The Press., 1898-12-29

"Reminiscences.
What a lot of memories Christmas
time awakens.
1t would seem almost at that time as if
some mighty magician, more powerful
than 'old Father Time himself, had
seized the reins of the mad, rushing steeds
and wheeled them face about, and with a
flourish of his wand, had driven us back
again into the dim and distant past. We
live over our childhood once more, and
when families of sons and daughters and
grandchildren come together in the old
home, which some of them have not WIS.,
tied perhaps for years, they talk not so
much Of what the world lie doing to-day,
nor of the next great invention of the
near future; but they talk of the things
that happened when they were boys and
girls together; of the pranks they played,
which seem safe to laugh at from this dis
lance, but which seemed serious enough
when they thought father and mother
would find 1t out. ''Do you remember
this ?'' "Do you remember that?" Each has
some recollection to bring up, which the
others had forgotten till recalled to their
minds.
But perhaps in all this train of recol-
lections there is no one spot or object
that stands out more prominently on
memory's glass than the old log school
house. In fancy we see ourselves again
sitting on the rough, hard benches. There
Is the old rusty.stove standing on three
legs, with pile of bricks in place of the
fourth. In one corner is the WATERFALL,
with its battered dipper, and in front is
the masters platform, which looked 10
US like an awful throne of judgment
1t Is warm, lazy afternoon; outside
the bees are humming, and the trees,
touched by the warm breath of early
spring, are putting forth new leaves; the
grass Is beginning to look green, and al
together it is day to make one long for
wings to fly away from the dull monotony
OF the sehool-room.
'Put away your books and get out
your copy books" says the teacher, for
It. Is the dreaded half-hour for writing
Oh! that old copy book, will we ever for
get it2 For whole year we have labor
ed over the tedious columns of slime upon
line and precept upon precept, "strive
to excel, - Virtue brings its own reward"
and other like time-honored phrases and
notices. How ashamed we are, as the
teacher slowly turns the pages one by
one backward, and points out to us the
blots and mistakes and lines that were
never meant by the author to be there.
Yes, we remember all about them. That
line looking like railroad track running
clear to the top of the page was made by
the girl behind US giving our elbow a
nudge when we were on an upward stroke,
and those hen-tracks on the opposite page
were made when Bill Smith slyly stuck a
pin into us while the teachers back was
turned, and how the scholars all roared
when we jumped clear off our seat and
said ''Ouch!" right out loud. That big
blotch page or two ahead, which looks
for all the world as if it had been struck
by one of the balls that knocked out the
Spanish fleet recently, was caused when a
mouse ran across the floor in front of the
girl at our right, and she jumped upon
our desk for safety, upsetting the ink
bottle in her haste.
But this particular Friday afternoon we
had come to the last page of our copy
book, and we were allowed few moments
Of extra time that all might finish the
last column and start together in the new
ones, for on the following Monday morn
ing We were to begin writing in mo. 81
So with a little more haste than usual
the last word was scrawled, and one of
the scholars was told to pass the new
books. Oh! how fresh and crisp they
AOOACu 6ALOi sluC OIU. SOl1SS, uOS-6dEOu
ones VS. had handled so long. II would
be easy to keep this one nice. The pages
are so clean and white and the copy so
plain that it looks as If the words would
almost write themselves. So we carry
the new copy-book home to show to the
folks, with as much assurance and pride
as II the good intentions we had formed.
In regard to 1t were already an accom-
plished thing
Friends, this present week finishes the
old copy book.
We are not only in the last week of the
old year, but on next Monday morning
We will be starting on the last year of
the old century. Soon eighteen hun
dIed,' with all it's blots and mistakes
will be behind us. Let US strive to make
1t the best year of the whole century, and
not make the same mistakes that we
have before.
New Years" is always time for max
Ing new resolutions. Some resolve to
break off the drinking habit, some from
smoking, some from swearing, others
staying out late nights, and many other
things. These are all good resolutions,
and should be made and kept, but in adj
dttion to these, this year, let US suggest
that you add the one of always paying
cash for your groceries, and buying them
where you can get the best for the least
money.
Our resolution for the new year is to
try harder than ever to please and serve
you. We expect soon after the first of
the year to enlarge our store capacity,
making one of the largest, best lighted,
best arranged and best filled stores in the
place. No matter how many come at
once then, there will be room for all
IL We find we can not take care of the in
creased number that the larger store is
sure to draw, we will put on larger
force of help, so all will be waited upon
carefully and speedily.
Next week We will quote you the special
prices with which we begin the new year.
Thanking you for the very liberal pat
ronage you have given US in the past, and
respectfully requesting continuance of
the same, we wish you a happy New ear.
o. NJ. BROWN, Proprietor Chicago Grocery.
BOARD 0f RoIiof Nnfioo