Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-04-24

house did us pretty well. Do you remem-
attended the academy and call them
academy rats, because the academy
had two rooms, and consequently two
stoves?"
"Yes, and they called us district
rats, and we fought about it," sait
Henry. "By the way, DR.. Culver lived
on the other side, didn't he? Well, there
is a whisky cure institute there nova
big one-the third in the state.
The next morning Hardesty started
out to view the property before finally
deciding not to sell. He declared that it
was hardly worth while, as he had no
pressing need for money, and it was al
ways pleasant to think of the old times,
and the old place, and the old home.
"When we get to that corner" he
said, proud to show that he still remem-
bered things, 1--WE will turn and cross
the common, passing by old Mrs. Mar
WINS cottage and swinging to the right
by Hen Gettle's hothonse.
'I'm afraid we can't, said the agent
and friend. "You mean to cross the
common, don't you, as we used to in
making the short cut for the river when
we went fishing? Well," as Hardesty
nodded in delighted affirmative, Eve
can't do it, for it is all built up now.
Mrs. Marvin's cottage site is taken up
by the residence of the mayor, and Hen
Gettle's home is now his home no lon
ger, but is a three story hotel. You see
the town has been progressing in II
years "
Hardesty looked at his friend in won-
der and not altogether i'll pleasure.
con the way" he said, Il should
like to pass the old one room school
where Lo Fleetwood used to teach, and
out of the window of which leaped II
years ago. 1t is down this way, isn't it?"
''It has been moved back in the lot,
and a big grocery has been built on the
front-the playground, you know, where
we used to play foot and a half and sail
ors' Bombay. The old school has been
converted into a stable for the horses of
the man who runs the grocery. We
abandoned it as a school ten years ago
and erected pressed brick structure
down in the next block. We have been
progressing materially"
''You don't mean to tell me the old
school is used as stable?" cried Har-
desty. "And that playground gone too?
Why, the happiest moments of my life
and yours were passed there listening to
half witted Billy Mendenall initiating
bird songs and skinning the cat on the
horizontal bar, which we bought by
popular subscription of old iron and
rags"
Eyes, it was i'll the way of improve
ment.'
AS they talked they walked. Hardesty
hardly knew himself for the changes in
the old town-the dear old town back
to which he had looked so fondly. Off
there i'll Chicago he had been in the
habit of passing opinion on men and
saying: "Ah, you poor, hustling, de-
luded mortals, you are entirely different
from Squire Lo Stone and OFT Templar
and the other quiet, tranquil souls i'll
that other town where my old home is
l am glad have that dear place. 1t
will be like all anchorage to me in this
St'iiliS SNd anu llo", ttuu ION
just think of it! The old school stable!
Henry" he finally remarked, "there
is just one thing l seriously want to and
must see. There used to be big cotton
wood tree over on the river bank-you
remember it-where l carved my name
one day-my name and that Of girl.
I'm married now, but, do you know,
I'd like to see that old tree and see if
the initials are there yet. The girl was
Ida Jordan. 1 suppose, of course, she
has IL children and''-
'She's dead, Dave-died two years
after you left. And the tree has been
cut down to give way to lumber yard
and'-
Hardesty interrupted him.
Say he cried, ''you sell that stuff
of mine for what you can get. don't
want to see it again. Your town is too
prosperous for me. There's only one
thing more want to know want to
lick the man who cut down that tree.
Who is he? Where Can he be found?'
'It was on my land, and I cut it
down." said his friend, the agent.