The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-31
POhPEY HiLL's MN YEAR.
Gathering at Which Lady Randolph
Chnrohilrs Grand mother Figured.

LocKPoRr. Dec. 30.-How the grandmother
OF hdy Randolph Churchi.l attended New
Ycai house party In central New York more
than hat century ago 10 told by John T.
Murray ~ LockIort. Mr.. Murray Is close on to
four score years. IL still engaged In the prac.
tlce Of law, and Is the Oldest attorney In NJ
agara county. He was born In the Pompey
Hill district. Onondaga county. which was
settled by New England farmers who promptly
mortgiged their unsettled farms in order to
found an academy. Said Mr.. Murray:
Tho New Highlander who settled Penney
Hill went up on TO the mountain. passing by
the fertile valleys. not so much because they
wanted to got nearer God a. because they de-
sireu to avoid the devllsh malaria In the low
lands. And 40 IL was that Pompey Hill was
tiled to tho top while the level meadows In tho
valleys lay faow for years after the scttlers
came into that sect on. Steep hills and stones
were the features OF the landscape. am told
that one day my father WAS driving by tho
HON stead OF one. Hiram Smith Hiram was
occupied. as most Pompey Hill folks were
thrc e-fourths OF their working hours. picking
M stones In field. Stopping his horse. father
cried bunteringly Why. Hiram. where did you
get enough stones to lay your hull farm out In
four-acre lots with fences around 'em hiGher'n
the walls OF Jericho an SO wide that they'll be
higher yet II they tumbled DOWN. Smith
raised himself up from his task. and straight
cnlng out his lack with his hand. replied
warmly: Why. you ole fool, cant you sec
where get emf Father responded with
chucKIe. No; havc.js missed any
AT this tine recall with no little pleasure
New Iear's hHrse party. as the present gencr-
erng Of kinsfolks anil other ir,ends for good
time held on P9mpey Hi more than half:
Grntu,y ago Ny aunt. The cr9ndmother Of
IN III. instiv lies On the south side OF the hiil.
which is the highest, arabic land in New York
lcve wa, what was in the old days ca lei the
Murray .ar dist iGt; fonr iamIes. three Murray
ns M 4ry Tn'f hs
the district, II consisted OF a Gundrangu-
lar insllned plane about one mile each
That is by IRVING round, the, block, II
portion OF Onandagn county which We couii
see from our house lacked Ike an Immense
msn,e Of white dotted here AMI there with
c'olk Of erm! ne. Father came IN from work
early, and told mother he was In favor OF hay
se" the cool cid year ort aud greet the new
SomtnS In TS 'uGsrstion reeSiyet nRsni,
hitchrd On 10 tho blg sled AMI we we're plough.
the lock ,fhs arst place We reached was
honey oppression. ! shall never forget Aunt
Cries looS Of drsr4ir when we presented our
invitation To the Now Years party 10 be ac-
ceptrl forthwith. Her sleeves were rolled up.
and her plump arms were concealed to the
elbow In lou n.
Said she. i don't sae how we can come: it's
my baking day, md that's the most important Of
children
Father solved the problem ny telling her to
roll all her bread inro clean sheet and throw
II into the sleigh. organising her that the boys
would snlt tn" wood and bake II IN our oven at
home. Ths was. done, and Auut Orr" Jerome
II snowe,l 20 hard during tho night and next
morning that tho party had TO stay until we
coul ! shovel out the roads, SO we had to eat
Aunt Qrie's bread, Her Eranddnughter. Lady
Randolph Churchill, never ate better"