Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-04-11
Stlttte0 Storp.
p E r Us CROS 5.

They did not institute judicious pro.
ceedIngs 10 scrutiny OF the character oi
every man who came TO Kansas 10 those
tq1ivoCal days. As general rule they
only cared TO know how the newcomer
stood on the slavery question. Neverlhe
less It ire,ted them 10 feel thai they had q
man among them whose oddiN OF conduc'
piqued curiosity. while forbictiug even
reasonable conjecture concerning that
other life OF his "back in The Ststes.'-
Aud Perky gave the people ut Seward
Centre Just that feeling. Perky was a
perpleNity. lie was also a pr nteV; and
his employer. the editor o! the CLARION OF
Freedom. had care!eSsly disclosed the
secret thA, be WAS the author )i certain
Pioc,usiean rhymes in the last number VI
tLa, ,Xceileu, family journal. hearing the
caption. Sadly We Roam aud having
a Gu, OF horse AZ The top O them
These verses had pleased the minister
very much, and be thought ht detected
10 thelr sOmber monotone the yearping
o. 3 iaded soul for the rest and JOY oi The
New Jerusalem. which was pretty
thing 10 say, Perky remarked. when The
editor told him OF il. Public op MON was
somewhat calmer, but not harm onized or
satisfied Dy tie ministers patho: nomy -
There could be 10 doubt, they were all
agreed. that PevAy WAS not easy IN his
mind; but the cause was still a. deep
mystery as ever. Various werc the sur
misses aud suEges,ions-some kindly ana
some misunderstanding the matter, as
poverty. grirt. disease, disgrace; but
perhaps toe average sentiment ol the
community was best expressed, after ALL
by Aunt Naomi Seybold, when. m answer
10 some new hin, upon the sub eci. she
said wiki solemn earnestness tlst was
intended 10 be convincing and cor elusive
"He's Just a to,in' of cross. q toIin' oil
cross
Of course these things came to Perky ;
ears now aud then; but If they disturbed
bin in the ieas.. there was no betrayal oi
it in his ioOAs. his speech Or has actions
Indeed. he might have passed Tor d thor
oughly coutenled, II not really happy
mau. as he sat upon the little bench under
the cottonwood, IN front Oi the GtdTto"
Office that rare June morning. watching
the " lille aud blue clouds told aud unfold
again. ike The flags OF some spiendiu
nsrade. Behind him rose the hiil oi ROCKS
snt cedars, and deuse involvement Oi
vines snd shadows, which hid the dreaTy
wssls OF raw prairie that lay bey ond
in iron. OF him, those Two foremost sym
boIs Of advancing civilization, the IlIue
signs of The American Bible Society,
and Wells, Fsrsgo i Co.'s Express
flashed back the suns brightness from
the dull grey of the store door st tne
MINER end of 1.-THE avenue" as they called
the generous exasgeration OF wagon
road which led through The village ana
on to the river out there in the 10" belt
Of elus and sycamOres mile away
And the sky above it all was very oeauu
fol. be thought, as he turned reluctantly
from i. at last. and glanced curiouSiy
about rim, like oue in doubt about Inc
IDENTITY OF uis surroundings. linen ne
aid TO himself: Perky old fellow We
wont finger any long primer to-day We II
rest and have Il ramble." A moment
later and be was gone.
Prlky was resting and rambling CO"
sidsrsbly now. The weekly puticaAun
=, m. Ciar,oa was several times delay eu
by his neglect OF his type se''lns' anu
onc,. lhe editor bad To humiiaIe n'liSe"
md expose his gaunt subscription ''s' -
0res, peril BY sending out hall snee''
..owiny.~ he said. Ito circumstances o'''
xb,cb we have no control" This miShap
hsd ,be effect OF keeping Perky sIesnn,
s. ,hrea consecutive days. III