Middletown transcript., 1877-09-01
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And spent in joyous plays.
Yes, l have paid short visit to Mid
dletown, Delaware, to view the place
and its surrounding, and see if time
had left any traces Of bygOne days,
that is still held dear and sacred as the
former abode of our grandparents and
parents, and where our fathers have
often looked with fond affection and
delight at our childish plays in our
early boyhood days, to see if any Of
our playmates still remain, left as a
forest oak when other leaflets were all
removed by the march of improve
ments time has made OH the ancient.
Twas but here spot, and there speck,
That time has left to declare,
And bring back TO my memory
That we once lived there.
On my arrival | proceeded to the
elegant mansion Of z. r. Cochran, Esq.
(who you remember married a grand
daughter Of our loved and lamented
ILI.,ele z Iohn and Ann. Iargaret-af-
terwards Mrs. Polk, Of Odessa-ssand-
ing half mile from town towards St.
AIMS Episcopal Church where / was
received by him and his queenly lady,
not with mingled ostentatious pride
and arrogance, which usually fills the
the breasts and thoughts Of the wealthy,
but cordiality and friendship, that re-
moved all restraint and made me feel
a welcome guest and at home. No
nobler hearts ne'er beat in breasts
than theirs.
Methought how changed in appear
ance is Gh:s since 1929. Has ALADDIN
been here with his wonderful lamp to
do all this, and transform from the
dreary and doleful old mansion of for
mer days, to this beautiful palace and
grounds Of delight, gotten up with a
display of taste that tells that order
and discipline is the aim and road to
comfort and happiness, which there as
dwelling place they have chosen !?
Then his farm and farming, his orchards
and crops, his stock and manner of do
ing, all look as if moved by a master
spirit and with master hand. / had
some pleasant drives with that noble
hearted relative on the road beyond
Somerton and toward Warwick. But
how changed the scene since the days
of boyhood's gypsying. The large
tract Of heavy timber, known as Max
wells woods; is all cut down on both
sides of the road, giving clear view
OF the levels WHICH IS UIliy Obstruott77tfi
now by the erection Of splendid houses.
unequalled peach orchards, and stately
waving corn large plantations have
been cut into fine farms, whose fields
show skilled farming and well-stocked
stack-yards Of beautiful golden grain to
repay the husbandman for his toll.
Yes, dear sir, more grain and far bet
ter crops are now raised on forty acres
than could have been in our boyhood
days on one hundred but you may
ask, how has all this been accomplish
ed? / would say from the observation
Of the few days I was there thatin vie
ing with each other, industry has taken
the place Of idleness or inattention, and
each are trying to outstrip their neigh
Dor in the richness and produetiveness
and beauty of their farms. The lime,
from York county, Pennsylvania, and
other places, has been strewn thick
over the ground; attention is paid to
barnyard and other fertilizers the
plough has been put in deep, turning
up the long hid subsoil by their former
skinning only, weeds kept down; and
where, 56 years ago, not a speck of
clover could be found, you now behold
field after field thiekly covered with Its
beautiful rose-colored tops 50 much
more pleasing to the eve, and paying a
far greater recompense than the old
natural grass which had no substance
in it for man or beast; farms, both in
grass and grain, vieing with the finest
in either Lancaster or York counties,
Pennsylvania. Yes, an active indus
try has seized hold upon the inhabi-
tants, old and young, and have turned
this once almost desert to an oasis Of
wealth and beauty.
What industrious hands will do,
If they will but advance
And stand not still as lockers on,
To let things take their chance.
The known of other days I found
but three, and first will speak of the
present Governor, our relative, John
P. Cochran. By invitation took tea
with him and his estimable lady, the
evening before his departure to the
lower part of the State to attend the
reunion Of the members Of the past leg
islators. How much younger ne looks
than / expected to find him; but no
wonder, his splendid lady, on whom he
dotes-if | Judge aright-jovial spirits,
and mind at ease, his broad acres lay
ing around him, and children all well
to do in this world, is enough to make
him happy here in this trying world,
not having like your humble servant
To struggle on in poverty;
But riches round him twine-
Ne'er feels the ihorns that pierees me
As he sits meath bis vine
met with the editor of the MID
DLETowN TRANsoRIPT, a neat, well
edited, and well conducted paper, that
would do grace to town ten times its
size. He is in every way the gentle
man, courteous and obliging in his
manners to fault. Who should he
turn out to be but Edward Reynolds,
the son of our often-talked of friend
and playmate, John A. Reynolds, Esq;
right glad was / to so understand it SO,
for often has his father fitted through
my mind in memories of the past. /
called upon his father at the thresh-
hold was met by Mr.. Reynolds, Sen,
and sister, who knew me and gave me
hearty welcome to their home and
the old haunts, mentioning several in
cidents which brought to my mind the