The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-06-25
WILLIE WRITES AGAIN.
His Pa Interviews a Former Citizen
of Oakland.

of Oakland.
On last Memorial Day pa said we
would 60 TO Oakland and see kind
friends and kindred laying their
loving tributes of remembrance on
the tombs of such of their friends
and relatives as have crossed to the
other shore. While we looked on
this solemn act of patriotism, l
asked pa why he remained so quiet.
"My son." said he, ''to me this is
a deeply impressive Sabbath of
American patriotism" We re-
NAMED in the cemetery until most
of the people had gone. l called
pas attention to we'll dressed
gentleman of advanced age. He
went from grave to grave and stop
ped quite while at many appar-
emily reading the inscriptions on
the tombstones. Occasionally he
would bow his head while closely
examining some particular grave
and place his handkerchief to his
eyes as if to wipe away his tears.
Pa was no little interested and
waited long thinking that by chance
he might make this mans acquain-
lance, but he fingered too long,
therefore we wended our way toward
the depot. Pa wanted to call on
some acquaintance, and said |
might look around town, but to
meet him at the depot in time to
take the accommodation for the
Park.
An awful and degrading sight
was for me to look at so many men
who had spent much Of their time
and money in procuring inside
decorations. To see them reelng
through the streets uttering oaths
which seemed to me would blister
their tongues, cast cloud over the
pleasure l had already derived from
my visit. | vert directly to the
depot and took a seat on one of the
boxes which were on the platform.
| had not been there long when an
old colored man came shutting
along. "Honey,' he said, 81 guess
I'll res desc ole Inns Oh mine an
sit rite down heah.' "All right, "
| said. While we were talking who
should come along but the old
gentleman that pa and l met at the
cemetery; he stopped IN front Of us.
Addressing the colored man he
said, "What is your name, sir:?'
"Coally, Coally, sab; dey calls me
Coally.'' GLOW old are you, Coal
ly?" asked the stranger, 'I'se
ninety-fve, sah," "Why, Coally,
when l left this place, thirty years
ago you told me then that you were
sixty-fve; that would make you
one hundred and five years old
now The old negro placed his
hands on the head of his cane and
tFesting his chin on his hands die
not speak for few moments.
GLOW is it, Coally," asked the
stranger. "Well. YOU see, mistah,
l told my ole woman long go dat
dere whar somethin' wrong bout
my age. l was jist nine yeahs ole
when Mastah Gineral George Wash
ington was put undah de groun'.
l'se jes' ten yeahs neaher heaben.
Seems like l got wheels IN my head
oh late yeahs. [ can't 'membah
anything that happened yestahday,
but | can 'membah way back. -
"Coally, have just been calling on
my friends.'' "You got friends
heah, sah,' said the negro. eyes,
! found most of them lying on
yonder hill in the cemetery. There
are but few of my old acquaintan-
ces left. see that Alfred Sturgiss
is still living. | knew him when
he lived in Morgantown. Daniel
0ffutt-he and | were boys together;
Singleton Townshend and John NJ.
Davis were numbered among my
early associates. During the latter
part of this conversation my pa
came along and was an attentive
listener. Pa asked the stranger
how long since he left Oakland.
"Thirty years ago l sold my farm
and moved to Nebraska. This is
the first time | have been here since
! left thirty years ago." "Have
you called on these gentlemen you
have just named?" "No, SIR he
replied, 81 dropped into Sturgiss'
and bought a cigar, but did not
make myself known. Mrs.. seemed
to be turning over the pages of his
memory when l left the store. |
went into all the places of business
of my early friends. Dan Offutt
has taken on considerable avoirdu-
pois, and | take it that he would
have but little time to devote to re-
calling the early "reminiscences of
our times-too full of business.
| have seen many men like Mr.. o.
That man would be a very uneasy