The Press., 1898-12-29
"Reminiscences.

"Reminiscences.
 What e lot of memories ChIistmas- time Awakens.
 It would seem almost at that time as if some mighty magician, more powerful than "old Father Time" himself, had seized the relns of the mad, rushing steeds and wheeled them face about, and with q 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 vis- lted perhaps for years, they talk not so much of what the world is 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 tance, but which seemed serious enough when they thought father and mother would find 1t out. Do you remember this p'' Do you remember that?" Each has some recollection to bring up, which the others had forgotten till recalled tC 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 usty.stove standing on three legs, with pile oF bricks In place of the fourth. In one corner is the water pail, with its battered dipper, and in front Is the masters platform, which looked 10 us like an awful throne of judgment.
 It Is a warm, lazy afternoon; outside the bees are hummlng, 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 1t ls day to make one long for wings to fly away from the dull monotony Of the school-room.
 Put away your books and get out your copy-books," says the teacher, for 1t: is the dreaded half-hour for writing Oh! that old copy.b book, will we ever for get 1t? For a whole year we have labor cd over the tedious columns of "line upon line and preoept upon precept, |" "strive to excel" virtue brings its own reward. :" and other like time-honored phrases and mottoes. How ashamed we afe, as the teacher slowly turns the pages one by one back ward, 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 lino looking like a 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 of our seat and said 'Ouch!" right out loud. That big blOtch a page or two ahead. which looks for all the world as if 1t 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, upsettiDg 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 No. 3.'' So with a little more haste than usual the last word waa scrawled, and one of the scholars was told to pass the new books. Oh! how fresh and crisp they looked after the old, soiled, dog-eared ones we had handled SO long. It would be easy to keep this one nice. The pages
 
 plain that 1t 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 if the good intentions we had formed In regard to It 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 dTed," with all It's blots and mIsta es, 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 a time for mak- Ing new resolutions. Some resolve to break or 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 ad- dition to these, this year, let us suggest that you add the one of always paying cash for your groceries, and buying them whore 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. If we And we can not take care of the in. cre@sed number that the larger store is sure to draw, we will put on a 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 happy New Year.
 O. N. BROWN, Proprietor Chicago Grocery.
 
 Board of Relief Notice.