Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-03-19
POETRY.
RAFFLETOWN.
A Deserted City Of the "Boom.,
by A LOT OWNER.

Ii | should quote from Goldsmith
Burns or Scott
Without due credit--reader censurt
| not;
| wrong,
And place quotation marks where the,
belong.
CANTO L.
Could l but sing as Goldsmith, my re-
Would not be Auburn, loyeliest vii
lage of the plain"
10 find deserted villages no need afa,
to roam,
When scores on scores Of such, ar,
round much nearer home.
q sing OF Raffletown--lts woods anC
"silvery streams"
Where fortunes lost to hope still lingel
in our dreams
L d speak her birth, her rise, her sudder
fall,
And with that task complete, 1 woult
describe them all.
II.
Born of Syndicate whose most prolific
Gave birth to all the magic cities of Tho
"boom.r
She, like the rest, advanced with rapit
stride,
Then backward turned, and like tn,
others, died.
The grand Promoters met at frs
by stealth.
Their object shekels, their ambition
wealth
They chose spot endowed by natures
charms,
And took fair options on surround.
ing farms,
They. drew their charter, and each
cleared in gold,
A cool" ten thousand when their
stock was sold.
A map was printed on gigantic scale,
TO show the city" in its full detail.
It's avenues and streets, its parks as well,
It's multitude Of lots-its fine hotel,
Its plants-its factories-waterwor
aye more,
Its mountain peaks, with beds of gilt
tering ore;
Iron and manganese, copper, zinc and
lead,
Were on this map in great profusion
spread.
On his arrival here, the stranger finds
a wondrous sameness in the business
Painted on canvas, houses, rocks and
trees,
The same inscription on each one he
sees:
1t seems all other occupations fail,
For only stock and lots are offered here
for sale:
Hooker and Hustler-proprltiousc CON-
binatlon,
OF one of these some mention sbould
be made,
The very names but indicate their trade,
Hooker and Hustler-those who entered
there
Were warmly welcomed by this match
less pair.
Hooker was tall and wore beaver tile.
HIS dress was new and cut in latest
style;
His speech was winning, and in calm
repose.
His gold.rimmed specs bestrode a ro
man nose
He occupied at times an office in the
rear,
And sat with ready pen behind Ills
tening ear -
He was a jack-leg" lawyer, and with
care,
Could all his deeds and documents pre-
pare.
Hustler was chunky, taIkative and fat,
And unlike Hooker, wore an old slouch
hat;
His eyes were black and of that pierc-
ing hue,
That seemed to bring your inmost soul
to view,
His business was, in sunshine or in rain,
To meet with promptness each in
coming train,
To treat all strangers with a due re-
gard,
And furnish each the firms new bust.
ness card,
Then hasten after to the big hotel,
And speak of all the lots they had to
sell.
Full well he knew his trade, and glibly
told,
OF fortunes made on lots the firm had
sold
&" But lots were rising-jnmping every
day.
And those would win who bought with
out delay"
He'd argue thus, while out upon his
lap,
He smoothly spread the companys
large map;
There's No. l." he'd say, "Block 8
and Section 2,
Would bring six hundred in week or
two,
Was rated now at three, but then it
might
Go up to four before tomorrow night"
Such earnest talk would rarely ever fail,
To gain his object and effect sale;
Should A. or b. first wish to see the lot,
His "spaDkiDg" team would drive
them to the spot.
There, having made them promise to
invest,
Hustler had done his part, and Hooker
did the rest.
When lots went down, this worthy cou.
pie died,
And on a "corner-lot" we're buried side
by side,
Kind patrons laid them there and now
we trace,
These touching lines to mark their rest
ing place.
Hooker and Hustler rest within this
tomb.
The last sad relics of the fatal " BOOM"
Their hopes were idle, their transac-
tions vain,
Their words have perished, but their
deeds remain.
They had one failing, and but one tits
said
They lied while living, and they now lie
dead.
-Rockbridge Netos.