Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-10-21

i spurs, extending East and West, whose
! foliage softened by distance 10 faint
reflection Of the glory around us, the
echo as it were of the grand chorus OF
color nearer at hand. Below are the
faint silvery Mohawk, the picturesque
Erie Canal, and the N. Y. Central and
West Shore Railroads up and down
whose parallel tracks are uncounted.
ceaseless, restless trains. Frankfort,
Thin, Mohawk and Herkimer are four
dots along the valley. III one could
gain glimpse around that curve to
the right he would see Little Falls
sprinkled over the rockiest, narrowest
part of the whole valley, and claiming
first rank in the United States as Q
cheese market. A peep over the hill
in the distant left would reveal "pent
up Utica, "pent only by her everlasting,
encircling hills. When the down grade
is all made we seek shelter at a friend
ly door, and are dwellers in the valley
for a time. The journey from south
to north must all be retraversed. Hill
and dale and field are still in resplend-
ent glory, every bush and brlar and
treelet doing its dlminutive best to add
to the entertainment of the season.
Botanist, historian, geologist, agri-
culturist or romancer may find his
eyes and ears and mind we'll occupied.
The famous elms Of Hsrkimer county
are Joy even to those accustomed to
their presence. Belated daisies dot
the wayside, or cherry buttercups
smile as in spring and not infrequent-
ly modest dandelion sparkles in its
grassy setting. Mr.. Golden Rod, and
Miss Purple Astor take no pains to
conceal their mutual admiration.
when at Cooperstown, one may go
to the eastern bin and follow the road
to Cherry Velley, the scene of that
dark tragedy in Revolutionary days.
In Southern Otsego County is a spot
memorable for the abduction of three
brothers in 1773.
Near Herkimer is the site of an old
fort, near which stand q colonial
church and burying ground. Beyond
Little Falls IS the General Herkimer
residence still intact, and more than
one of the old time manor" or "pala-
tinate" domains once flourished in the
region of our tour.
Hills sloping this way, hillocks roll
ing that way, broken stony cliff here,
trickhng spring there, little crater
like grass completed hollows, and Iso-
lated, curious shaped mounds all cross
ones fill of vision followed by an
imaginary Interrogation point.
III all the stones in New York were
picked up and carried off, If all the ROCK
surface visible In field and highway
were blasted out, the Empire State
would suffer nightly shrinksge in
real estate. Go where one will, stones
from tiniest pebbles to highest boulders
contest the soil with all crops and render
callous the noses of cattle and sheep.
Heaps in the field, stone houses and
stones walls seem to have taken none
from the ground. Thousands of miles OF
stone walls in Herkimer and Otsego
counties add to the picturesque while
serving the utilitarian. Some are
crumbling and vine covered, but most
are perfect still. Many of them
throughout the region are the work OF
y srIofcssional, colored man, who
turned his back on Liberlan honors
and returned to the haunts of his youth
where it was for years his pride to
build the straightest and most solid
walls, and always to lay, without second
trial. the right stone in the right place.
We're prohibition to be absolutely
and practically applied and all brewer
les annihilated, what a calamity would
befall the industries of these counties,
for under existing evils hops are
everywhere. As far as the eye can see
or one can ride are patches of wIthered
vines and stacks of poles that tell of
crops well gathered. Hop kilns rear
their ungainly fiues under many hill
or around many a curve. Creaking
loads piled up high with new made
bales en- route for shipping station are
passed on every road. This has been
fat year for hop growers, one "yard'
in Otsego County yielding a crop
worth 800, 900.
A new interest is added to Cooper's s
novels by tour through this region.
Its rolling hills, its far reaching valleys,
sparkling lakes, with now and then a
shallow cave or lonely dell are the
same that he knew and loved and de-
scribed. "The Pioneers" and "Wyan
dotte, though dated so early in the
history of our nation, are located here
abouts and furnish many proofs of this
Loyalty to the real.
Soothed by the Glitter clutter, Glitter
clatter of Princes feet, and by the
chatty confidential creak cre-uk of the
whiffietree one falls to musing on
the sights before him. Farm bouses
come to take on facial expression and
wear a personality to the wayfarer
like those of their indwell ers.
This one is perfect in all its appoint
ments firm and tightly closed and we
pass with sigh for the darkened,
stiffened soul within. Another is
ragged and down at the heel as it were;
that one is hurried and worried and
not at its best; and another is trim and
neat and with its roomy, tidy barns
seems to speak for the farmer and his
wife and say, ''Come right in, there's
plenty of room" Deserted houses,
like tombstones, arouse our curiosity
as to what has been the comedy or
humdrum, the tragedy or romance of
their occupants in better days
The loud tongued crow reviews the
land below, the busy ''woodchuck"
spoils the finest field, the dainty squirre ell
trips along the wall and we note 1t all
with eager eve and rested nerve. We
pass, on the outskirts of village, a
county fair in full force and take a
peep at the flying races. We cross a
railroad track needing the warning,
"Look out for the cars" We notice
Public Telephone" swinging from a
dingy building. We pause at a water
trough fashioned of solid stone in
whose dripping face we read in carving
plain, Property of Henry Bergh,' or
ga merciful man is merciful to his
heart" At frequent intervals "beside
yon struggling fence we pass "temple
of learning" for the rustic youth. We
stop at a wayside inn and our dinner
is sauced with keenest hunger. The
menu served by mine hostess herself is
fish, fresh from the blue lake across
the way; chicken, whose last crow
greeted this mornings sun; milk, from
the meek-eyed Jersey COW browsing
in yonder field; pickles ana sauces
made from the products of the garden