The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-05-15
MAXWELL'S IDEA.

The village of Weston consists of one
main street, where stand the churches,
the town hall, postoilice, and sundry
feeble-minded stores. There are noble
elms, wide road, and q few pretty
houses. The better class of dwellings
are on the hillside beyond the railroad
or to the north, on the meadows. By
day II sleepy place; at night every house
is filled with city people sound asleep.
The people live here, but their hearts
are in the town. Every boy looks for
ward to the time when he shall join tn
pilgrims to the city and store. TO @,
into an Office or store in Boston is iii,
only thingfor II young man to do. III,
must have business in town or los
caste.
Tom Maxwell had the misfortune t.
be born in Weston, and early imbibed it,
peculiar notions concerning life and the
thing to do. For instance, no young
gentleman must work with his hands
he must not 90 into retail store; h,
must dress well, be able to take part in
the Lyceum debates, and he must not on
any account stay in the village during
the day. Unless he could do all this, h,
had better remove to New York or
Chicago. and dwell among the enlight-
ened in outer darkness.
Tom had secured place as accountant
in Wholesale grocery house, and was
considered IL lucky fellow. He had a
small property of his own, and he had
fallen in love. The Object had even said
she would some day wear his name. She
wore his diamond ring already.
Suddenly Tom Maxwell appeared at
the village station at eleven O'Clock in
the morning, and in an hour it was
known of all women that the wholesale
grocery concern had failed. The Object
knew it first, and straightway all knew
it.
OF course the engagement would come
to an immediate end There was not the
least fuss about it, Weston pridcs itself
on its dignilied serenity under trials. Ii
stopped, and that was the end of it.
The next day Tom had diamond ring
on storage ut his rooms.
Thereupon the young man sat down TO
consider the situation. He was now
twenty-five, had a good general educa-
ton, and didn't know anything very
well. His hands were soft; he knew
how to dance: he could sing tolerably
and paint II little; he could not dig,
neither could lie steal. He was, in fact,
II fiir sample of the Weston young gen
tleman.
He also considered the situation from
lovers point Of view. Here we have
no right to intrude, and we must learn
his thoughts from his actions.
For several days he wandered around
in the open air, casting about to see
what he might do, but really curing his
heart wound in silent contemplation OF
nature. Herein was he doubly wise. In
moment of inspiration he thought OF
emigrating to New York. Other fellows
had gone there, and had made money
why not he? He even investigated the
expense of the journey; but something
stood in the way. He loved the Object
still.
One day he happened to pass through
the main street at high noon. There
was not soul to be seen in all the
drowsy place. Some stray hens gathered
round the overflowing water-trough be-
fore the chief store, and a solitary cow
cropped the grass along the sidewalk
He was Il trifle hungry, and went up the
decayed and broken steps of the store to
purchase IL lunch. The door was locked,
and he peered in at the dirty windows
Was it here the housekeepers of Weston
bought their sugars and molasses, then
teas and spices? He felt glad he had not
known it before. What horrible
place! Dark. dingy, confused with half
opened boxes and barrels. broken scale
on the counter, rows of fly-specked bot
ties on the shelves, confusion and dis,
order everywhere.
Just then man in shirt sleeves and
frowzy hair appeared and opened the
door. Tom asked for bread and cheese
He paid for something, took it away in q
newspaper, and charitably bestowed the
whole Of it upon the ancient hens in the
street.
It. was good investment. With the
purchase he gained an idea. Ideas are
money to the wise, and Tom Maxwell
was wise above his generation. He
looked up and down the sleepy street
and contemplated the three establish
ments that supported the village needs
one variety place, where nails, needles
and dried fish found home; one
butchers sh6p-a horrid den, full OF
unspeakable denominations and the dis.
NAL grocery.
.. The idea grew upon him rapidly. He
considered it two days, and then re,
solved to try it. Little did he imagin,
tile immense social changes his decision
would involve. How could he foreseC
the sights, the sneers and insulting con
descension that would be bestowed upor