Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-09-15
SKEDGER'S
CHARGES 8
AN EXPERIENCE IN
CAMPING OUT

A '111Nlo w AIblH1S uCCluSu dS IllS
conventional resort very early in
the season. He prospected around for
some weeks and at last discovered
Skedger and the Skedger river farm.
He described Skedger as zone of those
shrewd, sturdy, practical American
farmers" but ne was not enthusiastic
about him even at the beginning; he
kept his enthusiasm for the river with
its beautifully wooded shores, its clean,
sandy bed and its fish.
"a lovely river altogether, my dear"
he said to Mrs. Chriswaller, land this
Skedger place is the prettiest along it.
I've got the sweetest camping spot you
ever saw picked out. My idea is to
take out couple of large tents, some
cots and bedding and an oil stove and
stay there, you and the boys and girls,
all summer. 1 can come over for the
weeks end and perhaps get day or
two off now and then"
They went down. There were Chris
waller and his wife, Jim and Rob, the
two boys, aged Is and 13, respectively,
and Annabel and Laura, IS and 10.
They all liked the place, strange to
say, and they didn't think Skedger was
such bad sort at first He was "A
lanky, long-nosed person, with sandy
hair and a brick-red countenance and
eyes which had a peculiar cross, so
that in conversing with him the family
found an embarrassing difficulty in
telling which eye to look at. He came
down to welcome the Chriswallers in
rerson and took quite kindly interest
in their settlement, Offering some val
liable suggestions as to pitching the
tents and swimming the hammocks. He
informed them that they could have
ice brought by the little steamer from
which they had disembarked and ex-
planned that handy refrigerator could
be made by sinking a shoe box in the
ground. "I'll fix it for you, he said, and
he did so quite cleverly.
81 think he's most accommodating"
said Mrs. Chriswaller, after their land
lord had taken his departure. What
made you dislike him, father?"
81 didn't say dislilsed him." replied
Chriswaller. 81 must say though,
thought he soaked it to me on the boat
Three dollars a week seems rather stiff
for the use of that old tub. He's getting
good rent for his camping ground too.
I call SIG month good price. You can
rent siX-room house in the suburbs for
that.
"Stfll, I guess he's all right
That will certainly make a cracker
jack of an ice box when we get some
ice for it. Well, we ought to get plen-
ty of good fresh vegetables and milk
and eggs cheap, and the boys ought
to keep you in fish. Our living won't
be expensive; that's one thing to be re-
membered."
Having got the encampment ar
ranged, Chriswaller went back to town
He did not mention that he had agreed
to pay So a month for the privilege of
fishing in the river off the Skedger prop
erty. He had blamed himself for this,
but Skedger had pointed out that 1t
would be more convenient to fish at ones
own front door, as 1t were, and that it
was only just that such a convenience
should be paid for, as the fish supply
would naturally become exhausted in
time and he would no longer be able to
stroll down to the river and catch a
mess of bass from the landing before
breakfast, as had been his custom So
Chriswaller had succumbed.
When he went down again on Saturday
he found that Jim and Rob had fished
steadily for four days without getting a
bite from anything but swapping tur-
ties. Moreover. Skedger had objected to
their digging in the cornfield for
worms, but had supplied them himself
every morning. Later on Skedger came
down to the camp and presented his bill.
One of the items was: WORMS, 40
cents"
you don't mean to say that you
charge us for worms?" said Mr.. Chris
waller. Indignantly.
why, no." smiled Skedger. 81 might.
of course, but then there amt no use
bein' small. amt only charged for the
eime diggin' 'em. throw the worms in