The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-12-06
THE REVEREND PRIZE FIGHTER.


part OF London one day, when we heard
an alteration going on, and among the
voices we distinguished an unmistakble
Down East one. You would have known
that the owner hailed from Connecticut
If you heard it half way up the great
Pyramid of Cheops: and as Jonathan
appeared to be in the minority, we STEP
ped into the crowd to see what was the
cause of the row.
In the centre of crowd of vagabonds.
OF which big drayman appeared to be
the leader, was long, slabsided Yankee,
SIX feet two in his boots, dressed in his
go-to-meeting clothes, with an awfully
stiff shiny hat on. The crowd seemed to
be very anxious to immediate him, while
he was loud in his assertions of arrest if
they touched him. We Inquired of our
countryman the cause of the tumult, and
he said he was walking quietly along
when drunken fellow ran against him
and tried to push him off the sidewalk,
and finding he couldn't do it he'd struck
at him and pegged his hand to pieces on
his umbrel'; aud that cause he d done so,
they wanted to lick him.
If you say you'll fight me and not
take the law of me, I'll knock your head
off, growled the big drayman.
I'll take you up if you tech me-"
said Jonathan. " I'm peaccable man,
and [ want you to leave me alone"
We interferred, tried to pacify the rep
robates, and succeeded in some degree;
whereupon Jonathan said he couldn't
stay no longer, bid US good day and
tramped off forgetting his umbrella,
which was fortunate occurrence for u.s.
We walked off, when as ill-luck would
have it, young scoundrel, about eight
years old, having a natural antipathy to
clean pants, threw a handful of mud up
on Dicks unwhisperables, to which Dick
responded with 4 pelt from his cane,
which made the young reptile howl mer-
rily.
In an instant We heard an awful i'm
precation, followed by "Hit him boy, will
your" aud, turning, we saw the big
drayman on the keen jump for us, fol-
lowed by he crowd We had just left behind
US.
We were in for an awful pounding,
that was plain. Escape was impossible,
so we faced the music. They seemed to
be afraid of Dicks stick, and came on in
half circle, preparing to make grand
rush together. Just at this moment in
to the circle, to our great astonishment,
came our long Connecticut friend
Without waiting to be on the defcn-
sive, as the weaker party generally does,
he hit the big drayman on the nose with
such precision that he fell as if steam
engine had struck him. Then he let out
right and left, and down went two more
blackguards
Astonishment petrifcd US for mo-
ment, but short and spirited address
delivered to us by the descendant of the
Pilgrim Fathers in something like the fol-
lowing words: "Go in, boys, and give
the internal critter fts," accompanied by
the downfall of two more of the bold
Britons, set US at work, and [ can assure
you we were very industrious for short |
space of time.
We did very WE'LL but our efforts were |
child's play compared with those of
Brother Jonathan. l never saw such |
hitting in my life. He did his work |
most awkwardly but most effectually. =
His long arms few about like those of an
insane windmill, but every time he let
out down went man, and if he was hit
fairly he didn't get up again in a hurry.
He was everywhere at once. A big |
fellow had seized Dicks stick, and was |
intent on spelling his beauty, when the
Yankee came swooping around and down
he went-and stayed down.
Two fellows were pressing their hum
BILE servant disagreeably hard, when [
heard the Connecticut slogan, {" Give the
critters fits" and away they went, one
knocked down by the fall of the other.
He was knocking them around like nine
pins, street sweeper rolling over omni-
bus cad, and pickpocket over both, when
cry of /" Police" was raised, and our
opponents vanished like magic
Jonathan picked up his "umbrel," and
we turned down the next street. When /
we had reached respectable distance I
from the scene Of action Dick stopped
short and said very coolly: Look here,
are you John Heenan, or ain't youW
Jonathan grinned, but denied the soft
impeachment.
Who are you, then?" said Dick. =
" You've been IN the same business, | .
know. No one but professional could
hit as savagely as you did"
Then Jonathan after some hesitation,
acknowledged with a pious drawl that
he had been a prize-ighte once, but
grace had been given to convert him to
the Methodist persuasion; that his pro- 7
fcssion had kept him from responding to
the overtures of the big drayman, but
when he came back and saw. two gentle
men going to be licked for taking his
part, the old Adam became rampant aud
lmpelled him to the battle, which was
very wrong, said he, pously; but" ad-
led he with jolly grin, the old Adam