The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-03-27
Il Lively Old Boy.

A queer looking, wiry old chap, arrayed
chiefly in a hunting shirt ana mink SKID
cap, yesterday mode his way to the bar OF
one of our !irst.class saloons. His 'keg' was
evidently full to overlooking yet he was
athrst. Cockiag one eye upon the bar,kcep-
er and the other upon the array OF bottles DC
fore him, he thrust his right hand deep INTO
his breeches pockets and stirred up stunning
jingle of coin. Turning then to a gentleman
standing near, the little old man said:
Stranger excuse me, but will yer Jiiic me
in drink?
Please excuse me, sir said the gentleman,
I've just drank
Stand another, can't yer"
NO, I'm much obliged to you, | don't
wish to drink 49,,
Turning to another gentleman the little
gentleman said;
Take drink, sir-with mcF
No; l thank you, I've just been TO dinner,
said this man, turning and walking away.
The little old man looked annoyed and ir-
ritated, and turning from the bar he walked
across the saloon to where three or four men
were conversing together.
'Gcntlemen,' said he, you must excuse me,
Pm a stranger here, but never like to drink
alone Now will you obligc me by all com
ing up and taking drink at my expense
Pm one of your sociable kind and never like
to 90 in drove by myself
Thinking the old fellow was about as full
as was good for him, all declined the profier'
ed treat.
This exasperated the old chap, and jerking
his cap oil his head he turned loose with;
We'll, this beats all Not a man in this
room that will dnk with me. Darn it, IN
90 forth into the streets and I'll bring IN the
rabble! III be like that old rancher down
in the valley Of Galilee, that the Bible tells
Of He was one of my kind When he had
L frolic he wanted TO see things whiz!
What one Of the old patriarchs was that q
asked a gentleman present who thought 1t
might be worth while to draw the man out,
I'm not much of biblIst' said the old
man, but mean the old cock that lived
sumwhere down in Galilee and Nazareth
The old fellow, you know, that give the big
blowout when his oldest gal got married; he
killed lot of oxen and sheep and calves
and goats and had tearing barbecue,
invitin' all the neighbors for miles around
But devil a one came near the house. All toe
burned high-toned! Then what does the old
chap do but git up on his ear and swear that
the thing shall be success So he sends his
hired man to gather up the old buns and
stifls, the dead beats, the lame, halt, and
blind, sayin Bring them all in and We'll
have IL of time! Then the hungry and
thirsty old:bums and gut er,snipes all came
chargin' in from the back alleys and tumblin
up from the lumber yards, and they piled In
and they made 1t hot for that lunch and wills
ky, and lager beer, and they fiddled and dane
ed till they all got blind drunk and broke up
in row. But the gal had a stavin' lively
weddin after ALL Now that's the kind of q
man am IF you gentlemen won't drink
with me, III go out and bring in the buns
and old stiffs, and we'll devour the tree lunch
drink ourselves disor,lerly ana have a regu
lar weddin feast right hyarr
This little Grafton had the desired effect and
all in the room took drink with the old
chap, when he exultngly cried, bringing his
fist down upon the counter, as. he emptied
his glass:
Dog gone it, you cont know Old Sol Win.
tcrs down hyar; but he's purity big lnjun
when he's at home up in Onion Valley