* * *
Big tied Mr Dog Dogstadter’s shoes together by the laces and hung them over his neck. Asking Philo was only practice. Only a puddingbrain would give up hunting after one poor miss. His next shot were ready at hand – Philo’s closest neighbor, Mr Ozias Basket the teamster. Big walked Agnes across the lane and hitched her at the rail, where she sniffed mule scent with disdain.
Inside the Basket barn, the mules added their jabbering to the stink. They was domiciled in long rows on each side, and as Big gone down the wide center, the creatures made loud hulloas. He found Mr Ozias in the very last stall.
Oze Basket were uncommonly tidy for a man of his trade, put that same maniac tidiness on his mules. So it were not unusual that Big found the proprietor brushing the teeth of the mule Absalom – all the mules had respectable Bible names painted in white on their stall, although they was largely heathens.
Hidy Mr Oze Big went after his invisible hat again.
Hidy Big Oze had a voice like rust.
A long moment passed with Mr Ozias holding the brush to Absalom’s denture.
What luck of mine brings you here?
A hesitation. Oze I am consideringmystationinlife and I havedecideditistime that I come honest done regular work for regular profit
Oze let another moment limp past. Glad to know it Big
The conversation perished entirely – even the mules quieted. Eventually Big scratched thoughtfully behind an ear and took his leave.
* * *
Mean Mr Ozias could not discourage Big. Besides, Oze were well-known for stinting with money. Mr Ozias were only neighbors to Mr Philo and Big had only stopped for practicality. That were all.
Next door to the Basket barn was the offices of Dr Strickland, the cherrycheeked dentist – from mule’s teeth to folks’. Big found Dr S in the midst of fitting YL Honey with a new and incorruptible denture. Big sheeped some on account of he had been the one who wrecked YL’s previous denture in a rastle. But he managed a respectful hidy and YL hidyed back the best he could with Dr S’s hand in his trap. No resentments was noted. The rastle had been a fair fight and not the first set of teeth YL had busted besides. YL were the unluckiest man in Ohio, suffering past his portion from misadventure, and learned to meet poor fortune with grace.
Big were improving at asking after work. Dr S, I am here to—
Beg patience, Big Mr Honey and I have reached the decisive moment The kreosote will sanitize the necrosis and provide purchase for the apparatus The dentist pulled a brush from his smock and dipped it in a pot of stinking liquid.
This will bite some, friend
He daubed at YL’s gums and stood back. The kreosote went to work and YL kicked his legs madly. Big and the dentist watched burly YL writhe in agony for a minute or more, before Dr S passed him a jug to rinse.
Now Mr Honey it is imperative that you do not smoke any cigars or pipes the rest of the morning The treatment is liable to ignite
* * *
As Dr S scrubbed up he listened to Big’s proposition with a kindness. Big if I had a spare dollar I would surely cut you a bite from it but—
Big opened up his mouth some like he were expecting that bite of dollar. Dog’s shoes hung around his neck like he had grown donkey’s ears.
—I haven’t got any spare dollar Big You are better suited to busting teeth than carpentering them I do appreciate how you bring me custom You have a higher purpose besides Take heart at that!
YL gave a hrrmmh of agreement without parting his new teeth, and slapped Big on the back.
* * *
Big left Dr S and swore he would not lose heart.
He called at Mr Dennes’s.
He called at Handerson and Panderson.
He called at folks with no prospects at all.
The chair factory. The docks. The rope walk. The pottery. The ash pits. He even asked preachers if they needed deputies.
You can imagine how every such interview gone.
I haven’t got enough dollars lying around for my own self
Gold is powerful scarce this season Rascal Vanburen
If anything shakes out you are the first I will think of
You ought to take to farming
You might speculate in land
I would help you but I am awful skinned
You are meant for spirit’s work
* * *
With every turning away Big’s pride shrunk some like old garments. By the end of the morning his self-regard were pinching some at his underarms and betweenlegs.
He had not wanted to
He did not want to
He preferred not to
He would call on rich Mr Clark at the site of his great bridge-to-be.
PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE OVER THE CUYAHOGA RIVER JANUARY 1837
ASKED what a bridge would cost.
COMMITTEE thinks not more than twenty thousand dollars.
ASKED who could pay so much.
GENERAL SILENCE.
MR CLARK: Out of an abiding interest in the future of our two cities I will build the bridge and keep it in perpetuity free without toll.
CONSIDERABLE APPLAUSE.
ASKED where the bridge ought to go.
MR CLARK: At the Columbus road in the river flats.
CONSIDERABLE CUSSING from Ohio city deputation.
OBSERVED that there is no good road up the hill there.
MR CLARK: I will cut a road at my expense for the public good.
CUSSING continued.
COMMENTED that Cleveland will hog up all the wagons from the farm roads.
COMMENTED that Ohio city will have no cash or commerce.
COMMENTED that this bridge is wicked.
MR CLARK ACCUSED of having interest in lots at the river bottom across from cussed bridge.
MR CLARK ACCUSED of vilest speculation.
MR CLARK will not listen to such rubbish talk.
SUGGESTED by Cleveland factions that Ohio city can build a second bridge if they spit on the first one.
SUGGESTED that second bridge be built at the site of the old floating bridge near Division- and Centre-streets.
SOME APPLAUSE.
ASSERTED by property owners from near Division- and Centre-streets that they will not have a bridge there on account of it being a nuisance to river traffic and the greater good.
RENEWED CUSSING.
MOVED TO ADJOURN if folks do not have more questions.
ASKED what else would you hog after the farm wagons.
ASKED why do you wish to sin against us.
ASKED why ought we tolerate such abuse.
ASKED how would it be if we tore up your bridge.
ASKED may we borrow a bucket of your blood.
OHIO CITY DEPUTATION HEARD TO CHANT Two bridges or none for a time.
COMMITTEE thinks this conduct is not respectable.
COMMITTEE asks that we have order.
CHANTING OF Two bridges or none continued.
* * *
You have marked these bridge questions and are curious—
This bridge of Mr Clark’s – is it a special bridge?
No, a regular bridge, wood and stone, with two covered stretches and a draw in between.
So how did there come to be so many questions about a simple bridge?
Even after forty years of settlement at Cleveland and ten years at Ohio city, there were no bridge across the river. Because there were no obvious place for a crossing, and no wish to stand the cost. I consider the questions was less about the bridge than the river itself.