The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-04-04

loved only me-" she repeated ince s.
sanity in the midst of her tears.
She lives to-day, always faithful to a
cherished memory and to IA few
months of happiness.
THE JOSH BILLINGS PAPERS.
New Ashford -Mhnt IL "Gcninl Old
saint" EinrW hbNut Rum and Tunzy.
July, 1S7l-The village Of New
Ashford iz lokated in the state 0v
Massachusetts, and IL about $50 miles
west Dv Ply mouth rok.
1t IL ole ov them towns that don't
make emmy fuss, but for pure water,
pure morals, and good rye, and injun
bread, it stands on liptoze.
1t waz settled soon after the landing
ov the pilgrims, 10y some ov that
patty, aud like all the M England
towns, waz, at one time, celebrated for
its stern religious creed, and its excel
lent rum and tan2y.
1t may seem a leetle strange to
these latter day saints, tew hear me
mix up rum aud religion together, but
| had an Unkle, who preached Gods
word in the next town south ov New
Ashford, 50 years old, who died III
due time, and went 10 heaven.
This genial old saint alwus took, on
week daze, three magnificent horns ov
rum and tanzy, and Sundaze he took
four
hay no doubt il heightened out hiz
time, aud braced up his faith
But | wouldn't advise any ov
the yung klergy ov to-day tew NEEDLE
with rum and tanzy, az II fertilizer.
The tanHy iZ all rite-it grows az
green and az bitter az ever, for man
kant adulterate it, but the rum haz bin
beedeviled.into rank poison.
One sich horn AZ mi old unkle used
tew absorb between hiz sermons on
Sunday Is inches, good and strons)
would dislrauchiSe Il whole drove ov
preachers now.
In them daze, the preacher waa a
stalwart man, and could mo his
swarth in the hay field, with the best
ov them, and could ride n hard trot-
TING cob or hOs5, 6 miles an hour, all
day, akrost the the mountains, and sci
doun at night, TO billed pork and kab'
bage, and &old iujun pudGin, and after
thanking the Lord for his menny
mcrsys, eat hiA way k!ean to thu
middle Of the table.
But times, aud men, hav altered
so haZ Tum, and tanHy.
dOu't want them good old time
tew cum back agin; we aint pure
euufr now tew stand them, neither
are we tuil emii.
Oar write VS. may he ~ pure in tnt
eyes ov heaN EN-, hat they kant stan'
biled pork, and rum, Of one hundred
| years ago.
We are told that mankind are
growing weaker, aud wiser; weaker
admit but wisdum that IL gained al
the expense Oy simplicity may be u
doubtful gain,
Inever havemet an old manyet who
didn't mourn the drgenelacy Of the
lines.
Wisdum don't konsist in knowing
more that IL new, but III knowing less
that IL false.
But, dear Weekly, will git back
where am, and tell you sumthin
about New Ashford.
II you luv II mountain cum up here
and see me.
Right in front ov the little tavern.
where am staying, rize5 up Il chunk
ov land that VIII MAKE you feel weak
tew look mt it.
| have bin on its top, and far above
Waa the brite blu ski, without Il klOud
swimming in it, while belo me the
rain shot sIanting on the valley, and
the lightning played its mad pranks.
How is this for hi?
But what still place tnis New
Ashford iH.
At sunrise the roosters crow all
around once y piece ut sunset The
cows come ho!lowing home tew he
MIXED; and at twiIite out steal the
crickpts, with g song, the burden OF
which seems sad and weary.
This IL all the racket there is in New
Ashford. II is so still here that you
can hear feather drop from q blnjay's
talI.
Out Of this mountain, squeezed by
the weight of il, leaks & little brook OF
water, and up and douu this brook
loiter.
In mi hand have short pole, on
tue end ov pole short line, and on
the line sharp hook, looped on the
hook a grub, or a worm.
Every now and then there Gums
dancing out of this little brook live
trout no longer than yure finger, but
NJ sweet az q silk of candy, and in he
goes at the top of my baskit.
This liz what am here for; trout
for breakfast, trout for dinner aud
trout for supper.
AM az happy and az lazy az a
yerliug hei(er.
hav not kare on my mind, not an
AXE in mi boldly.
| haven't red nuzpaper for week,
and wouldn't read one for dollar.
shall stay here till mi mummy gives
out, and shall cum bak tew the sense
less crash oy the city, with a tear in
mi eye, and holes in both ov my boots.