The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-10-29
Jonas Lincoinl

ONE of the most marked personsges of
old Windham county was certain Revo-
lutionary pensioner, by the name of Lin
Jonas, believe. Living
in an adjoining town, he was we'll
known in Lebanon, where he frequently
visited Indeed, he was one whom the
war had 30 unsettled that he was never at
rest except when trsmping around and
stirring about" He was d harmless,
good-natufed, cider-dfinking, storytelling
old fellow, whom everybody was glad to
see, bore with, chatted with, laughed at,
and petted, for he was alone in the world;
a sad condition, which he however took
very philosophically, consoling himself BY
sasely commenting on all the ills which
married men and heads of families are
heir to.
Though Unusually 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
had extended rsifible to the vicinity OF
Hartford, he found himself at the ferry, op-
posite the city, without shilling in his
pocket. He proposed to the ferryman to
allow him free passage. promising to pay
on his next visit. But the Yankee Charon
refused, with q churlish "No, mister,
don't take you nor no other old tramp for
nothinf So deown with your rhino, or
clear eout!" "Waal, then," exclaimed the
old soldier, "you 60 to thunder with your
old skeow I won't be beholden to you, or
anybody of your sort; for I'll jest go
reound yer darned old river-see if l
don'ti"
The ferryman laughed at what he took
for an idle threat: but some weeks later
he was accosted at the city-landing by the
same red checked, roughly-cled old soldier,
who triumphsntly exclaimed. "Waal, l
haps been reound yer old river and here
| am, in spite OF you, old skintlint.". It
proved that he had actually performed the
exploit of following the Connecticut river
to its head-of going round it, in fact, with
no other incentive than the desire TO show
himself independent of the ferryman.
| On another occasion, he applied for the
loan of scythe, at the house of neigh
Dor, who was bridge-builder. I'm
rsly sorry, Mr.. Lincoln" said the wife Of
the mechanic, "that can't accommodate
ye; but my husband amt to hum, ye see
and he Gays to me, jest before he went
away: Betsy says he, don't you lend
nothin' of mine to nobody, not on no &C.
count, while am gone So, Mr.. Lincoln
ye see can't let that scythe 60, even to
yeou."
"Why, whereabouts is your husband
tnarmw
buildin' bridge"
"Waal, I guess, if I go deown to where
he's to work, and git his consent, yell LEND
me that are scythe"
"Sartin, Mr.. Lincoln. But man alive
what on airth do you mean? tell ye he'i
way down in Pepnsylvany."
The old soldier laughed in his droll
knowing way; then questioned her as tt
the exact locality of her husbands bridge
building operations; and took his leave.
That very afternoon he departed on one
. of his grand tours" with only change
of linen, tied in q blue checked handker
, chief, swinging from a stick over hi,
shoulder, and whistling cheerily as he lef
the dull old town behind him.
Abotit ten days or fortnight later HI
appeared before the astonished mechanic
exclaiming: "Hullo! Billins, will yeor
lend me yer scythe for spellf That art
wife of yourn won't let it 60 without yeor
say 80. Got her pretty well under you
thumb, hain't ye? Or, mebbe she's afearet
to cut friendship tween her and me BY
lendin' an edged tool"
Ten days later Mistress Billings was as
tonished to see her eccentric neighbol
appear, all dusty and travel-worn, at he1
door, and to hear him say, quietly: Eyes
mann, your man says I may take that are
scythe; and its high time that leetle med
der of mine was moved"
1t was popularity ofthe old pensionel
that he could. never be told any news
though himself great newsmongef. He
always profeesed to know everything in
that line before his enterprising informer
He was once very neatly caught by q
waggish neighbor, who suddenly opened
upon him with the startling intelligence
that a whale had been caught in the She
tucket River, respectable stream running
through Windham. "Du tell, neoso
Wheni Where is the critterf" he ex
claimed, quite thrown off his guard. But
the next instant, dropping his look o.
wonder and surprise, for his usual know
ing expression, he added 81 heerd they
were arter him but didn't know they'C
cotched him yit."-Eastern Paper.