The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-12-14

and entered upon q calculaUOn ABOUT val
ues and incomes, which did not permit
Mr.. Pinney to show me to my chamber
till very late hour.
was called. however, betimes in the
morning, and Immediately after breakfast
was out on the farm with Mr.. Pinney.
When | had admired the manner Of agri-
culture and the beauty of the stock, and
been told the character of fruit in the
orchard, Mr.. Pinney led the way toward
the farm house, and then said:
II have not forgotten my promise; and
if you still desire to know the history OF
our little town, will give you what con-
slider most important"
Iassured him that was much interested
in the promised sketch, and he began:
"My father was a merchant in old Con-
necticut, and was wild boy from "the
land Of steady habits" left home when
| was eighteen years of age, because of
some restraints that had been imposed on
me, which considered tyrannical. |
soon found that it was easier to endure re-
straints at home than be "my own mas
ter" in the world, and | wanted TO 60 back
to my fathers house, but my pride rebel
led. and joined party Of emigrants and
came "out West.' The emigrants set.
tied here. They cut road through the
forest forty miles, before they found spot
that suited them-I was not accustomed
to severe muscular labor, and was the
hunter OF the expedition. Ihad many an
adventure which delighted my romantic
disposition. | became hardy and vigor-
Gus. and was soon able to help the squat
ters in clearing up their farms. We went
twenty miles to mill-had no school for
five years, and never heard sermon
preached (though there were many read,
till we had put three crops of grain in our
log barns. Then other settlers came in !.
and Methodist preacher met those who
were disposed to hear him, at one Of the
log cabins. once a month. Meantime>l |
had taken squatter's daughter for a wife.
and had cabin and few acres Of ground
for which the Government had been paid.
had been hunter and farmer. wood
chopper and school-teacher about six
Eyears, when | received word from Con.
necticut that small stock Of goods had
been consigned 10 me at Pit,sburg. l
went out to the Ohio and up to Pittsbure
with an OK team. aud when returned !
opened store in log cabin, on the spo'
where my sons store now stands. on the
corner opposite my house. 1t would make
shabby appearance nowadays. but il
was great affairin our settlement. had
| a few groceries s.natmegs and spices combs
and nails. garden seeds and calicoes
thread and coarse cloth. candies and to
bacco. and very small stock of either.
but there was no other store within a cir
Gle of fifteen miles. and | soon did what |
considered brisk trade.
| "Some of the land had been low. and
here and there were small marshes. When
the country was cleared up and it began
to look like farming about here, there
came sickly season, and in almost every
family some one had the fever and ague
and the doctor from the nearest town was
getting every body in his debt; but the
ague was not eradicated. There had
never been any whisky sold in the settle
ment, but now it was needed for bitters to
keep off the chills. and when sent for
goodsI ordered barrel. and had a lot Of
drugs with it. and every body got a bottle
of bitters. When winter came, the ague
pretty generally disappeared, but the fash
ion of taking bitters did not disappear
with it.
.sThe Pioneers had disheartening times.
and too many of them endeavored TO cheer
their hearts with that which stole away
their brains. did not blame them much
in those days, but see now, sorrowfully,
where was to blame then. What think
you?''
This was strange question TO me un-
der the circumstances, but answered it.
"Assuredly, Mr.. Pinney, you have had
experience enough in the world and op-
portunities of observation enough to con-
vince you that such indulgence as you
speak Of, to express my thoughts in COM
mon parlance, ''don' pay" but after all |
always exercise compassion for those un-
fortunate men who never have gleam Of
Joy in their hearts, nnlessiti is reflected from
the fire which alcohol lights in the brain.
Exactly my idea," said Mr.. Pinney;
I"but while we compassionate, we should
never forget to instruct That's where |
went astray. Now let me tell you the
consequence. Many men had lost their
wives-many their children-some both
they had been pious men-but opportuni-
ties for religious instruction or encourage
lment we're not frequent, and generally
uninviting. and with hard work and watch
ling, men were worn out had kept in my
store bottle OF whisky, impregnated with
pepper. as sort Of guard against chills,
and sometimes offered glass to my
most particular friends. They grew fond
Of it, and my bottle was often empty. The
popularity Of my medicine increased. and
soon found myself selling large quan,i-
ties of whisky and black pepper, and in a
few months drunkenness had widely ex-
tended in our settlement; and did we
stop it?"
Mr.. Pinney looked at me as if expect
ing an answer. but was silent, and he
continued:
"No; farms were negleeted-every body
was in debt-the farmers to the shoema-
ker. the tailor and the blacksmith, and all
these TO me; and when | saw the evil, ]
couldn't stop it, and in few years was
virtually owner OF one-tbird Of the farms
Il