Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-11-06
Eccentric Connecticut Yankees.
by Grace Greenwood

old Nlndham county was a certain RcvO-
lutlonary pcnsioncr, by the name of Lin
coln-sur-namcd Jonas, believe. Living
in the adjoining town, he was yet we'll
known in Lebanon, where he frequently
visited Indeed, he was one whom the
war had SO unsettled that he was never at
rest except when tramping around and
" stirring about" He was a harmless,
good "atured. cidcr-drinking, storytelling
old fellow, whom everybody was glad to
see, be bored with, chatted with, laughed at,
and pittied, for he was alone in the world
sad condition, which he, however, took
very phlosophcally consoling himself by
sagcly commenting ON all the ills which
married men and heads of families are
heir to.
Though usually idle and vagabondish in
his habits. he was a man Of wonderful en-
crgy aud perseverance when once his spir-
it was up. On one occasion, when hc had
extended Il ramblc to the vicinity of Hart
ford, he found himself at the ferry. oppo-
site the city without shilling in his pock-
ct. lie proposed to the icrryman to al
low him free passage. promising to pay on
his next visit. But the Yankee Charon
refused. with churlish. No, mister, |
don't take you nor no other old tramp for
nothin' So down with yocr rhino, or
clear cout ~ "Waal, them" exclaimed
the old soldier. "you 90 to thunder with
your old skcow. won't be hcholIcn to you
or anybody Of your sort for I'll just 20
rcound yer darncl rivcr-seeif if don't"
The icrryman laughed as what he took for
an idle threat; but soon after he was ac-
costed at the ctylandiny by the same rcd
checked. loughly-clad old soldier, who tri-
umphantly exclaimed: "Waal, + hare
been rcounl your odd river; and here |
am in spite of you, old skinAint' 1t
provcl that he had actually. performed the
exploit OF following the Connecticut river
to its hcad--uf going around it, in fact
with no other incentive than the desire to
show himself independent of the ferry
man.
On another occasion he applied for the
loan of Il scythc, at the house of Il neigh.
bors, who was Il bridge. builder
I'm rally sorry, Mr.. Lincoln," said the
wife of the mechanic, that can't ac-
commodaic ye; but my husband, amt to
hum. yr see. and he says to me. just before
he went away. Betsy, says he, don't you
lend nothin of mine. to nobody. not on no
account. while am gone So. Mr. Lin
coin. ye see can't let that scythc 20, not
even to yrou'
"Why. whereabouts is your husband,
marin :"
"Oi he's way deown in Pcnnsylyany,
buildin' bridge
"Waal I guess. if I 90 dcown to where
he's to work and get his consent, yen
lend me that are scythc.'
"Sartin Mr.. Lincoln. But man alive,
what on airth du yc mean? tell yc he's
way dc,wn in Pcnnsylvany.'
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 very afternoon he departed on one
of his " grand towers" with only a change
of linen. tied in blue checked handkcr-
chief, lfnging from stick over his shoul-
der, and whstled chccrily as he left the
dull old town behind him.
About ten day or a fortnight later he
appeared before the astonishcd mechanic,
exclaiming:
"lIullo! Billns, will you lend me your
scythc for spell? That are wife Of yourn
won't let it 20 without you say so. Got
her pretty we'll under your thumb, hain't
ye? Or, mcbbe she's afraid to cut friend
ship tween her and me by lending an
edged tool"
Ten days later Mistress Billins was as
tonishcd to see her eccentric neighbor ap.
pear, all dusty and travel,worn, at her
door, and to hear him say quietly:
" Yes, ma'am, your man says may take
that ere scythe; and it's high time that
little mcdder of mine was moved"