The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-03-07
Taking the Starch Out.

[
Albany, N. Y.,,a few day ago.. amusing
themselves with throwing stones into the
broad stream, each vieiug with the other
in the endeavor to pitch the missile at the
father distance from the shore, when a
tall, rugged built Vermonter, direct from
the Green Hills, suddenly made his ap.
pearnnce, in their midst, and for a while
remained quiet observer Of their move
ments.
He was brawny, good looking Yankee
and was very decently clad. The efforts
of the little party had been exhibited
over and over and over again, when the
strangersquiotly picked up half brick
which laylnear him, and giving it a jerk,
it fell into the water long way beyond
the line which had as yet been reached
by the foremost Of the crowd. At the
conclusion ofthis feat loud bravo went
up from half dozen voices around him.
1t was a clear day in October, and the
men, determined not to be outdoue, re
newed their attempts but the Vermonter,
without saying a syllable to any one, con-
tinued to pitch the pebbles far into the
stream, which seemed to annoy one of
them in a green jacket, the apparent
leader Of ihe gang, who declared tnat he
wouldn't be fbeaten by a 'feller right
straight out o the woods, no how" and
siding up tothe stranger, he determined
to make his acquaintance.
Where do you come from, neighbor, y
inquired the other
Me? Wal, | halls from Vermont,
just now, my friend -
you haven't been in these parts long,
| reckon ?"
h'Wal, no. Not czaztly yere-but up
and down sorter."
"Yts-so | spose."
"Iaas,' continued the green 'un carelss.
y seizins big billet OF wood, he whirl.
ed it over his head, and landed it several
rods from the shore into the water.
You've little strength in your arms,
neighbor?"" t- sF1 {
Some punkins in the nippers, stranger
Up, in our town, not nrorc'n month ago,
drive them are knuckles rite straight
thru board more n ninsh half thick y
"Uaw, haw - shouted his hearers the
man ia the green jacket laughing the
loulest
"llayhe yon don 'tsb 'lieve it." 4
"Not much, answered the crowd
':We aih't very green down here in
! olk-we amt, said he in the green
Jacket, you see. @'al a' E70 ~
oval, Jest you look yere, friend II
continued the Yermouter in plausible
manner, cup in our country we've purity
big river, considerin. Inyun River, its
called, and maybe you've heerd on it
Wal. hove a man clear across that, river
tUther day, and he came down fair and
square on the other s;dep' JIH - (T l
"Ha, ha, ha."' yelled his auditors, i
* MAJ pow, you may LAD, but [ eau d.
il ayaiin..''- - - IT. 17l- ~
DO vhat2" said the green jacket,
quickly. I
II can take and heave you across that
river yonder, jest ike the open aud shet. "
Bet you ten dollars on it. ;"
"DOne said the Yankee; and drawing
forth an y (uPon 4 broken down East
banks he covered one of the bragger's
'hin plasters. ..g -z-5ls
y il IN you SWIM, iclIer |.
Like aduck," said green jaeket ; and
with out further parley the Vermonter
seized the knowing Yorker xtoutly by the
zap Of the neck and the seat of the pants
erked him from bis foothold, and with
n almost superhuman effort dashed the
orlly heels over head frem the dock. and
some ten yards into the Hudson. =,
"A terrible shout rang through the
crowd as he houndered in the water. and
lmid the jeers aBd screams of his com
,anions, the ducked bully put back to
he shore and scrambled up the bank
lalf frozen by this sudden and involuntary
,ath JIifA'tJ'f - 90 ft3 s3Jl =
"I'll take that ten spot, if you please
aid the shivering loafer, advancing rapi
lly to the stake holders. You took us
or greenhorns, eh ? "We'll show YOU
low to do things down here in York.
nd the fellow claimed the twenty dollars.
"Wal, I rcck'n yeou wont take no ten
pots jis yit captain" H4b6 i
''Why, you've lost the bett" i,
Not exactly. l dind't kalklatc on
euin it the first time, but | tell you |
an der 1t j and spite of the, loafer's
tmost efforts to escape him, he seized
i'm by the scuf and the seat of his over
allstsnd pitched him three yards farther
ito the river than upon the frst trial.
Again the bully returned, amid the
bouts of his mates, who enjoyed the
port Immensely. ~ - {
Third time never fails, said the Yankee; I
.rrllppiog off his coat, II kin deu it, / 1
I'll ye." n0ftte - 1rul III
"Hoid on!p said the utmost pertifed
ictim. r ,sIe.s0 /
And | will deu it if [ try till to NOR !
'w morning" I & Gs1M
Il give it up~ shouted the sufferer
etween his teeth, which now cbattered
ke mad badgers, take the money.
The Vermonter very cooly pocke,ed \
lie ten spot, as he turned away be re
arked: