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


smoky city spread out at our feet,
with a broad sluggish river between.
1t was a facinating picture to me, for
it was my first view of a great town
withits hustle and roar and confusion.
Trains were rushing in and out in
every direction-the clang of the mills
the flame and smoke of the furnaces
and the deep hoarse notes of the end
less line of steamboats, going in andout
of port made a scene that would have
given pang to the genii of the Ara
bian Nights, We did not tarry long
in the city, for look at it as we would
it was only the old factory life" on a
larger scale.
Sunset found us five miles from the
city, down the Ohio river, counting
ties along the Fort Wayne railway on
our way further west. We slept in
an old hay shed that stood on a bank
above the railway track, where we
were in full view of the west bound
trains. We slept sound enough at
first, but towards morning the roar
and rattle of the trains wakened us
up. shall never forget how wierd
and uncanny the trains seemed to look
rushing towards us in the dark, the
flaming headlight looked like the
baleful eye of some antediluvian mon
ster. Leaving the hay shed in the
early morning and started down the
railroad in search of breakfast A
four or five mile walk brought us to a
cluster of houses where we saw a sign
Bakery" hanging in the front of one
of them. An old Irish woman was in
the charge of the shop, but she had
nothing for sale except pies and beer.
My chum bought a rhubarb pie and
had it wrapped up in a piece of paper.
We walked a mile or so further on
and found shady place and stopped
| to discuss the pie. What was our
rage and Indignation to find that the
"ould devil'' had given us an unbaked
pie. We both swore roundly and
hoped that our ancestors had fought
bravely and effectively at the battle
of the Boyne.
We cooled off, however, and miti-
gated the pangs of our hunger by a
plunge in the turbid waters of the
Ohio where we swan to our hearts
content through the rushing waves
made by the passing towboats. But
our hunger was worse, if anything,
after the bath, and we were raw
enous enough to have made a
meal upon dried chips. Farther
down the road we found patch
of onions as we had not seen a
house since we left the bakery-and
we concluded that an onion breakfast
would not go so badly. We raided
the patch-and never poor Spaniard
! gnawed at the fiery bulbs with more
+ gusto than my chum and land l
have never liked onions since.
Evening found us at East Liverpool
! o., where we looked for work at the
potteries, but it seemed that they
were only running on half time and
did not need any hands. We left the
railroad at this place and taking the
public road that led up the river HILL
we struck out for a trip inland. At
the top of the hill we found an excel
lent spring of water where we stopped
and ate our supper of dried beef,
cheese and crackers. Night coming
on we hurried on our way looking for
place to sleep. After walking two
or three miles we found a sheep shed
standing in a field a short distance
from the road. 1t proved to be but
cold comfort for we had to sleep on
the hard cold floor. Morning found
us, however, in as gay spirits as usual
the soul of unbruised youth is not
easily daunted, and laughs at all hard
ships. Wehad enough of last nights
lunch left over to do for breakfast
but our money was now at a low ebb
and we would have to beg or go hun
cry. We did not care, we had enough
| for breakfast, and it was six hours
until noon.
Gaily we took to the highway and
frolicked along as careless as lie CT
! gale" in Lefontaine's pathetic fable
Noon coming on-with a forloin cop
per we tossed up for who should beg
/ the dinner. AS luck would have it it
fell to me to play the part of Lazarillo
de Tonnes. Imade my debut at the
| first farm house we met along the road;
to my establishment hunger had put
an extra glibness to my tongue, and
my tale of woe secured us some but
tered bread and a whole cherry pie.
Stolen fruits may be sweet, but moth
ing was ever devoured with more rel
ish by Inc than the first meal | had
ever begged in my life. Emboldened
by my success nothing would do me
but to beg a meal at the very next