The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-16

ing come scuh a long journey and he
guessed a good snack and a rest would
pearten 'em up heap"
Mr.. Crockett was much worried be-
cause they did not bring the children
along, as he wanted to have the whole
family with him, but Cousin Jim ex-
planned that he dlsliked to impose on
good nature and he had left the boys
he had only two children, and they
were both boys-at home with friends.
The Pearsons reappeared the next
day at the Methodist church with Mr..
Crockett and were subjected to a min
ute examination by the whole popula-
tion of Wilkesburg. 1t was decided
after services that their clothes were
of very advanced type and were the
acme of fashion. Young Mr.. Hasel-
rigg himself was convinced of that,
for he noted with great care every de-
tail of Mr. Pearson's attire. The ver-
dict upon their manners was reserved
for further acquaintance, as that was
not a matter upon which Wilkesburg
would pass lightly and without ma
ture knowledge There were many who
thought that the Pearsons would be
stuck up" but If the evidence indi-
Gated to the contrary they were quite
willing to change their opinions.
Mr. Crockett was over at the store
on Monday morning and he told the
half dozen people who were gossiping
there that Cousin Jim and his wife
were all right They had New York
ways, it was true, but he guessed they
couldn't help that as Cousin Jim had
lived in the big city twenty years
and Mrs. Pearson had lived there all
her life. But they were taking right
kindly to Wilkesburg and weren't try
in to behave toploftical." This an
| nouncement created a distinct feeling
in favor of the Pearsons, for Mr.. Croc-
kett was a man of substance and
standing in Wilkesburg and what he
said was to be received with respect
and belief.
The Pearsons themselves in their
own proper persons soon became bet
| ter known to WilkesburE and were re-
ceived with considerable favor. They
were rather fond of talking about the
| greatness of New York, and Cousin
Jim showed how he had expanded, but
! Wilkesburg folks didn't mind that
| Cousin Jim was one of them. and they
| were glad to hear of his achievement
| in the metropolis He was admitted to
| the Saturday afternoon circle in the
| store on terms of amity and equality
| 1t was soon discovered there that he
| had very little knowledge of politics,
| and the least expert among them could
corner him in an argyfcation." But
| as they knew he had been engrossed
| for more than twenty years in i'm
| portant business affairs they did not
| lay this up against him. In fact, they
| were rather glad of it, for while they
were willing to confess that Mr.. Pear
| son, had beaten them badly in the race
| for wealth. there was consolation in
knowing that they We're better politi-
| clans than he, for in Wilkesburg reli-
| gion alone takes precedence of politics,
and every man is a red-hot partisan.
After Wilkesburg had decided that
the Pearsons were not stuck up" de-
spite their worldly property and the
| fashionable cut of their clothes, the
people saw that the visitors had a good
time, in so far as the resources of the
! village went. Mr.. Crockett, of course
| was especially careful to administer to
| the wants and pleasures of his guests
| He always remembered that Cousin
Jim was Kentucky-born and would
overlook in Wilkesburg the absence of
the luxuries and splendors to which he
was accustomed in New York. When
the time came for them to return to
| New York, he was sincerely sorry, but
he knew the busy season was coming
on and Jim's presence in the great store
there was necessarv. So he reluctantly
assisted them in the preparations for
their departure, urging them many
times to come and see him and Wilkes
| burg again.
| I'VE want you to visit us in New
| York." said Cousin Jim but / don't
| suppose you'll ever be travelling that
far. To you it would look like going to
the end of the world wouldn't it?"
| II reckon it would" said Mr.. Crock
| EFT. New York's been gettin along
without for me for long time, an l
guess it'll have to keep on doin' it,"
Mr.. Pearson laughed. Then they
shook hands with Mr.. Crockett and his
friends and were off for New York,
| leaving Wilkesburg to discuss their
sayings and doings for many months.
Mr.. Crockett was proud Of the impress
sion that Mr.. Pearson and his wife had
made.
There was an unexpected and heavy
advance the following autumn in the
price of White Burley tobacco on the
Louisville market. Mr.. Crockett was
an expert raiser of White Burley, and
that season it had keen his luck to put
in an unusually large crop. When
winter came and his tobacco was sold
he found that he had a very pretty sum
of money to his credit in the bank. 1t
was so much that he felt rich and able
to take a holiday. There would be very
little work to do until spring about the
farm, which was in trim and tidy fix,
and when he gave the matter further
thought he was unable to see any good
reason why he should not indulge his
inclination.
Although he soon decided the first
point Mr. Crockett was in a state of
perpleXity for some time over other
points, equally important. Where and
how should he take his holiday? Such
thing as a set holiday had no part in
the life of the five hundred people who
constituted the population Of Wilkes
burg, and the only organized amuse-
ment ever known in the village was the
debating society which met every Fri.
day In the cold season. in the school
house, and tried very earnestly TO de.
clde whether the Indian had suffered
more wrongs than the negro, or wheth,
er war or whisky had done the create,
injury to man. He might go hunting
but there was no novelty In that. and
besides. the game was becoming yer,
scarce in the region around Wilkes
burg.
The right idea came to him one even
ing when he was locking the barn doc
after two days OF doubt and inde
cision. He would go to New York an,
see the Pearsons. Such thing as go
ing to New York had never occurra,