Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-23
BAEBERRY ISLAND.

BARBERRY ISLAND is the island OF
Calm Delights. That is, you feel sure
Of it if you land from the quiet little
cove on the western side, whence the
grass-grown main street of the village
takes up its gentle way.
Over the eastern extremity, as you
wander over a green, undulating pas
ture, where mild sheep crop leisurely to
the music of sleepily tinkling bells, you
come suddenly upon great cliffs of
black, jagged rock, with "cruel, hun
CRY, crawling foam at your feet, and
gulls screaming overhead. It is almost
as much of surprise, as much out Of
keeping with the rest of Barberry
Island, as bit of Daniels Inferno
would be introduced into Paradise. 1t
is called Dead Mans Point, and the
sail-boats of the summer guests at Por-
cupine, which are fitting about contin-
uaily through the long summer days,
gave it q wide berth. Here, with the
angry uproar of the sea and the scream
ing of the gulls, the sleep of no en-
chanted princess could be sweet.
But Dead Mans Point is several
miles away from the little cove where
the landing is and the main street be-
gins. There have been wheels in the
grassy roads once, but unless they be-
ionged to the "wonderful one-hoss
shay" they have long ago ceased to re-
volve, and the audacious little grass
blades and clovers are having it all their
own way in the ruts.
There are distractions in the way of
even foot passengers in the grassy road.
A Barberry Islander of the old days,
when as vet the spell had not fallen
and ambition dwelt in Barberry Island
breasts, had burned with desire to see
the cot of his fathers on the opposite
side of the street from where it original
ly stood. But the goal of his ambition
was never reached. In the middle of
the street stands the old house, still
upon rollers, but falling to decay. ANY
aspect of energy or ambition which the
rollers and its position in the middle OF
the street might give tits neutralized by
its gaping windows and doors and fall
ing rafters. The moss has even laid a
OBTAINING hand upon the rollers. In
the capacious fireplace a charred and
blackened log remains, as if the fire
had but Just gone out. The iron frame.
work is falling, but the andirons oi
brass, finely and beautifully nodded
into the shape of the Sphinx
from over the sea evidently-are intaet
and but little tarnished. They look a,
if they could tell if they chose whittier
have gone all the dreams and fanciel
and hopes that have vanished in fam,
and smoke on that atdeserted hearthstone
and whether in some far country theil
owners have found them all again. Tit
saI .,II
was ruthlessly torn looks as if it haC
long ago become resigned to the pang
of separation, and welcomed the friend
ly attentions Of the burdocks and this
ties which have tried to hide its un
slightly wounds. But the well-sweel
still utters feeble, wheezy moan in tn
ear of every passing breeze.
A little farther on in the grassy high
way we are obliged to turn out for tn
school-house. 1t is structure whicl
evidently served once as a ship
cabin, and has been very little alterel
for its new sphere of usefulness.
bears the scars of many battle wit
wind and wave. 1t seems like an oil
veteran who, "worn out with man
wars descends in his dOtage to tn
position of nurse and playmate TO hi
grandchildren. A wide, gaping scar
in the side, rudely patched with board
and an old sail, shows where tn
weather-worn, old ship of which it wa
part received its death blow. Pei
haps-probably-it was the cruel, blac
rocks at Dead Mans Point that gave ii
and the BarberTy Island fathers, wit
commendable thrift, tOwed it over {
the cove and utilized it as an add teacl
ing the Barberry Island "young idea.
But their stock Of energy was evidentl
exhausted when the sehool-house-tO-h
had reached a convenient locality theI
was not enough left to move it out {
the road; so they turned it around unit
the door came in the proper place, an
let it be.
A business man, imbued with th
true Yankee spirit, who was among tn
summer guests at Porcupine, was one
moved to 'wake the BarbeTy ISLAND
up" as he expressed it. He went OvC
to the island for the especial purpose (
demonstrating with them upon u
enormity OF having the school-house
the middle of the street.
Old Jacob Manley, who was .scho
agent, deacon of the church, sexton an
undertaken, keeper of the store, seleo
man, and captain and crew Of a tishir
smack, gave several bitches to his owe
alls and lighted his pipe with great d