Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-03-02
CORRESPONDENTS.
For the Chronicle.
"Reminiscences,

For the Chronicle.
"Reminiscences.
Fifty-two years ago the 10th of Janua-
~ last, my father and family left Bromp-
ton, Canada East, for Ohio. With horses
and sleigh, we made the journey of 200
miles in thirty days. Arrived at Major
Selby's in Gustavus, Gather OF Ephraim
Selby, Esq., on the evening Of the 10th
of Feb, where we enjoyed his hospitali-
ty for the night. Next day came to Id
do Bailey's where his son Russell now
resides. A room was rented for two or
three weeks. On the 18th, fifty-two
years to-day, I, then a lad of eleven
years, made my first visit to Greene. At
that time it was an unbroken wilderness,
with the exception of one small improve
ment, known as the Newton place, from
the center of Gustavus to Greene, where
William Harrington, Esq, now resides.
Having heard frightful accounts of the
bears and wolves in Ohio, made the
trip in a very short time, running the
greater part OF the way. saw numer-
Gus deer and one drove of elk. Arrived
safe at Mr.. Harrington's, then young
man residing with his widowed mother;
was received with marked cordiality and
kindness. was highly pleased to see
Mr.. Harrington, as he was my old school
teacher in Canada, and from whom /
took my first lessons in penmanship, at
the age of nine years. After having
rested myself, and been shown his nice
three year old steers, and hearing him
paint in glowing colors their extraordi-
nary qualifications, which he knows just
how TO do, (which by the by is peculiar
characteristic of the deacon.) I visited
Mr.. John Wakefield and family. Rev.
z. A. Wakefield had not at that time
made his debut on these mundane shores
Here 1 ate my first meal in Greene.
Never since that time have 1 partook Of
a repast that relished better than did that
plain meal, which consisted of indian
pudding and milk, more commonly
called ''mush and milk" 1t possessed
a peculiar relish, first, from the fact that
my mornings trip gave me good appe-
tite; second, because in Canada 1 had
seldom been favored with such a rare
dish, as corn seldom came to maturity,
generally being killed by the early frost;
and third, because Mrs. Wakefield knew
just how to make it. Having made a
very pleasant visit, and taken full sur
vey OF all that seemed delightful to one
so joyful, I next visited my uncle
Ephraim Rice, who, like shock of corn
fully ripe. went to his rest last August,
at the age of fninety-eight years. Here
met with my cousins, Eli F. and Ephra-
i'm Rice, IT., boys of about fourteen
and eleven; and also met with tempta-
ton too powerful to be resisted, and
gave way to it by partaking of second
sumptuous dinner. My cousins had
just finished dressing nice fat deer that
they had killed: My dear aunt. who
was just as good a woman as ever graced
the world, took some slices from the
ham of the deer and fryed it in an old
fashioned frying-pan; made a Johnny
cake, "placedit on board before the fire
where it was baked most superb; made
some good old crust coffee. o, it was
most delicious. Here stayed until near
night, enjoying my visit as only boys
can. 1 next visited Ichabod Merritt,
then young man living with his wild
owed mother and younger brother Aaron.
Here spent my first night in Greene;
had good supper of Johnny cake" and
milk. After spending the evening in
hearing the two brothers relate their ex-
ploits in hunting, cracking butter nuts
and hickory nuts, I retired to rest. NV
bed consisted Of deer skins spread on a
rough puncheon floor, with two large
elk skins for covering; for pillow 1
substituted my coat and pants. Never /
have slept better, or had more pleasant
dreams. In the morning a sumptuous
breakfast was served up by their aged
mother, consisting of 'johnny cake"
crust coffee and jerk. As some readers
may not perfectly understand, will ex-
the ham of an elk, hung up on hooks in
the old-fashioned chimney, where it re-
manned until perfectly dry. 1t was then
cut up IN thin slices and served up as
should best suit the taste. On this occa-
sion it was cooked in a gravy made of
corn meal, butter, and milk.
Having now visited all the families re-
siding in Greene at that time, returned |
to Gustavus, highly pleased with my
visit OF all who were then residing in |
Greene, but six persons are now living. |
Times swift wing has borne me on its
current fifty-two years. The fires Of
childhood and youth have long since |
died out. The strength and vigor of
manhood is giving way. Ny sun is de-
clining in the west, and 1 am nearing
the dark river. As the mariner on the
distant ocean, who, long absent from his
family, becomes weary and restless as he
nears his home, throws his sails to the
breeze that he may sooner reach the /
port, so 1, while on life's rough ocean,
become tired and restless, and
long for the time to arrive when my poor
weather-beaten bark shall be safely
in the port of rest beyond the
river. d. r. BARTLETT.
Fred. T. Wallace, the Cleveland
forger, was sentenced by Judge Paine,
to service of ten years in the Pen
itentiary. His forgeries amounted to
thirty thousand dollars. The Herald