Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-11-27
"Times Ain.t as They Used to Be-"

hines Amt as They Used 10 BE-"
He took up the shoes and looked them
over, held them off at arms length and
viewed them from that distance, and
while look OF regret seemed to over
cast his cOuntenance, said, swell. times
amt as they use,l to be-" He gently laid
the shoes upon the counter, and. still
eyeing them with the memories of the
olden time revolving i'm his mind, went
on to say: ''It don't seem long since I
came to this country. Where this store
now stands it was all woods, with barely
trail to guide us to our home, which
was four miles up the river 1t was hard
work. .chOpphig and clearing the. land.
but we enjoyed ourselves for all that, be-
cause We were not seeking any Of the
luxuries of life; it was only home we
were after. We thought if we only
could own the little spot of land we had
settled upon that was all we wanted
We were happy in working and looking
on to the future, and thinking Of what it
would. bring forth; but times amt as
they used TO be" and again he eyed the
shoes.
Now, don't want any such shoes as
them," said he; Great long things;
enough leather i'm them to make two
pair;'' and again he took them up and
looked them over, put them down again.
sighed and said: '.Well, well. times amt
as they used to be-" and walked to the
door, looked out, and his very attitude
conveyed TO you the idea that he seemed
to be looking back to the old and happy
times. But it was only a way he had of
dreaming of the past. only just habit,
for he soon reused himself and, turning
back, resumed his talk about the good
old times that are not now what they
used to be
swell, said he. 1--WE have got our farm
paid for and about cleared up. The boys
and girls are all grown up and married,
except Tom. We have been trying to
get things comfortable around us, but
somehow we can't, for we don't more
than get one thing before another is
wanted; and it has got so now that if We
think we want anything, why we must
have it right off, and soft goes ctfr
BY this time we had both walked to
the door, and, looking out at the old farm
wagon with the grasshopper springs and
seat upon which my old friend had rode
to town. he said Now. there is that
wagon. 1t is good enough for me to
that we ought TO have a buggy. and |
suppose we will have to get one, for do
you you know il" said he, and he turned
towards me as he spoke. .sthat boy has
got so that he thinks he knows more
than his father, or his mother, or his
minister or anybody else? He seems to
think he knows it all; but fear he will
be sadly disappointed some day TO find
that after all he came near being born an ,
idiot"
Tdrsiing, he glanced back at the shoes
still lying OH the counter, he said: Il
Won't take them shoes / don't like them:
they are too long, and them box toes, or
whatever you call them, would always
be in my way when want to step over
a log or into the house." sAh.' said he
signing, and Thought L could detect a
tear i'm his eye rs he spoke, ''ttimes amt
as they used to be-"
He opened the door. went out. and get
ting into his old wagon seated himself,
and. with his whip over his shoulder, gen.
tly logged off towards his home four
miles up the river.