Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-01-13

eyes, sir.''
Scum now, Kurnell, none of your tricks"
said the Hoosier; it kind O. riles me to cum
across sch critters.''
sob, sir, no trick, 1 assure, you. We re-
quire it of our visitors, as much for their own
az our benefit -
ssYou don't tell ~
''Ycs, sir, it is a fact"
'sWant to know whether they can write,
reckon. Wall that's on sqUar. When fell
Ter goes away from hum, he ought to show his
ederkation. l only learned TO write when
shaver, but got up purity high in figures. I'll
give you a specimen OF my autobiography, as
old Squire Smith calls writin', in darned short
order;" and the traveller took the pen, squar-
ed himself to suit, and leaned over the book
to write. His oddity attracted the attention
of all in the Office, including the two fops,
who, amused at his remarks, gathered about
linn at the clerks desk. The pen in his hand
had touched the book, when he paused, and
after rejecting q moment, raised his head,
and addressed the clerk in the following style:
sKurnell do you want all of a feller's name?"
1--WE would like to have your name In full"
Full name! Wall, that's puzzler- You
see my family name is Hempfeid, and then
my christian name is ohm Isaiah, that thar'S
John Isaiah Hempffeld isn't it -
eyes. sir.'
s.Wall then, the boys down our way consid-
erin me right smart chap, kind gin me a
second cristanin they called me Hoss Head"
The information so innocently given, caused
4 loud burst of lau ghtcr from the crowd.
Hoss Head participated in it, for he loved
laugh, and could be as merry as the next one
"a rale smart name, amt it boys 2" he ask
cd, after the laughter had somewhat subsidized
ssW ould you put it down in the book 70
.sCertainly, certainly cried all.
In few minutes the stranger, after giving
bis pen many circular movements over the
book, and changing his position several times,
succeeded in writing his name in full, as fol-
lows
Mr. John Isaiah Hempfeld Hoss Head, Per-
simmon Post Office, Yaler County, Indiana.
He pointed to his specimen OF ''chickograph-
y" with pride, and seemed wonderfully pleas
cd with the fusomc praise bestowed upon it
by the gentlemen present.
Expressing n desire to get fixed up, the
clerk showed him to the wash room, when the
fops who had endeavored to enjoy thelIoOsier's
grcenncsS were struck with idea-about
such a one as generally racks the addcled
brains Of uon-if men they may be called
Of their stamp. Anxious to display their
sTla: tness, and create amusement at the cX
pcnse of another, the fops seized the porter's
brushes and giving the crowd a knowing wink,
as much rs tc say Wen make fun for you, ap-
preached Hoss Head.
..ShaIl I bwush you, sirrah ?'' he asked,
endeavoying TO play the servant.
Wall, now, by thunder !" exclaimed Hoss
Head, as he dropped the soap from his hand
and ceased his ablutions. 81 always was good
at -uessin', but this beats all creation. Look
yer, Kurncll,-addressing the clerk-''l no
sooner seed these fellers tonight than l guess
ed right out that they was servants
Tho boistcrous laugh which followed was to
the chagrin Of the fors.
..Thcy Just look; be continued. ''as If they
warn't made for notLin' else than to scrape
the mud from 4 feller's legs, and do little
chores around tavern. 1 thunk that when
first seed ,em; and by thunder warn't l right,
thought Brush me of Sartainly! and (Sith
dignifed air) mind you make clean sweep,
or I'll report you to Kurnel, thar"
The fops finding that uoss Head had put
the joke upon them, cndcayored to recover !;
so they informed him that he should not be
/ brushed unless he paid in advance.
..Pav in advance - was Hoss Heads indlg-
nant reply ..Thunder and salvation don't
! the tavern pay YOU for your lazy, trifing work?
l reckon you think I'm kinder green, and
/ want to skin me, don't you !''
s.PCn onah we don't'' replied one. owe ah
speaking the truth, answered the other.
! Bv this time Hoss Head was victorious, so
, far as the spectators were concerned. W hle
/ they could not sport with the Hoosiers lgnor-
/ ance Of city manners, they could but desplSe
the senselcss dandies who made him an object
of ridicuIe Every hit, therefore, which Hoss
/ Head gave them, drew forth loud exclama-
tons for s.the gentleman from the country
and giving his head toss, which threw MS
rat to one side, he asked
s,Ain't they tryin to skin me, boys -
eyes" came from q dozen.
81 thunk so from the start, and therefore
was on the look out for 'em. esquire J0ne:
told me afore / left hum to look out for tayerr
thieves and by thunder I've run agIn two o
'en right at the start
s.Do you mean to insult us ?'' asked one O
the tops, forgetting the part he had volunteer
cd to play, and feeling that he ought to profess
indignation on being called a thief.
elf the shoe fits wear il, was iioss Head -,
pointed answer.
s.Did YOU apply the term tavern thief TO us3'
asked the other fop.
..Sartin, L did,
s.Then, srrah, we will let you know that VI
only assumed the character of servants. W.
are gentlemen, Sirrah, and insist on youah tax
ing back the obnoxious appellation, or we vii
seek redress"
Yes sirrah we will seek redress with on
canes ah, said his companion, as he flourish
ed a slim specimen of a cane over his head.
s.What - exclaimed Hoss Head, drawing
himself out TO his full length, and giving tn
diminutives before him rather a scornful look
.sWhat, you want to fight, do You p? Jus
clear ring, boys, and stand back, If yo
want to see me eat them two critters in hall
minute | can do it by any watch in the crowd
. . Just clear the ring y
e.Stop, stop,' interrupted the clerk, VIII
saw that matters were going too far, ''we can
have any fighting here" :.
ssThen larn your sarvants to be perlite, re
piled Hoss Head.
ssThey are not servants, sir, and do not DC
} Iopo to the house. They are not even board
/ ers. and | assure you, sir, never saw theI
A, before this evening""
.sDon't belong to the tavern, and trying
E, skin me %
t .I presume. sir, they only intended to pla
a harmless joke"
: "That's all, pom honah," replied one of ii