Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1865-09-07
s.THAT JOHN MASON,
BY. JOHN JONES, JR.

OF MQorheld, Jr-.
every clever people, with one or two ex-
ceptions,' he replied II am sure you will
like us very much" .s,7 sf,s,,
"Who are the exceptions" | asked. "For
I wish to keep all such exceptions at a dis
tance. Being stranger will wisely take q
hint in time. 1t is an easy matter to shun
an acquaintance but by no means SO easy to
break it off after once formed. "ai aT %
every truly said. And will warn you in
time of one man in particular. His name is
John Mason, Keep clear Of himif you wish
to keep out of trouble. He's as smooth and
oily as MILESTONE !; and as q whetstene,
abfades everything hos touches Hes d bad
man, that John Mason Fari H t aA
aWho or what is he?' I,asked.
"He's lawyer, and one of the principal
holders of property in the township. But
money can't gild him over. He's bad man,
that John Mason, and my advice to you and
every one is, to keep clear of him. know
him like book "aw ~8i n 's sN
II am very much obliged to you," said /,
''for timely caution and 1 will take care to
profit by it" 7@ '..lH st"- -t..'
My next acquaintance bore pretty much
the same testimony, and SO did the next. 1t
was that John Mason was not the right kind
of man, aud rather blemish upon the vii
lage of Moorfeld, Notwithstanding he was one
of the principal property holders in the town
ship .3 .a;l ,.
off it wasn't for that John Mason heard
on this hand, and, "if it wasn't for that John
Mason" heard on the other hand, as my
acquaintanceship among the people extended.
Particularly bitter against him was the indi-
vidual who had first whispered in my ear a
friendly caution and l hardly ever met him
but he had something to say about that John
Mason. s.+.ts,
About six months after my arrival in Moor
field, attended apublic meeting, at which
the leading men of the township were present
Most of them we're strangers to me. At this
meeting fell in company with very pleas
ant man. who had several times addressed
those present, and always in such a clear, for
cible and common sense way as to carry con-
viction to all but n few who carped and quib-
bled at everything he said in very churlish
manner. Several of these quibblers l hap
pened to know. He represented one set of
views and they another. His views had re.
gard to the public good rtheirs looked, it was
plain to sectional and private interests
: Show do you like our little town?' said
this individual to me, after the meeting had
adjourned, and little knots of individuals were
gathered here and there for conversation.
every well, replied. HF .a
."And the people?' he asked.
"The people" | answered. "appear to be a
very fair specimen of what are to be found
everywhere good and bad mixed up together" !"
"Yes That l suppose, is a good general
estimate. H.i h as
"Of course" I added, I'VE find in all COM
munities certain individuals who stand more
prominent than the rest-distinguished either
for good Or evil. This appears to be the case
here" Hr ''
"You have already discovered then that
even in Moortield there are some very bad
men," o.
"Oh, yes! there's that John Mason for in
stance" ..aH
The man looked little surprised; but re-
marked without any change of tone
$50 you have heard of him, have your"
"Oh, yes"
LAS very bad man?' -. t..
''Of course You know him, suppose
"Yes, very we'll. Have you ever met him2'
mo, nor never wish to."
''You've seen him, suppose?' .,
"Never. Is he here?' as :s
The man glanced round the room and then
replied: r..r -t !0a"-a(
II don't see him." ..,...
"He was here, suppose" s
"Oh yes; and addressed the meeting seve-
raj times d
'In one of those sneering, ill-tempered an
swers to your remarks, no doubt"
The man slightly inclined his head, as if
acknowledging compliment
"It's a pity that such men as this John Ma
son." said |, 'often have wealth and some
shrewdness of mind to give them power in the
community"
perhaps" said my auditor, "your prejudi-
ces against this man are too strong. He's
not perfect, know; but even the devil is
painted blacker than he is. If you knew him,
rather think you would estimate him differ
emily" ~"
3. II don't wish to know him. Opportunities
have been offered, but have always avoided
an introduction. ffhNt i
+ "who first gave you the character of this
man?' he asked. i#.f@
"Mr. Laxton,". I replied ''Do you know
him2" "'' i.'f ''
20, yes, very we'll He speaks hard of Ma,
son does heT'
"He has cause, believe" 37lh
"Did he never explain to you what it was?'
'Not very fully But he gives him a. gene
raj bad character, and says he has done more
to injure the best interests of the village, than
any ten of its worst enemies that exist
'1ndeed that is sweeping declaration,
But frankly own that cannot join in SO
broad a condemnation of the man, although
he has his flults-and no one knows them, !
think, better than do" ''' ''nl
This made no impression on me- The
name of John Mason was associated in my
mind, with, everything that was bad and /
replied by saying that was very well salts
fed in, regard to his character and did not
mean to have anything to do with him while
lived in Moolfeld.
Some one interrupted our conversation at
this point, and was very soon separated
from my very agreeable companion met
him frequently afterwards, and he was always
particularly polite to me, and once or twice
asked me if l had fallen in with that John
Mason yet; to which l always replied in the
negative, and expressed myself as freely as
ever in regard to the parsonage mentioned
Careful as we may be to keep out of trouble,
we are not always successful in our Efforts
When ! removed to Moorfeld, / supposed
my affairs to be in very good way; but
things proved to be otherwise. was disap-
pointed, not only in the amount expected to
receive from the business followed in the
,lIs.rra m II. a