Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-07-23
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Old Charlie Robinson v1s . WY 7peoQ-
liar man. He was small in stature ana ht
=" followed the road'' a. . peddler. he
was afflicted with erosseyeo and . nervou.
affection that kept his head constantly J
bobing to and fro. He also possessed
many strange traits Of character, and his
| wonderful ability to put into verse on the
instant a description Of anything and
everything that might happen in his pres.
ence was feature Of the man that gave
him wide celebrity. His personal acquaint
auces were legion. He was full of anima.
| ton and fun. He would crack q Joke
with anyone, but could not stand to be
ridiculed because of tho unfortunate con.
dition Of his eyes.
One evening Robinson was comfortably
anchored ut friends house in Horseneck,
where he had what il now called .
"mash on the rosy. checked help. He
was seated near . wood stove, which
needed fuel to keep tho fire going. His
host, warm hearted old Colonel Rich, said
to him that he would either have to move
from his position or turn in and keep the
fire up. OF course he courte0usly assayed
to feed the stove moro wood, and thus
relieve the members of the household from
that duty. It was an old fashioned wood
stove, and when Robinson touched it off
came the door from its hinges and it fell
to his feet. In an instant he said
As came here to night to see girl
Whom / love, and shall love evermOre.
TS%a ie 1ns se
Having this power Of pr0visation and =
thousand ways of provoking fun and mer-
iment, Robinson never lacked hospitablo
frsnvAo "hnrovop v,snhk him
there he found friend who housed him
until the next morning. Among those he
was accustomed to visit on his trips was
the cousin above alluded to. This relative
was an exception in that he was the only
ono who would persistently make fun of
Robinson's cross eyes and attempt to
mimic his other peculiar antics. 1t was, of
course, done in good part, and no one ever
showed the least anger because of it. Not
even the unfortunate peddler would admit
that he felt the sting deeply, but he did.
The cousin who did this was a abachelor,
living near Dublin, in Fairfield county.
One day it was announced that he was
going to take unto himself q wife from
the many olive branches of old Simon
Lockwood, of Mianus. The wedding Ger
emony took place in the old church OH
Horseneck hills and Robinson happened
to como along to the merry making which
followed at the bridegrOOm's house. As
usual he stayed. His cousins wife was 4
buxom lass, as all the LockwoOds are,
and Robinson patiently awaited the time
when he would be presented to ber.
Finally the introduction took place with
all due sOlemnity. 1t was expected by
every one that the pedler would produce 4
verse or two that would do him credit and
please the bride. Imagine then, tho as
constituent of the bride and the whole
party when Robinson blurted out.
congratulate you upon your marriage
but hope you'll have thirteen children
and that every one of them will be crossed
eyed"
This speech astounded the household.
Its effect passed of, however, and moth
ing more was thought of it until the newly
made Benedict became the father of a cross
eyed child. This set Robinson's cousin to
thinking of the days when he had so inju
diciously plagued Robinson about his
eyes," He was not sup,rstitious, but sti |
he could not get over the fact that the un-
tunate pedler's had something to do with
the defOrmcd eyes of his babe.
Year after year rolled by, and each one
brought cross eyed child, until the man
became q misanthrope and the mother
broken hearted. Thirteen came and No
more, and twelve were cross eyed.