The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1849-01-24

THAT JOHN mAsoN.

ing eIiizen IL lilr beautiful lilile village
Of Mooriisld.
.yery rlrver people. with one os lwa
exceptions" he replied. Il am sure you
will IKE lis very we'll.
/. Who are lie rArepiiunsi" | asked /:
!. For wish 10 keep III snrh exceptions
Al distance. Being stranger. ] viii take
hlni IN lime. lis IN easy matter 10 shnn
aequainiancesllir. hui hy no means So easy
20 hFeak i n ALTER il IS once famed"
.Nrry Truly said. AID will warn
you % lime. II one 10 particular. His
name i John Mason. Keep clear IL him.
il suu wish 10 keep clear OF lrubie. lies
a bad man. that John Mason"
"Mho OF What is he." a-ked.
Hes Law yer. and one Of The princi-
pal holders 81 property IN the township.
Bu. money cant cid him over. lies !
bal man. lhai John Mason. and my adj
vice 70 SOU and IL every one is 10 keep
clear 81 him. know him like book. !"
I'm very much obliged 10 YOU said
], . for yonr timely caution, AMI will take
care 10 pruf. BY ~
Ny nexl acquaintance horeprelly muth
tile same testimony. and 80 did lie next.
II was. thai Juhn Mason Was moi The tight
Kind ~ man. and rather blemish upon
The village uf Monriirld, notwithstanding
he was ono u Tie property holders in the
township.
III !, wasn't for John Mason" heard
on this hand. and .if il were moi for that
John Nlsson." | heard on the other hand.
as ny acquainianceship among Tie people
extended. Particularly against him, was
The FIRST individual v ho had whispered in
my ears friendly caution; and hardly
ever met with han. hut he had something
to say about .ihat John Mason"
About six months AFTER my arrival in
Moor6rld, ! attended public meeting, at
which the leading men Of The township
were present. Most OF them were slran-
gers 10 me. Al this meeting fell in COM
rany with very pleasan, man, who had
several times addressed those present, and
always ia such clear. Horrible and cnm-
mon sense way as 10 carry conviction 10
all but few. who carped and quibbled
VI everything he said, aud in very cl,ull-
ish manner. Several OF these quibblers !
happened 10 know. lie represented one
sci Of Views, and they another. He had
regard for The public good; theirs looked,
il was plan. 10 sectional and private inter-
ests.
How do you like our lille town" said
this individual 10 me. after the meeting
had adjourned, and little knots OF indiyidu.
ais were gathered here and there for con-
yersztinn.
VERY WE'LL" replied.
|. and the peoplcf' he added.
.rhe people" added. .appear TO be 4
fair sample Of what are found everywhere;
good and bad mixed up together"
!. Yes. That suppose is good gen
eral estimate"
of course" added, . We find in all
communities. certain individuals who stand
more prominent Than The acknowledgements
ed for good or evil. This appears 10 be
the case here a. well as elsewhere"
You have already discovered, then.
that even in Mooffield there are some bad
men!"
%, YES! there's that John Mason. for
instance"
The man looked litle surprised, bu,
remarked without any change Of tome
SO you have heard Of him, have you!"
.Oh, yes"
AS very bad mani"
"Of course. You know him, sup
pose,"
!" Yes, very well. Have you ever met
him.
/. No, and never wish TO.
!. You've seen him, suppose"
. Never. Is he herr!"
The man glanced round The room and
sad II don, see him"
!. lie was here. supposed"
.Oh, yes; aud addressed the meeting
several times.
in one Of thnsc sneering, ill-iempered
answers 10 your remarks. no doubt.
The man slightly bowed his head. as
il acknowledging compliment.
!. It's ply thai such men as this John
Mason often have wealth and shrewdness
Of mind, 10 give them power N The COM
munily.' said |.
!. Perhaps" said my auditor, "vour
prejudices agains, this man are too strong.
Hes not perfect, ! know; but even The
devil is often painted HACKER than he =.
fyou knew him, rather think you would
estimate him differently"
=" don't wish 10 know him. Oppor-
tuniiies have offered, but have always
avoided an Introduction"
Who first gave You The character Of
this mani"
!. Mr.. I,axton," replied. DO you
know him."
oh, yes; very well. He speaks III
Of Mason. does he!a
!. He has cause, believe"
!. las he ever explained 10 yon what il
vast
Not very fully. But he gives him !