Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-09-22
Yankee INGENUITY.

~~>~S ~~-EfsA~~
Not long after the close Of the last war with
Great Britain, there lipd little distance
from Chary, in ClintonF County, and within
our line, traficking Jonathan, who often Wis
tied the Canadian villagesin his business, and
although ne was not kndwn to be guilty OF
any lnfractlon of the laws regulating duties
upon imports, ne was etIongly suspected by
the Canadian authorities and by the particu-
lar officer residing in thai kicidity. Jonathan
had often been annoyed blythe strict and some
what uncivil manner in which his wares were
examined Tor secreted ebntraband goods, and
at last irritated by what he deemed an unjust
suspicion OF the falrnesszo zof his invoices, de-
termined to visit the offekiler with punish
ment of his own devisins at.4.n III
Accordingly he had Manufactured box as
wide as his wagon would allow, and nearly
five feet high, with covpr upon the top open
ing with hinges, and SECURED with a good
stout Yankee paddock. Yhis he mounted upon
his wagon, and it was IMPOSSIBLE for any one
conveniently to examiner the contents of the
box. Jonathan, howeveA did not intend to
take full load in the outset; but putting in
the bottom some billets ofwood covered with
saw dust, he left ample room for any freight
he might pick up in his contemplated expedi-
ton.
Thus equipped, with ,fne5span of horses,
Jonathan left his house one r,sIrnmor morning
before daybreak, on his rdute for Canada,
which led him Immediately by the house Of
the vigilant collector of customs, or his depu-
ty, whom our friend was f once, at least,
anxious to see. This houseMhe reached lust
at dawn, and as he approach led, he put whip
to his horses, and rumbled Ry like an earth.
quake. Aroused from his Numbers, the Off
Ger sprang to the window nst in time to rec
ognize the suspected Yankee, as he faded il
the distance, and without Knitting for any yer,
elaborate toilet, he ran tohis stable, mounte,
his fieetest courser, and stared in pursuit.
Sure of being followed ,tand not especial,
anxious to escape, Jonathan turned into sid
road, partially concealeT from view and halt
ed, as If to rest his horses, at point where
he was well aware. thqpracticed eye Of the
pursuer would detect him, and waited coolly
until the half denuded representative of majes
ty suddenly appeared bit few rods distant
1t seemed too late for escape, and although a
first there was shoF of flight, the effort
ceased, and Jonathan ht looking like de-
tected smuggler when 4he officer came up.
Now, my shrewd Yankee cried the off
Ger, 4 think you'll fsd have not watched
you thus long for nqhing. You have pre-
tended honesty, till | began to believe you
and yet here you are funning by my house be-
fore am up, withouf presenting an invoice
and | suppose your BRx is filled with wares Ii
able to duties. NoS sir, give me your key.
Jonathan t.embled dismounted from his seal
and begged that he blight be allowed Gor once
to pass without exaBination, he had but little
and the duty would 6e only shilling or two,
and for that he didnH suppose il would be civil
to wake up the Collector.
I tell you,' sarGthe officer, give me nc
more lies. | want your key: give me your
key a-
Finding remoR$trance useless. Jonathan
handed over the lMS, and the collector mount
ing the side of ttr wagon, loosed the paddock
and threw back t lid of the box. But alas
there was nothnAao be seen save saw dust
even long arm Sould not reach that, to find
what cat was Ahder the NEAL The thing
must not pass way; duty must be done,
even if modus ia&uo was not decidedly elegant
So thought Jon4 4ihan's friend, and drawing his
body TO the tOPH the box, and balancing for Q
moment on thdeide, with outstretched arms,
he sought to f68 the bottom of the fraud.
At this precise juncture the neither extremi-
ties of the digBhary received an unexpected ell.
ovation from unseen cause, and the Collec-
tor collected himself in the bottom Of Jonathan
trap, at the Very moment when the top of il
closed as by4nagic, and the clicking Of the
lock gave E&ice that farther exploration fol
contraband ePpds was to be profound secret
But neAtview of the casearose. Jonathan
now had Ghmodity in his cargo which might
really be a3pdged subject TO seizure, and he
was not aeall aware whether he was able to
pay the dqsses which might be imposed on this
new kind stock. Prudence dictated re-
treat, andy road not much frequented
Jonathan vas not long in giving free rein 10 his
horses oyA corduroy or log road, which took
him 10 American lines 10 drive of about
three mis-, and although it was very rough,
poor CofHctor, as he was jolted over the logs.
sufocatedby the sawdust, concluded that il
was a lillb dusty. F ti
luded8 he expressed that sentiment, as well
as sundG Others, through small aperture in
the cagdfwhich had been left for the purpose
Of vent #ion, but the rumbling Of the wagon
drownedaalI ut,erance, and Jonathan heard
nothing ilil he was in safety near his own
house. ~
Here stayed his fight, and his prisoner
beat psf|ey. Bodily excitement seemed to
produce ~ 5ntal serenity.