Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-03-17

II Al1taA AAEs 4 d
Ny DEAR CHARLIE: Your brother
Liant and /. after talking over how
we should put in our vacation, con-
Guided that railroads, steamboats, and
horses were too monotonous, and that
we would take a walk of two or three
weeks, with Niagara Falls as our des.
tination. So, one fine morning in Sep
TENDER, 1895. with haversacks Sung
over our shoulders, we started from
our house and laid our course due
north. Joe went with rs as far as the
Sharpsburg bridge and, bidding us
good By. we left.
We went as straight north as the
road would take us. The first day we
made twenty miles; the second day
we stopped at the farmhouse of John
/ Crow. Farmer Crow caught up with
us as we were climbing a steep hill,
and invited rs to get into his wagon,
saying, twill give you a lift over
this pinch As soon as we were
/ seated beside him he began to ques-
I ton us, and in a short tins knew all
about us; our names, business and
that we were walking for pleasure.
There were no tramps in those days.
''In that case, he said, lyon might as
well come with me and stay at my
house ali night" Turning his horses
into a long, shady lane, we soon
reached fine old Pennsylvania farm
house. AS we rode along he told us
that the farm had been occupied by
the Crow family for over loo years.
He pointed to a rail fence, built of
chestnut rails that he declared was
over 100 years old. We simply said
''chestnuts." never dreaming that
twenty-five years after that word
would be a synonym of age We
busted off, washed up and were shown
into the house, and sat down to a
supper good enough for hungry men.
After the blessing we fell upon the
good fare as only hungry young fell
lows can.
There were at the table Mr.. and
Mrs. Crow, the Misses Crow, Master
Crow, German farm hand about 30
years old, little German girl that /
took to be his daughter, and Liant
and l.
Having satisfied my hunger, I was
about TO push back my chair and
leave the table, when 1 glanced at
Liant He sat with his hands folded
and his eyes cast down. I he stated
and Mr.. Crow returned thanks. / con
fess that felt like a pagan who fol
the first time sees the forms aud cere-
monies of Christianity, but recognizes
their perfect fitness.
We all went out on the porch. III
our pipes, and settled down comfort
ably to talk. The war was just over;
nothing was talked of but the war.
MIR. Crow had lost number Of friends
and relatives, among them nephew
very near and dear to him. When ht
mentioned his name Liant knew him
well, and could tell the farmei
all the particulars Of his death
as Liant was in the same battle il
which the young fellow had lost his
life. Liant told him how the boy hat
been shot through the arm and sent
to the rear, but when told that hi:
captain had been shot and the lieuten
ants wounded, he took stick The
could not carry musket,j and rushed
back. led his company into the fight,
and lost his life right in the bloody
front
OF course, we were all much af
fected, particularly the old gentleman
and his wife. You know, Liant was .
master hand at story telling. The
old gentleman was stirred up to re
late his experiences, and told us how
near he lost his life while fighting. II
was on the Rapidan, and he had all
his accouterments on. From his KNAPP