Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1888-09-27
UNDER SNOW.

A man who has seell much Of the
world, and met many men, has Of course
formed acquaintance by the score, that
at the time seemed friendships which it
was Believed would stand the test of
time. But looking back over quarter
ora cent,,ry's certain memories, one is
astonished to- see how very few of those
we once knew intimately arc recalled
with affection.
Friendship is like love-many object
weaken it. 1t is capital that general
diffusion squanders without enriching
any. To warm it must be focused, like
the suns rays through a lens, on one
object, or a few objects close together.
This has been my experience, and Fam
not looked upon as cold or selfish.
Revcrtng now to the days of mar
hooG, there is but one man outside Of
my own immediate family whom | re-
call with feeling Of etfection so strong
that | know that time viii strengthen
it, add that only the grave can chill and
and deadcn its heat and glow.
I knew Clarence Hulme we'll. can
not remember a time l did not know
him. The farms Of our fathers We're
on opposite sl(es Of great highway,
and the same clear stream watered the
lands Of both. In it, as children, we
fshed together with crooked pins, in it
as bows, We swan on it, in the winter
time, we skated, and by it, when the
first glow of manhood entered our boy.
ish breasts, we strollcd like lovers in
the moonlight, dreaming dreams That
hope made real, and laying plans for
the future, IN all of which our lives
went on together, blended like the wa
tcrs at our feet.
We were in the same classes ut the
same country school, and though rivals
for the head, there was never jealousy
no matter who succeeded.
1t vas probably because onr parents
belonged to different churches, and our
fathers were members of different po-
liticaI organizations, when We We're
about fourteen we were sent to differ
ent boarding schools, and subsequently
to different colleges. But we wrote to
each other regularly, and our idle days
were spent together.
Curlously enough, we were both m
tended for the law, and many hearty
laugh we had as we discussed magma
ry cases before an imaginary Judge, each
with ill-assumcd earncstncss attacking
the weak points in the armor of the
other.
Our homes were near the border land,
that was destined tor long years to be
the scene of fire and blood. The strug-
gle opened the very year we graduated
and when we came home, a cloud hung
over our fathers houses. Heretofore
only the highway parted them ; now
there Was deep gulf between them.
and angry faces on either side.
No matter how peaceably inclined,
it was impossible in that borderland
for men able to bear arms to keep out
of the contest, and so Clarence IIulme
and I shouldered arms SO fight under
different banners.
How wildly | recall the night Of our
parting 1t was midsummer, with the
rock below it where we had SO often
placed our cloths when going in to swim
in the days that promised an eternity
Of peace.
Our hearts were full and we held
each others hand, each knowing dcs--
pite the darkness, that the eyes of the
other were moist, each respecting TIE
call of duty that was tearing us apart.
We did not DISCUSS the merits of our
causes, but pledged continuance Of
that friendship which was 10 us older
and dearer than any other feeling. 1t
was boyish, know, but we even then
made plans about living near together
when the war was over, and We prom
isel that if we met in battle our rifles
should be turned aside, and that if one