The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-01-18

modern architecture. 1t cannot be caG9
ed a stately old mansion. 1t is IA
ancient, weather beaten house, with;
white-washed logs for walls. The rooms
are low ceiled and have white-washed
rafters over head. The wide hallway
and the open fre-places are eloquent OF
comfort in time OF summers parchiDg
heat or winters freezing cold, while the
ancient old spinning wheel in the hall
speaks OF the things that are buried in
the tomb Of the vanished years.
The house was built in 1920 by Bills
father, who was one OF the sturdiest
pioneers that ever taught three RS,
readin', 'ritin and 'rithmetic to the
children of a new born republic
It stands on high bluff over
looking the Ohio and from it's site in the
summer one can be
"Lulld by warm airs blowing lowy
Beneath a heaven dark and holy
And watch the wondrous river drawing
slowly
His waters to the far of sparkling
brine'
like the lotus-eateIs OF old.
Tonight the hill on which the house
stands is bsthed in the cold gray light OF
a winter moon. A heavy fog envelopes
the lowland and out OF this mystic
shroud the naked trees lift their tops and
stretch their guarded branches heaven
ward like druidical priests with arms
upheld in the performance OF some wired
rite.
The scene is cold and lifeless. 1t
strikes chill to the heart and turn
gladly from the window to the open crate
where a blazing fire crackles blithely
and the draught in the wide throsted
chimney sings song OF good cheer
Bill is absent from the room. 1t is the
children's bed time and while his wife
rocks the baby, Mehitable Ann, to sleep,
he hears the boys prayers. From across
the hall l hear two childish voices re-
peating "Now lay me down to sleep"
The prayer is finished and soon the two
fair haired lads close their eyes in peace
full slumber.
Bill Ashby has nick-named his two
boys "Cyclone" and Babe" They are
skilled in wood craft and in the lore Of
field and fen. They know all the pc
culisrities of the things with paws and
claws that inhabit the domain over
which they exercise the sway of mon
archs. All day long they have played as
only healthy children can. Every breath
they drew was full freighted with oxygen
and their diet OF ozone gave them the
energy of giants. In their play they &C.
complished mighty tasks. They built
great dams and created artificial lakes,
on which they foated an argosy of feath-
er-mastod vessels. They erected mud
forts, and resolved themselves into armies
and fought right ya,iantly. At first "Cy-
clone" tried to convince "Babe" that he
was the army of Spain, but Babe was
too patriotic to entertain 80 reasonable a
proposition, and the matter was COM
promised by both appearing as American
soldiers fighting under one flag and for
the same principle. The battle resulted,
appropriately, in draw.
After the fight the boys set snares for
any wild game that might be prowling
around and then hied themselves to the
barn where they played circus, to their
hearts content with the colt and calves
tria m
vince Babe that he was a rough rider but
his steed, brindle calf, threw him so
hard that he skinned his hands and
knees. Babe had to give Cyclone five
pecans and a porcelain door-knob to con-
sole him and stop his crying. Sympathy
is a great balm when it comes in the
shape OF gifts.
After the circus in the barn the boys
made the round OF their traps. They
were successful in sharing the best lay
ing hen ON the farm and they found a
few tufts of rabbit skin near one of the
traps which convinced these mighty
hunters that sly fox had stolen their
quarry.
After supper the boys seated them
selves at the feet of "the stranger
within their gates" and listened
TO the wierd tales Of 1.-THE Big
Bear, the Middle-Sized Bear and the Lit
tie Bear" Their eyes opened wide with
wonder at the splendOrs OF Aladdin's
gorgeous palace, and they wept over the
fate OF the BABES in the Wood"
Though tired in mind and body they
reluctantly respond TO fathers invitation
TO say their prayers; but soon they are
in bed, sleeping the sleep of the pure and
innocent, and the Good Father whom
they have invoked TO guard them has SET
an angelic host about their cots TO shield
them from harm during the watches oil
the night.
Mehitable Ann. the little girl, is wake
full. Her mother, grooming gentle lul
laby endeavors 10 rock her to sleep
Mehitable Ann, however, has music in
her soul and her baby voice, high-keyed
and full OF strange little trills and qua
vers, is merged into the mothers husl
song making a melody 80 sweet and holy
that II is the wondTous incarnation o.
love.
Bill, having got the boys 10 slOep, joint
ma in the other room and We ait before