THE VERMONTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 90, 28 February 1862, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE VERMONTER.

A knot ot rowuies were standing on mo enu 01 a|. pier which stands on the Hudson river, in the outskirts of a small town near Albany, each trying to • throw a stono farther into the stream than his neigh- : bor, when suddenly a tall, rugged-built Vermonter ' direct froiu the Green Hill name, and, joining in the ( amusement, qmetly flung half a brick some yards | farther than the best man of the parly. j A fellow in a green jacket, the leader of the gang, jwho declared he wouldn't be beaten "by a feller right ; straight oof the woods nohow," sidled up to the; .stranger and scraped an acquaintance (and the dialogue ■ U true colloquial American) : " Where do you come troin, neighbor 1" "Me ! Wai, I hails from Varmount jes' now, ' friend." " Hain't been in these parte long, I reck'n'! " Wai, in), not edxackly here but up and daown sorter. Yaas," heaving a big log of wood some rods . from tlie shore. i " You've a little strength in your arms, neighbor. , i " I've pumpkins in them flippers, stranger. Up in laonr town, more 'n a month ago, I druv thorn are| I knuckles rite strut thru a, booard more'n a nincli-'n ait : thick. Don't b'lieve it !" j "Haw! haw!" laughed the rowdies, not ,much." 1 "We ain't very green down here in York, said the 1 ' ringleader. 1 "'Wai, jes'yelook yero, friend; up in aour kounty ■'we've a, purty big river, eonsiderin'lnjun river, it's ; called. Wai, I hove a man clean across that river ■ t'other day, and he came down clean and square on ' t'other Bide. Wai, you may laff, but I can daw it '■ again—like open and shut too." ' "Bet you ten dollars of it," said the head rowdy, I covering'the Vermonter's shin plaster with the note | of a broken-dov. n-eas-t bank. ■■ " Kin you swim, fuller'?" s " Like a dud:," Before the rowdy had well uttered the words, the A'ermonter had clutched him by the Uoat of his jjiirits and the nape of his neck, andj j thrown hiu-i heels over head ton ysiiLs into the Wet and sliivfrimr, the loafer scrambled to shore, amid"thr;jeer.* awl'screams of liis comiv.mioas, and I instantly claimed the mouey. ... [ " W-i'l I rekmi you won't take no ten spotsje->t yet, f cnnt'ii,"Will the Vermonter: " I diil'nt ca'.kihite on dewin' it tin; first time, but I tell you I km dew it." ■ And n-'!iln lie seized the loafer in Ins terrible grip, ', and threw him this time ten yards farther than the ' "a'puii, dripping and cowed; the; bully crawled to ' S '"'l'liird tfmo never mil*," said the Yankee, peelinji ; off his coat; " I kin dew it, I tell yc-r, nud will dew it, if I try till to-morrcr momin." , - " Hold on ! I (,'ivo it up—take the money, said , the defeated rowdy. '• . The Vermonter, cooly pocketing the " ten spots, • remarked, as he turned away with a grin, We am t . imicli acquinted with you smart folks daoun here in ■ York, but wo sometimes take the starch nout 'em up aour way; p'raps you wunt tiy it on the stranger agin—l rcck'u you wunt."