The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-04-02

But whilst | was letting memory revel
we were moving along and soon entered
the town Of North East. AS we pass
through ! noted some changes-som- i'm
provements, but some old land marks are
still left. As we leave town to the right
we pass large barn. How well | remem-
Der a festival held there when it was first
built, and with the memory comes up the
face of one of my earliest girl friends, Bell
Cazer; she with her mother and Others
had helped to decorate the place and make
it attractive. Her father, consumptive,
sold the old home on the Elk river, few
farms above my fathers, when she was
quite young, to 90 South to regain his
health, but he, with two of his children,
died in one week of yellow fever in Savan-
nah, Ga. My girl friend had married
when she was a mere child. The Civil
War robbed her of her husband and all her
belongings, and she, with her widowed
mother, turned their feet, like Naomi and
Ruth, to their native land.
We we're of about one age, and yet she
seemed to have lived much longer than l.
She, with three others, Rev. Henry Sim
pers, Chris. Wingate and Mrs. Cazier, that
| associated with that evening, have passed
away to the better land.
We are now nearing the home OF my old
frionI xyhnn,
Mrs. Alex, Rutter. | began thinking
wonder if she will be glad to see me. Will
she feel the same to me as of old ? won
der if she has changed and will she look
much older? All these thoughts came
pressing upon me as we rode along.
have made pleasant friendships in later
years but the friends Of my early days
prize their friendships as if they were pre-
cious jewels hid in the innermost chambers
of my soul. That meeting and the few
hours spent in that room | shall never for
get; its sweetness fingers with me still; my
hopes and expectations were fully realized
for she kept repeating, 81 am so glad to
see you" did not see that she was much
changed l thought she compared very
favorably with her grown daughters when
she was their age. When quite young she
had the care Of an invalid mother which
developed her into a very capable, self
reliant woman, which traits of character
now are so prominent in her home.
Reared in the country myself have always
thought that to live on a we'll titled farm
and inhaling the pure country air tends to
give one independence of character, freedom
of thought, and self reliance, robust and
vigorous like the trees that grow up around
us. We were talking pleasantly and re-
viewing the past when carriage drove up
in the yard and gentleman alighted; as
he approached l recognized the jolly good
natured face of young man Of some sum
mers (and few winters) ago, VIM. Will
son, one that went to all the parties sing
ing schools and church; not that there was
any particular virtue attached to his
church going in thosedays, but that was
one of the places the young folks had
of seeing and meeting each other.
forgave him for not recognizing me at first
for when he raised his hat 10. and
railroad to meet some gentlemen, old
friends, and he stopped to see my friends
husband on his way home, as they had all
been boys and school-mates together. His
friends, Fec and Homer George, like us
had come to visit their old home. One a
preacher, { Rev. James Dulaney) and son OF
preacher. He held forth at old Hart S
Chapel on this Sunday, where his own
father had blown the gospel trumpet in the
days of his and my childhood. Before l
left my girl friend we were alone a short
time. She told me Of impressions made
and influences exerted upon her when quite
young that | never knew of before.
would not think this sketch complete with
out making mention of her grlhood home
at Hance's Point, (Wingate's) for l have
such pleasant recollections of the houri
spent in this happy home.
On one quarterly meeting occasion at the
little Shawnee Church, or rather school
house, fitted up for preaching on the Sab
bath, |, with others, was guest for din
ner. 1t comes up so plain to me now. L
was warm weather and her mosher wa.
rolled in her invalid chair on the porch
A little child belonging to one of tn,
friends was playing around. Jake, tht
colored hoy, was busying himself getting
Miss Mary's dinner which he arranged OF
low table at her side, and was movin!
away when she said, Jake have YOU no
forgotten something's lie was off in
minute but came back grinning ell over hi
black face, with a low stool, and rs ten
derby as woman he gently raised her fec
aud placed them upon it. The little CIR
who was playing around stopped anC
look ed at the dnner-the fried CHECKER
proved too tempting for her. she just took il
up and appropriating it to herself walked
off with it. I even now can see that deal
old invalid lay back in her chair and laugh
to see her dinner walk away in that style,
and never can forget it. There is Mary
among the grand children and | just fel,