The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-08-30
A YANKEE LOVERS
SnREWD TRICK
How Jonathan Won His
Beloved Katrina.

The colonies of North America, hav-
ing been composed of different nation
alties. 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 Pym, a young Yankee, while on
the other lived Katrina Blocker, u
young Dutch girl. Pym 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
incursions were for very different
game than fish or fowl, indeed that he
was courting Katrina Bleeker, 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. The result 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 scribbled in
Q 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 tellv' and want Z
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, matchlocks. scythes and pitch
forks. and set out for the fort where
Katrina was prisoner. The approach
was over an open field, and the Dutch
men on guard In the fort happened to
be awake. He raised the alarm. and
presently a little six FOUNDER sent g
shot over the heads OF the advancing
Yankees. Jonathan called halt.
Now, Jonathan did not wish to sacri-
ice the lives Of his friends simply to
gain a wife for himself. so he invested
the fort, hoping to starve out the garri-
son. But, whether 1t was that fear had
taken away the Dutchmens appetite
or that the fort was well stored with
provisions. the starvation process was
q 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. lie with
drew his forces from one OF the ap-
proaches. swampy piece OF ground,
leaving the Dutchmen TO suppose he
bad been driven or by mosquitoes.
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 n short
distance from the fort sat down their
baskets and themselves for n rest. The
baskets contained butter and eggs, and
the women kept up clatter. discuss
Ing the merits OF their produce and
what prices they would get for II when
they reached the settlement. The sight
Of the rolls of fresh butter and the
white eggs ticklcd the stomachs Of the
Dutchmen. gaping at them over the
parapct OF the fort, and II was not long
before they were hailed to know II
they would sell and why 30 many Of
them were together, They replied that
they would sell II they could get ns
much for their wares ns ut the settle
ment and that they were going to-
gether for the protection from the In
dians. whereupon they were invited
into the fort
Now, all this was n part OF Jona-
than's Yankee trick. lie had dressed
himself and n dozen OF his ndherents
like Dutchwomen, and each had arms
concealed under his feminine apparel.
He alone replied Ia the hail from the
fort, for he alone had learned enough
ASutcu from Nhtrlhn 10 reply ana cOuIu
sushciently conceal the Yankee nasal
twnng to prevent being discovered for
what he was. though the Dutchmcn
were not quick nt seeing through strat.
agem and he might well have strained
. point. BE this as II may. the gates
u 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
iuxde = rush upon tho gates. The
Dutchmen were about 10 run to the as
s1stancs Of those who were shutting
thsn when they were set upon by tn,
women and either held or driven back
while those coming from without over
came the gatemen. and In few min