Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-12-08
For the Herald ana Tribune.
New Carlisle. Ohio,

For the Herald ana Tribune.
New Carlisle, Ohio.
Mcssrs Editors: Although a stranger
to you and most of your patrons, L trust
you will grant me the privilege of your
columns to say, that in a recent number of
a Cincinnati paper, communication ap-
peared from the pen Of a wandering '.Bo-
| hemian," giving a true and vivid descrip-
ton of upper East Tennessee. and especial
ly that part of it embraced in the counties
of Greene and Washington. TO the most
of his Western readers the writer proba-
bly, failed to awaken more than ordinary
! interest in bis article. but to me, it was of
absorbing interest. Born and raised with
in ten miles of your city, the communica-
ton in question caused many pleasant
recollection to spring up and pass before
me like beautiful panorama-awakcning
"reminiscences that gently dawned on my
boyish days as they sped along on the banks
and oft times in, the placid waters of Big
Limestone" stream that courses its way
through a part Of Washington county and
finds repose in the bosom of the Nola
Chucky. There are times in every ones
life, though they be dwellers in climes far
distant from their childhood home, when
the mind wandors back to the threshold of
the old homestead and the many halowed
spots that were moistened by the morning
dew of their lives.
i can never forget the time, when i
poor. friendless orphan boy, good and
kiud-hearted man. Mr.. Thomas Biddle,
took me TO his home, having no children of
his own, he and his kind-hearted wife,
layished upon me all the love and care of
father and mother Ah those were
happy days when, rugged out in new suit
of '.jeanes." with new boots, [ wended my
way to the country school house where
Tom Williams, labored assiduously, TO i'm
part the rudiments of learning to 4 room
full of rosey checked boys and girls, and
how ! felt my importance when, a few
years later, l found myself mler Of
Mr. d. b. Barkley'S Academy. Many of
my most pleasant recollectionsa are connect
ed with this period of my life. 1t was the
custom of Mr. Barkley, at the end of each
scholastic term, to give public eXamina-
ton and exhibition, at which time prize
was offered to those excelling in declama-
tion and grafton At one of these exhi-
bitions, was so fortunate as to be awarded
the prize for defamation. That was the
proudest moment of my life, for L had
some formidable opponents MIR. Bark
ley's heart must swell with emotions OF
pride when it brings to mind the days
when Limestone Male and Female 7Aca-
denny" was in its glory. OF all that hap
py crew, some have found homes elsewhere
some have passed from earth, and some,
| presume still remain where their youth
full days and mine, were mingled together
in Joy. Nor, must | forget that pleasant
period of my life which was spent at
s'Laurel Hill Academy" under the tutor
ship of Professor Presnell. 1t was here
that my school days ended, and I must al
ways regard it as my ''alma mater. >
How wildly the old place and its sur
roundings rise up before me, with its sha-
DIV hooks and messy glens There are the
cabins where Rev. Mr. Pence-Jack,
we used to call him-and a dozen others
boarded, being our own cooks, &c, with
':none to molest or make afraid" with the
exception.of an occasional visit from Pro-
fessor Presnell, who generally manifested
his displeasure at our .'cutting-up,2 q by
rapid and fearful batting of the eyes.
love to dwell upon the scenes of those hap
py days, and were it not for extending
this letter to too great an extent, it would
afford me pleasure to speak of the fair
ones whose memory had much to do in
guiding me safely by the quicksands and
pitfalls that ever lay in greedy wait on the
track of unsuspecting youth. Like dis
TILED dew. their gentle influence, and the
early trainings of pious foster mother fell
upon my pathway as / struggled against
turn on lifc's checkered journey. though
unconscious of it at the time. Still, L am
none the less the subject of that feminine
influence that has ever given shape to the
destinies of men since the happy hour wo-
mans delicate foot first trod the Rowery
sod of Eden's sunny bower. Besides a /
grateful remembrance of the grand mat
rons, enchanting maidens, and romping
misses of my youthful associations and ac-
quaintances. I can only invoke heavens
choicest blessing to attend those still liv-
ing, and when the fiat of natures inexor-
able law shall be sealed. may they forever
more radiate in the sunlight of glory around
the eternal throne. Heavens decree is
death, to which we are all doomed, and |
from which there is no appeal. As one
generation appears. another passes away. |
and vet how little do we think of death |
till its dark shadow falls across our path
way. Many of those about whom | have
been writing, are doubtless gone; the bal !
lance must go soon, and thus give place to
the round of succession provided in the
economy of nature. They live. move and |
flourish for time then fade and die rs the
leaves of the forest. The delicate flower
that blooms and withers in day. has no /
frazier hold on life than the miShtiest mon
arch that ever shook the, earth with his
roval tread. But Tsee am DEPRESSING.
Ever cherishing strong love and live