The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-11-04

For evsxythinghas changed 30 much,
Since forty years ago,
HE C0rLDN'r LINaEK.
A great many strapped printers ar
on the road now, and scarcely da,
passes but enc or more of them striker
rs fer job. Those from the west say
that business is dull in all the towns
out there, and those coming from
tn e east have the same tale of hard
times to tell about the country they
have pas sed through. One of them
limped into the Office Tuesday and
propounded the old, old question:
"Hows werk z"
"First rate" said one of the pr6prie.
tors; "never was better"
I'D like to get in enough to get me
something to eat" said the print, a. be
pulled his coat down over his should
er.
"More work here than we know
what to do with, continued the pro-
prietor.
"Wsll, that's what Pm AFTER" said
the tramp, and threw the other shoul-
der in view,
HBuf," and the tones Of the boss
were a. sad and plaintive 40 the mean
of q lost child, "there's-no-money
Like . startled mud-turtle "juking"
into its.shsp that eprintes shot back
into his coat and = @sigk partly of
regret, somewhat of relief-escaped
him. He was very sorry to be disap-
pointed, and glad that he had been
made acqusinted with the situation
before he had wasted any Of his ener-
gies in 'uncompensative labor
If xou -ain't got any money how do
.yeap Day your hands ?" he asked.
glancing around at the boys who were
pulling out with as much energy as if
they wre working in q silver mine.
"WePay them in real estate and
town lots, sir" replied the boss, who
happened to be in a communicative
humor. @My partner and run this
paper, not as q money-making institu-
ton, but as medium through which
to dispose Of Of quantity of land
which we could not get o6our hands
in any other manner. When we have
printer who is willing to work and
take his pay in the free soil of Aissou-
ri, we employ him T.; otherwise, not So
ever"
The tramp looked puzzled and dis
tressed, but he said:
'I don care about settling down
just now and heeominEa landed pro-
prieter. Pm poor enough already. l
don't want any more Of this country
than / can conveniently carry around
with me. Pm too feeble to grow up
with any considerable amount of it.
Good day, SIR"
"Hold on" said the proprietor.
"Den't tear yeurself away from a be-
nanza before ysu are acquainted with
the nature of its resources. There is
an opportunity offered you to acquire
distinction, if not wealth. You see
that young fellow over there by the
windoww
"The one with far away, vacant
look in his mild blue eyes ?"
Yes. Well, that young man has
just about completed his apprentice
ship. and I've msde him out deed to
100 town lots in consideration of his
services. You can see them from the
window. Half of them are on the. bar
and the other half in the river, but
they will be very valuable in a CEN
tury or two. Oh, sir, all the boys
here are heavy property holders The
pressman owns half of that bar, and
the jours can each point with pride to
the mighty Missouri and say it rolls
surges over their possessions, guard
ing and enriching them. You see that
man over in the corner?"
"That long, sad, consumpive-look-
ing being i"
"Yes. Speak lew. I gave him q
deed for ], 600 acres of land in pay
ment fer three years. work. 1t was
swamp land in Linn county, and he
has just returned from a visit to it.
He is working this week for q lot in
the cemetery. His place will soon be
vacant, and you may have it on the
same terms if You like"
The tramp moved uneasily about,
and finally went to the window and
gazed ont over the town. Presently
he called the proprietor to him and
said:
II haven't got long to tarry. Seme-
thing seems to call and beckon me
away. But don't mind working a
couple Of hours for that corner lot
over there-the one with the saloon
ON it," fa
'1'm truly sorry" said the boss, 'but
I decided that lot last week to the boy
who carries papers. There's a lot right
back of it, with q cellar on-wouldn't
that suit you?"
mo, 1 believe net. 1 guess I can't
linger with you, however much 1
might desire to. have q PRESENT.
ment that am not long for this world,
and fain would lay my bones to rest
in the home of my childhood. Fare
well, old man. Your kinkness has .
moved me. I'm hemeward bound"
He bounded down stairs, and con.
tinued his journey into the east .
4
6
IT 10 said that Brigham Young has ]
scuuired the title of General from hav-