The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-06-12
THE FROG CATCHER
BY HENRY J. FINN.

Macbeth.
If you want to catch a genupine Yam
kee, you must take a trip up to the State Of
Vermont. There they shoot up like weeds,
generally ranging from six to seven feet in
stature. The bait at which they snap is q
ssgreat bargain," and tinman's cart is the
only show-box in which they are willing to
be exhibited. Mathews, who took his YAM
kee from Kentucky, made as great bull as
the old Frenchman, that hired an Irish SER
want to teach him the English pronunciation.
Once upon time, there lived in q town
in Vermont, little whipper-snapper Of q
fellow named Timothy Drew. Jimmy was
not more than FIVE one, in his thick soled
boots. When standing by the side of his
neighbors, hc appeared like dwarf, among
giants. Tall people are too apt to look
down on those of less dimensions. Thus
did the long-legged Yankees hector poor
Timmy for not being a greater man. But
what our hero wanted in bulk, he made up
in spirit. This is generally the case with
small men. As for Jimmy, he was Gall pluck
and gristle % No steel trap was smarter
How such little one grew on the Green
was always mystery. Whether
he was actually raised there, is indeed un-
certain. Some say he was of Canadian de-
scent, and was brought to the State by Yer
mont peddler, who took him in barter for
wooden cucumber seeds. But Jimmy was
above following the cart. He dislked trade
as too precarious a calling, and preferred a
mechanics art. Though small, TiInmy al
ways knew which side of his bread had but
ter on it. Let it not be supposed that Tim
othv Drew always put up with, coarse gibes
at his size. On necessary occasions he was
"cock full of fght.'' TO be sure, he could
not strike higher than the abdomen of his
associates; but his blows were so rapid that
he beat out the daylghts of ten-footer be-
fore he could say slack Robinson" A
threat from Jimmy was enough. How many
bellieerents have been quelled by this ex.
pressive admonition:-'slf you say that 'ere
again, III knock you into the middle of next
week'' This occurred in Timmy's younger
days. Age cooled his transports, and taugh,
him to endure. He thought it beneath the
dignity of an old man to quarrel with idle
striplings.
Timothy Drew was natural shoemaker.
No man could hammer out piece of sole
leather with such expedition. He used his
knee for a lap-stone, and by dint of thump-
ing, it became as hard and stiff as On iron
hinge. Timmy's shop was situated near
the foot Of pleasant valley on the edge Of
pond, above which thousands Of water
lilies lifted their snowy heads. In the spring
it was a fashionable watering place for bull
frogs, who gathered there from all parts, to
spend the warm season. Many Of these
were of extraordinary size, and they drew
near his shop, raised their heads, and swelled
out their throats like bladders, until the
welken rung with their music. Jimmy, en-
gagged at his work, beat time for them with
his hammer, and the hours passed away as
pleasantly as the day is long.
Timmy Drew was not one of those shoe
makers that eternally stick to their bench
like ball of wax. 1t was always his rule
to carry his work to the dwellings of his GUS
toners, to make sure of the fit. On his way
home, he usually stopped at the tavern to
inquire the news, and take drop Of some
thing to drink. Here 1t was that the wags
fastened upon him their jokes. and often
made him feel as uncomfortable as short
tailed horse in fy-time. Still Timmy loved
to sit in the bar, and talk with the company,
which generally consisted of jolley peddlers,
recruiting from the fatigues of thelast cruise.
With such society much was to be learned,
and Timmy listened with intense curiosity to
their long spun tales Of the wonderful and
wild. There lis no person that can describe
an incredible fact with greater plausibility
than Yankee peddler. His difficult pro-
fession teaches him to preserve an iron
gravity in expatiating on his wares which
in few cases can be said to recommend
themselves. Thus, narratives, sufficient to
embarrass the speech of any other relater,
carry with them conviction, when soberly
received from such respectable source.
These peddlers took great delight in i'm
posing on the credulity of Jimmy Drew
Some Of the stories stuffed into his ears were
astonishing. One man had been to the
South, and gave marvellous account Of the
alligators. lie had seen one scampering
into the water with full grown negro in
his mouth. Another told story of great
Canadian Giant that weighed 1850 pounds
in his stockings. Another had seen IN Bos-
ton Living Skeleton, with ribs and as bare
as a gridircn. A fourth had been to New
York, and described the great Anaconda,
which made nothing of mouthing a live goat
for its breakfast. A fifth enlarged on the
size of the Shark, Switch swallowed Mr..
Joseph Blaney, as exhibited by the sou.''-
The wonderful leaps Of Sam Patch lost
nothing in their recital here; and the mys-
terious Sea Serpent, not more than one
hundred yards long in Boston, was drawn
oat to double that length in being trailed up
to Vermont behind tinman's cart. One
peddier told what great smokers the people
were In the city of New orleans. Said he,
s'Ihe very mosquitoes fit about the streets
IN the night with cigars in their mouths p
''Yes," replied another, ssand ulsas mosoui-
toes they are! By the living hoky! have
seen them flying around as big as q goose.
with a brick bat under their wing, to s6arnen
their stings on!' o'a r
1t would be impossible to repeat III tha
iokes played of on the poor shoemaker.-
rhe standing jest, however, was on his di-
stature, which never was more
than in their company, for most
If them were as tall as bean poles. On this
'ubject, Tmmy once gave them memorable
effort. Half = dozen Of the party were sit.
ing by the FIRE, when our hero entered the
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