The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-04-05
TAKING rHEsrARcH ouT OF 'EM.r

TAKING THEsrARcH OUT OF 'EM."
A LOT Of idlers stood upon the end Of a
pier which ran out into the Hudson river,
10 one Of the small towns near Albany, a
few days ago, amusing Themselves with
hurting stones into tho broad stream, each
vieing With the other 10 the cndeavor 10
pitch missile al the farthest distance from
tho shore, when a tall rugged-buiIt Yer
monter, direct from the green hills, sudden
ly made his appearance in their midst, and
for awhile remained quiet observer Of their
movements.
He vas brawny, strong looking Yam
kes, and vas very decently clad. The et.
forts Of the little party had been exhibited
over and over again, when the stranger
quietly picked up half a brick which lay
near him, and giving il jerk, il fell into
the vaeer . long way beyond the line which
bad % yet been reached by the foremos,
Of The crowd. At the conclusion Of this
feat loud "bravo!' went up from half-a-
dozen voices around him.
i vas cold, clenr day in October, and
the men, determined not to be outdone, re-
newed their attemps; but the Vermonter,
without saying . syllable to any one, con-
tinued 10 pitch the pebbles far into the
stsesm, which seemed to annoy one ofthenl,
10 . green jacket, the apparent lender Of
the gang, who declared he wouldn't he
beaten by '.felIer right straight out Of the
woods. no how" and siding up to the
stranger he determined to make his nc
quaintance.
"Wherc do you come from, neighbor 7" in.
quired the other.
"Mes Wal, halls from Vermont, jos
nsow friend"
'llains bin in these parts long, rcek'.
en?''
"Wal-no. Not edzackly yere--but up
and daown sorter."
"Yes-so | 'spose."
"Yaas," continued the green 'un care
lessly, seizing big billet Of wood, he twirl.
ed it over bis head, and it landed several
rods from the shore, in the water.
"You've little strength in your arms,
neighbor."
''Somc 'pum'kins' il them fppers,
stranger. Up in nour toawn, mcre'n a
munth ago, driv them arc knuckles ri,
strut thru . board, more'n ninch 'nufi
tbickm
'Haw-haw !" shouted his hearers, the
man in the green jacket laughing loudes,.
"May DO you don't b'lievc it,"
"Not much" answered tho crowd.
1--WE aint rery green, down here in York
-sce aint," said the fellow ia the green
jacket; "wc'vo been about, you sec."
"Wai, jes look you yere, FRIEND"
continued the Vermonter, in the most plau-
sible manner; sup in aour cnountry, we've
q purity big river, considerin-lnyun river,
it's called, and may be you've hearn on it,
Wal, hove man clean across that river
t'oher day, and he came duown fair aud
square on t'other side"
ala, hs, ha,m yelled his auditors.
"Wall, naew, yeu may Iafi, but kin due
issgin."
'Do wha.?" said the green jacket, quick
ly.
II can take and heavc ycu across that
river yender, jest like open and shet!
"Bct YOU ten dollars of it,"
"Donem said tho Yankee; and drawing
forth 40 X upon broken down east bank
be covered the braggcr's shin plaster.
'skin yeu swim, feller?"
"Like duck" said green jacke,--and
without further pnrley, The Vermonter
seized tho knowing Yorker stously BY the
naps Of the neck and the seat Of his pants,
jesked him from bis foot hold, and with IN
With On almost superhuman effort, dashed
the bully heels over head from the dock,
some ten yards out into the Hudson river.
A terrific shout rang through the crowd,
~ he foundered in the winter, and amidst
the jeers and screams Of his companions.
tho ducked bully put back to the shore and
scrambled up the bank, half frozen, by this
sudden and involuntary cold bath.
'l'll take that ten spot, if you please"
said the shivering lonlcr, advancing rapidly
10 the stake holders. "You took us for
green horns, eh? Won show you how we
do things down here in Yorkn-and the
follow claimed the twenty dollars.
"Wal, ! reckun ven wunl take no ten
spots jesuit. csp'n."
.Whyi You've lost the bet"
mo. etzactly. didn't calkilatc on
deuin' il the fust tme-but tell ven kin
deu is"--and again in spite Of the loa!sr's
utmost efforts 10 escape him. he seized him
by the scruff and the sen. of his overalls,
and pitched him three wards further into
the river than upon the first trial!
Again the bully returned amid the shout
ofhis mates, who enjoyed the sport I'M
mensely.
"Third timo never fails" said the yam
kee, stripping Oft his cont, II kin deu it !
tell ye."
1Hold on" said tho almost peirified vic.