Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-08-28
SFlfftfd asIisfflIaut.
AT BLACKBY.

AZ blackOy that ftourishing watering
place on the Northshire coast
The evening arrived I found an elder.
ly gentleman sitting In the smoking.room
Of the hotel, simply slipping brandy and
water and smoking audibly As I was
soon exactly opposite him doing precisely
the same thing for fear he might think
that l had come there simply to mock
him, | made remark.
"Have you many visitors here just
nowG" l asked
az can't stay" was the answer, "Tm an
inhabitant."
ais there a feud, then," said I, between
inhabitants and visitorsg"
" Little, I should say" he replied "the
native tribes find trading with their occa-
sional aggressors too profitable"
"Traff1c in skins, I presume ?" | sug-
gested, slightly irritated at the disparaging
tone he assumed toward visitors
"Well, my townsmen would sell their
own" he said, gravely, fthey could find
buyers. But really, the truth is l care
little about it. The visitors spoil the place
for me, that's all. Here on this cliff, for
instance, was pleasant strolling-ground
before houses and hotels and esplanade
took possession, and people came walking
up and down to u band"
Hotels often have comfortable smok-
ing rooms" suggested.
Yes, very," he said, not noticing my
sarcasm, "and after dark, when the visitors
are gone in, I like to come up here for an
hour. The air is fresher than in the town
below, and BESIDES it was my habit for
many years to wait about here before turn
ing in for the night But as I am old
enough now to be glad sometimes of
chair indoors, l take the good find, and
pick my grain of comfort out of the heap
of inconvenience"
You appear sir" said l, every bitter
against new comers."
az have no quarrel with them individu-
ally, but in the mass love them not"
"But you might reflect" 1 answered,
with the consciousness that was giving
very good advice, "upon the advantages
which small place, such as this, reaps
from an extended intercourse.
(Which be they9"
Greater wealth, further civilization,
new ideas"
eve might try the new ideas at all
events" he answered, with sly humor
playing about the corners of his mouth.
"If you have brought any down with you
pray unpack them. I won't rail against
them, if they are only good"
81 can oblige you" answered, snap
pishly, "with at least one idea, that I
think may be new to you, which is, that
you may possibly be mistaken in your
views of things"
He quietly thanked me, in exactly the
same tone as if l had passed him the sugar
tongs and added, laughing:
And may / offer you one of my old
ones, which is, thatit is wise to look before
you leap-even to a conclusion?"
felt he had the best of that little bout,
and was annoyed with myself for having
shown temper. / was on the point OF
owning it, but he changed the subject so
easily, and talked on so genially, that I
thought it better to assume that he had not
taken offence, but was man who could
stand against a blow or two.
give this conversation because it fixed
to great extent the terms upon which we
stood in our after intercourse Every
evening we met, and had almost, | may
say, become friends; but yet we were for.
ever crossing swords. was irritated al
his open assumption, that no good thing
could be imported into his territory, and
could not help constantly trying to make
his words convict him of bigotry; but
after furious lunge at the "wary cool old
swordsman,"I only found myself disarmed
by a prompt retort, all the more provoking
because 1t was delivered with unruf1ec
temper, and because he never seemed tC
care to press his advantage
One evening he seemed disposed to un
roll for me the chronicle of his nativ,
place, and amongst sundry scraps o
various information told me the following
story, which shall tell, as nearly as cal
recollect them, in his very words.
Nfo hnE 80 hoe.
lodging houses were built. We were
quiet little village, lying all below ther
along the banks of the river, owning few
small vessels, but living chiefly by fishing
On these cliffs there was not brick laid
it was heath-grown common, with field
beyond, and one walk near the cliffs edge
leading to the few houses in the next bay
Our village was then hardly known be
yond circuit-or semi-circle I should sa,
rather, for seamen from all parts knew ou
lighthouse pretty well-of dozen miles
but still stray visitor would come nov
and then for sea air.
"There was then a neat roomy cottag
standing it stands now, but ha
developed a shop-front--about half wa
up the ascent to the cliff, and inhabited b
an elderly man named ParkE, retire
custom-house officer, and his niece. The
let lodgings, and at the beginning of tn
summer of 1S3- Il forget the exact yea
they took in young couple, with chill
and nursemaid. / can describe them a
to you, for at that date visitors wei
stared at, almost as much as the mr.
Spaniards in Peru and had my native
share of curiosity. The wife was tall an
slightly made, light-haired, blue-eyed 81
was evidently not in strong health, for 81
walked slowly, always leaning on her hu
bands arm, and looked, unless when tur
ing To him OF to the child, languid and
Jected lie was strongly built, acti'
man, with a set, resolute face and dar
quick, watchful eyes The child / hard
noticed so minutely, but was even the
Judge enough of babies to pronounce il
little more than year old.
Regularly as the mornings came
was bright June weather-he took her al
the child slowly up the hill to the top
the cliff, to spot overlooking the sea, Al
there they spent the forenoon, he readil
or playing with the child, whilst she Il
asleep, or at least at rest amongst shaw
and cushions. These he took up ca
morning strapped behind him like kns
sack. TO leave his arm free to carry I
child. II was evident that he had broug
her down TO our breezy coast for air a
sunshine, and more than few among
us, though they spoke to TO one, were
ginning to watch with something
friendly interest for the sigus in her Of
turning strength.
"Now comes the sad part of my sto
When they had been here about tn
weeks they went one morning as usual
their eamping-ground on the heath.
about. half an hour the husband return
looked in at the cottage for a moment I
movements on that morning were en-
wards diligently traced), and went on
the postottlce. He was seen shortly at
returning up the path TO rejoin his "