The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-07-14
Selfrt Storp.
The Down Easter and the Bull.

What I am going to relate happened
in Mnscatine County, Iowa, midway be-
tween Iowa City, then the capital of the
State, and Muscatine City, flourishing
town on the Mississippi, in section OF
the country called the Wapsinoenoc set
tlement, from a creek bearing the name
which runs through the settlement.
1t was in 80 land that part of Iowa
was then thinly settled } that I found my
self one evening at the Eagle Hotel, in
West Liberty,a village of some five hou-
ses, s,about one mile west OF Wapsinoenoc
Creek, { Wapsi-white, noc-creek, lite
rally white-earth creek, and situated on
a beautiful prairie hillock.
Some half-dozen travellers and villa
gers are lounging in front of the ample
fireplace in the bar-ro oom-for, though
the settlers had only a few days since fin
ished their harvest, the evenings were
somewhat. cool, and a small fire was ne
cessary to perfect comfort--talking o
their prospects and whether there was
likely to be a large emigration pass
through to California in the spring tc
buy their surplus food and other pro
duce, when a new character burst upon
the stage. AS the door was flung open
all eyes were fixed in stare of astonish
ment and wonder upon the new conner
The. stranger was a tall, raw-boned
lantern jawed individual, with faxer
locks struggling about his shoulders
His long, spindle legs were encased il
blue jeans, and he wore coat of the
"steel pen cut" and in color what he
would have denominated "but'nut'' with
on oil.cloth cap drawn SO tightly dowr
upon his head that it had the appearance
of having been pasted on.
Then what appeared most strange and
unaccountable was, that he was wringine
wet. His whitish yellow earlocks were
parted down to his cheeks, and streaks
Of dirt marked the divers miniature wa
ter courses down his forehead and nose
while water dripped from the claw-ham
mer tails of his coat and from the wrist
bands of the same. On his back he car
ried an oil-cloth carpet bag, securely fas
tened by stout leather straps which
crossed on his breast. Marching into
the middle Of the room with an immense
clatter of cow-hide boots, he halted an6
cast an. inquiriEg glance around the cir
Gle occupying the benches in front of the
Eagle; the landlord arose, nodded anc
said: GH
"Good even'r, sur"
"Heow dye dew? Be yew the land
lord O. the house ?"
"Yes'r."
"Want t. know! Reckon you couldn'
keep feller here, nor give him a bite O
suthin' for supper, could yer?'
"Yes'r."
aye mean to say ye ken-bed an
breakfast ?"
"Yes'r."
"Gol darn glad to hear on't--an' il
you kin just mix feller little suthin
hot an strong, with a good deal O. run
int an but leetle water, it'll do me f.
mazin' sight O. good"
"Yes'r."
"Strong, mind; good deal of ticker
You've got rum 7"
t"Yes'r."
wv While the landlord was preparing his
rum the stranger stood in front of the
bar, with the pack still upon his back, ,ev.
identity bent on seeing that the correc,
thing was done in the rum and mingling
Then having imbibed regular snorter,
he asked the landlord to assist in remov
ing his pack. This being done, he was
about handing his carpet-bag over to the
landlord to put behind the bar, when hi
caught sight of an immense rent in it
and therefrom protruding the corners O.
articles of clothing within it. The in
slant he made the discovery, the carpet
bag fell from his hand, his jaw dropped
and for few seconds he stood the very
image of despair. At length he reused
himself, and striking his clenched fist.
against his forehead, he howled in 6
voice Of heart rending agony:
"Ruined! ruined! ruined! Teetotal
ly busted into smash! One hundred ant
sixty acres of the best land that ever lay
outer door. ripped all to flinders! Sarel
Ann, little thou knowest that we are
ruined, busted family. Little thou think
est thou art beggar! Oh, Jerewsalem
How shall ever meet you, since this de
struction has been wroughted? Aftel
all our skimpin' an stintin' an turnin
an tWistin' latter sellin' the two year ole
heffer and the nine shoats ;an' arter thou
oh, Sarer Ann, yoin' to church in kaliker