Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-12-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
One That Was Broken.
STORY OF A NEW YEARS REsO-
LUTON.
BY ELLIS PARKER BUTLER,

l had known Gregory in the States.
He was an A No. young fellow
and we had worked side by side for
three years at the same desk il a
little wholesale house in Iowa. How
Gregory ever happened to leave
Canada and find his way to Iowa
is too long and too dull story to tell
but he did find his way there, and
soon after he arrived we became
great chums.
He sang in the choir, made out
the bills of the concern for which
we worked, rode horseback and had
boils. OF the four occupations, the
bOils seemed to interest him most,
and no wonder, for they were with
him night and day.
He used to back up to me and say
Look at my neck, will you, old
fellow, and see if that spot looks
like a boil?" Usually it did.
We used to advise him what to
do for them, and he did it. Our
desk drawers were always full of
his tonics and lotions and salves ;
and when anyone pulled one of his
special drawers open an odor like an
apothecary shop escaped.
But all this has nothing to do
with my story.
When Gregory was called back to
Canada he made me promise to
visit him at Sutton West some time.
He said it was the most beautiful
spot in the world, and that it had a
climate as much superior to ours
here in Iowa as gold to lead.
So when / found I was to have
two weeks vacation during the
Christmas holidays in '93s / wrote
to him that [ was coming. His re-
ply to my letter was enthusiastic.
The weather was superb, the sleigh
ing excellent, a pretty cousin was
visiting them. Come right along,
and he had big carbuncle on his
arm.
So went.
To get to Sutton you 60 through
Toronto and up little branch rail-
way, and from Sutton you drive
several miles to Sutton West along
the shore of Lake Simcoe.
Gregory met me at the station and
wrapped me well in robes. A SER
want drove. Gregory explained
that he would have himself handled
the ribbons had he been able, but
owing to his carbuncle he was
obliged to carry his arm in a sling.
He was downright glad to see me,
and asked questions all the way to
Sutton West, about the old friends
In Iowa.
L enjoyed the first half Of the
ride, but the last half was decidedly
cold. 1t seems that the had had a
change of weather and were now
having genuine Canadian winter.
The place, which they called sOld
SotherWood,' fronted on the lake,
and was rambling old building in
the real English style.
There were IA rooms and they
kept 13 stoves in continual action. /.
The room without a stove was an
extra room in the attic and was
used as stOre-rOom. Gregory said
that all the men turned out in the fall
and hauled wood, and then when
snow fell all began chopping, and
chopped until time to plant in the
Spring.
1t kept Gregory busy feeding the
stoves. He would fill up number
one, and then fill number two, and
80 on, and by the time he had mum.
ber thirteen stocked he would be
ready to load number one again. and
sometimes he would not be able tC
get around in time and the fire In
number one would be out before he
had number thirteen full of wood.
The front door was completely
showed up, buried behind a 2O.foot
drift, and Gregory told me 1t was 6
lucky thing, for if 1t had not beer
and anyone should have opened the
front and rear doors at the same