The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-08-31
TAKING THE STARCH OUT u

Il
4 Ioi OF iders stood upan the end ola pier
whic! ran out into the Hudson river, in Que OF
the small towns near Albany, few days ago,
amusing themselves with hurting stones into
The broad s'ream, eachl vieting with the other
III tho endcavor to pitch miss le at tho tar
the.t distance fro,nlhe shore, vhen a tall rug
|red built Vermonter direct from the green h''ia
sDddenly made his appearance in the midst, and
for awhie remained . quiet observer OF tneu
movements.
lie IVES brawny, strong looking Yankee,
aud was very decentiy clad. The efforts OF the
little parry had been exhibited over aud over
again, when the stranger quietly picked up
half brick which lay near him, and giving II
Jerk, il fell into the alter long way beyond
the line which had as yet been reached BY the
foreman of tie crowd. Al the conclusion OF
of this featsa loud sbravo.' went up from haita
dozen voices around HIM.
1t was cold clear day in October, a. the men
determined not to be outdone, renewed their al
temp,s but the Vcrmonter without saying
syllable to any one, continued to pitch the PED
bles far into the stream, which seemed to annoy
one of them, in green jacket, the apparent lea
der Of the gang, who declared he wouldn't be
beaten by a Is Teller right straight OFT # The
| woods, no how and sIiling up to the stranger
| he determined 10 axe his acquaintance.
| Where do you come from, neishbor inqul
red the other.
| ME, wal, halls from Vermont, jesInaow,
sYou Haint bin in these parts l,ng rick n 2
| sWal-no edzackly yeIe--but up and daown
sorter.'
Yes-so l'spose.
Yaas, 'icontinued the green 'uu carelessly, and
scixing big billet Of wood, he twi led it over
his head, and it landed several rods from the
shore, into the water.
| lsfsl. sfrauofh rour ar MS NEIGH.
bor.'
Some pumpkins is them clippers. s,ran.
ger Up in aour toawn, more'n month ago,
drive them are kuuckles rite slut thru a board
mere'n nnch 'naf thick !
sHaw-haw. shouted his hearers, the mar
| in the green jacket laughing lvudest
May oe you doubt it
tNot much, answered the crowd.
I'VE amt very green, down here in York-w
amt said the fellow in the jacket, we've beef
about you see.'
sWal, jes look you yere my friend, continue
the Vermonter, in the most plausible manner
sun in aour country, we've a purity big river
considerin-Inyun river i S called, and may b
YOU We haarn on il. Wal, l hove man clca
across that river tother day, and he cam
daown fair and square ON t'other side
.Ha, ha, ha, yelled his auditors
Wal, naow, yeou may l.ff, but ken deu
again.
$40 what Said green jacket quickly
Il can take and heave yeou across th'
river yonder, jest like open and shet'
Bet you ten dollars Of it,
sDone, said the yankee, and drawing fort
an X upon broken down east bank) he covsl
ed the braggers shinpIaster.
kin yeou swim frller?
Like duck, said green jacket-& withc'
further parley, the Vermonter seized the know
ing Yorker stoutly by the nape of the nee
and the seat Of the breeches, jerked him fro
his foothold, and with almost superhumi
effort dashed the bully heels over head fro
the dock, some ten yards out into the Hudsf
river.
A terrific shout rang through the crow
as he houndered into the water, and amid
the ieers aud screams of his companions, Il
ducked bully put back TO the shore and scran
bled up the bank, half frozen by this suddt
and involuntary cold bath.
in take that ten spot, if you please, sa
the shivering loafer, advancing rapidly % ii
shareholders. tYou took us for green horn
eli? Well show you how we do things dow
here in York'--and the fellow claimed the tive
! ty dollars.
n Wal, reckun you wunt take no ten spo
jes yh, capn.'
sWhy? You've lost the bet
Not edzactly. didn't calkilate on deuin'
the first time--bu, | tell yeou kin deu t'-au
again in spite Cf the loafers utmost efforts
escape him, he seized him by the scruf and Il
scat OF his overhalls, and pitched him three "
further into the river than upon the first II
all
Again the bully returned amid the shouts
his mates, who enjoyed the sport immen'
ly.
Third time never fails, said the Yanke
stripping off his coat,.I kin deu it te
I've.
Hold on said the almost petri6ed VII
tim
sAnd will deu it-ef try till to MORO
mornin.
Il give it up shouted the sufferer, betwee
his teeth, which now chartered like ma
badger's-you may take the money
The Vermonter very coolly pocketed tn
ten spot, and as he turned away, remarl
ed
I'VE amt much acquainted with you sma
folks daown herein York, but we sometime
take the starch out of em up our way: and p'raI
yeu wunt try it on tn strangers agin. reck'
yeu wunt,' he continued, and, putting on
broad grin Of good humor, he left the compan
10 their reflections.
- l.. al has "a