American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-06-14
A Suggestion for a Romance.

A Suggestion for a Romance.
We have not space in the Register for
an extended tale; but we have evolved
an idea for one, which idea we are too
unselfish to withhold from waiting
public because we can not get all t. G
glory of it. If some skillful pen will
but fill in this bare outline with rich
rhetoric and vivid Imagination, not only
will some " interestin' readin'" be pro-
duced, but great moral engine will be
sent into the world, to accomplish
great good. We should, perhaps, en-
title our romance
81 BRAND FROM THE BURNING,
OR, THE DELINQUENT SUBSCRIBERS SALIVA
TION."
We would introduce the fisrt chapter
with picture of the heretofore honest
and prosperous farmers happy home.
The angel of peace dwelleth there, and
the country paper comes to his post
Office box every week.
Having been supporting this county
paper for some four years without pay
ing for it, he is surprised one day to get
polite note from the publisher to cash
up. Indignant at being dunned, he re-
solves to punish the base insulter of his
dignity by beating him out of the whole
bill. All, rash resolve! This, this
the source of all thy ills!"
As delay makes his fatal purpose
manifest, direful consequences follow ::
his friends fall away and recognize him
no more; the wife of his bosom deserts
him and files an application in Chica-
go police court for divorce; his daugh-
ter elopes with lightning-rod peddler
and his best horse and buggy; his son,
losing all self-respect in his fathers
degradation, goes to the city and enters
politics; his cattle start on "a journey
to the center of the EARTH through a
neighboring quagmire; his hogs die of
cholera; his corn yields only tassels-
all mankind and nature seem to con-
| spire his ruin. Job had bis comforters,
spiritual and human; but /" what charm
shall soothe the melancholy" of the
wretch who bears upon his soul the pur-
pose of defrauding the trustful editor |!
CHAPTER AT last, deserted by all
but his faithful dog (who has been kept
in ignorance of the facts of the case),
our delinquent resolves to end his bitter
existence by suicide. eve suggest to
the previously mentioned skillful pen
that the scene here should be very
gloomy-dark cliffs, stormy sea, blood
red sun, etc., Just as he is about to
drain the fatal draught Cor shoot the
fatal shot or stib the fatal stab-we also
leave this to the taste of the filler-in)
the spirit of mercy, willing to give tn
old man another chance, inspires with
in him the thought" Suppose 1 pay
the printer, and all may yet be well!"
Selling the idea with avidity and the dog
by the collar, he HES him to the neigh
boring town. Realizing there S13 from
the sale of this faithful animal, he re-
pairs to the editorial sanctum, pays his
arrears and for year in advance, and
has enough left to "set 'em up all
around" His atonement is complete,
and he walks forth once more a man
among his fellow men," (The EDITORS
establishment and joy at being the pos
SCISSOR of 81 all at one time should be
artistically pictured.)
CHAPTER 3-shows the inevitably
happy result of this Christian action.
Fortune smiles broadly upon him once
more-his wife withdraws her divorce
suit and returns to his arms; the elop-
ing lightning-rod peddler turns out a
wealthy Russian Count in disguise, and
restores to our farmer the lost broad
acres; the son abandons political life
and becomes once more a respectable
citizen; his kline wax fat, his ewes bear
twins, and his wheat fields yield some
sixty and some an hundred fold. The
scene closes with bright picture of
the promptpaying subscribers happy
freside.
If the above sketch, graphically de-
ineated and broadly published, does
not rouse many delinquent conscience
into action, then is all moral suasion
vain, and the butt end of the law our
only recourse.-St. Louis Printers
Register.