The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-05-27
RANDOM THOUGHTS.
BY THE EDITOR.


Last Thursday, May goth, was one of
the finest days we have had this spring
1t was clear, still and warm. A company
of US went down Salt Creek fishing.
There were six women, five men and five
children in the company. The women
each had large basket filed with pro-
visions, and they had large coffee boiler
full of coffee. l took lump of maple
sugar for myself and the children. We
went about two and half miles below
town, fishing as we went. l had not
been fishing since l came to Jackson,
more than twenty years ago, but found
that this, like everything else which is
thoroughly learned in boyhood, is never
forgotten, and caught more fish during
the time l was engaged, than any other
one of the company.
We all assembled at the "Buzzard
Rocks at noon. There is a spring of
clear water coming out at the base of
the cliff Some of the men built fire,
the coffee was heated, cloths were spread
on the grass under the edge of the rocks,
the provisions taken from the baskets
and arranged upon the cloths, and all
partook of dinner that was good in
every particular.
After dinner most of the company went
to fishing, 1 crossed the creek and went
to a cabin on the side of the hill west of
the creek, where a colored man resides
l went to see William Stickles. The old
man was lying on his bed in back
room. Mrs. Powell told him a man
wanted to see him. He got up and came
into the room where I was and reached
me his hand. Mrs. Powell asked him if
he knew me. "Oh yes" said he. Mrs
Powell told me that he scarcely recog-
nized any one, he was getting so old. He
is bent over very much. with age. He
says he is near ninety. l asked him if he
could see to- read He said he could and at
once got his Testament and read chap
ter. He was always near-sighted, and
never wore glasses. He holds the book
very near to his face, and holds his head
to one side as he reads He told me
that he read about twenty chapters every
day. Mrs. Powell said he had prayers
every morning. R. G. Hoffman of Colum-
bus sends him the STANDARD, and pays
Mr.. Powell for taking care of him. He
is no relative of Hoffman's, but he lived
in the family about forty years, and took
care of the boys in their childhood. and
Rip says Daddy Stickles" shall never
come upon the township while he lives.
Mr.. Stickles says he gets the STANDARD
every week, and he is well posted as to
current events, and talked as intelli-
gently about political and other matters
as most men of forty could do.
Some men and women were planting
corn opposite the "Buzzard Rocks"
man was running furrow with a shovel
plow between the corn stalks of last
year, girl followed him and dropped
the seed corn, and a woman followed her
and covered it with a hoe. The land
was too steep to furrow it both ways.
The soil is sandy and rich, being com
posed largely of the decomposed sand
rock of the overhanging cliff.
Some of the men of our company start
ed up the creek towards home, fishing
on the way. The women and children
sat down on the creek bank to rest, and
l lay down on the beautiful grass, in the
shade of tree a short distance from
them, and had nearly got to sleep, when
l heard shrill screaming among the wo-
fhok Of
the children had fallen into the creek,
sprang to my feet, resolved bravely to res
cue it or them. l saw three or four of the
women beating the ground with the
large end of their fishing poles, and soon
learned that they had killed black
snake. When we overlook the men it
was difficult to know who had been the
real hero who had killed the snake, sew
eral of the women claiming that distinc-
ton, and each child excitedly narrating
that 1--WE" had Killed snake
l never saw a more beautiful place
than Salt Creek The dog-wood, crab
apple, haw, and many other bushes were
in full bloom. The ground was dry, and
sod of thick grass covered it. The
rocks on each side were from forty to
one hundred feet high, mostly perpen-
dicular or hanging over, and topped with
the most beautiful spruce and other ev-
ergreens. l went up little ravine, and
by pulling myself by the laurels that had
fastened in the crevices of the rocks,
soon got on top of the rocks. held to
spruce and looked down. The face of
the rock was nearly perpendicular, about
60 feet high, and beautifully honey,
combed by the action of water for count
less ages. Nearly below me was the