Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-04-23
BARBERRY 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. 1t is almost
as much of n surprise, as much out Of
keeping with the rest of Barberry
Island, as bit of Dante's 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-
ually through the long summer days,
gave it 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, out unless they be-
longed 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 yet 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 it is 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 charred and
blackened log remains, as if the fire
had but Just gone out. The iron frame
work is falling, but the andirons of
brass, finely and beautifully nodded
into the shape of the Sphinx-treasures
from over the sea evidently-are intact
and but little tarnished. They look as
if they could tell if they chose whittier
have gone all the dreams and fancies
and hopes that have vanished in flame
and smoke on that deserted hearthstone,
and whether in some far country their
owners have found them all again. The
foundation from which the old house
was ruthlessly torn looks as if it had
long ago become resigned to the pangs
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-sweep
still utters feeble, wheezy moan in the
ear of every passing breeze.
A little farther on in the grassy high
way we are obliged to turn out for the
school-house. 1t is a structure which
evidently served once as ships
cabin, and has been very little altered
for its new sphere of usefulness. 1t
bears the scars of many battle with
wind and wave. 1t seems like an old
veteran who, "worn out with many
wars" descends in his dotage TO the
position of nurse and playmate TO his
grandchildren. A wide, gaping seam
IN the side, rudely patched with boards
and an old sail, shows where the
weather-worn, old ship of which it was
part received its death blow. Per-
haps- probably-it was the cruel, black
rocks at Dead Mans Point that gave ii
and the Barberry Island fathers, with
commendable thrift, towed it over to
the cove and utilized itas an aid in teach
ing the Barberry Island "young idea -
But their stock of energy was evidently
exhausted when the school house-to-be
had reached n convenient locality there
was not enough left TO move it out OF
the road so they turned it around until
the door came in the proper place, and
let it be.
A business man, imbued with the
true Yankee spirit, who was among the
summer guests at Porcupine, was once
moved to "wake the Barberry Islands
up" as he expressed it. He went oveI
TO the island for the especial purpose OF
demonstrating with them upon the
enormity of having the school-house il
the middle of the street.
Old Jacob Manley, who was schoo
agent, deacon of the church, sexton anC
undertaken, keeper of the store, select
man, and captain and crew of a fishing
smack, gave several bitches TO his over
alls and lighted his pipe with great de
liberation before he replied to the busi
ness man.
"Wan, it's sot there a consid'abl'
spell, now, nigh on TO twenty year, anC
this is the first complaint l ever heerC
of its bein' in any body's way. 1t ID b,
consid able trouble to hist il, and | cal
kilate it'll heY 10 stay sot."
And with regard to the old house
which had come TO an untimely halt il
the midst of its moving, Deacon Mamie.
was no more easy 70 be entreated.
"That air S the old Hadlock house
and the Hadlocks has kinder died out,
he said. Luke Hadlock's wife die
while be was a moyin' on t, and Luke
sprawl fo6med % kinder gin aout ell d