Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1848-12-02
~ ANDREW DUNCAN.


"This is not the same country that it was
forty years ago. When frs, squa.ted a, the
foo, Of yonder dark mountain you see away to
the north, had to live like an Indian in wig
wan for ever fourteen years. remember when
the field We are now Standing in was covered
with dense forest Of hemloeks; now you do
no, see stump. remember when. for TWEEN.
" miles around, the most splendid mansion to
hoys anc girls as the principal forniiure.-
Now, sir, just look around you, and count
from fifteen TO twenty good frame buildings,
all polished off IN red and white paint. feel
that the world is running away from me; it
goes too :as, for the ideas Of an old man, and
must even let it 90. love 10 think Of the
past, and look forward 10 the future. RecoI-
iections Of the past, and the homes connected
with the future, are all that is left me now"
Tine spoke Mr.. B., resident Of northern
county in the State Of New York. Anxious
TO hear lil.le more Of things incidental 10 the
life ola hardy forest pioneer, we invited the
old man to take seat on the fence, where we
bad ourself come TO an anchor. With our 10.
citation he cheerfnlly complied, seeming hap.
py al having met with one who appeared to
lake an interest in the things Of by gone days
"For,'' said he. '',he world days is
all 60. ahead, seldom taking lime 10 look be.
hind
"Kad you any erst mills, or stores,' said
we. Sin the early days Of this ser,Iemen.s!"-
"We'I." said the old man, do you see tina,
large sproce. tina, stands by iiseIf, little TO
the east Of a red tuiding!'
We replied that we saw the tree.
"Wet there stood The first aud only mill
the settlement had for sixteen years, and it
was just fifteen miles from my cabin. coz.
sidered myself very 'ncky in living SO nigh the
mill, as we bad to pack all our gram at least
for the most part. As for stores, We had little
use for them, and had none higher than Sandy
Hill abou, forty miles South. Some neigh.
Dor would go GU, occasionally. and bring in
tobacco, snuff, and such indi spensables; be.
s,des, the Squire, When he went out 10 GET
his barrel filled, would bring up any nick
racks the women wanted
"Wha, did the Squire fill his barrel with!
Had you rum selling tavern IN those nays!"
"Not exactly tavern, like the 'averns they
have nova days, but we had Two Sr1ndsioneS,
one in my neighhorhood, and one about ten
riles north. Old Squire s.. he is- now
dead some said he made way With himself,
bat ,ha, was never fully known. Mr.. s.,
moved into this country about Two years before
] moved in; he was pretty cunning old TEL
low; understood himself very we'll, at least
he thought he did: but all did 10: end well
with him. When he came into the country
he brought with him grindst"ne. and bar
re, Of whiskey, TWO very good pieces OF pro.
perry in those days, and the man who had
,hem was pretty sure to pick ur all the loose
change that was af1oat. When money failed,
hushe of corn would answer, and when corn
3.,laI 49, hon alyyaVS GOOD
Many an acre Of land did the 'Sqnife clear
sih few gallons of whiskey. Every ma"
mad an axe, and you know axe will dull; then
they mus. be carried to the grinds,one, aud as
Mr.. S. conld no, afford to have his stone
worn GU, for nothing, all was Kept straight by
spending siapense or smiling IN wh'skey--
Before oGe barrel was out. the Squire would
always manage to have another on the spot;
ard on this account he was considered pub
lie benefac,or, aud was elected Squire, an
cffice which he held f.. more than twenty
years. shall never forget the last time was
a. the grindstone. Meier, NEVER! shail Tor
&c, tina, day"
What happened on TIA, day. said we,
'slhal makes YOU remember il So we'i!'
"Why, il you have time TO hear il, J will
toll you the whole story. was once WICK
&c man, stranger, very wicked, blasphetner
an infidel and d.unkard. was going 10 tell
you about the last time was at The 'Sqnlre's
srnds,one. Well, started one fine morning
in the later part Of May, with bushe' oscorn
on my back. and as the day was long, and
had got an early start, thought could get
GU, TO mill and back again by night. Indeed
it was necessary tina, should re'ur" the same
Gay, as did no. leave pound of meal in the
house. We were depende mt mainly upon
meal aud milk for living. as pork al tina.
season Of The year was pretty scarce. dlo
not take ny axe that morning, as | was IN
the habit Of doing. having determined not to
make any stop at the 'Squire's although II lay
in my way. Having go. along 10 within about
half mile of the house, was over'aken by
three of my neiehbors, with their axes, going
10 have grind. and Of course the stone must
be wet. They invited me TO turn ia and par
take with them. in drop Of the new barrel,
for il had been reported ha, a barrel Of very
superior quality had arrived few days ORE
vious. OF course did not need much press.
ing. The new stock was pronounced by all
hands to be excellent, and turned the grind.
stone aud drank whiskey until noon. J now
thought it zine 10 start for the mill. and II
do seem to me tina, | walked on great deal
faster by the help of The spirits than other
wise could have done. l made no doubt but
that could get home b. night. But tor all
the speed with which was getting over the
ground, found on arriving at the mill. that
had been five hours in travelling nine miles,
could no, believe il. bot the miller showed
me his noon mark. and calculated the time so
tia, there could be no mistake. He told me
,ha, water was low, and he could not do my
grinding short Of an hour. /! was not mill
like the mills we have now a-days. that can
grind bnshel Of corn in a City. Some~ hLt
sobered. l felt vexed at this state Of things;