Daily Republican., 1885-04-15
the Circle.
NEW 81 ARK ET-AN ODD CUSTOM.
EIs-AlLL AND vALE-STEW.
ARTSrOWN
THOUGHTS OF CHILDHOOD

THOUGHTS OF CHILDHOOD
Our last letter left us enjoying the
Inequalities OF friends at New Market,
Baltimore County, Md, and from that
little town OF 200 inhabitants we will
start out again. New Market is loca.
ted on the turnpike leading from York.
Pa, to Baltimore, Nd, about 20 miles
from the first and some 3S miles from
the latter place. 1t has q couple of
churches, one an NJ. E., and the other
an NJ. p. church, both with steeples.
but that OF the first named being q very
tall one, and entirely out OF proper
tion to the size Of the church. IL stands
on high emiDence and overlooks the
country around as far AZ the eye can
reach. The school house here is a
model of unique architecture and credit
TO the citizens. By the way, 1t is wor-
thy Of note that the schools hero are
kept open ten months in the year, and
better wages paid than just across the
line, in York County. where they are
kept open but about eight months in
the year. Beside these churches and
the school house. the village is kept like
other villages, with q couple of stores,
| hotel, an undertaken, blacksmith
esbo nbOp ohop UoT vi
neat houses with pretty front and side
yards. Sunday, April the 9th, we we're
| awakened by little Jennie wren chat.
tering Mt our window.
The sun rose beautiful and bright.
Yes, and 1t Is Easter Sunday too, u time
for solemn meditation. Walking out
we stepped into the NJ. P.church, where
an election for officers of Sunday
school was going on. The pulpit was
loaded with cake,and Ii VIC mistake not
eggs for the children, but fearful we
might be called interlopers after come
thing to eat, we withdrew before the
feast was distributed. Only think of
that, o lawyer and Bohemian quill.
driver not waiting for the eatables.
To the other church we wended our way
and entered. Here they seemed to be
electing officers too, but there was an
entire absence of eatables.
Parson Vests sermon had wonder
fully soothing influence upon our legal
friend. What oddities we sometimes
meet at church. Over there is a queer
looking man reading a well thunbed
bible. Bo not think he pretends TO
read anything else. He followed US
from the church and claimed our
acquaintance, because he knew US when
we were boy.
His suit we cannot describe 1t. 1t
| was made Of gray herring bone twill,
somewhat tho worse; for wear. Upon his
head sat black felt hat with enormous
ventilation through the crown. Ap-
prehensive of an attack of pneumonia,
he had sewed q pair of hose together,
and these he brought around under his
lower jaw and tied them over his hat.
The hose served several purposes. They
kept his hat on, kept the lower jaw
from dropping on his bosom and kept
him from catching cold. Don't laugh.
This nan was once fashionable tailor
and made the first cloth suit We ever
wore. He Is tailor yet, but has not
kept up with the fashions. He COM
Iplimented us by saying that he knew
we were some prominent statesmen,
but before we got chance to intro
duce our legal friend as Secretary Bay
ard, from Delaware, he had turned a
corner and with his hand YVES waving us
u goodbye.
This is a beautiful country. There
is very little Door land around here and
not many poor people. The land IL
rolling, rich and productive, and sells
Ianywhere from forty to seventy five
dollars per acre. There are some choice
farms that are worth hundred dollars
an acre.
| Our carriages Reared up again, We
have started across the country towards
Stewartstown. We are in Penusyl-
vania now. As we go, we leave tho
table lands and come to q hilly country.
one and down another. Some Of them
are nearly a mile long. While there
are some very pretty brick farm houses
and barns scattered over the country,
there are others not so prepossessing in
iappearance, but within is the abode oil
comfort and plenty. Away down there
in Deer Creek valley Is neat brick
dwelling We are trying to reach. 1t ID
tncs more than two thirds of q mile
away, but we will have to travel two
miles around the hills before we reach
1t. Here we are at last at the end d
lour Journey, and kind relatives and
friends again greet US. Here we tarried
until Monday, April 9th, when we set
out TO penetrate the lower end of York
County, still farther eastward.
Up and down hill again we 60, stop.
Iping on the top OF one Of them to view Q
| cemetery that crowns the top where
q dear and loved ones are sleeping peace.
fully until the great morning of morn
v ings when we shall all rise up together
from our dusty beds to put on immor.
tality-that is if. But here we
J, are at the Borough of fStewartstown, a
/, beautiful town, with now some 400 popu.
- lation. We recollect when 1t bad but
! six or seven houses and families
amongst them the Meads, the Stewards,
the Anstines, the Rheuls, the Griffiths
and the Bells. How changed now.
Here are Cross streets, handsome pri
vate residences, large stores, number
of manufactures, an academy, . mum
Der of beautiful churches and scarcely
q front window in a private residence
not filled with flowers. All around
here are the schoolmates Of our school
boy days.
VI But we cannot describe every.
thing and must hurry on though W.
would lovingly liuger and think
lover the past. On we 60, leaving thii
beautiful town behind. Every house
here has history to ub: we are once
more amid the scenes of our child
hood. Down there is where the old
mill stood, not that big merchant mill
that now occupies the place. FfJm
There we followed our fathers remains
Ito his grave. From there we were
sent out to battle with the world. We
: have fought and struggled at every
lstage and here we are back where we
Istarted from. But we must not indulge
these memories; time is precious and
we must pass on-yes, on, but we must
linger o moment to take look at the
Iplace where the old school house stood.
1t is not there now, but up there above
tie graveyard stands larger and
OF nd fhn n1d