The Portland daily press., 1869-11-08
Eccentric Ce.-ecticut Yankees.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

One of the most marked personages of Old
Windham county was certain Revolutionary
pensioner, by the name OF Lincoln-surnamed
Jonas, believe. Living in the adjoining town,
he was yet well known in Lebanon, where he
frequently visited. Indeed, he was never at
rest, except when tramping around ana str
ring about" He was harmless, good natur-
ed, cider-drinking, story telling old fellow,
whom everybody was glad to see, bored with,
chatted with, laughed at, and pitied; tor he
was alone in the world-a sad condition,
which he, however, took very philosopbically,
consoling himself by sagely commenting on
all the ills which flesh is heir 10.
Though usually idle and vagabondish in his
habits, he was man of wonderful energy and
perseverance when once his spirit was up.
On one occasion, when he bad extended
rambe to the vicinity OF Hartford, he found
himself at the ferry, opposite the city, without
a shilling in his pocket. He proposed to the
ferryman to allow him a free passage piomis-
ing to pay on bis next visit. But the Yankee
Charon refused, with churlsh " No, mister;
l don't take you, nor no other old tramp for
nothin." So down with your rhino, or clear
eoutP'
"Waal, them" exclaimed the old soldier,
"you go to thunder with your old skeow! l
won't be beholden to you, or anybody of your
sort; for III just go reound yer darn'd old
Tiver-see if don't"
The terryman laughed at what he took for
all idle thI eat; but some weeks later he was
accosted at the city landing by the same red
checked, roughly clad old soldier, who tri-
umpnantly exclaimed:
"Waal, have been reound your old river,
and here am, IN spite of yeou, old skim
fiintr'
II proved that be had actually performed
the exploit of following the Connec icut river
to its head-of going around it, in iact-wth
NO ofh ho -
himself independent OF the terryman.
On anothsr occasion ne applied tor the loan
of sc,the, at the house OF a neishbor, who
was bridge-buider.
I'm rally sorry. Mr.. Lincoln" said the wife
OF the mechanic, e that can't accommodate
you; but my husband amt to hum, ye see,
and says he, DOM yeou lend nolhin' of mine
to nobody, rot on no account while lam gone'
So, Mr.. Lincoln, ye see can't let that scylhe
60, not even to yeou."
why, whereabouts is your husband.
marm?'
in a bridge"
"Waal, guess, if go down to where he,
to work, ana get his consent, yen lend NE
that are scythe."
"Sartin, MIR. Lincoln. But man alive. what
down in Pennsylvany."
The old soldier laughed in his droll, know
ing way, then questioned her as TO the exact
locality of her husbands bodybuilding opera
tions. and took his leave.
That very afternoon he departed on one of
his "erand towers" with only change of
linen, tied in a blue-checkcd handkerchief.
hanging from a stick over his shoulder, and
whsting cheerlly as he lett the duh old town
behind him.
About ten DAYS or a FORTNIGHT later he an
peared before the astonished mechanic, ex-
claiming: .sssar tr,-sr,a
"Hullo, Billings! will you lend me your
scythe spell? That are wife OF yourn ont
let 1t 20 without you say so. Got her pretty well
under your thumb, hain't YEP Or, mebbe
| she's afeared TO cut friendship tween her aud
Inc by leudin' an edged tool"
Ten days later, Mrs. Billings was astonlsh-
ed 10 see her eccentric ueig Dor appear, all
dusty and uavel-worn, at her door, aud TO
hear him say quietly: Yes, ma'am, yer man
| says l may take that are scythe; aud it's high
time that little msider was moved.