Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1879 — A Hard Winter. [ARTICLE]

A Hard Winter.

During the drizzle yesterday afternoon there was a choice crowd of old citizens under the porticos of the City Hall, and one such group was joined by a threadbare stranger, who scratched his itching back against the carving on one of the pillars and asked: “ Gentlemen, is this going to be a hard winter?” “It is!” replied every man together. “Work will be scarce and provisions high, eh?” v Yes,” they replied. “Weather will be so all-fired cold that water will burst all the waterpipes, I suppose?” “ Yes, it will.” “Won’t be any show for / oor man like me?”

“Nota bit.” “I’d probably freeze to death while looking for a job?” “ You would—you would!” “Well, that’s wlrnt I thought, and I want to arrange to go to the work-house, for th* months, i don’t want to go over as a vag, because that’s low-down. Td rather be charged with assault and battery. Will one of you gentlemen please let me cuff off his hat and then ask the officer to arrest me?” After some hesitation one citizen with more philanthropy than the others stepped out. His plug hat was jammed clear down to his top vest-button at a blow, he was knocked right and left by cuffs on the head, and as a climax was whirled around and given several kicks which weighed fifty pounds apiece. “There?’said the stranger, as he shut off steam and slowed up. . “ That fixes both of us, you’ll remember me and I’ll remember you, and you may call an officer.”

Some of the group called one out of the corridor, but the officer said he could not make such an arrest unless he saw the fight or had a warrant. “Very well,” replied the stranger, as he moved off, “ I am willing to submit ito your matufer judgment and experience, and I can't wait here all day! Good-bye, prophets! I think my best way will be to get into Canada and leave your hard old winter to run herself.—Detroit Free Press. —The wine-making season is about over in Napa valley* California. The amount made will fall short of last season’s yield. Large, orders for brandy have been received from the East, and several large distilleries are running night and day. Grape men have made money this season, and a large acreage of vines will be planted another year. —When grapes are squeezed it makes them w(h)me.