis-so s'posed."
"Yaas,,' continued the green'un, careessly
and seizing billet Of wood, he twirled il ove
his head, and it landed several rods from The
shore, in the water.
."You've lille strength in your arms, neigh.
bor."
"Some pumpkins in them fpperS. stranger
Up in aour laown, more'n month ago, drv
them are knuckles rite strut thrua board, more n
ninch 'naff lhick!"
"LIaw-hawl" shouted his hearers, the man
in the green jacket laughing loudest
"May be you don't b'leve it,"
mot much," answered the crowd.
"We aint very green, down here in York-I0t
aint," said the Ieowin lhegreen jacket; "we've
been about you see."
"Wal, jes' you look yere FRIEND" continued
the Vermonter, in the most plausible manner
"up in aour caountry, we've purity big river
considerin-lnyun river, iI's called, and may bt
you've hearn on it. Wal, hove man clear
across that river t'olher day, and he came daowr
fair and square on t'olher side."
"Ha, ha, hal" yelled his auditors.
: "Wal, naow, you may laff, but | can deu i
agin."
"Do what9" said green jacket, quickly.
. 81 kin take and heave you across that rive
. yonder, jest like open and shet!''
d "Bei you len dollars of it,"
n "Done!" said the Yankee; and drawing fortf
an X (upon broken down east bunk) he cover
), : ed the bragger's shin.plaster.
"Kin you swim, fellerl"
: "Like duck said green jacket-and with
out farther parley, the Vermonter seized thI
: knowing Yorker stoully by the nape Of the necl
: and the seat OF his pants, jerked him from hi
!; Ioothold, and with an almost superhuman effort
u dashed the bully heels over head from the dock
$ some ten yards out into the Hudson river.
u terrific shout ran through the crowd, as hi
tloundered in the water, and amidst the jeers ant
screams of his companions, the ducked bully
o put back to the shore and scrambled upthe bank
a half frozen by his sudden and involuntary COLI
: bath.
i "l'll take that ten spot, if you please" salt
the shivering oafer, advancing rapidly 10 tht
g stakeholder. You took US for green-horns, eh
Wen show you how we do the thing down her
: in York'-and the fellow claimed the twenty
dollars,
: "Wal, reek'n you wunt take no ten spots jes
yet, cap'n." ....
> "Why? You've lost the bet."
"Not edzaclIy. tdldnt calkiate on deuin
5 the fust time-but tell you, can deuit"-ant
again in spite of the loafers utmost efforts to es
!, cape him, he seized him by The scruff and th
seat of his overalls, and pitched him three yard
further into the river than upon the first trial.
u Again The bully returned, amid the shouts o
y ! his mates who enjoyed the sport immensely.
u "Thrd time never lails," said the Yanke
: stripping off his coat; 81 kin deu it, tell ye."
"dod on!" said the almost terrified victim
sand will deu it--e( try ill morrer NOR
y nin."
q al give itup!" shouted the sufferer, between
= his teeth, which now chatered like mad bad
= ger's-"Iake the money"
p The Vermon.er very coolly pocketed the ,e
: spot, and as he turned away, remarked
u "We aint much acquainted with you smal
! folks down here n York, but we sometimes TAX
. the starch out of 'em up our way-and p'rap
. you wunt try it cnto strangers ogn. reck'
Is YOU wunt," he continued, and, putting, on
$ broad grin Of good humor, he left the compan
TO their reneciions