Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-12-17
Defends His Friend.

/ Give the devil his due whenever
found. There has been great deal
said asout Daniel Dodge, who ran 4
mercantile business in Burton sew
eral years, also at Mccartney station
short time. such as that he had
broken up in business, had closed out.
got drunk. ran away, etc, which is
untrue. | have known Mr.. Dodge
ten or twelve years; have dealt with
him to a considerable extent: have al
WAYS found him strictly honest and a
worker; have stayed over night with
him several times when his dear com
panion was alive. who was an estim-
able lady. Where parties were owing
him and he was buying their wood to
get pay for his goods instead of re-
naming in doors and putting the law
in force to get his pay he would rise
early mornings, eat his breakfast and
say to his wife, .'hurry ur, get into
the store" name the person and say
am going to hep him get his wood
out to the road today so he can ret it
down to the station so | can get my
pay. Have known him to part with
things he priced highly for the sake
of making ends meet Mr.. Dodge
had great deal of trouble the last
three or four years Some men
drink to drown their sorrow Up
on inquiry / found his intcmperance
not half so bad as repres snted. Twas
told that he GOT on little foot one
night in Burton with some of the
boys. He remarked .Boys, this is
shame for me-" The reply came,
80, that is nothing; we were all
drunk Well he said. sit Is too
bad for me- = He has not lost his
morals as a man if has tipped up the
glass; he is man OF sterling worth
to the community he resides in. So
| say, God forbid that he err again.
Mr.. Dodge was owing me small sum
of money; SO four weeks ago | went to
look after my interest. Mr.. Dodge
had some enemies by shutting down
on the credit system, but they rea-
lie their folly, ond the nearer came
to his home the warmer grew his
friends. Their hatred has turned to
sympathy and love. When | saw Mr.
Doll, a merchant in Burton and made
known my errand to him he said, ..'tis
false; Dodge is not broke up; he has
sold out to the depot agent at Nc
/ Cartney on account Of losing his wife
and his sister did not want to remain
with him longer. So she took his
children and went back east and left
hin without housekeeper. He
owes me 500; know | will get it
when it becomes due You can't
break upa man that works as Dodge
! does. | few minutes later | saw Mr..
! Dodge. Hello, Drew. is that you?
How much do owe you?n 81 don't
know until | look at my book. :"
"Well, | am not prepared to pay you
tonight; send me your bill; | will send
it TO you. | am going over to Elm
dale to stay all night; / am not broke
up as reported; own my land and
building, Just sold the goods; can get
all the credit ! want to start in busi-
ness again: will collect in what / can
the next two months. | expect 10 90
east this winter on a visit and stay
with the children and will be back in
the spring. 1t may be that Mary and
the children will come back with me,
don't know Goodnight / went
home Thursday | heard that Mr..
Dodge had run away; last night |
got my money He is chopping wood
for Thos. Orcutt on The Mississippi;
he i, never idle Mr. Dodge il my
esteemed and bosom friend.
J A DREw, Lancaster. Wis
Narro,n Ecranp