Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-07-24
The Way to the Next House.

Some years since an acquaintance of ours
set out on horseback from the eastern partof
Massachusetts for the Green Mountains in
Vermont. While travelling through the town
of New Salem his foad led into a piece of
woods, some few miles in length, and long be-
fore he got out of which he BEGAN to enter
tain doubts whether he should be BEST With
the sight of a human habitation but as ali
things must have an end, so at last the woods;
the neat brown house of. farmer greeted his
view. Near the road was tall, raw-boned
over-grown, lanternjawed boy, probably sew
enteen years of age, digging potatoes. He
vas curious figure to behold. What was
lacking in the length of his tow brooches was
amply made up for behind; his suspenders
appeared to be composed of birch bark, grape
vine and sheep skin; and as for his hat, which
was OF dingy white felt-poor thing, it had
evidently seen better days-but now, alas it
was but the shadow of its glory. Whether
the tempest of time had beaten the top in, or
the lads expanding genius had burst it out it
was missing, and through the aperture red
hair in abundance stood six ways for Sunday
In short, he was about the toughest specimen
Of domestic manufacture that ever mortal.be-
held. Ourtravellingfri feeling an itching
to scrape acquaintance with the critter; drew
up the reins of his horse, and began" Halo,
my friend, can you inform me how far it is to
the next house" Jonathan started up
leaned on his hoe handle-rested one foot of
the gambrel ON his sinister leg, and replied
Halo yourself! how'd do ? Well 1 Jest can.
Tain't near as far as it used to be af0re they
cut the woods away-then twas generally reck-
oned four miles, but now the sun shriyels IN
the road, and 1t don't make MORT tcw. The
first house you como to though is barn, and
the next is hay stack but old Hoskin's
house is beyant. You'll be sure to meet his
gals long atore you get there-tarnal rompin'
critters; they plague our folks NORMA little.
His sheep get into our pasture every day, and
his gals in our orchard. Dad sets the dog
arter the sheep and me arter the gals and
the way we make the wool and petticoats fly
is sin to snakes''
81 see your inclined to be facetious, Young
man; pray tell me how it happens that one Of
your legs is shorter than the other?" Il
never slow anybody to NEEDLE with my grass
tanglers, mister; but seen' It's you, III tell
ye. was born so by'ticular request, so that
when L hold pillow, can go with one foot
| In the furrer, and t'other on dry land and
not lop over; besides it's very convenient
when [ NOV round side hill'' every good.
| lndeed-how do your potatoes come on this
! yearF "They don't come on at all; dig
EN- out" "But they are small, I perceive. !"
es, know 1t you see VIC planted some
whoPPin' blue noses over in that ere patch
over there, and they Rourished so alGrcdly
that these ere stopped CROWN just out. Of
spite, cause they krowed they couldn't begin
to keep up" "YoE appear to be worry smart,
and should think You could afford a better
hat than the one you wear" "Thc looks amt
nothiA'; It's all in the behavior I've got a
better one at home, but 1 don't dig taters in
it, no how" ''You have been in these parts
some time, I should guess?" ''I guess so
tew, was born and got brotin' up in that
ere house, but my native place is down in
Podunk." ''Then you said it was about three
and ahalf miles to the next house," ssYes
sir, it was spell ago; and 1 don't believe its
grown much shorter since" Much OBLIGED
Good bye" GOOD bye to ye-that's darn
slick horse of your'n."