Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-07-20
lANKEE INGENUITY.

IN = Il lhNAGb lNNENOll ..t.... "a .
\A Not lon after the close of the last war with
Great Bripin, there lived little distance from
Chazv inClinton County, and within our line
trafiiekng Jonathan, who often visited the
Canadian ilages in his business, and although
he was nd known TO be guilty of an infractior
of the Lars regulating duties upon Imports, he
was strogly suspected by the Canadian author
tiles, AM by the particular officer residing ir
that vicinity; Jonathan had often been annoyed
by the srict and somewhat uncivil manner in
which hi wares We're examined for secreted con.
traband FOODS, and at last, irriialed by what he
deemed IN unjust suspicion Of the fairness OF
his invoices, determined to visit the offender with
punishment Of his own devising.
Accordingly, he had manufactured box as
wide aslis wagon would allow, and nearly five
feet biz, with acover upon the top, opening with
hinges. and secured by good stout Yankee
paddock This he mounted upon his wagon, and
| it was hus impossible for any one convenient.
! " To canine the contents Of his box, even il
| it were full save by climbing upon the side Of
the wagon on the top Of the box Jonathan,
howeur, did not intend to take a full load in
the ouset; but putting in the bottom some bill
let's Of wood, covered with dust, he left ample
room nr any freight he might pick up Oh his
contemplated expedition.
THIS equipped, with span of spirited horses,
Jonahan left his house one summer morning
befor daybreak, on his road for Canada, which
led him Immediately by the house of the vigil
iant collector of customs, or his deputy, whom
our fiend was, for once at least, anxious to see.
This house he reached just at dawn, and as he
approached he put the whip to his horses, and
rum,led by like an earthquake. Aroused from
his ,lumber, the officer sprang to the window
lust n time to see the suspected Yankee, as he
faded in the distance, and without waiting for
any ery elaborate toilet, he ran 10 his stable,
and mounting his ieetest courser, started in
pursuit Sure of being followed, and not es-
pecsiIly ailSsons IN esc' pc Jonathan iarned it
Il side road, partially concealed from view, ad
hard as it to rest his horses, at n point wbre
he vas well aware the practced eve Of theJur-
suG would detect him, and coolly wal edanlil
theh half dtnuded representative of her NJ jesty
suddenly appeared but few rods disrsnt IT.
seemed too late for escape, and although at first
there wasa show Of fight, the effort ceased, and
Jmathansat looking like detected smuggler
when heofcer came up.
"Now,my shrewd Yankee" criA the officer
"l think roul 6nd | have not wa,hed YOU thus
long forlmthing. You have prettnded honesty
ill | begin TO believe you, and vet here you are
rnnning iy my house before lam up, without
presenig an invoice, and sappose your box
is filled With ware liable to duties. Now, sir,
give me rour keyw
Jonalan trembled, dsmOunted from his seat
and begged that he might be allowed for once
to pass Vlhout examination. He had but little,
and heduty would be only shilling or two
aud fbrbat he didn't suppose it would be civil
to wax up the collector.
It'd you," says the officer, "give me no
more hs. want your key; give me your
keyT
Filming remons,rance useless, Jonathan hand
ed lor The key, and the Collector, mounting
the.sie Of the wagon, loosed the paddock, and
threwback the lid Of the box. But, alas there
4as Dhing to be seen save saw dust-even a
longrm could not reach that, TO find what "cat
was nder the meal" The thing must not pass
inih way; duty must be done, even if the mo.
dps quo was not decidedly elegant. So tho't
Jonhan's friend, and drawing his body to the
topf the box, and balancing for moment on
theide, with outstretched arm he sought to
fndhe bottom Of the fraud.
4 this precise juncture the neither extremi.
tieof The dignitary received an unexpected ell
eviion from an unseen cause, and the Collect
orolleced himself in the bottom of Jonathan's
ira, at the very moment when the top of it
ceed as if by magic, and the clicking of the
lok gave notice that farther exploration for
coiraband goods was to be profound secret.
But a new view of the case arose. Jonathan
NV had a commodity in his cargo which might
mlly be adjudged subject to seizure, and he
as not all aware whether he was able TO pay
he duties which might be imposed on this new
ind of stock. Prudence dictated retreat, and
q road which was not much frequented.-
onahan was not long in giving free reign to
Is horses over corduroy or log road, which
,ok him to the American lines, n drive of
bout three miles, and although it was very
ugh, the poor Collector, as he was jolted over
le logs, suffoca ed by the sawdust, concluded
Iat il was little dusty.
Indeed, he expressed that sentiment, as well
sundry others, through small aperture in
le cage, which had been left for the purpose
ventilation, but the rumbng of the wagon
rowned all utierance, and Jonathan heard Moth
@ until he was in safety near his own house.
Here be stayed bis flight, and his prisoner
Eat parley. Bodily excitement seemed to
'oduoe mental serenity.