Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1881 — Little Breeches. [ARTICLE]

Little Breeches.

“Yes, they used to have queer times around here,” said the ancient citizen, as he stirred himself around on the upturned soap box, while the proprietor shook down the ashes in the stove. The reporter perched himself on the end of a flour barrel and patiently awaited the outpouring of language that he knew was sure to follow. “Yes,” said the aneient citizen. “My father came here before the trilobites were done drying. He saw some rough times, the old man. ” “Right where the Court-house stands,” continued the ancient citizen, “was the old block-house; and here were gathered a mixed crowd of refugees just after the Pigeon-Roost massacre. Old man Booth had his log tavern just outside, and at it was always a motley gathering of backwoodsmen. ” “Among these,” and the ancient citizeeu twisted his quid across his tongue a turn or two, “was a character who made fun of old Booth and said he w’as a coward. Booth hated him cordially for the insinuation, yet could never prove , the contrary, and the old trapper made up his mind to test his courage. The plan was successful. ‘ ‘My father and two friends owned a cabin just the other side of Booth’s, and one of these, a small man, had S6OO, coin, in a sack, when Bill tried his experiment on Booth. “They had retired for the night and laid their buckskin pants on the floor at the bedside. Have you ever seen any genuine buckskin ?” was suddenly asked the reporter bv the ancisnt citizen. “I have.” “Where?” “On the buck.” “Well, then you know it fits skintight, and that’s just the way these breeches did. “About midnight Bill stole up between the block-house and cabins and raised the war-whoop. My Gee, what a stir J, th ere was. An attack from the Indians had been momentarily expected, and the whole garrison sprang to arms. Women crept with their children into the safest corners of the fort, while the men prepared for the expected skirmish. In the little duster of cabins outside of the block-house the coming savages were awaited with dread. The frightful whoops continued, chilling the blood of all. “My father’s friends hastily straggled on with their breeches, and the small one got on my father’s and had room enough in them at the top to get in a bag of coin. My father pulled at the vacant pair of pants, but it w r as like putting his legs into coat sleeves. “Hold on, there!’ he cried, as his friends were hastily leaving, ‘you have got my breeches !’ “ ‘Hold on, h—l,’ answered his friend, ‘this is no time to change breeches,’ and disappeared in the darkness. “My father had no mind to be left, so he ran, naked as he was, in pursuit of his friend. The nettles were as high as your head, and before he had gone ten feet.he was fuller than a New Year’s pincushion, but that horrid yell kept him going, and he didn’t stop until shelter was reached. “Bill showed us how old Booth was a coward, but he did not loaf around there the next day. The settlers wanted to see him, but he didn’t want to see them, so he skipped. “But my father was always called ‘Little Breeches’ from that day on, though he never got too big for his breeches, as some people I know,” and the ancient citizen smiled contemptuously as a young man in a sealskin cap came into the grocery and asked for a “ ‘dahk cigah,’ if you please.” The minutes were then amended, and, as amended, approved.— Madison (Ind. ) Star.