The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-09-07


The picture which my fancy painted wa,
some thing like this; town of four or five thou
sand inhabitants, with churches, schools, stores
workshops, beautiful park, neatly fenced, and
a bank; in fine, just such town as we often
see in New England, with general air OF
thrift and prosperity peryading it. There
might be a newspaper, for aught 1 knew, in
which case was determined to put down my
name as a subscriber at t'onee. This would be
no more than my duty apublic-spirited cit
izen 20
need not dwell upon the details of nv Jour
ney. Travelling, nowadays, is reduced to the
most common place thing in the world unless,
indeed, the monotony is broken by Steamboat
explosion or railroad accident, such as the en-
terprising managers frequeatiy flavor us with.
The reader will be kind nnesigh to suppose
me within twelve miles of my destination. ; I
passed the night in a miserable little hamlet of
some dozen houses, of the rudest possible arch
itecture. The hotel was built of logs, and the
| fare and accommodations we're equally indif-
| ferent.
"Never mind" thought ], "we shall find
different state of affairs at Constantinople
So did but / will not anticipate. .-~
After 81 ending the night in battling with
mosquitoes, and another GLASS of insects bear
ing very plebian name, which I do not care
to repeat, I rose at an early hour, and institu-
ing conveyance to Constantinople.
s'Is there no stage that goes there 2" 1 in
quired
The landlord laughed quite unnecessarily as
thought, and assured me that there was not.
"You want to go there reckon 2" he said.
answered in the affirmative.
e'Well," said he, ssworL's rather drivin' Jest
at present, but if you're atnind to pay me, I'll
harness up and take you cver myself
The price was finally fixed at three dollars,
which slight hint induced me to offer in ad-
vance. sssg3tra 2ta1f
We were soon on our way. The road, if it
deserved the name, which seriously question,
was the most wretched with which I ever
made acquaintance. Occasionally, one side of
the vehicle was raised high in the air. while
passing over stump, which am obliged to
say always disturbed my equilibrium very con-
siderably Once it was lifted so high as to
produce an overturn. My companion, who ap-
peared to be expecting such catastrophe,
adroitly leaped to one side. .roI was not so for
tunate, contriving to fall with my shoulder un-
der the wheel, and bruising it very uncomfort-
ably.
After riding some four hours, and finding to
my surprise that the road continued as wild as
ever, ventured to inquire if we were pretty
near Constantinople.
a. s-l d..
"In ii" L exclaimed, IN unbounded aston
ishment; q in the outskirts, suppose you
moan ~ ma al,3Ff
"No, don't. There is The village"
Following the direction Of his finger, my at
ntion was dawn TO threekniserable log heus-
es in front of one pig was roofing very COM
posedly. ----
eeThere must be some mistake said I, hur-
riedly. "Constantinople is a large town, with
churches schools a bank
Mycompanion absolutely shouted with laugh
ter.
'.You see 'em all before yos," he said
eThem log houses is all the school-houses and
banks you'll find in Constantinople. So you
got took in with the rest. 1 reckon you own
land in town, don't you ?''
Gone hundred and sixty acres" replied
with crest-fallen air
''Well, you'll find it one-half swamp, and
t'other half forest, as nigh as can make out
You're the seventeenth man I've brought out
here this summer to look at this land but
they were pretty much all disappointed in the
looks of the place How much did you pay
for your land ?"
Give hundred dollars" 1 replied mourn
fully
"If you can set five hundred cents for il"
was the encouraging reply, ''I'd advise you to
take it. The land ant good for nothing
tnat z lact. WOulu you IKE 10 stay ana look
around little ?"
'1 think well turn back, said I uncomfort-
ably
We did turn back Iturned one last linger-
ing, backward glance upon the log huts, with
their background of forest and neighboring
swamp, and as 1 did so, fervently invoked a
Scotch blessing upon the plausible Mr.. Lynx.
If ever 1 meet him [ shall-fnd my Christian
ity put to severe test
[ have recently returned from my journey,
with my day y-dreams most effectually dispelled.
am quite as far from marrying Eliza ever.
The revenues of my Western estate will scarce
ly justify me in assuming expensive re-
sponsibility. have only to add that my one
hundred and sixty acres are in the market, and
that any one who feels disposed may purchase
them on easy terms. Apply to Gregory Flint,
any day, between the hours of 9 A. M, and
P. NJ. q $3.50 s3G ks