Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-01-09
For he REPUBLICAN
On the Way to India.
NEAR LIVERPOOL, IRISH SEA,
49, 1879

BELLS ehere-we-go" ring, put my head
against the car window to catch fare
well glimpses. "Who and what shall
be in these places hereafter:" were
passing thoughts. Quick as electric
flashes, impressions of the journey on
wards came into my mind, most vividly
telling that home had been left and a
long route of travel had just been enter
ed upon. Emotion followed emotion,
. as thought followed thought, till the
rush of the waters over Killbuck's race
dam was far behind, and the passengers
had settled down into social chats.
Awakened from these reflections, 1
found the hours short,-that hurried
morning,-for talk with friends on the
train, and soon the day-dawn stole up
on us and we were out at Orrville, into
the mist and mud.
Not long here. a goodbye to J. W.
Swick,-a pastor of years ago,-severed
more and more the connection with
scenes of the past. A few more hasty
farewells, and we were speeding from
jOrrville to Forest, in the comfort of
cushions, with the speed of steam, and
amid two new friends, tried and faith
full in the christian life.
At Lakeville, the public road crosses
the railroad, and winds round hillside
on the south. Here, Ihad walked home
wards from Hayesrille, seven years be-
fore, after my first visit abroad to
school, and my hasty morning survey
assured me that road and depot and
houses were as unchangable as the hills.
We left Millersburg in snow, but at
Mansfield and Crestline there had been
no snow, and farther west the winds
were sweeping chillingly over the level
tracts. We also left Millersburg with
the horse disease all through it and the
country, and found it spreading west
ward. At Upper Sandusky oxen were
used. One express-wagon stood backed
up to the freight depot, as we passed
along, and from neck to neck of the
oxen, in front of the yoke, was board
marked ''Exizootic-proofe express
Thursday found us in Kenton, Ohio,
and We welcomed the day that to us was
more national than any other Thanks
giving day of our lives. 1t savored of
other things than turkeys, and hearts,
rather than bodies, were gratified. We
met here Mr.. Miller, the best Kenton
editor; saw town mostly clean, neat
and new; heard of Holmes county
friends whom We had not time to call
upon. But Kenton shall remain in our
minds mark in life's pathway, a sta
ton set with the evidences of broth
er's and sisters tender love, as it has
been matured and strengthened by man
hood and womanhood years. 1t was
here, the companion of my journey to
India and of my hoped-for labors there,
made her farewell visit to brother.
As the day sped on, we were speeding
southwards, filled with the thought of
the surprise we would make in pleas |
ant home, where dwelt mother and |
a sister, and filled with the thoughts,
too, that our stay must be short and |
then we must away over the seas. Cold |
er grew the weather, nearer we came |
to Springfield, and gladder our hearts |
became.
From the depot we rode across a
block and OUT street, and the driver
charged dollar where he formerly ask
ed only a half, and we knew that the
epizootic was in Springfield. Familiar
pine trees and door entrances were be-
fore us, and expected yet unexpected,
we sat down, ere long, to a thanksgiv-
ing dinner, with dear ones and friends. |
Five days sped by, winged and hur-
riedly. The last was CHEEKY and pleas
ant as the sun could make it. l OPEN
ed, at random, my Bible, and looked up
on the verses: sThe heavens declare |
the glory of God and the armament |
showeth his handywork; day unto day
uttereth speech and night unto night
showeth knowledge, and there is no
speech nor language where their voice |
| is not heard, their words are to the end |
of the world" and here was shelter |
for land and an anchor for sea. With |
our own thoughts we cast back last, |
| fixed glance on the home We left, and |
with our own feelings we waved the
last handkerchief to gathered friends,
and with "God bless you" from many
and for many, we moved off towards the
land of the East.
Our tickets were through to New |
York. 1t was twenty-five minutes past
ten, A. NJ, and we hoped to pass Pitts
burg before nine in the evening, and
reach Altoona, Pa, at one after mid
night. 1 set my watch, resolved to no
tice the time changes uutil Guntoor,
India.
| And then came over us feelings that |
we were homeless, save in hope of the |
one-half round the globe. 1t is strange
feeling to experience, being cut loose |
from all known objects and be ddrift. |
But southern Ohio Is fanciful and pic
turesque, we made our seats our home,
looked out of our window up the Mus
kingum, at Coshocton, as up street to
4 familiar place, and rolled along till
the sun was set.
Rumors of a broken bridge ahead came
afloat: as the day darkened. We could
learn no facts, and in the suspense, Wis
ions of delay and of night on a halted
train fitted through our minds. By
and-by we learned more, and passed
train backing from the wreck and that
had been there eight hours. Stopping,
moving, ten hours Of the night passed
ten apprehensive hours. The bridge
was mended, the wreck removed and
our locomotive threw its headlight over
the stream. The parts of three freight
cars lay about, and the bed of the stream
lay thick with the dead bodies of cattle.
By the track, telegraph operator stood
near pile of burning corn-f fodder, one
hand in his pocket and the other on his
battery, fixed on the rail of picket
fence.
This was six miles west of Steuben-
Vile. Soon we passed the scene and
the glare of torchlights and burning
heaps and the grey, cool morning show
ed us sights of the Ohio river, of coke |
beds, of miles of machinery and man.
ufactOries and of Pittsburg. The Pitts