Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-06-04
The DOWneaster and the Bull.
A TRUE STORY.

be good story or funny story but au'
keen to say that it is true one.
What l am going to relate, happened IN
Muscatine county, Iowa, midway between
Iowa city, then the capital Of tine State, and
Muscatine city, fourishing town on the
Mississippi river, in section OF the country
called the Wapsinoence Settlement from
creek bearing that name which runs through
the settlement.
| 7, was in '52, land that part of Iowa was
then thinly settled that found myself one
r;obt at the eagle Hotel" in West Liber-
tv. a village of some five houses, about one
mile east of Wapsinocnoc Creek, (Wdps,-
white noe-earth. noc-creek; literally white
earth creek.) and situated on beautiful
prairie below.
| Some half dozen travellers and Villagers
were lounging in front of the ample fire place
in the bar-room-for, though the settlers
had only few days since finished their har-
vest the evenings were somewhat cool, and
a small fire was necessary to perfect comfort;
taking of their prospects, and whether there
was likely to be large emigration pass
to California in the Spring, to buy their sur
Mus food and other produce, when new
character burst upon the stage. AS the do'r
was flung oren, all eyes were fixed in stare
If sstonisbment and wonder on the new
conner.
The stranger WAS tall, raw boned, Ian
tern.iawed individual, with faxcn locks
struggling about his shoulders. His long
spindle legs were encased in blue jeans, and
he wore a coat OF the "s.eel pen cu,," aud in
color what he would have denominated
"butternut," with an oil-cloth cap drawn SO
tightly down upon his head, that it had the
appearance of having been posted on.
Then what appeared most strange and
unaccountable, was, that lie was wrlnglng'
dripping wet. His whitish-yellow ear-locks
were pasted down to his cheeks and streaks
| Of dirt. marked the course of divers miniature
| water-courses across his forehead, and down
his ncse; water drippcl from the clawham-
mer tails of bis coat and from the wristbands
of the Same. On his back he carried an oil
cloth CARPET bag, securely fastened by stout
leather straps, which crossed upon his back
Marching into the middle Of the room
with an immense clatter Of wet cow-hice
boots, he halted and cast an inqu'rng glance
around the circle occupying the benches in
front of the fire. Basley, the landlord OF
the eagle" arose. nodded and said, Good
cvein sur"
"IIeow dye dew? Be ycou the landlord
Of this house ?"
"Yes-r."
"Wan't t. know? Reckon ye couldn't
keep fcller hur, nor give bite o suth'n
for supper, could yer"
"Ycs-r.'
aye mean to say yer ken-bed and break
fast p
/ "Yes-r'
"Darn glad = hear ont; and efyou kin
Just mix fcllcr little suthin hot and strcns'
with a COOL deal of rim int an but little
water. it'll do me mazin sight O good"
"Yes-r."
Strong, mrd--a good deal o lickcr.-
You've got rum! !"
| "Yes-r."
ga good deal o rum an but little water
stiff. as the old man used to say-stiff, Mr..
Landlord"
| 'YcS-r."
While the landlord was preparing his
rum, the stranger stood in front Of the bar,
with the pack still on his back, evidently
bent on seeing the correct thing was done in
the rum and water mingliug. Then having
imbbcd ''reguar snorter," he asked the
landloard to assist in removing his pack
This being done, he was about handing his
carpet.bag over to the landlord, to put be-
hind the bar, when he caught sight of an
immepse rent in it, and therefrom protrud-
ing the corners of articles Of clothing within
it.. The instant he made the discovery, the
carpet sack fell from his hands, his jaw
cropped, and for few seconds he stood the
very image Of despair. At length he roused
himself, and striking his clenched fist against
his forehead, he howled in voice OF heart
rending agony.
"Ruined, ruined. ruined Tetotally busted
to smash One hundred and sixty acres oil
the best land that ever lay eout o doors,
ripped all to flinders! 0, Sarcr Ann little
knowest thou that wo art a ruined, busted
family! Little yeou thinkest that thou art
beggar! 0, Jerewsalem! How shall
ever meet yeow, since this sin, this detruck-
shion have been raut7 After all our skrlm.
PIN and skrewin' and pinchin' and turpin
and twistin'; after sellin old Barney and the
steers; after selling the two year old heter
and the nine shoats; and after thou, U, Sa-
rer Ann, soin' to church liz kalker, we're
busted family! o., Jerewsalem! All, all
lost, and gone in minute o, heow, little
Jed and Sarer Ann, can l meet you p
This outbuast from the tall Yankee sur
prised us ALL We could not imagine what
had happened to cause him SO much grief,
r. ,u., ,fvo lu hocido hiugplf