The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-12-28
Selerta Stnrp,
EFrom the Old Guard. -
THE SUSPICIOUS STRANGER,

y
ries of circumstances, trifiing of thepl,
selves, but occurring i'll saccessIo on,
which made a stranger an object of
very proper susp.ciOu, and provoke d
urreilous amount OF penetration
from several persons not usually gilt
ed with that quality in excess. ~
The place WAS in a country village
in the State of New Jersey. Now, 1t
is considerable town through which
"a railroad runs-and have observed
that the same Providence which de-
crees that great rivers should always
run by cities of considerable size, has
also provided that railroads shall pass
py growing towns. Ii Il village is ore
that is not destined TO grow, lail-
road is never suffered to pass within a
mise of 1t. Then, however, there
were no railroads, no gas, no Grecian
bends, nothing in tact of the comforts
which have passed from the condition
of Iuxurics 10 that of uecessaries.-
There were no railroads, but there
Were stage coache-, and one of those
clumsy conveyances dropped a passen-
ger, on the twenty-iourlh of Decem-
lber--in the midst OF snow storm,
at the door of tile principal inn-the
Farmers Home-kept by Solomon j.
Packer.
Now here was suspicious thing, to
begin with. What could bring a
stranger for such he was-to an out
of the way cJuItry .ilag., in mid
winter. by ii sta@e-coach, and III a
howiing storm: BuL if that awaken
ed attention., tie first. words OF the
stranger aroused distrust. -
''Ihls is the devils . vn day." he
said. Landlord, think I'll eat my
Christmas dinner with You to NOR
row." ral- -.r-r l- - :.
The phrase ''the devils own day."
savorrd OF profanity. Besides, it was
untrue Every one knows that the
Father Of Lies, aud patro' of liars,
keeps everything in fever heat IN his
vast and undvscribcd d ,mini)n, and
nothing to do with snow storm. For
if anything fiaky falls from his sky. it
is soqt and not snow. No sleigh;
beilS, according to tie. best int rnal
geo sraph<rs, ever jingle in his couu
try--no egg nog is ever dispensed to
his -reveler>-a f Idle would be in ash
es in five secouds--and blankets. foot
warmers, and .fur cl.,aAs are unknown
in that quarter. Then. again, any
reputable person, instead o. going 70
al out oi. tie way place to take pot
luck with rural landlord, eats his
dimner ut home, i he have home,
with his family, if he have family.
Ii he have n-ither Il home, nor u
f;m'lv, he must be u poar fellow in
deed If pr family and falseh0ol, anI
the lack of home and family, lie not
grounds for regardiug Il strungcr with
su :picion, VII II can cause people 10
su poet ?
Bar there were coairmatory proofs
In time.
Ii-ad heard of the strangers arri-
val. anJ, the strange remarS he had
in;lde, and determined to keep a sharp
look OF. Tor The new-tbmer. l was Il
young 'nan at Ire tima, bat WIS al
ready known for the ru liments of
that penetration which became, in ~
ter ear. my character s,ic-that
keen scent for other peoples affairs,
which in Il twulyoa onth alter male it
neces ary for me to leave the vii age
anil go-but that's NV private atf.ilr,
aul o. 40 interest 10 tie reader. l
determined tn see what kind % man
this was who had come snrreptItious-
ly IN stag. zach To a peaceful com
munity To- fllhnn his d.aboliial pur-
pose. and 10 hold Kim up to the gaze
AMI exvcr.itio;I of an arouse | and in
d,gnant people. So when nj ishtcame,
.wrappe in my purpose ana an over
colt, [ TOOK my way to Fac Farmer 5
Home
by the way, never c1ul find out
why the house was nam ii The Farm
er's Home. The farmers did not go
there - they palronizei the other
house, The Sailors Rest. And there
was another puzzle. There were no
sailors atout-tne place was far in
land. / think, however, the landlord
of the Rest had been the mate of Il
canal-boat few years before, which
explained his love for the nautical
term. LGE ..stlg.s1- a-rsn
I found, though it was just after
supper, quite mum Der assembled In
the bar-room, clustered around the
huge wood-stove-a massive template
affair-and engaved in consuming
quantities of the landlords cider