Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-04-30
Blaine's Nickname.
How He CAME TO BE CALLED "GoosEY'
AT HIS BoYHooD's HOME.

Said an old resident of Washing
ton, Pa, to Leader reporter this
morning: 'Of all have seen writ
ten about James G. Blalnes early
life, have seen nothing at all pub
lished as to how he got the name of
'Goosey' which chung to him all
through his school days, and indeed
afterwards. Continuing, the gen
tleman said: 'At the time the incl
dent occurred the Blaine family lived
! in what is known as the old Silyey
property, near the foot of town. and
young Jim, who was at the time s or
10 years Old, WAS sent to the market
(Which was half way up Main street
and a half mile from the Blaine resi-
dence) early one morning for a tur-
key. On reaching the market house
he approached an old farmer in a
bashful sort of q way, and made known
his want, when the farmer, it seems,
Judging from Jim's appearance, took
him for a greeny in such matters
(Which he was), and gave him large
goose. After paying for the fowl he
started down street with it, and on
the way several old residents asked
him what he was gong to do with
the goose, to which Jim would reply:
Its no goose; It's turkey. Final
ly, on reaching homo and taking it
into the kitchen, the cook also told
him it was goose, and all the fam
lily had a good laugh at his expense,
and he had to tug the big thing clear
back to the market house and get the
farmer, who, as we'll as himself, and
others whom he had told of the joke
he had played on him, were enjoying
good laugh at Jims expense. The
latter did not say word, but after
making the exchange, carried big
turkey home, and the upshot of the
whole thing was, Jim had no time to
prepare his lessons and was kept in
at noon.
Now at the time spoken of Char
ley Post and Samuel Rial (the latter
being well known in the city es pro-
prietor of the St Charles and Cen
tral Hotels and afterward lost in the
big Chicago fire) ran tailor shop
under the style of Post & Rial, and
it is doubtful if there were two more
popular men among the young folks
in town than they. Consequently
their shop was q resort for the boys
who, hour after hour, would sit and
listen to the big stories told by them,
and no one enjoyed the stories more
than young Blaine. Well, on the
evening after the goose episode young
Jim dropped in as usual, and was
greeted by each with Hello, Goosey.
Blaine, who always WAS ready with a
reply, said, Hello, Post & Rail and
afterward the firm was called Post &
Rail and Jim was called Goosey. In
the meantime Jim was on the lookout
to get even with the old farmer who
had put the Job up on him, and at
last his turn came 1t was in very
busy season, and the man, whose
name have forgotten, brought big
four horse wagon load of corn to the
Fulton House, and in unloading it
the men would lay an car up on sill
for every bushel they carried into the
crib. Jim and some more boys whom
he had taken into his confidence
watched the unloading process until
they had the wagon nearly emptied,
when they managed to remove the
tally ears they had laid up, and the
owners had to go to work and carry
all the corn out and measure it over,
taking them until near midnight
But, to digrsss, it is wonderful what
memory Blaine has for names and
faces. Nearly twenty years after the
events recorded, after Blaine had
won fame and distinction, he paid a
visit to Washington, and while walk
ing up street past the Sheriff's Office
Sam Rial, one of the gentlemen men
toned, was sitting in front of the
Fulton House door, when he noticed
the distinguished looking stranger
passing on the opposite side of the
street, and remarked to companion
by his side: 4 believe in my heart
that's Jim Blaine Said he. I'll
halloo ''Goosey," and if it's Blaine
he may remember his old nickname,
and sure enough he did. The word
was scarcely out of Rails mouth till
Blaine hallooed back, Hello, Post
and Rail- started across the street to
greet his old friend, where they had
long talk over old matters, Blaine
recalling incidents which had long
escaped the memory of the others.
-Pittsburg Leader.