Smyrna times., 1876-04-26
.NiSce eLIU21 OUS.
Perky's Gross.

They did not institute judicial proceed
ings in scrutiny of the character and antece- |
dents of every man who came to Kansas in
those equivocal days. As general rule,
they cared only to know how the new
conner stood on the slavery question.
Nevertheless it fretted them to feel that
they had a man among them whose oddity
ofconduct piqued curiosity, while forbidding
even reasonable conjecture concerning that
other existence of his back in the States"
And Perky gave the people of Seward
Center just that feeling. Perky was per-
plexity He was also a printer, and his
employer, the editor of the Clarion Of Free
dom, had carelessly disclosed the secret that
he was the author of certain Procrustean
rhymes in the last number of that excellent
family journal, bearing the caption, Sadly
We Roam," and having a cut of a hearse
at the top of them. These verses had
pleased the minister very much, and he
thought he detected in their sombre mono
tone " the yearning of jaded soul for the
rest and joy of the New Jerusalem" which
was q " ny hSN3
when the editor told him of it. Public
opinion was somewhat calmer, but not har
monized or satisfied by the minister's
pathognomy. There could be no doubt,
they were all agreed, that Perky was not
easy in his mind, but the cause was still as
deep mystery as ever. Various were the
surmises and suggestions-some kindly and
some Notwithstanding the matter, as
poverty, grief, disease, disgrace; but per-
haps the average sentiment of the COM
munity was best expressed, after all, by
Aunt Naomi Seybold, when in answer to
some new hint upon the subject she said,
with a solemn earnestness that was in
tended to be conclusive and convincing
"He's Jest a-totin' of across, totin' of q
cross"
Of course these things came to Perky'i
ears now and then; but if they disturbed
him in the least, there was no betrayal o
itin his looks, his speech, or his actions. In
deed, he might have passed for thorough.
contented, if not really happy man as h
sat upon the little bench under the cotton
wood in front of the Clarion Office that rar
June morning, watching the white and blu
clouds fold and unfold, and fold again, lik
the flags Of some splendid parade. Behin
him rose the hill of rocks and cedars, an
dense involvement of vines and shadows
which hid the dreary waste of raw prairi
that lay beyond; in front OF him, thos
two foremost symbols of advancing ciVillz'
ton, the little tin signs of the "America
Bible Society,"" and "Wells, Fargo Co.
Express" flashed back the suns brightne'
from the dull gray Of the store door at tn
upper end Of " the avenue" as they calle
the generous exaggeration of wagon-roa
which led through the village and on
the river out there in the low belt OF elm
and sycamores, a mile away. And II
sky above IL all was very beautiful,
thought, as he turned reluctantly from
at last, and glanced curiously about hlr
like one in doubt as to the identity OF b
Surroundings. Then he said to himsei
"Perky, old fellow, we won't finger al
long primer to-day we'll rest, and have
ramble." A moment later he was gone.
Perky was resting and rambling co
siderably now. The weekly publication
the CLARION was several times delayed by
neglect Of his type-setting; and once
editor had to humiliate himself and expo
his gaunt subscription list TO great peril
i sending out half.sheet, sowing" he sa
to circumstances over which we nave
CONTROL This mishap had the effect
keeping Perky at work for three conse
tive days. 1t also afforded him occasion
speak to the editor, in delicate and c
hdential way, of certain grave facts :, e
nected with the newspaper business. =
instance he remarked, Z" a paper sho
be prompt in its appearance as the sunr
for il it lags people soon lose faith IN
stability and cease to pay for It in adyan
and the halfsheet contrivances should ne
be resorted to, he continued, :" for the
ola newspaper is a good deal like plen
Inspiration, and won't bear triiiing wa
This bit of philosophy being kindly