Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-12-12
A GREAT FIND.
The Result of Prof MaoDougal's
Trip to the Country.

AS q scientist, Prof MacDougal stood
high. He left Yale at twenty-one, went
through Giessen afterward, and con.
cluded by course of study in the
School of Mines in Paris. He was rec.
ognized abroad and at home rs man
of profound learning, and at the early
age of thirty was made Professor of Nat
ural Science at Barneville College. He
came of race of scientific notablcs.
His grandfather, Scotsman, had been
Professor at Glasgow. His father, who
came to this country, and married. and
settled here, though he never taught,
was most distinguished, and Prof. Rod
erick bade fair to surpass his predecess-
ors in scientific renown.
But the close pursuit of knowledge
has its penalty. The first Commence
ment-day found the Professor quite
broken up. Nearly six feet high, and
with muscles to fit he had been the
crack oarsman at Yale, and at the head
of the first class of the Turn Verein Mt
Giessen. Now he had grown lean,
weak and listless. His colleagues
viewed his state with alarm. One of
them, also skillful physician, gave him
prescription. MAC" he said, ''you
have worked wonders for us during the
course, but at your own expense. Go
to the country. Get away from books
entirely. You have three months of
vacation. Use it up by absence from
ink of all kinds, or you will be used
up"
La DxDfn.,A,. thornbt
ought to devote the vacation to my
treatise on the Gryllide," he said. ''But
perhaps you are right. Up in Mountain
County, there is a gneiss formation,
permeated by veins of coarse granite
that must be rich in minerals. 1t has
been little explored, and may make
great find there, and get specimen
or so that / shall be proud to show to
my friends. "
So the professor bought coarse gray
suit, packed his valise, added Il leathern
sachel and belt, with hammer, chisel
and blow-pipe, and started for Mountain
County. On the cars he fell in with an
old friend, who happened to know all
about his place of destination. He was
told to get off at Firwood Station, where
he would find a stage-coach to take
him to Rockborough, the c"-- own.
The inns there were eyccrable, and he
was advised to seek boarding in farm
house.
Gan you recommend onePn asked
the professor.
"They are about the same kind" was
the reply, "clean, coarse, and with no
chamber window that will let down
from the top. The natives have hor-
ror of letting foul air out or fresh air in.
There is one exception: old Squire
Martyrs has u nice house, and lives
well. His maiden sister is his house
keeper. He has very pretty daughter;
but she is off at boarding school, The
Squire takes boarders only now and
pany. If he likes you, and his sister
should like you, he'll let you stay. He
lives three miles east of Rockborough.
and any one can pilot you"
"Thank you. I'll try him."
II must tell you, however," resumed
his informant, "that the Squire is a
character. He is a fairly educated
man, and as you say you are mineral
hunting, he can help you, for he has a
collection, and knows the localities.
But he'll accost you in the vernacular
of the region, and keep it up until he
getssto know you.
Thus it was that one afternoon early
in July Prof Roderick MacDougal was
carried in hired wagon from Rock
borough to Martyrs Nest, as the farm
was called. The farmhouse, standing
upon rising ground a short distance
from the high-road, was half hidden by
wistarias and creepers that draped the
wide yeranda, and climbed the brick
walls. to the caves of the gambrcl roof
There was an attempt at lawn, with
beds of gay-colored flowers. The place
looked comfortable and home-like. The
manswho sat on the veranda, with his
chair tilted back, his shirt-collar unbut-
toned and cob pipe in his mouth,
looked at home, too. Why not? He
was the owner. He brought his chair
forward and arose as the Professor
came up the steps.
the Professor, blandly.
That's what they call me. Is it book
or lightnin' -rod?"
smiling. "My name is MacDougal, and
have been advised to try the hill air
for time. / called to request you to
accommodate me with board for few
weeks
May / ask what you do for a
liyin'g'
4 am professor in Barneville Col
lege,"
you amt one of them snake catch
ers AM bug-huntersP"
Il know something about reptiles
and insects, but expect to amuse my
self by collecting the minerals and
plants of the region"
.,Stpns, eh! There 'ain't been stun
hunter in these parts not sense the time
of the Jollylogical Survey, an there
right smart of queer stuns here yet.
Plants, eh! That would suit my Hetty,
II she was to home, for she's got lots OF
'emsupstairs in books.-Lucy Annr'
Atall, neatly dressed old lady came
TO the door and said: "Wellp'
Can we make room for q stun
hunter?''
Lucy Ann surveyed the Professor
who smiled at the scrutiny, and then
said; There's plenty of room; but 4
this gentleman be hunting mineral.
there'll be nice pair to clutter us up. '
And with laugh she retrcated.
'.Approved by the higher powers,
said the Squire, laughing. "wh'
ADKINS. John, bring In the Professor
There will be no difficulty about terms
The Professor soon found that his In
II. T. n II. A. a