The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-12-29

of material for a local item, W,
| Glanced to pass the residence of Mr.
Mills McMannnss on Chestnut Street
and booking over the fence, a sigh
met our vision which struck us, will
astonishment, and caused us to tarry
in hopes Of being able to solve the
mystery. There, Ia his shirf-sIeeves
the angrE blasts Of bleak December
seemingly striving to blow out what.
ever Of vitality a struggle with the
world for upwards of seventy years
had left, stood one of our most re-
spectcd, and, as we had supposed,
most wealthy citizens, buck-saw in
hand, doing the carpenter work on a
cord of fre-wood for McMannus =
What did it mean? What dire calam-
ity had befallen our aged and respect
ed friend, who but yesterday could
have hired all the wood in Portage
County sawed, split and piled, and
paid for it-that now. compelled him,
at this time of life, and after having
enjoyed over a quarter of century
of plenty and ease, thanks to his
shrewdness and early industry and
economy y to have to bow his back
again and again in the attempt to sew
er pieces of sturdy oak, till his putting
and the creaking of his aged bones
echoed to the music of his buck-saw !?
As we stood aghast, solemn thoughts
of the ups and downs in life's great
journey came more forcibly to mind
than ever before, by reason of this
startling example of the seeming
great change in circumstances, and
pity and, compassion for this victim
of the worlds rough usage filled our
heart to overfowing and our 1eyes
were dimmed with tears, and the
pearly drops trickled down onr cheeks,
indisputable evidence of the depth
and sincerity of our feelings. In car
rying out our hastily formed resolu-
ton to render assistance. to our aged
and esteemed friend, in his anything
but pleasant task, we had taken step
towards him which attracted his at
tention, when, lol by characteristic
twinkle of his eye, we discovered that
in this case, lat least, labor of itself caus-
es not wretchedness; that sympathy
was unasked and unneeded, that, in
fact the whole affair was a JOKE! of
huge dimensions. What a fall! From
the highest pitch of feeling possible
to be attained by one possessed of
virtuous pity and sympathy for suf-
fesing humanity CHATS us) to SO sud-
denly be brought to an appreciation
of the fact that there was no occasion |
for the mad race of our unimagina-
tion, was leetle too much for us for |
the time being; but we have survived |
The disappointment to tell the tale,
which happened thusly :.7f,,.1,r
A day or two before the time allud-
I'd to above, wood merchant from
rom the country was in search of a
customer for load of all oak"
which he had hauled to town, and, in
lis perambulation came across the
Zero of our story, Mr.. d. X. Wheel
II, and Mr.. w. NJ. Butler. A bar
,ain was soon made that the latter
hould purchase the eordwood in case
he former, for the consideration of
# a greenback dollar would do the
arpenter work upon5it. Butler didn't
rant the wood, but purchased the
anne and had it delivered at the resi-
ence of MFR. McMannus, who abomi-
ates the wood saving business ami
7as quite willing that Wheeler should
o the job, especially if, Butler paid
ne bill. (We don't know how much
little Office holding may have had to
o IN producing this distaste-we
ont believe it is naturally But be
nat as it may, the bargain was COM
leted, the money deposited in the
ands of mine heste of. the Etna
louise, Mr.. Musser, the work, begun /.
nd finished to the entire satisfaction
all parties concerned, and TO the t
reat amusement of numerous ac-
and friends who visited
le scene to witness the operation.- P
ne time employed in accomplishing
le work of saving the cord of wood
all oak-We are told was six hours.
hen the task was completed the u
'llar was promptly paid over, it be- =
g universally acknowledged that it =
as fairly and honestly earned. :"
In view of the circumstances, we !,
Ell under obligation, gratuitously,
recommend our friend Wheeler to =.
e liberal patronage of all citizens =
no have small jobs of this kind to - =,
----.e.-.- IL
DEATH OF Mrs. JAMES o. Mason II
ne numerous friends of Mrs. HUI p
h M. Mason, wife of James o. Ma lie
n, will be panied to learn of her de-
ase. She, died at the family resi- B
nee, in Cleveland, at about nine re
clock on Saturday evening, of can al
in the breast, after long months of b
treme suffering, aged 45 years. The G
ceased was well known in this COM tb
unity, having resided here from her a
arraige in 1s43 till 1861, when she SO
moved with her husband to Cleve- w
nd. She was lady of cultivation M
q was highly esteemed for her gen Bi
ous and amiable disposition and ex- bi
lent qualities of head and heart. She w
ives husband and two sisters Bi
rs. NJ. Stewart, of this village and fe1
rs. Frank Hoyt, of New York ri.