The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-02-17

occupants, and the entire house bore
the marks of a hasty departure of its
jewellers, as if they had eaten their
last bite and gone-probably to Wash
ington City,to fill a fat office under
Grant. 1t all seemed so strange and
lonely that we made haste to get out
into the sunshine and fresh air-tak-
ing one of the tin cans in our way
through the cellar.
We crossed creek near the house
and passed a large lanyard on the far
side of the creek. There was huge
pair of deer antlers fastened above the
tan house door, but we were not han
kering after any lanyard venison, land
so walked on. We walked a short
distance further where we found a
cool resting place under a spreading
beech tree, and being hungry we sat
down and opened our can" 1t was
filled with canned peaches, ard with
our crackers and bologna, made a
first rate lunch. We fastened a string
to the empty can and carried it with
us to use as bringing cut for water
and milk, unconsciously adopting the
insignia by which the profession is
known to-day.
We reached Canton shortly after
wards and looked for work in the big
shops, but failed to find a place. Leav-
ing Canton we walked through the
town of Minerva and found a resting
place in the NOW of an old log barn,
having begged our suppers on the
way. AS it was Saturday night we
concluded to be in no hurry about
starting in the morning. Late Sun
day morning we were awakened by
the galloping strains of a fiddle. Look
ing out the NOW hole we saw an old
man sitting on the porch of a two
story brick house that stood a short
distance away and facing the barn.
He was tiddling away in blissful con
tent. A little child was running
around in the yard, carrying a young
chicken in its frock. Presently a wo-
man appeared at the door and called
to the child, Put down that chicken,
Alice, it will spatter on you" This
was too much for my chum and !, and
bursting with laughter we jumped
out of the NOW and broke for the
road-the old man fiddling away.
1t was beautiful morning, and we
enjoyed it thoroughly. The air was
balmy and sweet at the breath of a
goddess, and the country was bright
and smiling with the magical touch of
June. We walked along in merry
mood, for we had a good lunch in our
bundles, and brisk walk would give
| zest to our modest meal. After walk
ing a mile or so we rested beneath the
shade of an old oak, where a spring
of cool water flowed out at its gnarled
roots. After eating our lunch we lay
back on the grass and laughed and
talked and made merry over the Incl
dents of our trip.
We passed through two or three
small towns during the day, but did
not stop in any of them. At one place
we passed church where there were
a lot of boys and girls in the church
yard awaiting for the church service
to open. We had to run the gauntlet
of their derisive sneers and remarks
but my recollection is that we paid
them back with more than they want
ed to hear. No doubt these boys are
pillars in the church now, and the
girls are prim, proper and precise ma
irons with boys of their own.
We stopped at several farm houses
to beg something to eat, but could
not find anyone at home. At one
place we saw sign nailed to a tree,
which read Viewing dun hear" A
little cottage stood back from the
road. We went to the door and
knocked, and getting no answer we
tried the latch and finding the
door unfas tened wa k d
in. An old fashioned loom stood in
the middle of the room, while bed,
table, wooden safe and two chairs
comprised the rest of the furniturne.
We looked in the safe but found moth
ing but two rhubarb pies. Here was
distress greater than our own, so
wishing the weaver better luck we left
the pies undisturbed, and closing the
doors, went on our way.
At the next house there was no one
at home, and being very hungry we
made bold enough to go in. 1t seem
ed to be furnished well enough and
everything kept well and clean, but
not an atom of food of any kind could
be found. The old campaign yarn
about every other man in Ohio living
on wind must have had some show of
truth in it. Not finding anything to
eat, picked up an illustrated paper
as a memento of our call and took to
| L. 4