Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-11-25
AN EASY SET.
Good People to Get Along With,
But No Divided Allegiance.
CHAPTER I.

One of the most prominent features
of the Weekly Spear was this announce
ment. "John N. Bristol, editor and
proprietor" l began my newspaper
career by establishing-or rather by
starting the Spear, in the little town OF
Gnat Cove. Arkansas. The town was
so far from railroad that several OF
its citizens who had rid on the cayah"
were looked up to as heroes of travel.
When it became known that l was "a
great traveller" a number of prominent
men, who wore "bed tick" suspenders
and wheat straw hats, called upon mo.
The spokesman, old Mat Tyler, shook
hands with me and said:
They tell me that you have been
round right smartP'
WELL" | replied, with belitting
modesty, 81 have seen some little of
the country"
al reckon So They tell me that
you've rid on the railroad?"
''Oh, yes. ! was once conductor of
gravel train"
"a whut sort of a trainp"
"A gravel train-a train that hauls
gravel and other material for repairing
the road.
The old man began to weigh this
piece of information, while Nick Arm
strong, removing his lank leg from a
corner of my writing table. incredu-
lousy shook his head.
"Ef that's the case" said old Mat,
"you oughter know how to make a
newspaper, for it peers to me like n
man that ken take kere NV railroad
cayah ken take kcre NV anything that
happens to come along. What air you
goin TO AK fur a paper, Mr.. Brizen-
tinep"
"My name is Bristol"
"Yas, that is fact sence you men,
ton it. A family of Brizentines used
to live down here on the north side o.
the Knob an l sometimes ct Their
names mixed; but you amt answered
my question. What're you goin' to AK
fer your paperp"
1.-Two dollars year"
"Whutr' the old man exclaimed,
"you amt goin' to print it year, air
youP'
"Oh, yes"
"Wall, how must we payp'
''In advance"
"Befo' we git the papersP"
Eyes"
"Wall. what skyority are you goin'
to give?"
There is no need of security. That
is the way all the newspapers do"
IL d dn't know. Do you reckon the
paper will help the town."
Undoubtedly it will"
"Wall, | didn't know. A man was
through here about a month ago an
he sad that they started n newspaper
in his town an it pretty nigh killed
the place, but reckon we'd better gin
you a trial. Whut do you say, Arm.
strongP"
IL amt particular" Mr. Armstrong
replied. don't know but it mout be
good idcc to try him few falls"
Mr.. Armstrong was the champion
wrestler of the settlement" and a
'few falls" was favorte expression
with him.
"a reckon you're right, Armstrong"
old Mat rejoined. Then. addressing
me, he added: You'll find us a easy
set NV folks to get along with. 1t has
been said that we air too easy fur our
own good. an l don't know but it's a
fact. Wall, start the shebang runnin'
jest as soon rs you git ready. Don't
you want to dampen your whissulp"
This was polite invitation to take q
drink. l excused myself in self-de-
Tense for the favorito bovern po of Gnot
Cove, made of alcohol and water, was
merciless enemy to mankind.
$50 these are the men with whom
must DEAL" i unused, as l turned to
my work. "They may prove to be
stubborn at first, but / must educate
them. / have a mission TO fulfill"