Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-02-11
From Emerson's Magazine
THE TOUGH YARN.

MAJOR GRANT Of Massachusetts
was returning home from Moosehead
Lake, where he had to look after one o.
his ewly-purchased townships, and te
sell stulnpage to the loggers for the en-
suing winter, when he stopped for the
night at snug tavern in one OF the back
towns of Maine, and having been to tbs
stable, and seen with his own eyes that
his horse was well provided with bay
and grain, he returned to the bar-room
laid aside his cloak, and took seat by
the box stove, which was waging no,
war with the cold and raw atmosphere Of
November ~ e1,gsr
The major was large, portly mar,
well to do in the world, and loved his
comfort. Having called for mug o.
hot flip; he loaded his long pipe, and pre-
pared for a long and comfortable smoke.
He was also a very social man, and there
being but one person in the room with
him, he invited him to join him in tun-
bier of flip. This gentleman was Doc
tor Snow, an active member of tenn
perancc society; and therefore he polite
ly begged to be excused; but having a
good share of the yolubility natural to
his profession, he readily entered into
conversation with the major, answered
many of his inquiries about the town
ships in that section of the State, de-
scribed infinitely the process of lumber
ing, explained how it might be made
profitable, and showed why it was so of
ten attended with gfeat loss. A half
hour thus passed imperceptibly away,
and the doctor rose drew his wrap
per close about him, and placed his cap
close on his head. The major looked
around the room with an air of uneasi-
ness
'What, going so soon, Doctor? No
more company here tonight, think p
Dull business, Doctor, to sit alone one
Of these long tedious evenings. Always
want somebody to talk with; man wasn't
made to be alone, you know
True, said the doctor 'and / sloald
be happy to spend the evening with
You; but haze to go three miles to see
IA patient yetto-night, and it's high time
| was off. Eut luckily, Major, you
won't be left alone after all; for there
comes Jack Robinson, driving his horse
and wagon into the yard now; and Ipre-
sumo he'll not only spend the evening
with you, but stop ali night.
Nv ell, that's good news said the
M ajor, if he'll only talk. Will he talk,
doctor?
Talk? Yes! till all is blue. He's the
greatest talker you ever met. I'll tell
you what It's, Major, I'll bet the price of
your reckoning here tonight, that you
may ask him themost direct simple ques-
ton you please, and you shan't get an
answer from him under half an hour, and
he shall keep talking steady stream the
whole time too
Done said the major; 'tis bet
Let us understand it fairly, now. You
say | may ask him any simple, plain
question please, and he shall be half
al hour answering it, and talk all the
time too; and you will bet my nights
reckoning on it,
That's the bet exactly said the doc
tor.
Here the parties shook hands upon it,
just rs the door opened, and Mr.. Jack
Robinson came limping into the room,
supported by a crutch, and with some
thing of y bustling, care-for-nothing air,
hobbled along toward the fire. The doc
tor introduced Mr.. Jack Robinson to
Major Grant, and after the usual sau-
tations and shaking of hands, Mr.. Rob
inson took his seat upon the other side
of the stove, opposite the major.
Mr.. Jack Robinson was a small, brisk
man, with grey twin king eye, and a
knowing expression of countenance.-
AS he carefully settled himself into his
chair, resting his lame limb against the
edge of the stove,hearth, he threw his
hat upon the floor, laid his crutch across
his knee, and looked round with salts
fled air, that seemed to say, Now, gen
tie men if you want to know the time Of
day, here's the boy that can tell ye.'
ALLOW me, Mr.. Robinson,to help you tt
a tumbler Of hot flip said the major
raising the mug from the stove.
with all my heart, and thank We too,
said Robinson, taking sip from the
tumbler. 4 believe there's nothing bet
ter for cold day than a hot flip. Tv'
known it to cure many enc who wa
thought to be in q consumption. There
something sos
and have known it, said the doc
tor, Struggling .his shoulders, to XII
many one that.was thought to have al
excellent constitution and sound health.
There's something so warming, con
tinued Mr. RokHson, following up hi
own though so'earnestly that he seeme'
not to have heard the remark of the doe
tor, there's something so warming an,
so nourishing in hot flip, it seems to Civ
new life to the blood, and puts the i'll
sides all in good trim. And as for col'
weather, twill keep that out better thai
any double-milled kersey or fearno
great coat that l ever see.
Il could drive 5wenty miles in coll
day with a good mug of hot flip easie
than l could ten miles without it. An
this is cold day, gentlemen, areal col
: day, there's no mistake about it. Thi
nor wester cuts like razor. But tain
nothing near so cold as twas year ag
) the twenty-second day of this month";
That day it seemed as if your breat
would freeze stiff before it got an inc
: from your mouth l drove my littl
4 Canada grey id a sleigh that day twelv
miles in forty-Rve minutes, and froze tw
! Of my toes onsmy lame leg as stiff a
maggots. Tli4m toes chill great dea
quicker than on t'other foot. In my we
days neversf roze, the coolest day tina
4 eyer blew. .sBut that cold snap, tn
twenty-second day of last November,
my little grey hadn't gone like bird
y would have done the job for my poo
| lame foot. When Igot home found tw
Oh my sheep dead, and they were unde
Ia good she'd, too. And one ofmy neigh