Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1884 — "Almost Persuaded.” [ARTICLE]

"Almost Persuaded.”

Gen. Hartsuff, who at one time commanded the army of the Ohio, used to tell a good one on Gem Manson. When they were down at the front Gen. Hartsuff secured ten gallons of tine old whisky. The morning after its arrival, Gen. Manson rode up to Hartsuff’s tent on official business. » “Good-morning, General; dismount,” said Hartsuff. “Can’t do it,” said Manson; “I have to ride my lines.” “But I have a pint of fine old whisky, and—” “Hold my horse, orderly,” interrupted Mauson who was in the te?t before the sentence could be finished. Manson drank about half? the contents of the flask, and, handing it back,,said: “Put that away carefully; ‘it is precious stuff, and the army cannot afford to have it wasted.” “All right, General, but you must come back every day until the whole pint is gone.” “Count on my presence,” said Manson, as lie mounted hi 3 horse, and he kept liis word for the next five or six days. At the end of the six days the pint flask was still full, and when it was passed to the General, he held it up and said: , “Hartsuff, I have never been much of a Christian, but this almost persuades me, because it is like the widow’s cruse; it is fine whisky, but great heavens, how- it does hold out for a pint”—lndianapolis Times.