Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-12-14


It's being quite surrounded by waite
was generally called Bullock island
Bull was an ingenious man, an exceed
ingiy good blacksmith. a dexterou
cutler and notable weaver besides
He also brewed capital porter. ale an,
small beer and was. in fact, sort o
Jack -of-ailtrades and good at each.
In addition TO these he was a heart,
fellow. jolly companion aud passa bl,
honest as the times went Rut wha
furnished all these qua titles was an *
ceedingy quarrelsomc overbearing t.is
position. which was always getting hin
hito some scrape or other
The truth is he nnver heard OF 4
quarrel going on among his ncighbor,
but his fingers itched 10 taxi "a part in
1t. SO that he WAS hardly over Seer
without broken head. black cgc or
bloody nose
Such was Squire Bill. as he was com
monly called hv tho country people.
his neighbors-Onco OF those odd. testy.
STumbling, Boosting old codgers that
never get credit FOR what they are bc.
cause they are always pretending 10
he'what they are not The squire was
as tight a hand TO deal with indoors rs
out sometimes treating his famih as
II they were not the same ne~h and
blood when they happened 10 diffet
with 'iln in certain matters
one day he got into dispute with
his youngest son. Jonathan. who was
familiarly called Brother Jonathan lie
fell upon him and beat him soundlc.
AFTER this he made the house 50 dis
eSreea bic to him that Jonathan. though
n hard as pine knot and as tough
- leather, could bear 1t no longer
Takfng his gun and his Ak. he put
himself into boat and padded over
the mill pond TO some new lands 10
which the squire pretended TO have
some sort OF claim. Jonathan intend
cd to settle the lands When he got
ever he found that the land was quite
- state OF nature, covered with wood
and Inhabited only nv wild beasts
But being lad OF spirit. he took his
AZ on one shoulder and his gun on
Of the wood and, clearing a place built
q ieg hut Pursuing his labors and
handling his AK ike a notable wood.
man. he In few years cleared the
land. which he laid out into thirteen
good farms, and building himself
large house, which he partly finished |
bagan TO be quite snug
mt
and stingy ana besides was in great |
want OF money on account OF his hay
ing lately been made to pay heavy |
damages for assaulting his neighbors
and breaking their heads-the squire | |
say, finding Jonathan was getting well |
10 do'in the world began to be very
mBch troubled about his welfare. So
be demanded that Jonathan should pay
him good rent for the land which he
had cleared and made good for some
hing
He made up | know not what claim
against him and under different pre-
enses managed 10 pocket all iona
hans honest gains In fact, the poor
ad had not a shilling left for holiday
occasions. and had 1t not been for the
llial respect lie felt for the old manl
lie would certainly have refused 10
Iubmlt to such impositions But for
u this in little time Jonathan grew
Ip to be very large for his age and be
anne tall stout. double jointed.
road footed cub Of a fellow, awkward
D his gait and simple in his appear
nee. but having lively, shrewd look
nd giving the promise OF great
trength when he should get his
rowth.
He was rather an odd looking chap.
} truth, and had many queer ways,
ct everybody who had seen John Bull
wv great likeness between them and
eclared he was Johns own boy, a ,
ne chip OF the old block. Like the !.
d squire, he was apt to be clustering
I'd saucy. but in the main was a ,
|aceable sort OF careless fellow that ,
'ould quarrel with nobody II you only
him alone. He used to dress in
,'mespun trousers and always wore a :
bsey woolsey coat, the sleeves Of {
Ili(u WAtt ~ Nilbil lldl uks Uduu ana z
list cane out beyond them. looking c
o a shoulder OF mutton. All OF
hich was In consequence OF his grow =
% fast that he outgrew his clothes
7hile Jonathan was coming MP in =
b way Bull kept on picking his peck :,
OF every penny put into them till =
last one day when the squire was !,
kn more than usually pressing In his =
hands, which be accompanied with
Fats. Jonathan started up In a pas j.,
h and threw the teakettle at the old :,
ms head :
Ihe choleric Bull was thereupon ex- :,
Ilingly enraged and. after calling :.
poor lad an undutiful. ungrateful. :.
lilious rascal seized him by the =
ku. and forthwith furious scuffle :.
ped This lasted long time, for ;,
Esquire. though in years. was a cap a
kboxer. At last. however Jonathan -
him under and before he would let a.
up made him sign paper giving :.
III claim 10 the farms and acknowl- =
g the fee simple 10 he in Jonathan ~
er %