The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-07-23

/
Where'er our steps may lead;
| \ man may bc millionaire
And yet be poor indeed.
Seief Sfnry.
BROWNS SUCCESS.
He had come West to rise-there could
be no doubt about that. lie reached
our town on the Wabash by the s o'cIocl.
stage; when the clock struck lac had
already reduced to admiring silence the
crowd which, on his arrival, was heatedly
discussing about the hOtel-door that
Greytown affair which created such an
excitement twenty years ago. Which
side he defended don't know, but he
quoted historical precedents before
which the q PriOTi arguments of our
unread villagers shrivelIed and disap-
peared. The next day was Sunday
Mr.. Brown attended services in our only
church, sang splendidly the tenor parts
of "0rtonviIle, "Boy lston, land ''Scot
land" aud made the acquaintance of
our ehorister. At the evening service
our choir sang, for the first time,
Jerusalem, my happy homel"
TO the new air, Metropolis, " the music
having been written down from memory
by Mr. Brown. He remained during
the prayer meeting which followed our
evening service in those days, and vol
unteered a prayer so utterly destitute of
scriptural quotations that it didn't bear
the slightest resemblance to anything we
had ever heard in our meeting.
On Monday morning he hired store,
but as his goods. had not arrived, he
dropped into each room in our two
sehoolhouses and made lively speeches
to the boys and girls. IN tie afternoon
IIe called on the editor of our Only paper,
iiia Mount sion Way, ana the editor in
his next issue informed his reader that
by the arrival of Mr., Brown Mount Zion
Ind gained a citizen of foIce and bril-
liancy, and that the Wing party had add
ed to its ranks tried and approved
,.lialpp pam OF the indesrrpetabie prinei
Piles OF the party of progress. I'm fact"
continued the editor, .'we are almost in
elinel, for the public good, to violate
the CONFIDENCE Tepqaea in rs by our fel-
L.. ..1
that in the Old Bay State he had filed
various positions o f public trust"
Mr Prpwn's goods came up the river
by the first boat, and all the small boys
of the town escorted the wagons which
conveyed the boxes 10 the store. FOR
tgc nr Ehfee days the new storekeePer
was busily engaged in opening, marking
and arranging his goods, but he found
time to appear before the examining
committee of the church on "Wednesday
evening, present his letter OF disInission
from the Eastern church lIe had attended
and la.ss hls examination with great
credit to himself aud great satisfaction
TO our sharp eyed deacons. When he
finally opened his store, the rush WAS so
great that the other storekeeRers in
tewn l4ad but little to do but stand in
their doorwaySnnd look sadly upon their
late customers. Brown stood behind
his counter in clean shirt, new cravat,
and we'll fitting suit of eIothes-three
auxiIiaries to salesInanlike ability which
our good old merchants seldom employ
ed, but which in Browns case, proved
paying Investments. his store became
the fayorite with ladies, for lie WAS
very courteous, and his popularity with
the gentIer sex increased rapidly after
two or three purchasers of dress goods
had acted upon his Suggestions as to na-
ture and color of trimmings to be used.
la short, he failed at nothing which it
was within the power Of man to attain
ia "A small, poor Western town.
One night, only a month after Mr..
Brown came among us, the whole town
was reused 10y the ringing of the school
house bell. as no evening meetings,
were ever held in tie sehoQl-houses
every one knew the bells were ringing
for fire, SO eafh map in town seiEed his
water pail, rushed ont of the house, and
hurried in the direction which was tine
lIghtest. The fire soon proved to be in
the Lynd House, "a large frIme building
in which All ambitious newcomer had
started hotel and failed all in the first
year Of the town. Since lie had aban-
doned it, it had been principally famous
for lack of paint and for containing the
few lard characters that lived at Mount
Zion. None of the occupants knew
how the fire occurred, but their igno-
rance on the subject did not have the
least bit of depressing influence upon
the flames. They had taken full posses
ion of the lower portion of the side
nearest the body of the town, and threw
a strong light on the iprrying villagers.
Among these latter was Mr.. Brown, who
hnd "A whole nest" of pals CD his shout
der, and was roaring ''Firel" as indus
triously as if no one had eyes to see for
themselves. Mr.. Brown cut the strings
which held the pals together, lines were
formed TO neighboring wells, and water
soon began TO be freely thrown upon
the burning building. Those nearest
the flame began TO retire, however, and
it soon became evident that the odds
were in favor of the fire. The wretched
inhabitants were dragging out their mis-
cradle effects, and stood looking at the