The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-06-13
~ ne Is,srtar S~rna.
HETROsPECTsON.
ny ADAM FurLE.

This is a'boauiifhl spring evening.
The gentle breeres, rs they come soflly
floating by, are fragrant with the per
fums Of myriad flowers, and vocal with
the rich, liquid melody Of natures sweet
choristen--tbe beautiful, innocent birds
each seeming TO vie with the Others in
pouring forth the tribute Of music, TO this
soft, etherial evening. The God Of day
has driven hard his frry chariot, for
twelve long hours, and is now about "a
draw around him the drapery Of twilight
and seek his accustomed repose. Sitting
here. alone, in n halfpensive reyerie, my
thoughts borne back on Memories tide,
bring me once more 10 that Little School
House under the Hill, where first tasted
of the fountain Of knowledge-aad drink
ing O,oc, neper biraod moro.
! love to think Of those happy days Of
innocence when the heart knew no care,
conscience no sin. where the world was q
garden filed with richest and rarest flow
err; and life seen through the glass Of
childish hope, was journey adown the
hanks Of soft, ripping, geDtle-murmur
ing stream, where gsyest and happiest
birds ever carolcd their sweet songs and
made the Aowery groves resonant with
their ccsiatic harmony. Happyl thric,
happy childhood How fondly memory
loves to linger around each familiar scene,
clothing il in a halo of pensiye joy, akin
90 sadness!
That old hcmely school house, with il
rugged walls and ruder desks, is deare'
far 10 my heart than any Of the modern
innovations Of cloud-reaching, spire-cap
pei seminaries. with their whitewashed
walls and fnuliless furniture. There !,
a charm, indescribable, but O. so bol,
aud rapturous, in the times and scenes o.
bygone year,. Show me the man who's
bosom does not swell, aud whose eyes do
not mui.ten. at the thought Of his boy
hood days-those calm, pure, spring-,il
hours will show YOU a living, mo
wing. breathing argument IN favor ol
Darwiuism.
From among the many incidents of my
~choolboy days that are now crouding
through my snemory, shall, with youI
permission. gentle reader, select and lay
before you one that now, as | think Of IT,
forces a smile quiet aud gentle as al
ocean ripple upon my face, in spite Of
myself, and though il may nosprove il
any way amusing to you, will certainly
give you some insight into Western
schools of ye byrone times.
Upon the hill above the school house
lived an elderly widow whose sole earth
ly possessions were half dozen buxom
girls and about dozen geese Said gees,
were the pest of the school; they wer,
geese-like into everything that was ne
cessary or proper for them TO be out Of
and never could be confined in due lin
its this side Of eternity. How the Ro
mans ever could hold the goose sacred, i
something that has puzzled me consider
ably, for il there is a thing in the worlC
that would make a man swear away hi
portion of eternal salvation and destro,
all belief in an overruling Providence,
geese can do it. suppose we must ad
init that all things are for purpose, bu
must confess | never could get at the
aim and object Of the creation Of geese
without it be to try the piety of deacon
when they get into their gardens. Idon'
expect there ever was a christian tia
spoke his thoughts, freely, Of geese, with
out taking particular notice that no on'
was present. The first mention we hay'
Of geese, in history, is at the storming o
Rome by the Vandals. They must hav'
been invented but short time prior u
that, or at least after Jobs day and time
or our grandmothers would have iilles
our wondering minds with visions o
somebody else Us the most patient man
I would like TO express myself fully up
ON hi. subject but its no use to try