The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-05-16
THE NlMBLE SHILLING.
A SKETCH OF EARLY HISTORY

as beverage, is fast going out of fashion,
and many of our oldest, and most respect
able citizens, who, in the primitive days
were engaged in the traffic, have seen its
evils, and set their faces against 1t. We
know that some of the captious old to-
pers, who still adhere to the ardent, sneer-
ingly say their neighbors did not quit un-
til they had made their fortunes-but
what of that ? it is evident they are sin
cere in their opposition to spirituous Ii
quors, when they themselves cease the
use, as well as the sale, of the article
In gathering material for future history
of the west, we are often struck with the
fact of how steadily that evil agent, whis-
key, has advanced with civilization how
many tragedies marked its baneful march,
and how many humorous anecdotes it has
given birth to. Our purpose at present is
to chronicle one of the latter; but as the
family of old illinois whiskey dealers have
discarded the article, and have, in the
course of time and progress, risen to
wealth and dignity, we will, of course,
omit names.
During the last war, when the Gram
gers were on duty through western Hi
nois, whiskey was deplorably scarce
article, and the money to purchase it
when found, was equally hard to obtain.
Among the old Rangers, the ''corn juice"
was considered as necessary to subsistence
as orn-dodgers - but having received
no pay for long period their small stock
Of funds had entirely run out. In the
mean time an old dealer had succeeded in
raising two barrels of the comfortable IL
quid, and erected asmall shanty near place
where his shingle in chalked capitals, de-
clares ''WHIsKEY IS ARRIVE AT SIX CENTS
sUc." Major Murdoch, one of the old
veterans, had for two days, in wofully
parched condition, been searching his
''kiverin' for a stray bit that he knew
was somewhere about him, but all his eff
forts to chase it up appeared unavailing-
there was so many patches on his hunt
ing shirt that it was impossible to find the
one of which he had made pocket to
contain the precious coin, and at last he
had given it up. He tried to get trusted
for two drinks until he could find it, but
the owner Of the shanty knew better than
to trust any of that crowd.
"Try ag;.in, Major" said a dry old GRO
ny, who knew the. circumstances "try
again never give up in good cause
a shillin in silver now, is worth gold
another time.''
The Major did try again, at last, down
in the seam, at the tail, the Major discov-
cred the little joker, and perhaps he hail
ed the discovery with a yell of satisfac-
ton.
"Now, Bill" says he, "we'll give the
old fellows barrel a rip for two inwigora-
tors, and no dispute
They accordingly adjourned to the
shanty, and called for the medicine. The
owner looked at the Major doub-ingly
but when he displayed the bit, hesitation
vanished--he instantly drew the ''sucks,
handed them over, and took the change
The first taste frightened the Major 2.
keen as an Indian. He observed whiL
drinking, that the dealer placed the none,
on little shelf behind him, and Jus
above his head it was in reaching dis
tance too, from his stand beside the tenn
porary counter upon this discovery III
at once acted.
''Well, rally says he, "that su1f j.
suthin' like thar's a body in it that tick
els fellows vitally at the extreme pints
Bill, added he, Il could fight Ingin a
half wages, eff the'd only feed me iron
sech cows mild as is in that barreI.s
do think we'll go anuther.''
Bill signifed assent, but looked at tn,
Major with some surprise and inquiry il
his countenance, as to where he woult
find another bit but the old Ranger sool
opened his eyes wider. The dealer ha'
no sooner stopped to draw from the bar
rel, than The Major picked the s,lSllin;
from the shelf, and paid itover aga
for the drinks.
Il knowd you had money, Major,
said the dealer, ''if you could only con
sent to shell it out but you gittin con
sarn close listed in your old days.
The Major laughed at this REMARK, a
> he replied:
"Well, you're cunning sarpi nj 10, an
bound to make suthn out of us 1ellars.-
| declare that lickers SO tre,nesnjus tina
! it's sot me crayin in my innarCls''
! Don't give it up yet, Majoa>' chime
0 in the dealer, ''thar's more whar ths
f cum from, and jest of the sd tse brewin
: I know you have been sui fsrin' fur
+ taste these many days past cause yo
: hated to open, and l hated precious ba
L To rnflISa Won but yybiSkev csostS a mower