The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-11-14
A Yankee Trick.
TOriginal.7

| The colonies of North America, hav-
Ing been composed of different nation
alities, were diverse. New York was
Dutch, while the adjacent colony on
the east, Connecticut, was English,
and the two no more mingled than oil
and water. Indeed, the border line
was the scene of a continuous quarrel.
] On one side of this line lived Jona-
than Ppm, young Yankee, while on
the other lived Katrina Blocker, a
young Dutch girl. Ppm used to stray
across the boundary line to hunt and
fish in the Dutchmen's territory, which
only tended to increase the hostility
between the two peoples, especially
| firing the sluggish Dutchmen against
the sharp witted New Englander. But
when it was learned that Jonathan's
tncursions were for very different
game than fish or fowl, indeed that he
was counting Katrina Blocker, all the
Dutchmen on the border laid down
their clay pipes, set their schnapps
mugs on the table and vowed that no
Dutch girl should marry with the
hated Yankees. Then they took up
their pipes and their mugs and began
to consider how they should prevent
such a horrible catastrophe. The re-
suit was that Katrina was shut up in
one Of those little forts built along the
eastern edge of the Dutch colony.
When Jonathan next stole over the
border to the trysting place he did not
find his love, but note scrubbed in
a mixture of Dutch and English tell
ing that she expected to be shut UP
Immediately In the fort Jonathan
went back to his people and told them
Of his misfortune. They listened to
him with occasional Interruptions
such as "Dew tell!' and want t.
know" and when he had finished and
asked them to help him out of the
difficulty they volunteered to a man.
The next day all the Yankees living
near Jonathan's home collected, with
pixies, matchlocksy scythes and pitch
forks, and set out for the fort where
Katrina was prisoner. The approach
was over an open field, and the Dutch
man on guard in the fort happened to
be awake. He raised the alarm, and
presently little six FOUNDER sent a
shot over the heads of the advancing
Yankees. Jonathan called a halt.
Now, Jonathan did not wish to sacri-
fee the lives of his friends simply to
gain wife for himself, so he invested
the fort, hoping to starve out the garri-
son. But whether it was that fear had
taken away the Dutchmen's appetite or
that the fort was we'll stored with pro-
visions, the starvation process was a
failure. Still there must be dearth
Of fresh food, for the Yankees had kept
the vendors Of perishable property
away. Jonathan, true to his Yankee
blood, preferred stratagem to blood
shed and concluded to try to reduce the
fort by the former method. He with
drew his forces from one of the APP
proaches, swampy piece of ground,
leaving the Dutchmen to suppose that
he had been driven off by the mos
quitoes. Then he concentrated the prin-
cipal part OF his force behind a barn
that had been incautiously left stand
ing quite near the fort
The next morning the Dutchmen saw
number of women, with baskets on
their arms, making their way across
the swamp. They came on, chatting
among themselves, and when q short
distance from the fort sat down their
baskets and themselves for q rest. The
baskets contained butter and eggs, and
fhn I-oof III
Ing the merits of their produce and
what prices they would get for it when
they reached the settlement The sight
of the rolls Of fresh butter and the
white eggs tickled the stomachs of the
Dutchmen gaping at them over the
parapet Of the fort, and it was not long
Defore the women were hailed to know
If they would sell and why so many OF
them were together. They replied that
they would sell if they could get az
much for their wares as at the settle
ment and that they were going to
gether for protection from the In
dams, whereupon they were invited
into the fort. This was part of Jona-
than's Yankee trick. He had dressed
AiihOCiA 1Du Il dOLSu VI LIS dQHorGntI
like DutchwOmen, and each had arms
concealed under his feminine apparel,
He alone replied to the hail from the
fort. for he alone had learned enough
Dutch from Katrina to reply and could
sufficiently conceal the Yankee nasal
tWang to prevent being discovered for
what he was, though the Dutchmen
were not quick at seeing through STRAIT
agem and he might we'll have strained
a point. Be this as it may, the gates
OF the fort were thrown open, and the
butter and egg vendors entered.
They had scarcely got inside and set |
down their baskets when the main |
Yankee force concealed behind the
barn made rush upon the gates. The |
Dutchmen were about to nm to the as |
Sistance Of those who were shutting
them when they were set upon by the |
women and either held or driven back, |
while those coming from without over
L