Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-11-30
A LOCAL CRGSUS.
Story of the Owner of Boomtown
and His Delusion.

He did not look like millionaire
His frowsy hair and unltempt beard
his weather-stained coat and coars,
jean trousers tucked into uncouth COW
hide boots, the very mir with which hc
slouched along proclaimed him, in the
vernacular of the section to which h,
belonged, to be 'po white trash.
There was about him nothing save Tho
signs of sordid poverty, and yet all tn,
country side he was known as the Crn
sus of Boomtown.
was spending the summer at u little
out-of-the-world village in the ALE
gheny Mountains, where store or two
and n tiny box of post-ofllce had
sprung up in the wake of the railroad in
little gap in the mountains. A tiny
stream went bubbling through it, and al
evening the shadow of the mountain
fell across 1t like huge dial, telling
the time in n magnetic way to the peo-
pie whose lives were only marked by
the rising and setting of suns and
thepassing of seasons. Every evening,
just as the large purple shadows made
sharp lines across the mountain sides,
there would be n clutter of hoofs down
the rocky road and the mountaiueers
would ride slowly in, hitch their horses
mt long rack, and form the group of
idlers tilted back on chairs or empty
boxes against the shady side of the
'.store."
On one such summer day, when the
whole valley seemed to swim in an am
cthystine mist, and the clouds floating
above in the upper blue looked like
white ensigns flying from the mountain
tops. noticed wagon coming slowly
down the dusty road. 1t was rickety
affair, with wheels that ran unsteadily
In and out OF the ruts, and within, seat
ed on splint-bottomed chairs, were
round-shouldered man and two women
wearing deep, cavernous sun-bonnets
and gowns of vivid pink calico. The
wagon stopped at the long hitching
rack, the dejected-looking horses hung
their heads, II possible, trife lower,
the man gravely assisted th9 women to
alight, and as he did so the younger
turned toward me face so fresh and
fair and lovely l could only think of a
mountain rose, dewy sweet in the
morning. 1t was only for an instant
and then sho followed her companions
into the store, carrying with them tho
produce, the bags and baskets full of
stuff that is legal tender in tho country,
tthi Il al, 4
ing"
As the little party disappeared an
amused chuckle ran around the group
tilted back in comfortable abandon
against the store.
Don't seem like" said one, pointing
to the dilnpidated wagon, THAT Jims
set up any kerridge yit in spite of his
riches"
Nav" responded another. "An'
furthermo', see Miss Edmonds amt
beyand fetchin' in leetle ally-cum-
pain or YARDS TO trade for needles an
SIGH"
turned a bewildered face upon the
speaker.
"Who is Jimp" asked. "Is he your
local Crnsus?"
The men broke out into a loud gufraw
OF laughter.
Yes" answered one. "The Cresus
of Boomtown."
"Shoo, mistri," answered another,
"do you reckon because we live in the
mountain we aint got no Jay Guile?
Jim don't look forehanded, but pear
ances is mighty deceivin', you know,
mighty deceivin'."
The laugh that greeted this sally
had hardly died out when Jim came
shambling across the dusty little plaza
from the store and joined the group.
Hello, Jim," cried one in greeting,
shows things comm on in Boomtown?
Has corner lots rize? What's the
market price for site for theatyP !
am thinkin' of comm over an buildin'
one, where stars of the first magnitude
kin be seen fur one dime only" he add
ed, quoting rather too literally from u
gaudy circus poster on the wall OF the
blacksmith shop.
Tell you what, Jim," interrupted
tall, thin man, pointing to the previous
speaker, "ef you kin tote Ed over you
won't have no call to build gas works.
Jest let him shoot off his mouth, an
you'll have gas 'nough to light Rich
mon, let lone Boomtown."
Jim's sallow face flushed under its
tan, his bent figure Strengthened itself,
and his eyes, before so dull and eX-
pressionless, cleaned with sudden eX-
citement.
at will come" he cried, "it's bound
TO; an kin wait!" and turning on his
heel, without another word, he strobe
away and re-entered the store where his
wife and daughter were.
A silence fell on the little group. Per-
haps they were trille ashamed Of their
rough jokes, but presently some one
said, half apologetically, / thought:
"'Pears like Jim's done gone plumb
distracted about dat ole gap in the
mountain of hissen. Thinks it's worth
more than the whole OF Pocahontas.
An sech Ian! cept dat little strip OF
meadder it's 80 pore II wouldn't sprout
peas"
"You see," said one OF the men,
turning to me in good-humored expla-
nation and shifting the quid OF tobacco
he was chewing Lom one check to the
other, 'you see when they was sur
veyin' and Il prospectin' of the whole
kently to build this here railroad, one
of tho lines they surveyed was light
through gap In the mountains that
belongs TO jim, "Wa-al'" with . lazy