Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-08-15
The Stury.Teller.-
THE DOWN-EASTER AND THE BULL.


-
There will be ''smart chance" of "bulP' in this
story.
cannot promise that it Will be good story or
funny story, but I am keen to swear that it is q
true story.
: What I am about to relate happened in Musca'
tine county, Iowa, midway between Iowa Gty, the
capNa Of the State, and Muscatine City, -four
ishing town on the Mississippi river, in q section
of the country called the Wapsinoenoc Settlement,
from creek bearing that name which runs through
the settlement.
It was '52 land that part of Iowa was then thin
ly settled) that found myself one evening at the
eagle Hotel" in West Liberty, village Of some
five houses about one mile east of Wapsinoenoc
Creek Wapsi-white, noe-earth, noc-creek; lit
eraly white earth creek, and situated on beau
tiful prairie billow. 8 .
Some half dozen travellers and villagers were
lounging in front ofthe ample fireplace in the bar
room-for though the settlers had only a few days
since finished their harvest, the evenings were
somewhat cool, and small fire was necessary to
perfect comfort talking of the prospects and
whether there was likely to be a large emigration
pass through to California in the spring, to buy
their surplus feed and other produce, when new
character burst upon the stage. As the door was
flung open, all eyes were fixed in stare Of aston
ishment and wonder upon the new conner.
The stranger was tall raw-boned, lantern-jawed
individual, with Haxen locks struggling about his
shoulders. His long spindle legs were encased in
pair of jeans and he wore coat Of the steel
pen cut" and in color what he would have denom-
mated ''blue nut, with an oilcloth cap drawn so
tightly down upon his head that it had the appear
ance of having been pasted on.
Then, what appeared most strange and unae-
countable was, that he was wringing, dripping wet
His whitish-yellow ear-locks were parted down to
his cheeks, and streaks of dirt marked the course
of divers miniature water courses across his fore
head and down his nose; water dnpped from the
claw-hammer tails of his coat and from the wrist
bands of the same. On his back he carried an oil
cloth bag securely fastened by stout leather straps
which crossed upon his breast.
Marching into the middle Of the room with an
immense catter of wet cowhide boots, he halted
and cast an inquiring glance around the circle oc-
cupymg benches in front Of the fire. Bagely, the
landlord of the Eagle" arose. nodded, and said:
''Good eve'in', sur
"Heow dye dew2 Be yeou the landlord o this
ere house?''
'Yes-r."
ssWant t'know! Reckon you couldn't keep a
ferer here, nor give him bite o nuthin' fos sup
per, could yerG"
"Yes-r."
eyer mean ter say ye ken bed and breakfast
me?"
s'Yes-r."
s'Gol darn glad to hear on't-an' eff you ken on
" lust mix a feIer little suthin hot an strong
with good deal of rum int, an but little water
it'll do me q mazing site o good"
s'Yes-r"
'strong, mind good deal o Icker You've
hot rum2"
ssYes-r"
"a good deal O rum in but little water-stiff
as the old deacon used to say-stiH, Mr.. Land
lord"
"Yes-r"
While the landlord was preparing his rum, the
stranger stood in front of the bar, with his paci
still upon his back evidently bent on seeing tha
fbec correct thing was done in the rum-and-wate
: :iaiarling. Then having imbibeda regular snort
he asked the landlord to assist in removing Ill
pack. :.
This being done, he was about handing his car
pet bag over to the landlord to put behind tn
bar, when ne caught sight of an immense rent II
it, and therefrom proruding the corners Of article
of clothing within it. The instant he made tn
discovery the carpet-bag fell from his hands, HI
Jaw dropped, and for few seconds he stood tn
very image of despair At length he reused him
self and striking his clenched fist against his fore
head, he howled in voice of heart-rending agony
ssRuined, ruined, ruined Teetotally ruined
busted to mash One hundred and sixty acres
the best land that ever lay out er doors, ripped a
to flinders! O, Sarer Ann, little knowest tho
that we are ruined, busted family! Little yeo
thinkest thou art beggar. 0, jerusalem HOY
shall ever meet you since this destruction ha
been wroughted? Arfter all our skrimpin, an
screwin' an turnin' an twistin arfter selhn tn
two-year old heifer an the nine shotes, and artte
thou, O, Sarer Ann, goin' to church in calikel
we're busted family! O, Jerusalem! All. al
lost, gone in minut! o, heow, little Jed an
Sarer Ann kin meet yeou?''
This outburst from the tall Yankee took us a
bv surprise. We could not imagine what had har
nened to cause him 80 much alarm and grief, fc
the moor man was absolutely beside himself wit
terror and despair, and tears were flowing plent
fully down his brown weather-beaten cheeks
"What on earth has happened to you, sir,
cause you 50 much distress? Youare certainly NJ
lamenting at this rate over that rent in your ca
net bag2' asked I, advancing to where the Ya'
kee stood. -.
20, no, no; holy Jerusalem, eff twas nothi1