Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-12-09
AM Eccentric Connecticut
Yankee.
by GRACE GREENWOOD

One OF the most marked personages
OF old Windham county was certain
Revolutionary prisoner, by the name
OF Lincolr-surnamcd Jonassl believe.
Living in the adjoining town, he was
yet well.known III Lebanon, where he
frequently visited. Indeed, he was
never at rest except when tramping
around and stirring about lie was
q harmless, good natured, cider drink
ing, story telling old fellow, whom ev-
cry body was glad to see, bored with,
chatted with, laughed at, and pitied,
for he was alone in the world--a sad
condition, which he, however, took
very philosophically, consolirg himself
by sagely commenting on all the ills
which married men and heads OF faE,i-
lies are heir to.
Though usually idle and vagabond-
ish in his habits, he was aman OF Won
acrtul energy and perseverance when
once his spirit was up. On one occa-
sion. when he had extended a ramble
to the vicinity of Hartsford, he found
himself at the ferry, opposite the city,
without q shilling in his pocket. He
proposed TO the terry,nan to allow him
a free passage, promising to pay on his
next visit. But the Yankee Charon
refused, with a churlish No, mister, |
don't take you, nor no other old tramp
for nothin'. SO down with your rhino
or clear cout!'
"Waal, then exclaimed the old sol
lior, 'you so 20 thunder with your old
skeow! l won't be bcholden to you, or
anybody of your sort; Tor III just go
reound yer darned old river-see if |
DON'T
The ferryman laughed at what he
took tor an idle threat; but some weeks
later he was accosted at the city land
ing by the same red checked, roughly
clad old soldier, who triunphantly ex-
claimed:
"Waal. hare been reound your old
river; aud here 1 am, in spite Of yeou,
old skin flint.'
1t proved that he had actually per-
f0rmedthe exploit of followingthe Con-
nccticut River to its head-ot going
around it, in fact-with no other incen-
tive than the desire to show himself in-
dependent of the ierryman.
On another occasion he applied for
the loan Of scythe, at the house OF a
neighbor, who was a bridge builder.
I'm rally sorry, Mr.. Lincoln," said
the wife OF the mechanic, "that | can't
accommodate ye; but my husband amt
to hum, yc see, and he says to me, jest
before he went away, Betsy says he,
don't ycou lend nothin' of mine to no.
body, not on no account, while | am
gone SO, Mr.. Lincoln, ye see l can't
let that scythe so, not even to yeo.."
"Why, whereabouts is your husband,
marm?"
"Oh, he's away down in Pennsylva-
ny, building bridge
"Naal, l guess, if I go deown to
where he's to work, and get his con-
sent, yell lend me that are scythe.'
"Sartin, Mr.. Lincoln. But man
alive, what on airth du ye mean? Itell
ye he's way deown in Pennsylvany.' ,
+ The old soldier laughed in his droll
knowing way, then questioned her as
to the exact locality OF her husbands
bridge building operations, and took
his leave.
/ That afternoon he departed on
one of his "graad towers with on y a
change of linen, tied in blue checked
handkerchief, hanging from stick over
his shoulder, and whistling cheerily as
he left the dull old town behind him.
About ten days or a fortnight later
he appeared before the astonished
mechanic, cxclaiming:
"Hullo! Billins, will you lend me
your scythe for spell? That wife of
yourn won't let it so without you say
so. Got her pretty well under your
thumb, hain't ye? Or, mebbe she's
ateard to cut friendship tween her and
me by lcndn' an edged tool.'
Ten days later Mrs. Billings was as
;onished to see her eccentric neighbor
appear, all dusty and travel-worn, at
her door, and to hear him say quietly:
"Ycs, ma'am, yer man says may take
that are scythc; and it's high time that
little medder Of mine was moved"
The Vermont Legislature has passed
bill holding liquor dealers RESPONSE
bic for the damage to person o. prop.
erty done by those obtaining liquors
of them.