Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-03-16
WASHINGTON HOUSE, March /. 1856.

myself agreeably entertained by mine host"
of the Washington, luxury did not antici-
pate. At evening Inquired of the gentleman
ly attendant upon my wants, Mr.. s., for the Of
flee of the County Clerk. He very pleasantly
showed me from the door of the Washington,
an upper room across the way, and stairway
leading thereto. crossed the street, assembled
as directed, and entered room about eighteen
by twenty feet. In the center of which, was
collected in a semi-circular form, half dozen
young men practicing music, as written down
in some one of the recently issued "Gee
Books" On discovering stranger, they very
abruptly cut short their song and dispersed to
different parts of the room,-which circum-
stance regretted much, myself being extrava-
gantly fond of music, both vocal and instru-
mental; yet unacquaintance, was sufficient rea-
son for not requesting them to proceed, with
out interruption by my presence. l made the
inquiry for the County Clerk, and one of the
number present, very politely assured me him
self was the official inquired for. ! found him
ready and willing to communicate, and my bust
ness was soon dispatched. asked to be d.
rected to the office of Records for the County,
and he pointed to the opposite corner of the
room from where we Stood and called young
man that answered to the name Of Register
after making the necessary examination here,
made inquiries for the Treasurer's Office. was
referred to the next and only remaining corner ;
the doorway or entrance and passage leading
back, occupying the fourth. In my research
here found it necessary to visit the Township
Clerk. He too was present. and also held his
Office with the others have named. This
should have inferred, had not occasion required
me to have sought his whereabouts, from the
fact of discovering quite an extensive library,
enclosed in a very respectable looking Book
case," with glass front, standing on one side
Of the room between the desks Of the Regis
ter and Treasurer, which was informed was
the properly of the Township, for the use and
benefit of its inhabitants. In addition to all
these, a row Of books duly arranged upon one
of the desks, and other circumstances unmen-
toned, was conclusive evidence to my mind, that
this was also the abode Of an Attorney; which
| afterwards learned was the fact. My discov-
cries on that evening, brought fresh and forci-
bly, to mind the story told me in boyhood's
"sunny days." by one of those who were made
happy again. when they hear the name of Grand
mother, rightfully applied to them. 1t Twas this !:
Long (not "Long, long'O ago, when the now
populous State of New York, was the Far
West" and the "Holland Purchase" was the
California of the age, a traveller through these
wids stopped for the night, at what now around
us is often seen, log hut Of small dimensions,
comprising one room only. At supper he no.
ticed five groups, assembled around as many
rudely constructed tables, one in each corner,
and one in the center of this only room, and
partake of their, to him, scanty fare. This
strange procedure, led him to investigate the
cause, and resulted in his ascertaining they were
five distinct families. He inquired if they could
thus comfortably live? whether or not jars
among the inmates, did not distract them and
mar their happiness! For himself, he never had
experience in domestic life-was unacquainted
with domestic influence, and experimentally ig-
nolaiI VI tho otof y Uoy oi'Pooi'tOh "hu ""'N VI
the genter sex. But had ever supposed that it
required strong partition between, when more
than one maternal head were domiced under
the same roof The answer he obtained to his
inquiries was awe get along very wel-we
should have no trouble, only the owner of the
house occupies the center, and will keep taking
in boarders" think, hewevcr, there exists no
such feelings among those have mentioned
even though the Township Clerk invites his
friends into his Office, Tin the center | suppose
for where else can it Beg, to while away an hour
discoursing sweet music for their own edifica.
ton from the facts discovered, that each ap.
peared to be fully competent to the duties OF
their respective callings-al was done with pc.
likeness, and among them, judging from appear.
ances, all was pleasantness and peace. We
have now disposed of all but the Leaf of Black.
stone, who, by the way, is the longitude of this
little world and we know not where to locate
him, unless it be upon kind of temporary ia
bic or stand, upon which he was seated, other
wise, as far as could see unoccupied.
But have run far, very far away from my
principal object in writing ! like such system
of economy, in new counties especially; like