The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-15
An Old Settlers Meeting.

It has always been source of great regret to
me that I have never had an opportunity of at
tending an old settlers meeting. This fact
should not occasion me any deep or lasting grief,
as, if l am patient, time will in due season give
me facilities Of having old settlers meetings on
my own premises. Yet l am not patient, and
every year as the season Tor such reunions APP
proaches, want to pack basket full of fried
yellow-legged chickens, pumpkin pies, big
doughnuts, and other good things, and start off
early in the morning, in big wagon, for the
place of meeting Then when we-the big bas-
ket and ARRIVED there, how delightful to shake
hands with all the other old Settlers to get ac-
quainted with the mdde-aged settlers and pat
on the head the very young settlers who would
stand still long enough. Then to hear the
speeches, and the "reminiscences the entranc
ing accounts of log-rollings, house-raisings,
corn huskings, quilting bees, apple parings and
other festivities which made Rome howl before
lawn tennis and progressive euchre were ever
heard of. Then the dinner, eaten al fresco,
with the Oldest old settlers in the places of
honor and the young settlers hanging around
waiting their turns. and hoping the old settlers
wouldn't gobble up quite all the pie or the cake
with icing on it. Then more "reminiscences,
more games, and hearty partnss and jolly
jogging home again at early candlelght. This
is, of course, only my imaginary prospectus of
an old settlers meeting. AS have said, have
never attended one, although l have come quite
near doing so; that is, an old settlers meeting
once attended me- 1t was not, however con-
Quoted on the elaborate programme which
have given. l was once on street-car wholly
unoccupied except by myself. 1t soon stopped,
however. and nice looking, somewhat elderish
lady got on. She was still comely, and so neat,
from her trinity parted hair to the very toe of
her modest shoes. that I fell in love
with her straightway. AS was
admiring her, and hoping would be as attract
i've a wreck she was when reached her age,
the car stopped again, and a rather elderish gen
tleman got on He was beauty, too. Spick,
span and starchy as boy IN love. To my great
delight he and my other charmer knew each
other. and were evidently greatly surprised and
delighted at this unexpected encounter. They
did not fall on each other necks and weep, but
did much better thing: they took hold of each
others hands and smiled Then he sat down by
her. and they conversed. / hated to appear to
watch them or to be listening, and, at the same
time was so afraid of losing a word or a glance
of this delicious episode, that fear must have
presented rather cross-eyed appearance, if any
one had had time to look at me. They had not,
however, and the driver was too busy in 60
hanging mis- mules to notice what his passengers
were up to. So listened with all my might,
ana looked every time tnOugnC dared to. he
had come here to live with his daughter Sarah
of course she had learned that his wife was
dead Yes, she knew about that She had come
here to live, also, with her married son. John; it
was lonesome the old place since fathers
death. Then they launched out into reminis-
cences, and decided that | was up to my ears
in an old settlers meeting of the very finest quail
ity. They had been boys and girls together, and
such delightful happenings you never heard Of
Oh, yes, she remembered the time he came over
to borrow the bowl and pitcher because the new
minister was to stay all night at his mothers
house. How he was too bashful to come in, but
stood out on the stile and yelled out his errand
so the whole village heard it, and his mortified
mother warmed him up when he got home. And
he remembered when her folks first came to town;
she ashamed to ride into town on the big
wagon, SO she got out and walked, and
when she found that nearly everybody
had bed-quilts for front doors, she thought
her pride In appearance was very badly mis-
placed. All this time this entertaining pair
were smiling at each other like Raphaels che
rubs and utterly unconscious of any third party
to their enjoyment My destination cruelty
came along just he was deep in thrilling rec
objection of the time the horse ran away with
both of them, and she wanted to jump out. and
he held her so tight that she couldn't get breath
enough to 'holer" with Here 1 tore myself
away, but have firm and deep-seated convic-
ton that this charming pair have, by this time,
pooled their "reminiscences and formed a new
settlement for life. Tell me- shepherds, have
you seen my old settlers pass this way9