Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-08-02

steered for Madams cove. When We
We're almost in, Sam yelled. Let 90
John hesitated, and we run high and
dry on the stony shore The girls
scrambled out, while Sam expostula.
ted with John
Just below our landing place, ON
the banks Of the river, is little plot
eff land called, seventy-hve years ago,
the Knot. Here evening after
evening. in the summer, the young
people met Much counting was done.
and many matches made. An old
gentleman told me how our girls
and the Robertses and all the neigh
bors used to gOOver to the Knot, and
stay an hour or two, talking. singing,
and having a good time Then the
boys would wait on the girls home. y
In the winter, the young folks met
here to coast. When one was minus
a sled he took a board. Some of those
board voyages ended disastrously. Be
low the Knot a few rods stood an old
house with an immense chimney,
narrow windows. and the door facing
toward the south. The family who
lived there were very old when |
knew them, a brother and two sisters,
all unmarried. One sister had mar
ried a stevedore, and lived at Ports
mouth: but her husband died, then
she came home and lived many years.
Finally she died The eldest sister
living used to go out spinning and
weaving. when she was young |
have seen coppers colored, and white.
and blue and white checked cOverlets
Of her weaving, and many dimity,
diaper, and short kcrsey towels table
cloths in Ms and Os and herring bone
but ever after | knew her She was a
cripple and confined to the house /
visited them once when a
child. with my mother A low posted
bedstead stood in one corner of
the room with an orange and blue
wooden quilt over it. The room was
sheathed with boards painted red
Shutters hung with hinges, We're fas-
tened into the window-frames, and
these were red also. 4 fire was burn
ing i'm the fire place, and pots and
kettles were standing on the hearth.
Old-fashioned kitchen chairs and
small square tables were ali the furui-
tre in the room, / saw some little
earthen jars on a dresser ! whisper
ed and asked mother what they were
Betsey overheard me, aud said,
They are salt-pots. They were
Dolley's. They came from over the
sea The quaint old people lived
there alone, happy with CHER cats and
hens, until the brother fell and broke
his hip. and shortly after was found
dead in his bed. The sisters did not
live many years. After they passed
away, the house was torn down, and
the cellar alone remains to the next
generation.
Above Madams cove are the falls.
Here the waters rush wildly over
rough rocks Gundalows to get up
loaded have to wait until the tide is
full When the tide turns, the wa
ter runs with great force. A little
above the falls, around bend in the
river, a large, comfortable looking
house. nestled behind a crescent shap-
ed hill, comes in view. Here, a score
Of years or more ago, lived one OF our
towns best men. He was respected
and honored by the people. He was
ever governed by principle. Impulse
was a minor voice He was already
ready to help those who We're willing
to help themselves. For many kindly
deeds his memory will be kept green
in the hearts of those who knew him.
In my childhood, while trudging to
school over the dusty highway, | of /
ten met him, canterng along on his |
chestnut horse. He always bowed and /
said Good-morning, so pleasantly |
that 1t made ray of sunshine for me
all day. When disease fell upon him
anxious inquiries passed from lip to
lip; but the answers were ever sad, |
and when the great spirit had return
ed to its Giver, it was like a clod pas
sing over the sun atnoon-tide Gran
lie Monthly.