Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-10-09
ABOUT THOSE "RuTES. ="

Recalling an old laugh the other day, ant
trying to think what caused it, we bethough
ourselves of an adventure that b. was very fonC
of relating in years past
1t occurred on board the Lexington, on one
of her passages from New York to Providence
The hero was Vermont lad Of twenty-five
sharp enough in horse trade, but very verdant
in everything else, who had just sold string o
nags in New York. and was now working his
way round home via Providence and BOSTON,
He "turned in pretty early and "turned out
again about sunrise the next morning, with the
idea Of going up stairs as he called it. Soon
atterward, the passengers were astonished by q
hideous outcry from "Vermont"
"What's the matter?" said a quizzcal look
ing gentleman in green glasses.
"Matter? matter enough, | reckon" said the
Yankee. "Heres some outrageous individual
has gone and stole my bran new cowhide butes
cost me twenty-five York shillings. and left me
these ere slippers, made outer yallcr dog-skin
and not worth red cent?
"Hush !" said the man with the green glasses,
"don't speak so loud. 1t is very common oc-
currence on this boat Some Of the niggers
must have done it Did YOU never notice the
steamboat niggers go well shod?"
"Wall | have, old hoss and that accounts
for it, hey? Speak!-sing out 1t does account
for it, hey?"
"Hush. yes it does"
"Wall, I'll holler for cap'n, and get the boat
stopped until find my butes-cost me twenty
two York shillings-I will, by gravy"
mo, no; don't make a row. If you do the
thief will throw them overheard No, no you
watch the niggers, and when you find the delin-
quent, take him to the captains office and make
him settle"
"I'll settle him l amt goin to throw away
pair of twenty-five shilling butes, no how"
1t afforded much amusement to the man in
green glasses, and his cronies, TO see the Yam
kce shuilling and skuifiing about the cabin in
his yellow slippers. dogging every darkey and
examining his feet After weary search he
came to his tormentor Of the green glasses and
said -
"Im going up stairs to hiratc around there,
and see if | can trail en-
So up he WENT and the cabin passengers
could hear his heavy tread and the scuff, scufI
of his slippers all over the deck. By-and-by
he came down again. Just then a shiny Afri-
can, with pair of polished boots in his hand,
went toward 93, the Yankees berth. Just as
he was dragging aside the curtain to peep in,
Yarmouth lit on him like fierce tiger cat, seiz-
ing him by the cuff of the neck and yelling
I've cotched you, YOU double distilled es-
sence Of Day and Martin, and mixed up with
the hypersulphate of rascality! After my wal
let, was you? Come along with me.'
Lem me go" said the indignant darkey,
struggling to get free from the iron grasp Of his
antagonist
Not as you knows on," said the indignant
Yankee. 1--WE handled severer colts than YOU
be-" And he dragged the terrified black up the
cabin stairs. followed at safe distance by the
gentleman in green glasses and misconceptions.
R,f, lac.. IL. l.
told his story, and agreed to abide by his decis-
ion Of course an explanation followed, with a
verdict for the defendant, and the plaintiff sem
fenced to pay the injured African ninepence.
"Sold, by maple said Yarmouth Here,
nigger, here's quarter, and give me the butes ;
but if cath that chap in the green goggles.
pickle me if don't heave him into the Sound
were only half way on, the gentleman in green
glasses disappeared, and was the first man to
make himself scarce when the boat touched the
wharf at Providence.