Litchfield enquirer., 1864-12-29
nlisfellanp.
The Downeaster and the Bull
A TRUE STORY.

There will be smart chance' of bull' in this story. cannot promise that it will be good story. or funny story but am keen to swear that it is true one.
 What am going to relate. happened in Muscdtine County, Iowa, midway between Iowa City, then the capital of the State, and Muscatine City, a feurishing town on the Mis- sissippi river. in section of the country called the Wapsinoenoc Settlement, from a creek bearing that name which runs through the settlement. It was '52, land that part of Iowa was then thinly settled.) and found myself one night a, the Eagle Hotel,' in West Liberty, a village of some five houses, about one mile east of Wapsinoenoc Creek. (Wapst-white, noe earth, noe-creek literally white earth creek. ! and situated on a beautiful prairie pillow. Some half.dozen travellers and villagers were iounging in front of the ample fire place in the bar-r0om-tor, though the settlers had only :, few days since finished their harvest, the eve nings were somewhat cool, and sms.ll Ire was necessary to perfect comfort talking of their prospects, and whether there wss likely to he a large emigration pass through to California iu the Spring, to buy their surplus food and other produce, when new character burst upon the stage. As the door was flung open, all eyes were hxed in stare of astonishment and won der on the new conner. ......
 Ihe stranger was tall, raw boned, lantern jawed individusl, with faxen locks struggling about his shoulders. His long spindle legs were encssed in blue jeans. and he wore Q coat of the steel pen cut, and in color what would be denominated butnut, with an oil-cloth cap drawn so tightly down upon his head, that it had the appearance of having been pasted on. Then what appeared most strange and unac- countable was, that he was wringing, dripping wet. His whitish-yellow ear.locks were busted down to his cheeks, and slreaks of dirt marked | the course of divers miniature water-courses across hls forehead. and down his nose water dripped from the claw-hammer tails of his 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 m immense chatter of wet cow-hide boots, he halted and cast an inquising glance around the circle occupying the benches in front of the hre. Bagey. the landlord of the Eacle' arose nodded and said. Good evein, sur.' -
 Hoew dye dew Be yeou the landlord O this house?' | 'Yes.r.'
 1 Want t know? Reckon ye couldn't keen feller hur, nor give bite of suthin for sup. per, could yer p
 .Yas-r.' %
 .Ys mean to say yer ken-bed and break fast 2 yves l 'Yesr'
 Col darn glad t hear ont and eff you kin just mix Teller little suthin hot and strong with good deal of rum int an but little wates it'll do me Q marin sight q good.ii ',
 Strong, mind gopd deal o'licker you've got rum r
 tYesr.'
 A good deal O rum an but little water ssif. as the old man used to say stiff. MT
 Yes F.
 While the landlord was preparing his rum lstrangar stood in front of the bar. with th, pack still nhis back, evidently bent on seein, that the correct thing was done in the run
 and water mingling. Then having imbibed | regular shorter. he asked the landlord to as : sist in removing bis pack. This being done 9e vas about hanaing hls earpet-bag over t
 shs lsndlord, to put behind the.bar. when h, 1 caught sight of san immense rent in t, ap1
 thersifon psotrpdiae ths sesness. sof ssftielc