CHAPTER NINETEEN
WE RETURN TO JONESVILLE AND JOSIAH BUILDS TIRZAH ANN’S COTTAGE WITH STRANGE INVENTIONS AND ADDITIONS
I told Josiah I hoped my vision would come true, and they would make an open park of Dreamland, so the millions who visit Coney Island could git a good look at Mom Nater and old Ocean. “And heaven knows,” sez I, “there would be amusements enough left in Luny, and Steeple Chase Park, and other resorts all along the shore.” And he said he didn’t care a dum what they did with it. Sez he, “They needn’t build it up on my account, for I won’t patronize ’em any more!” And I told him, “I guessed he wouldn’t be missed, specially Sundays and holidays.” And he said, “Miss me or not, they needn’t try to git me there agin, and they may jest as well give up hopin’ to, first as last.”
Sez I, “Can’t you be megum, Josiah? You wuz all carried away with it, and now you’re 312 turned agin it; what makes you turn so fur? Can’t you see the good side to it?”
“No, I can’t, and won’t!”
So we went home some like the Baptist and the Methodist who had a public meetin’ to argy their two beliefs, on which they wuz dretful sot, and they converted each other, so the Baptist went home a Methodist, and the Methodist a Baptist.
I’d been considerable sot agin it, but I went home with the eye of my spectacles able to look on both sides. The side I didn’t like, that it shares with other Pleasure Resorts. And its good side, as a care lightener, and diversion to toil. And a golden Pleasure House to the millions of children who go there every year, many of ’em poor children who get there their only glimpse of rest and light hearted enjoyment.
But my dear pardner can’t be megum; that quality wuz left out when he wuz manufactured. And now if anyone sez Coney Island, he starts for the barn.