The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-26
TIE bank?

to the stranger who had thus accost-
ed q small boy, as the nearest person
from whom he could get the informa-
ton desired We could but come 10
the little fellows relief.
Thinking that the stranger had
made mistake IN asking for the
bank when he meant the barber shop
or postofIice, we drew near to relieve
the situation.
The little boys only answer was
sort of wondering, dreamy, Il don't
know IL" and the little fellow open
mouth and widening eyes showed
that the stranger had hit upon
question be had never heard before.
We saw at once that the stranger
could not have made mistake in
asking for the bank instead of bar
Der shop, for he was clean shaved
not even wearing q mustache. Then
we saw that he had just read letter
and was slipping 1t back into the
envelope. Like a flash 1T all be-
came clear.
He was stranger, had made Scot
land Neck one of his projected points
on his Southern tour, being attracted
by the rating Of several Scotland
Neck merchants in Bradstreet, HAYS
ing learned also that there is new
cotton factory here, and having
heard q gentleman Of New York say
By way of pa-enthesis q few months
ago that there was q fine hotel in
course of construction in the town.
Taking all these things into cons
sideration he had concluded without
further inquiries that Scotland Neck
was nice little Southern town OF
fair prosperity, and he had instruct
ell 'the Nan who draws the checks"
to write HIM at Scotland Neck, and
send o check for be supposed by
the date he named he would have
spent most OF his money in Virginia
and would about have enough to last
hiIa through to Scotland Neck, n. {.
The letter had come and the
check slsc, and this was the incident
that gave rise to the question which
attracted our attention. The strang
or had lust hecn to the pOstoliice and
was walking leisuvcly up the street,
had finished reading his letter, md
meeting the little boy asked,
N'Where's the bank. little mani"
Is we have described we came up
and said to him:
I'VE haven't bank, Sir"
"Haven't bank n this town.
mo, Sir"
"What county is this" said the
stranger.
"IIalifax county," We replied.
"What is the nearest town in the
county where | can find q bank2 l
must have a check cashed right
away"
II don't think there's a bank il
the county" we said.
(Which is the best town in the
county, said he.
"Scotland Neck,' we replied.
''Is this a large county, he said.
Between thirty and forty thous>
and inhabitants - we answered.
~ think l heard some one call you
Mr.. Editor at the depot this after
noon," said the stranger.
"Perhaps SOL am the editor OF
THE DEMOCRAT" we explained,
"Published here2'
! Yes, Sir"
"Well, friend" said the stranger,
II never saw you before and may
never see you again after leaving
= this town on the ncrt truia; but |
L. want to make a suggestion. Go to
your otlice and write what YOU have
seen and heard between me and that
little boy wonder, and then write as
, well as you can remember our shOrt
conversation. Publish it in your
paper in the next Issue.
Then tell the people of your coun
, ty that any county Of thirty or forty
, thousand inhabitants with even one
town in it as large as this, is long
way behind the trend Of progress:
that is said to be moving in tn,
South if stranger can not find
bark N it where he eau get checl
cashed.
. And % you say your town is til
best one in the comfy, tell you
, town people 10 person and throug'
| your paper that Scotland Neck ca
t not become the prosperous town tina
you evidently think it will unles
7 you haYe bank in it."
, 81 would talk more with you abou
! the matter, but | have several letter