Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-04-06
HISTORICAL RECOLLECTIONS.

The recollections of early life afford
the most pleasant memories to those
who have entered upon their journey
down the western slope. l have passed
the meridian mile-post, and from my
present standpoint can see the west
guided with the golden rays of my set
ting sun. Looking back to the East
whence came, | propose to group to-
gether the recollcctions Of my life and
pass them in review for the editication
of all who feel inclined to read this and
the articles to follow. AS all recollec-
tions must have beginning, 50 must
mine, and will carry you back, reader.
to the year 1927. In that memorable
year came forth Unto this breathing
world scarce half made up and yet
fond parents and friends gathered
around and pronounced me one of the
finest specimens Of the genus homo
ever seen in that part of the country.
If the old adage be true, that handsome
children make ugly men, and that ugly
men invariably spring from pretty
children, then am sure l must have
been a very fine looking youngster.
The year III which l was born was
really a memorable one. 1t was in 1927
that the first railroad iron was ever laid
i'll the United States; and although
this has been less than half century,
to-day we have over 10000 miles of
road in running order. Among my first
recollections, remember, what I then
thought, the cruelty displayed by my
parents in requiring me to 20 to bed
about shutdown. never could under.
stand why they were so anxious to get
me in bed, until I had a family of my
Own-it was to get rid of me. could
not sleep, neither could my brother !;
SO the regular order of a romp in bed
a general scattering of bed.clothing,
pillars, &C., followed by what then
thought an unnecessary use of the slip
per, constituted the regular details to
be gone through with every night, be-
fore stirred natures sweet restorer''
took possession of me. My mother
never laid on the slipper very hard, but
it was perfectly astonishing how well
she knew WHERE to apply it that it
might s. do the most good.''
When about six years old, my father
placed me in school. The distance of
this institution of learning from our
house was about two and half miles,
and hence had to rise and partake of
an early breakfast so as to reach school
in time. This school-house was a
model in it's way one story high, built
up with logs and covered by ordinary
clapboards, held in their places by logs
or poles placed on their upper surfaces.
We are told that in the building of
King Solomon's temple, the sound of
the hammer was not heard. Neither
was it when my first school-house was
erected, for there were no nails used
in it's construction. The only window
in the building was made by leaving
the greater part of one log about four
feet above the floor. Into this opening
a wide, rough frame was made to fit,
and over this was fastened oil paper.
The floor was made of puncheons-
logs split in half-the level surface of
which were made as smooth as they
could be with an axe. The seats were
made of the same material, and were
held up by four pins driven into augur
holes bored in the bark or round sur.
face. These benches were simply in.
struments of torture. When seated,
the feet could not reach the floor, and
in this position the children had to sit
from 6 early morn till dewy eve,''
with only an interruption of one hour
for dinner. Under the window was a
sloping shelf, at which the writing
scholars were permitted to sit. can
remember how envious was of them,
and how anxious / was, to advance SO
that could sit near that window. AT.
ter passing through the primmer, I was
advanced to Noah Webster's spelling
book; and when l could read the
stories of the rude boy in the apple
tree and the foolish girl who counted
her chickens before they were Matched,
Twas about as happy as education ever
makes one. By the way, these two
stories, embracing morality and phi.
losophy, and which have. been inn.
pressed upon SO many minds, should
not be omitted from our present spell.
ing books. Our school house was sit
uated in q rough. ugly spot around
which there were no houses nor even
enclosure. I suppose it was located
just there toasb convenient to a fine
spring, and to be far enough removed
from farm houses SO that the boys
could not be troublesome. The teacher
was an lrishman by the name of Haley.
He was one Of the best teachers ever
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