Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-04-03
From the Flag Of our Union.

SsS"PCu sb0otiiS up out VI VIC SsouHi III
the form Of a cabbage, and TO have been
born with all the outward semblance of
humanity. Spite Of his awful greenness,
Flufkins was an observant chap, anxious
to look about the world, and, to use lis
own words, be "some pumpkins" He
came to Boston one day to see the ele-
phant, and innocently suffered all manner
Of tricks to be played upon him, such as
paying twenty-five cents to 60 inside the
Common, charge made by cunning boy,
who discovered that Flufkins had .just
ccme down. Another Of the 'b'hoys,
who had received his cue from the lad
who charged the entrance fee 10 the pub
lie Common, stopped Nehemiah as he
came out and passed down fremont Street,
and politely tapping him on the arm, said !:
Fifty cents fine, SIR at the same time
holding out his hand for the money.
Fifty cents Creation, what fur?
The Mayors house sir
'Wot of that?' asked Flufkins, locking
at the house designated by the other.
You have passed it just now, uithout
taking off your hat'
'How yer talk. Sposin' | did?"
why, that's fifty cents fine in Boston, ,
sNo!'
'Certa;uly;a and unless you pay it, shall
be obliged to take you to the police Office.
'W-h-e-w! Well here's half. Let's
see which house it is said Nehemiah,
taking off his hat.
That's it, sir, the next but one to where
we stand. ....
wall, won, git caught agin, anyhow,
said the innocent Flufkins, as he walked
back and forth before the house Of green
grocer, and fixed the spot in his mind! !!
Scarcely had Nehemiah Flufkins turned
another corner, before he was stopped by
third person, who had got the hint from
the other two operators.
whats the matter nouY asked Nehe-
miah ) Il haven't passed another mayors
house, have l.
No bu. you forgot your landing fee.'
'Landin fee-what's that?'
why, head money
Head money! Do yer have tn payfor keep
in yer head on, ,ask ked Nehemiah,i ,innocently
'No-you don't understand, my friend
II perceive that you must be stranger
to the city.
wall, guess am
you see the law is, that any person ar
riving in town for the first time, shall pay
seven,y-five cents head money
sDu tell!'
'Yes. What route did you come by.
sFitchbnrch ra;lroa,!'
i---4a ssrut s.a-exciaiBeds iIis ps9seeu.er,
as though he had made discovery.
Whats it p asked Nehemiah.
'Why you are the fellow the police are
| after
after me, what fur?'
For slipping away without paying J our
head money
Wall, look a here, nabor, it's pretty
expensive business, pears to me bu
there's three quarters, will that fix it ?
Yes, that is all right-you are free tc
look abou. the town now,' said the other,
walking away with a suppressed chuekle.
Thank ye,' said Flufkins; only to think
of the perlece after me. Well, that uas
an escape, anyhow
If there was one thing above another for
which Nehemiah had weakness, it was
smoking. AT home, his pipe was in his
mouth halfthe time, and seeing some cigars
in window, he felt a desire come over
him, and so he walked in,purchas ed long
nine, lit it, and walked out into the street,
smoking as he went along, looking into the
shop windows in Washington street. The
fact was, Nehemiah was now really break
ing city ordinance, and laying himself
liable to a fine. 1t was not long before,
a policeman. with his badge Of office on
his hat accosted him.
Sir, you must put ont that cigar and
walk with me-, said the officer, with an
air of decision that staggered Nehemiah.
sWat fur p stammered Flufkins.
Smoking in the street,
rs there fine for that tew p
yes, SIR
'How much p
Five dollars
Creation! Five dollars. l havn't got
but six left ...@..
Can't help it, you must 60 with me-
'Look here--hold on!' said Nehemiah;
i don't want to GO no whar.'
But you must said the officer, at the
same time looking about them slyly, and
and seeing no one very near, he added: IF
you choose to pay me, why it will save
your being locked up
'Locked-up! Creation! Here there's
five dollars, said Nehemiah, handing the
officer the money, who pocketed the
change, and walked away-leaving Mr.
Flufkins standing alone and seemingly
afraid TO move backwards or forwards for
fear he should ineure another fine.
And this was the case; Flufkins was
afraid to move lest he should break some
other unknown law of the city. He
thought the matter over as well as he
could in his confused state of mind. and
remembering that he had just one dollar
left, enough TO carry him home in the cars,
he looked all about him for a moment; to
see that no one was by to stop him, and
scratched gravel like new one, back
towards the depot. As he approachedthe
grocer's house that had been pointed out
to him as the mayors, he pulled off his
hat and only ran the faster, until he was
out of sight Of it.
At the head of Hanover street, he was
partially stopped by some one who wished
l. tb, IN oovro Dthor of the