Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-10-16
rnc old Tree by the Rondsidc.

made upon our minds made in the gold.
en- hou of youth and how often do we
stop in our career and wander back through
well remembered scenes, living over agin
in imagination the happy hours Of child
hood days. In the truthful mirror of the
past, one by one we behold them gliding
by in seeming reality, and like beau,i.
lul dream mingling with our our thoughts
until we are loath to believe them the
pictures o fancy.
The OLD brown cottage, with its broad +,
high gables and low, moss covered, pro-
jecting caves, stands ont before us as
once it did of yore, though long since it
is leveled to the ground, and scarce ves-
tage now remains to mark the spot where
on it stood. The old trees wave their
branches to and fro before the doorway
over wich the clambrng vines wove
themselves into beautiful archway.--
The little brooklet once more iipI les
along at the foot of the hill, with the
same sweet song that charmed us in our
boyhood's days and our listening ears
can almost hear the tinkle Of the bell up
on the green hillside pastures. Each ia
miliar spot and the welllemembercd
sport Of our play grounds are still fresh
in our minds, and the bright, ,.happy faces
Of our playmates will never be efl'aced
from our memory's tablet.
All well do we remember our boy.
hoods early home, with its dear associa-
tions and even now, though long years
have interviewed and thrown their duskv
a. 4.
often linger amid the green bowers of the
past, and Gull thereirom many of lile's
choicest flowers. ....
Among my childhood's playmates, was
one of about my own age; bright, in
telligent fellow who seemed to We a gen
eral Iavorite W ith all, both old and young.
Qnicl to learn, he was always first in
his office, and it seemed to be his con,
slant desire TO excel in whatever he un-
dertook TO do. Being my classmate and
constant companion during school hours,
as well as most Of the time when out Of
school, of course was his confident in
all affairs which usually occupy boyish
minds. About midway between our
homes their stood by the roadside grar Il
old elm tree, whose wide spreading banch
es afforded ample shade and protection
ten met to talk over our little grievances,
and lay our plans for the future; and
many were the lofty castles which we built
in the air, but which soon tumbled to the
ground.
Harry" said he, one day l am after
discussing our plans for the future, "let
what will come, am determined to win
a name IN the world that will command
: the respect and admiration of ALL"
AS he spoke he stood proudly erect, the
fire of youth sparkling in his blue eyes,
r and his countenance beaming with the
light of JOY and anticipated happiness
Never shall | forget his attitude and APP
, plarance at that moment. Young as he
was, it spoke volumes of determination
and energy, and denoted spirit within
that would not yield to trlles in his way
Soon we were called to separate, to hnisl
n our education in different institutions o
learning, and from thence our pathways
of life lay in different direction. Boil
, engaged in business pursuits and annie
its busy cares and perplexties, and soor
= forgot our boyhood's dreams of future
, greatness at last had forgotten them,
n and was well content to plod on from
day to day in striving to accumulate
enough of this worlds goods for me the
support OF my declining years.
: But not so with my friend Herbert
d Carelton. For time, his business seem
y ed to prosper, and theu came reverses
one after another, until in despair Of sue
cess in that line, he gave up all and wen
;. away into distant section of the coun
. try. For long time ! heard nothing o
ss him, until one day CHANGING to take
;, up popular peridical. my attention wa
: rivetted upon an article that seemed t.
: possess more than an ordinary share o
well turned sentiments, and denoted tha
talents. Following it to its close, it wa
s to my surprise tha read the name o
my early friend From that time his pro
ductions were often to be fonnd, and Of
J. ten bore evidence of noble intellect
And thus step by step did he go on, un
til his name became familiar ro almos
every household in the land, and hi
praises were spoken from the mouths O
: thousands.
Years had rolled away since l stoo,
with him beneath the old elm tree when
. availing myself of few leisure days.
y sought the home of my youth, to wande
once again amid the familiar scenes O
other days. 1t was in the pleasan
9. month Of June, and the sun was nearing
the western horizon and sending his ray
I, aslant over the green hilltops so iamllla
to my eyes, as | again repaired to the oil
elm and sat down upon the green, sol
grass to muse upon the past.
: The varied scenes of former days cam
crowdng along in fancy's mirror, an
r. again seemed to enjoy all the sports an
D. pleasures of my youthful hours. Will
thus unused the sound of approaching
> footsteps awoke me from my revery, al
turning around there stood before me tt
s. friend of my youth, Herbert Corelton.-
Many We're the congratulation we eXchans
) ed and long did we sit beneath the oI
elm and talk over the events of the pas
: He, too, had just returned TO his natl
place, and thus accidentally had we N
upon the very spot where we had separ
:. ted years before.
NJ II