Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-05-28
OLD SQUIRE SKAGGS' JAMBOREE.

The ascent to the bland atmosphere
of the editorial rooms of the Morning
NeaCs is a somewhat tortuous and com:
plicated, and it requires all the sagaci-
~ of the young villain who edits our
waste basket to safely CONVOY the casual
visitor up the perilous steps. Occa-
sionally, however, there is to be found
a self-reliant caller, who scorns to be
ushered into the editorial presence, and
this was the case with the old gentle
man who dropped in upon us yesterday
morning.
We were engaged in writing caustic
and damaging reply to an article In the
Gainesville Standard and Express on
the availability OF sassafras tea as bev-
erage, when suddenly the sanctum door
swung open and stranger entered. He
wore a copperas suit, quilted hat of
the same material, and his ht mespun
shirt was adorned with loose and flow
ing collar. His boots were of the most
substantial species and he limped slight
" as he walked. He wore brass mount
ed spectacles, and carried cane with a
neatly polished horn head. His hair
was gray, but Lis face. was rudy with
health, and jOcund twinkle shone In
hiseye Before accepting our invitation to
one of the hospitable chairs, the visitor
looked carefully around the room,
placed his hat on the floor, and eyed
the newspaper man with considerable
intensity. Then he opened the CONVEX
sation.
"Young man, is this the place whar
they print the papers ~.
We repl ed affirmatively, and offered
to support our assertion with the affi-
davit of any number of disinterested
persons.
"Well, my name is Skaggs-Squire
Skaggs, of Gwinnett. Cousin John
Thrasher, at Norcross, knows me
like a book. / thought I'd jes,
drap in an see how you wuz gittin
on"
We expressed great qualification al
meeting the squire, and then we called
his attention to the vile attempt of 8
correspondent of the Gainesville
Standard and Express to suppla1t by
son and Oolong with sassafras tea. Tn.
Squire looked thoughtful for a momen
and then remarked:
ssThar amt no humbug about sassa.
fac. Next to hot toddy gimme sassa
fac. Ny ole oman keeps it continent.
on hand Thar's two kinds of sassa
fac. the white sassafac and tn.
red sassafac the red is the kind yol
git the tea frum. It's mighty warm
in"
Then the Squire paused, adjuste,
his spectacles, leaned back in hi
chair and gazad pensively at the life
like portrait of General Lee whic
praces the sanctum of the AOrnin
Ne,cs.
Sassafac's good enough in its way
but 1 dropped in to see eff / couldn
git you to print leetle piece In you
paper.
We unostentatieusly inquired the nat
ure of the communication.
You see, said the Squire, pitchin
his voice to an exegetical altitude, 81
was sorter this way. Last Chuseda
wuz a week ago, sailed down to Altar
ty with SEWN bags of cotton. AFTER
sold 'en, / kinder loafed roun' lookir
at things in general, and feelin' jest e
happy ez You pleeze, when who shoul
/ run agin but Kurnel BlaseEgame. M
an the Kurnel used to be boys together
an we wuz ez thick ez five kittens In
rag basket. We drunk outen the sam
goad, an We got the lint snatched QUITE
us by the same bandy-legged schoo
teacher. wuz gettin' ez lonesome c
rain-crow, afore I struck up with til
Kurnel, an / wuz glad to see him.
drrned glad We knocked roun' tow
right smartually, an the Kurnel inte
need me to whole raft of fellers-
mighty nice boys they wuz, too. Art<
supper, the Kurnel says:
"Skaggs," says he. "less go
NV room, whar we kin talk over O