GIVE A DOG A BAD NAME
The passing of Joseph from Canaan was complete.It was an evanishment for which there was neither sackcloth nor surprise; and though there came no news of him it cannot be said that Canaan did not hear of him, for surely it could hear itself talk.The death of Jonas Tabor and young Louden's crime and flight incited high doings in the "National House"windows; many days the sages lingered with the broken meats of morals left over from the banquet of gossip.But, after all, it is with the ladies of a community that reputations finally rest, and the matrons of Canaan had long ago made Joe's exceedingly uncertain.Now they made it certain.
They did not fail of assistance.The most powerful influence in the town was ponderously corroborative: Martin Pike, who stood for all that was respectable and financial, who passed the plate o' Sundays, who held the fortunes of the town in his left hand, who was trustee for the widow and orphan,--Martin Pike, patron of all worthy charities, courted by ministers, feared by the wicked and idle, revered by the good,--Judge Martin Pike never referred to the runaway save in the accents of an august doomster.His testimony settled it.
In time the precise nature of the fugitive's sins was distorted in report and grew vague; it was recalled that he had done dread things; he became a tradition, a legend, and a warning to the young;a Richard in the bush to frighten colts.He was preached at boys caught playing marbles "for keeps": "Do you want to grow up like Joe Louden?"The very name became a darkling threat, and children of the town would have run had one called suddenly, "HERE COMES JOE LOUDEN!" Thus does the evil men do live after them, and the ill-fame of the unrighteous increase when they are sped!
Very little of Joseph's adventures and occupations during the time of his wandering is revealed to us; he always had an unwilling memory for pain and was not afterwards wont to speak of those years which cut the hard lines in his face.The first account of him to reach Canaan came as directly to the windows of the "National House"as Mr.Arp, hastening thither from the station, satchel in hand, could bring it.