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HISTORY OF ERIE CCfUNTY 75
ockepied by a extensive seek called Free Lovers, who beleeved in affinertys
and sich, goin back on their domestic ties without no hesitation whatsomever.
They was likeAvise spirit rappers and high presher reformers
on gineral principles. If I can improve these ere misguided peple by
shoAvin them my onparraled shoAv at the usual low price of admitants,
methunk, I shell not have lived in vane. But bitterly did I cuss the day
I ever sot foot in the retchid place. I sot up my tent in a field near the
Love Cure, as the called it, and bimeby the free lovers begun to congregate
around the door. A ornerer set I have never saAvn.' The men's
faces Avas all covered with hare and they lookt half-starved to deth. They
didn't Avear no weskuts for the purpose (as they sed) of allowin the
free air of hevun to. blow onto their boozums. Their pockets was filled
Avith tracks and pamplits and they AA'as barefooted., They sed the Postles
didn't Avear boots & Avhy should they? That Avas their stile of argyment.
The Avimmen Avas AVUSS than the men. They Avore trowsis, short gownds,
straAv hats Avith green ribbins, and all carried blue cotton umbrellers.
"Presently a perfeckly orful lookin female presented herself at the
door. Her goAvnd AA'as skanderlusly short and her troAvsis was shameful
to behold. She eyed me OA'.er very sharp, and then startin back she sed,
in a wild voice:
" 'Oh, can it be?'
"'Which?'sed I.
" 'Yes, 'tis troo, 0 'tis troo!'
" '15 cents, marm,' I anserd.
"She bust out a cryin and sed;
" 'And so I have found you at larst—at larst, 0 at larst!'
" 'Yes' I anserd, 'you have found me at larst, and you would hav
found me at fust, if you had cum sooner.'
"She grabd me vilently by the coat collar, and brandishin her embreller
wildly round, exclaimed:
" 'Air you a man?'
"Sez I, 'I think I air, but if you doubt it, you can address Mrs, A.
Ward, Baldinsville, Injinanny, postage pade, & she will probly giv you
the desired informashun.'
" 'Then thou ist AA'hat the cold Avorld calls marrid?'
" 'Madam, Iistest.'
"The exsentric female then clutched me franticly by the arm and
hollered:
" 'You air mine, 0 you air mine!'
" 'Scacely' I sed, endeverin to git loose from her. But she clung
to me and sed: '
'' ' You air my affinerty! f
" 'What upon arth is that?' I shouted.
" 'Dost thou not knoAv?'
" 'No, I dostent!'
" 'Listin man & I'll tell ye!' sed the strange female; 'for years I
hav yearned for thee. I knovyed thou wast in the Avorld, sumAvhares,
tho I didn't knoAv whare. My hart sed he AA'ould cum and I took courage.