The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-08-27


Editors CoLUY NAN MANY years ago,
amidst forest of towering pines, along
side the two branches Of little Ravencreek
just aboye their junction, In Benton town
ship, Columbia county, lived Charley
Snyder. The rippling waters danced and
played over the pebbly stones and sang
melodies to meditating and sorrowing
souls, and checred and welcomed the
sportsman with line and rod, as he sought
the "speckled beauties" skipping and shy
ing in their cozy nooks--ior these little
streams abouuded with trout. During
treshets, the torrent swept by with thund-
ering noise and was soon lost in the marshy
swamp just below, shaded by the heavy
timber for which the locality was noted.
A saw-mill, tannery and saddlcr shop, all
consolidated into one building were locat-
ed on the western branch. A comfortable
two story frame house, small barn and
other outbuildings constituted the farm
appurtenances. A never failing spring,
high up the hill was led in water pipes in
to the house constituting an overflowing
fountain for family convenience. (These
are the outlines of this more ancient home }
Here, the thirsty could slake their thirst
and cool their parched lips. Here, the
weary could rest among salubrious sur
roundings, Every thing was done that
could be done for the convenience and
comfort of man and beast Here was the
recognized home of the NJ. Il. ministers
whose good fortune 1t was to preach at
Hamiline. Here lived happy family con-
ssting of father, mother, sister and five
brothers in the full enjoyment of mutual
confidence and love under the hallowed in
| fluence and guidance of Him in whom
they trusted for the bread of life and their
daily bread. Here lived happy and pious
mother, leading split in the church who
at home sowed living seeds of principles
into young and tender hearts and watored
them with prayer and tears till they sprang
up, grew and bare fruit an hundred fold in
the development of an entire christian
household. This noble wife and devoted
mother was removed by death in the
young and tender years of her beloved
family though not until after having re-
moved from the above described place.
| ln their manhood, and now beyond the
meridian in life, business circumstances
and the ministry led them into different
| quarters of our country. Though scatter
ed far and wide, in their visitations to
friends in this and other localities they
| never fail to pay homage to the hallowed
spot Of place and birth, Of childish sports
and youthful mirth, and where their asso-
Citations were doubly DEAR since here is
where they longest enjoyed the hallowed
bliss and fellowship Of on unbrokcn home
circle, which moulded and shaped the des-
tiny of their future lives. Not that they
care for the place and strangers living here
now, more than for any other place and
strangers, but joyful "reminiscences renew
their childhood and youth as they stroll
over the long past wonted plat then so full
of incidents. Here to them sacred spot,
they love to inger and in pathetic thought
commune with early life, and call to mind
joys and sorrows, realizations and dis
appointments freaks and games, and in
Imagination live over again their young
lives in the old home as it then was, and
not as strangers have since made it.
''Woodman spare that tree
Touch not Il single bough
In youth it sheltered me
And I'll protect it now"
Aug. 2lst. 1886. ].