Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-08-28
SeIeetea Mis1elIauy.
: AT BLACKBY.

at Blackby, that flourishing watering
= place on the Northshire coast.
The evening arrived 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 exactlv opposite him doing precisely
the same thing, for fear he might think
that had come there simply to mock
him. 1 made a remark.
"Have you many visitors here just
r. Gow?" I asked
II can't stay" was the answer, I'm an
inhabitant"
ais there feud, then," said 7, "between
inhabitants and visitors ?"
Little, I should say" he replied; "the
native tribes find trading with their occa-
sional aggressors too profitable"
"Traffic in skins, | presume ?" I sug-
gested, slightly irritated at the disparaging
tone he assumed toward visitors.
"Well, my townsmen would sell their
own" he said, gravely, if they could find
buyers But really, the truth is I 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 band"
"Hotels often have comfortable smok-
ing rooms" I suggested
Yes, very," he said, not noticing my
sarcasm, "and after dark, when the visitors
are gone in, 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 a
chair indoors, take the good l find, and
pick my grain of comfort out of the heap
OF inconvenience"
you appear, sir" said I, every bitter
against new comers."
have no quarrel with them individu-
ally. but in the mass love them not"
"But you might reflect" answered,
with the consciousness that I was giving
very good advice, "upon the advantages
which small place, such as this, reaps
(Which be they ?"
new IDEAS"
eve might try the new ideas at all
events" he answered, with sly humor
playing about the corners of his mouth.
F." If you have brought any down with you
them if they are only good"
"I can oblige you," answered, snap
pishly, "with at least one idea, that |
think may be new to you, which is, that
you may possibly be mistaken in your
views of things"
b, He quietly thanked me, in exactly the
same tone as if Ihad passed him the sugar
tongs, and added, laughing
ff" And NAV / offer Won one of NV old
ones, which is, thatit is wise to look before
you leap-even to conclusion?"
felt he had the best of that little bout
and was annoyed with myself for having
shown temper. / was on the point oil
owning it, but he changed the subject sc
easily, and talked on so genially, that
thought it better to assume that he had not
taken offence, but was a man who could
stand against blow or two
j give this conversation because it fixeC
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 a
his open assumption, that no good thing
could be imported into his territory, anG
, could not help constantly trying to make
his words convict him of bigotry; bu
after q furious lunge at the "wary cool ole
swords1nan," only found myself disarmet
by prompt retort, all the more provoking
because it was delivered with unruffleC
temper, and because he never seemed Il
care to press his advantage
One evening he seemed disposed to un
roll for me the chronicle of his native
!. place, and amongst sundry scraps O
various information told me the following
story. which shall tell, as nearly as car
recollect them, in his very words
(" speak of time before any of these
lodging houses were built We were /,
quiet little village, lying all below there
along the banks of the river, owning few
small vessels, but living chiefly by fishing
On these cliffs there was not a brick laid
II 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 | 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 neat roomy cottag,
standing-indeed it stands now. but ha
developed a shop-front-about half wa,
up the ascent to the cliff, and inhabited BY
an elderly man named Parks a retired
custom house officer, and his niece. The,
let lodgings, and at the beginning of thl
summer of 1S3- q forget the exact year
they took in young couple, with chill
and nursemaid I can describe them Al