Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-11-09
ssTakIng taae starch out of 'em.v

river, in one of the small towns near
Albany, few days ago, amusing them
selves with hurting stones into the broad
stream, each vieing with the other in
endeavoring to pitch missile at the far
thest distance from the shore, when a
tail, rugged built Vermonter, direct from
the Green Hills, suddenly made his APP
pearance in their midst, and for while
remained quiet observer of their move-
ments. He was a brawny, strong look
ing Yankee, and was very decently clad.
The efforts of the little party had been
exhibited over and over again, when the
stranger quietly picked up half brik
which lay near him, and giving it jerk
it fell into the water a long way beyond
the line which had as yet been reached
by the foremost of the crowd. At the
conclusion Of this feat a loud bravo
went up from half dozen voices a.
round him.
1t was clear day in October, and the
men, determined not TO be out done, re-
hewea their attempts but the Yer
monter, without saying syllable to any
one, continued to pitch the pebbles far
into the stream, which seemed to annoy
one Of them, in green jacket, the APP
parent leader Of. the gang, who declared
he wouldn't be beaten by ''feller right
straight out O. the wood nohow )" aud
sliding up to the stranger, he determin-
cd to make his acquaintance.
"Where do you come from, neigh
Dor ?" inquired the other.
"Me? Wal, I halls from Vermont, les
now, friend -
"Ha'int been in these parts long, l
reckon p
"Wal-no. Not edsacley yere--but
up and daown, sorter."
"Yis-so 'spcsed"
"Yaas,' continued the green 'un, car
lessly, and seizing big billet Of wood,
he twirled it over his head, and it lam
ded several rods from the shore in the
water.
"You've little strength in your
arms, neighbor."
"Some 'punkins' in them Aippers,
stranger. Up in aour touwn, more'n a
month ago, | driv them are .ltnuckles
tight STRAIT thru board, more'n ninch
'naff thick -
"Haw-haw - shouted his hearers,
the man in the green jacket laughing
the loudest.
"May be you don't blieve it.''
"Not much" answered the crowd.
awe Amt very green down here in
York-we amt" said the fellow in the
green jacket; ''we've been about, you
ses."
oval; jes you look yere, friend"
continued the thermometer, in the most
plausible manner sup in aour country,
we've purity big river, considering
Inuyn river, it's called, and may be
you've heard on it. Wal, hove a man
clean across that river t'other gay, and
he came fair and square t'other side"
ala, ha, ha !" yelled his auditors.
aWal, naow, yew may laff. but | ken
dew it agin."
"Do what ?" said green jacket quick
ly.
81 can take and heave you across that
river yoDder, jest like open and shet."
"But you ten dollars of IT'D
"Done - said the Yankee; and draw
ing forth an x, (upon broken down.
east bank1 he covered the bragger's
shin plaster.
"Kin yeu swim, Teller 20
"Like duck said green jacket and
without further parley, the Vermonter
siezed the knowing Yorker stoutly by
the nap of the neck and the seat of the
pants, jerked him from his foothold and
with an almost superhuman effort dash
ed the bully heels over head from the
dock, some ten yards out into the Hud-
son river.
A terrific shout rang through the
crowd, as he houndered into the water,
and amid the cheers and screams Of his
companions, the ducked bully put back
to the shore and scrambled up the bank,
half frozen, by this sudden and involun-
tary cold bath.
"I'll take that ten spot, if you please"
said the shivering loafer, advancing ra-
pidly to the stake holders. "Yol took
us for green horns, Ell? Well show
you how TO do things down here in
York" -and the fellow claimed the
twenty dollars.
"Wall, | reck'n yeou wunt take 10
ten spots jis yit, cap'n."
| "Why? You've lost the bet.''
"Not eazactly. | didn't calculate on
deuin it the fust time-but tell yeou |
kin due it''-and in spite of the loafer's
utmost effort to escape him, be seized
him by the scruif and the seat of his
overhauls, and pitched him three yards
further into the river than upon the first
trial
Agin the bully returned, amid the
shouts of his mates, who enjoyed The
sport immensely.
"Hold on!' said the almost petrifed
victim.
"And I will deu it-if I try till to-
morrow mornin."
/ II give it up!'' shouted the sufferer,
between his teeth, which now chartered
like mad badger Stake the money"
The Vermonter very cody pocketed the
ten spot, and as he turned away remar-
| ked-
eve amt much acquainted with your
smart folks deoun here in York, but we
sometimes take the starch eout of 'em
UP our way-and p'rsps yeu wunt try it