The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-12-11
THE BOATMEN'S "YELLOW TAV-
ERN.

| ERN.
ST have quite large sum of money
that took with me hoping to settle am
icably with those farmers who have made
complaint that my logs. which came
down during the spring rain injured
their meadows" So said Lemuel Strong
a Hartford lumber dealer, one fine au-
tumn afternoon nearly hundred years
ago, to Capt. Elijah Halle. landlord OF
the famous "yellow tavern" which stood
prominently upon the fertile bluff at the
| foot o. Hailsedale saltwater.
The two men we're slowly walking
back and forth on the high bank under
the huge elms that stood guard over the
long. low, yellow wooden house that
fronted the Connecticut river, as did all
| dwellings within sight of the lovely
stream in those days, when the river
was the only great thoroughfare between
the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts,
81 don't want any trouble" went on
the lumber dealer. "My lawyers thought
to line their pockets, suppose, by ad-
vising me to retaliate by suing the land
owners for destroying and stealing my
lumber, but came away from home
prepared and fully determined to settle
I,,,
of any consequence above here, but I
find that must go on to Wells river to
meet my agent, and, as said, it seems
wisest for me to leave most of my money
with You, for l suppose l shall have to
run the gauntlet of some pretty rough
fellows up above"
"Ha, ha! yes" chuckled Capt. Halle.
MAN eaters are plenty up along, but
land you won't come across none on
'em; you ain't starched up enough. l
don't believe they'll even duck ye ter see
what sort er stuff yer made on. They
won't, You may be sure, if you tell 'em
few stories and sing EN- few songs.
Singin' goes master ways on the water.
/ would give q riverman who was good
singer an extra price aud three extra
glasses of flip day over and above one
who couldn't sing. AS fur your money
it's Jest as we'll ter leave it where twill be
safe 1 don't take no bother of nothin'
er that sort; hand it to my Ruthy, my
only granddaughter; you know. She
keeps the bank er deposit. I don't sup
pose there's often time that she don't
hev in her possession, more er less mon
ey belonging to the rivermen. Look er
there meow, stranger" the old man con-
tinued, pointing far down the shining
river. "That's a pootY sight. That's
| the Wells River boat now. and they've
got up pretty brisk white ash breeze.
The poor fellows must be hungry and
tired enough, for there hasn't been a
puff of wind ter day, See em straighten
themselves; they know their business.
You may be sure they are looking for
ward to the hot supper Ruthy will have
ready for them. You peYer poled boat
from o'clock in the morning until 7 at
night. Eff you had, you would know
what it was to be tired and to be hungry.
All me the boatmen will miss my
Ruthy when she is moved off to the hill.
"How is that ?" inquired the lumber
dealer, watching with interest the ap-
preaching boat, upon which he was to
continue his journey upon the morrow.
SIS Miss Ruth to be married Z"
Married !" echoed Capt. Halle. shad-
ing his eyes with his hands and trying
to make out another boat which had just
hove in sight around the distant bend in
the river. The white oars six on a side
dipping with even stroke, looked in the
oblique rays of the setting sun like silver
dripping with myriad crystals. 'Non-
sense, sir ! I have no doubt that my
Ruthy has mittened one or more men
from every town bordering npn the river
from Canada line down to the Sound.
But land er liberty! Ruthy don't want
nothin' on em. She'll keep their money
safe for 'em, an she II mend their clothes
and give 'em hens lie an burnt linen for
their shoulders when the settin' pole has
wore 'em raw, but as fur marrying on
'em, Ruthy'll stick by her old granther.
What meant was this. When my only
grandson, Ruthy's brother. Joseph, was
married wanted to encourage him, an
SO in the foohshness of my fond old
heart 1 put this property which my great
granther bought of the Indians into his
hands. Joe's wife, Deborah, was brought
up on Blue hill, an she wants ter 60
back ter the old humsted. She's natur.
ally es shy as partridge, an the boat.
mems noisy, rough, jolly ways keep her
all the time in twitter an futter; SO
you see that Ruthy who has been
brought up here-her father an mother
both died when she was baby is really
the landlady. Deborah's oldest brothe,
has allus had hankerin' arter meddel
farm, an Joe was allus bewitched ter be
| tradin'. / found out t'other day thai