The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-17

reporter on the Posr-IsTELLIsEscER, obtained
many a good story from the old gentleman.
When Mr. Yesler visited his OLD home in Mary
land, in 1877, be wrote long letter TO Mf. Craw-
ford, which the latter prizes among his choicest
treasures. 1t is as follows:
TOLEDO, O., October o, 1889.
Ny Dear NJ. Crawford; Your letter reached
me at my old home. from which D ace, and
about which, you wished me to write you. Il 10
with pleasure that do so. Ny letter will not
be e history of my travels in the strict sense of
the word, but the incidents as they occurred
whilst among my old friends and acQuaintances
at Leitersburg- tAad by the way the letter L. in
the middle OF my name was given me in honor
OF my grandfather Letter. who laid out this city
OF bill in lslg.l
At Greencasrie stopped several days with G.
". Ziegler one OF ray earliest boyhood sequaint-
suees, than whom no better markI ever knew.
We talked over incidents OF over Sky years
ago, things we had not thought OF since they oc-
Cured. Ii very amusing to 10th of US, as
his memory those little occurrences which were
so pleasant to US teen, and mona the less enjoy
able now. tell you, Sam, it was q feast to both
of us.
From Greencastie / went to Waynesburg to
see the man who served his apprenticeship
when did told him of some OF our boyisn
tricks, but he could rot enjoy joke. His mind
was too far gone. felt very sad; expected to
have good time with him. Here l visited an
old gentleman 90 years old, for whom / built a
house When was an apprentice i enjoyed his
company hugely. He bantered me for a foot
race He was full of fun and jokes In coming
back to Greeucastle to meet Mr. Lowman, /
came through Eeitereburg saw many Old land
marks, but no person ever knew. felt little
like Old Rip Van Wrinkle. The improvements
OF my native town, however, did not astonsh
me Is the town OF Cellingwaters did. The
town, with a few exceptions, looks about as
WREN ! first left it fifty -iour years ago. The
most important improvement was the remodel
Out. But not SO with the country. Great changes
have taken place. Among country places that
carried on in my days hourlsniDg business
ana have gone to ruil will only mention one
This place was on the Antietam, aud consisted
OF u stone grist mill, stone dwelling house, tan
merry, sawmill, blacksmith shop and distillery.
Nothing in use now but the farm. You know l
do not worry owe. the inevitable. but really
feel sad in looking at those ruins, which in my
younger days afforded me so much pleasure.
The dam that roered so pleasingy is all gone.
fsh in is dried up. The forests SO thick and nu-
merous have nearly all been cut down. paid
stood in q hollow just as found it sixty seven
years ago. with this exception: There is q large
stone chimney against the end of the building
where the door used to be.
thought of the old long writing desks with
fiat top about eight inches wide, with slop-
Ing board on each side TO write on. The seat
where the little tads sit on was long slab with
two holes in each end and straight piece OF
wood driven in for legs. Now, just think of
those benches, desks ana dense woods Trees
standing SO thick that the sunshine never
ing that an idea could penetrate the Uranium of
any youngs.er in such a schoolhouse. and espe-
ciaiy when behind the teachers desk sat an
Irish teacher with large hazel rod beside him.
And remember we'll, he knew how to use it.
Whilst looking on this old school many Incl
dents long forgotten came to my mind. / Will
gave the definition O. the word spelled. The
word "ho" was given by the teacher. said
no wss an interjection "Ho." said the
after IN ia
hook" This brought down the house.
But the teacher said: That will do, al
was the little incidents was to speak of will
relate one or two more. At Leitersburg met an
old schoolmate He was told when and where
we went to school together, but he gave it up.
some one said to me, "Do you know him. l
replied that If ne answered to the name of
Cloudy Weather ] certainly knew him. He
said, That's me-" "rhen you are John Lam
bert Cloudy Weather. was his nickname
about sixty years ago. When l was an ap-
prentice, in 1s27, we built house for q weil-to-
do farmer who had very pretty ed.haired girl
abouts and called on her. She, her husband and
grand daughter were taking care OF the pumpkin
crop When l made my appearance the ladies'
went into the barn. followed then and said 1
was looking for Sarah Mentxer, a red-haired
girl about Is years old. The old lady said, "She
is not here informed her that knew better.
which every female, old or young, makes use
OF on similar occasions, and that is,
to apologize for the dress she had on. told her
is always had an exalted opinion OF a lady who
work she was doing. / had a very pleasant
time reviewing our early history. She urged
me very strongly to come again, with guar
antee that pumpkins would not interfere Mr.
Lowman and myself left Saturday for Martins
burg, Va. to take Sunday train for Chicago
This town is very pious. Nothing is sold on
Sunday here. not even lager beer. The landlord
aad myself took a ride out into the country
When we returned he approached me very
modestly and showed me the door where I
could get nip, as he called 1t. ] thanked him
kindly and said did not drink. He seemed
very much annoyed at my refusal. He said it
was chilly morning and a little might warm
me up. was very much exercised to know
why this stranger, and an old man at that,
should ask me To take drink in this pious
town. and on Sunday, too. / inquired into his
antecedents ana asccrtained that In his Younger
days he was q switch tender on a railroad
had great deal more respect for him now. and
/ just felt rs il | ought to do something to
strengthen his Judgment
Across the Antetan at Petersburg stands the
old house where l was born. 1t is large log
house, weather boarded and pastered inside
with brick front and stone ell used for a
kitchen and dining ROOM You would be aston
ished were to tell you of the many incidents
OF my boyhood days that my memory brought
dam stood an ancient linden tree, where many
persons afflicted with the aguc would go before
sunrise, bore hole into the old tree, put in a
lock OF their hair. plug 1t up and return home
ten whether 1t had to be done in the dark or
light of the moon. could tell you many things
that have come TO my mind while here, equally
absurd. but must stop and bid farewell to my
native home. and the now historic Antietam.
Farewell, Antietaml On thy banks 50 gay,
OFT have 1 wandered in the dawn of youth:
Ever have thought OF thee when far away
Far from thy halnts of innocence and truth
Farewell those hills with smiling verdure
crowned;
No sun yet shone on land more fair;
So may they Oft in richest crops abound,
And still repay the labors anxious care.
Farewell, dear friends, whose smiles enchain
And bind my heart in friendships magic
spell:
Still let me hope your voices hear again,
cannot bid you yet II last farewell.
Well, now, Sam, have written you many
little things when were very pleasant to me-
and may be 10 you. But they would not inter-
est Brother Damon, or an old salt like Can't
fenheld, and rs 1t Is Tor our special pleasure
they have nothing to say. I have had a splendid
time visiting old friends aud relatives / only
regret that could not stop longer with them
These are the people whose souls overflow with
the milk OF human kindness Good by. sam
II. l. fESLEk
While he las good natured and yielding to a
fault, Mr.. fesler had strong will when he
though, injustice WAS being done him. He had
frequent disputes with the city about street
grades, and IL is claimed for him that the city
never won suit against him. Such disputes
inspired him with a cordial dislike of every city
surveyor. for he regarded such oficas as the
instruments OF injustice.
For the last two or three years Mr. Yesler has
lived in comparative seeluson in his home A
old age crept on he appeared on the streets less
frequently aud sought his chief enjoyment in
49,. -