The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-01-21
THE RUINED VILLAGE
ON THE HILL.
A REALISTIC STORY OF CECIL
COUNTY BY J. X. POLK
RACINE
WRITTEN FOR THE CECIL WING.

WRITTEN FOR THE CECIL WING.
n lot many readers Of the CECIL
nj WING know the history attached
/ Y to old Bull Frog, a once flourish
ing hamlet about half way be-
tween Elkton and Chesapeake, and the
outlandish name Of Bull Frog is it's proper
name today, and has been since time i'm
memorial. And how strange that this
defunct city should be the very first in
the United States to have railroad built
right up against her threshold, and that
her inhabitants were the very first to stand
and gaze in open mouthed wonder at the
first iron monster in the United States as
she came laundering down the old French
town Railroad.
Suppose that our readers, who know
nothing about old Bull Frog, take stroll
with She old historian this lovely morning,
and we will break the golden sunshine all
the way to the once happy old Frog but
now this dead city on the hill. l will take
it for granted that many Of you will go,
and those who will not go afoot | shall
take their minds eye, and will not be
denied.
We 20 south from Elkton, and when we
cross the Little Elk Creek, Just about where
she loses that title, by tumbling into the
Elk River we look to our left and there
browning the green slope of the Little Elk
bank, and empowered in stately trees
stands the venerable mansion of Holly
Hall. Its halls and chambers were once
adorned with the portraits of patriots and
heroes, and with illustrations and relics Of
the great revolution, and OF the Father of
his Country. And within and without
history and tradition seemed to breathe
their legends upon canvass as soft as
dream OF peace. And there is a ,1onder.
ful history attached to the venerable old
mansion across the Little Elk, from Elk
ton, and in the near future we may write
of dear old Holly Hall.
We soon catch vista of two old oranges,
and the magnificent plantations surround
ing them denote industry, thrift and
plenty. These are the Mitchell planta
tions Next we come to Crouch Chanel,
and standing nearby is little temple
of learning known as Mitchell School
hcrs0 However, these were not neighbors
of the old Frog in the antique days of yore
But see! On the summit of that hill yon-
der in the distance are the ruins of the
village long since deserted known as Bull
Frog Now we will pass down the slope
to tie vale below, and when we cross a
babbing brook known as Hickory Run we
will then climb the rugged hill of the
Frog. But what romantic looking
cstreamlet old Hicko. Run is, many of you
will thin. O, see its crystalline waters
peep at US from under the fence in the
meadow above dart ont into the road and
play hide and seek with the laughing sun
light for IL moment, kiss every white peh-
BILE in passing, then dance into the bushy
meadow below. All, many times when a
barefoot urchin has the writer limped
across this same rivulet with stone bruised
feet, when his little brown shins would be
the whittier after having come in contact
with its laughing waters. But that was
when the Frog was in her glory; when
she domestic fowls crowed and sung
throughout the happy village; when the
geese gobbled to the passerby at the bab-
bling book; when the lazy watch dog
blinked at you from every door in the
village; when Rusty's strong right arm
sent forth sweet notes OF industry from his
anvil at the Frog; when happy children
Just let loose from school sent forth peal
after peal Of laughter, which, after ming