The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-09-28
From Seneca.

SENECA Sept "a, 1878.
Since my last writing have walked about
town a good bit more than is usual for me
and the reason of it is, the absence of that
wife of mine" She took it into her head that
the invigoratng brcezes of our old home, Cal.
umet. or of her native Oshkosh would benefit
her health. | agreed with her-I know better
than to disagree with Madame p; and she
made ready in short order for soourn among
her relatives and friends, taking with her our
quartettc of girls" bunch of panses," some
folks call them-and | am left lonely indeed.
Not even the dulcct tones Of our new piano
can charm my melancholy, and have taken to
roaming from end to end of this delightful o.
burg. Have collected some items which may
be of interest but wish it distinctly under
stood by those persons whose business it is to
collect and report news that | do not want
them to think am trespasslng on their terri
tory. The fact Is | only want to keep myself
from dying from ennui, for " what's the world
to man when his wife is Il widow"
| II. II. Underhill, our p. NJ, has given up his
suburban residence and now lives next door to
his store. | always thought him Il sensible
man, fond of hot dinner close at hand, and
now know it,
| Go where | will in this town, hear com
plants against the c., r. |. Il p. railroad com,
pany. We don't like to have to hang our mail
bag on pole to be hauled in as the train
passes as if our town were of no consequence.
But we have II paper published here now the
Seneca Rec0rd, and Il real, live editor to light
this railroad' and that pole Will soon disap-
pear see if it doesn't, and Uncle Joe will not
have to risk his neck in dancing attendance up
those steps.
Pat Meager is stepping around in lively
pair of alligator boots.
Corn has just been pouring into Seneca
during the past month, at rate that stranger
might think IA cOrn-mne mad been sprung on
the prarics H. Bilharz, WHO ha. done quite
an extensive business in this staple lately, has
now associated with him Mr. p, H. Graves.
Now, this Mr. G. is not Yankee born but he
surely has gone to Yankee schoolmaster at
some time in his life. Besides being stub
born man, think he is greedy, for he will not
allow a load of corn from the north prairie to
Cross lUC II 10 Ho N'i'ii'A ''iih- AoA
u man to drive up to the scales feeling conf
dent that his load is forty.seven or torty-eight
bushels, and when he comes to weigh back
and settle up, find that he is credited with only
fifth bushels There is dodge No. |. Dodge
], No. is paying the innocent farmers III trade
dollars and making them believe that the dol
lars are worth but 80 cents while we know
they are at par at the eastern banks. | was
!, amused at some remarks make by an honest
: Teuton the other day. Said he, 81 prings in
e mine fifty bushels Of corn ind dot man Graves,
The SAYS it comes to sixteen dollars und by
l Shove! ven he pays me he glis me nineteen
4 silver toars und doc den cent bieccs" That
e man didn't seem dissatisfied, but was IN big
= hurry to get home for another load. lie hard
: ly took time to drink his Elm glass peer"
Who will say that Phi" is not a corn-dodger?
f Underhil is not far behind him. His dodge
is IA card marked with various numbers which
are to be punched out when cash purchases
g are made, and when the punches tell $50 the
purchaser gets 81 worth OF goods as present.
Mark the result, David keeps two men busy
punching.
Mr.. A. Vaughey, not to be outdone by his
neighbors, proposes TO sell gilt edge butter at
# 1Oc per pound and calico at &c a yard have
{ heard that fifteen yards will make Il suit even
for ladies of ample proportions and calico
suits are pretty or at least, used to like them
i at the calico balls. So, fair ladies, don't stay
away from church or elsewhere for the lack of
!. a new dress.
D The Temperance Reform Club, under the
6 able management of our friend Charlie Ma
4 lase, gave a theatrical entertainment ON Sat
urtiay evening for the benefit of the yellow tc-
; yer sufferers. Receipts $50.
Z Geo Woodford made the hall ring with his
i eloouencc last night and at the close Of the
; lecture the worthy President of our Board OF
y Trustees saw fit to reply to some OF Mr.. VS.
> remarks As | was too far back III the audi
rnce to hear distinctly | lost q great deal. I'm
= told the president spoke passionatey have
Il no doubt of it, knowing his style. While he
~ was speaking Il scene enacted IN ArmourS nall
y some wears ago in which ii certain late Ia
mented druggist of this place TOOK an active
Z part, came to my mind The remembrance oil
~ it nearly upset my gravity.
u | forgot to tell you had been at church rs
l. well AS other places There, on Sunday even
II iny, | saw our popular drug clerk, and having
u heard of his temporary bereavement under
{. stood the expression which his face wore. L
u hereby tender my sympathy-"a fellow feel-
= ing" YOU know, Charlie.
5 Yours, very disconsolately,
It SANCHoPANzA.