The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-12-06
The LountrY Publisher.

| y. b. Granam, OF Ine SU. LOUIS MICH
igan) Herald, has written an article on
the country publisher and the artless
method of the innocent granger" from
which we make an extract. The article
was originally published in the Chicago
Ledger:
One afternoon there came into the
Office a farmer with his son, an over
| grown boy of fourteen or fifteen. The
old man had his feet encased in muddy
top-boots, and his gray eyes cleaned
brightly through beetle-brows. His face
was almost hidden in a shaggy beard
which precluded the necessity for his
! wearing either collar or shirt-front, and
his voice had most disagreeable nasal
twang as he announced his business
with:
II a-lost a critter from my place, an
reckon she must be stolen, and this
here boy O. mine an 1 ha' come to town
to find eout how much it's agoin' to tax
US to be advertisin' on her."
"Sit down." I remarked, and give
me description of the animal"
The old man entered into long and
minute description of the critter,"
which, after half an hours patient
labor, during which the old mans detes-
table tongue was constantly employed,
| finally got it into shape to suit him
for publication, though, in spite of all
my ingenuity, it occupied about three
times the space usually required for an
advertisement of that character.
Wa'al, meow, how much is that a.
goin' to cost us ?' he asked, slowly draw.
ing forth his wallet.
"Three insertions for one dollar"
replied.
"'Pears to me that's pooty steep
figure. Meow, Pll tell you; we had Jest
dollar bill tu hum, an naturally cal
c'lated that half o that would paid
for advertisin' the critter, an that would
left enough for dinner for me an the
boy. Meow, don't want to be obleeged
to walk home with that boy as hungry
as he is"
"By which you mean to say that you
want me to give you creditT'
Wa'al, yes; that's jest about it."
"Well, sir, 1 can't do it. You have
already cost me half dollar in time
and trouble, and your advertisement is
three times as long as it should be-"
"Wa'all, now, here's the dollar. 1
allus pays as l goes, an don't ask credit;
but we live nigh onto twelve mile north
O. here, an that air boy has been a
whinin' for sumthin' to eat for the last
four mile, an 1 don't know how in
thunder to git him hum agin without a
bite O. sumthin'."
This appeal of the old mans softened
me, in spite of the dislike I entertained
toward him the first moment he opened
his mouth, and l said:
"Here is twenty cents. Go down to
the grocery and you can buy enough
cheese and crackers to last you both till
you get home"
The old man accepted the donation
without thanks, and, followed by the
boy, he slowly made his way into the
street, and commenced staring abstract
edly at the store signs about him. l
felt suspicious of him, and could not
resist the temptation to put on my coat
and follow him. He sauntered leisurely
down the street, and finally entered a
hardware store. waited outside some
minutes, and then entered, and, to my
astonishment, found him bargaining, in
his peculiar way, for fifty-dollar stove,
and unintentionally revealing large
roll of greenbacks.
"Got plenty of money, eh, my friend7''
said I, tapping him on the shoulder; and
that old man looked me full in the face,
and, without a muscle of his features
wavering, replied:
"Wa'al, yes; I jest stepped into the
commission merchants, an, unexpected
like, he paid me seventy-five dollars he
owed me-"
"You are an internal old liarp I ex-
claimed in rage. "I followed you
from my Office, and you have been no
where, not even to buy the crackers and
cheese Now give me back that twenty
cents"
"Now, look-a-here," he answered, with
exasperating GOODNESS, "hain't it rayther
small for man in yeour position to be
maxim trouble about matter O. twenty
centsI'
"Give me that twenty cents instantly"
I cried, assuming threatening attitude,
for I felt desirous of half killing the old
rascal. He reluctantly handed over the
silver 1 had given him, and I hurried
away from him, fearing I might do him
bodily injury, but not soon enough to
escape hearing his parting words,
loudly uttered, because he supposed 1
was out of hearing:
H-1I j l.