Tim
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Impoverished
by the tragic death of his father (William
Barras)* and his brother in
the Wallsend Mining disaster,
Jorgen and his mother Agnethe struggled
to survive.
As soon as he was able, Jorgen emigrated to America in
search of his fortune. Arriving with little or no skills,
he fell in with a travelling
medicine show; being
on the road
suited his restless nature
and strict policy of 'no ties'. His apprenticeship with
the carnies was ideal and he was soon appreciative
of just how gullible the general public are, especially
if they desperately needed something...all you had to
know is what that need was and then promise to fulfil
it.
Although he had many adventures, he saved his money carefully
away. He had a plan, a travelling show of his own. All
he had to do was wait until hard times fell upon the
Country...look to the skies and be ready.
The opportunity came with the dust bowl droughts in
the mid west USA, where families were forced off their
land because
of poor harvests and a lack of water.
These were honest, hard working but very simple people,
in search of a miracle...a miracle that Jorgen was only
too
pleased to
be able to claim to provide.
His colourful, brash gospel show wagons would arrive
on the edges of town, leaflet the area and then wait for
the
honey
pot
to do
it's work.
For
a small fee, the townsfolk could raise their voices
to the Lord and call down the much needed rain...within
seven
days (Jorgen assured them) they would witness the
miracle of rain cloud...however, his wagons had already
left
town within only
two. Promises left in the dust.
It is believed that some fatal misfortune befell Jorgen
during one of his visits.
The people had begun to recognise the lies he spun and
just like the farmers he had hoped to con,
he eventually reaped what he had sown.
* Please refer to the prequel
album, "Anser's Tree
"
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