The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-06-16
THE Old TONA ON THE RIVER
FLORA BULLOCK.

There are highways and byways lead
ing out from the Old Town to the corn
fields and orchards. and when once the
fever Of exploration has seizs you. you
can hardly stop until you have found
the road to the west, the north and the
south. One BLESSED thing Is that the
river does not run on section lines, so
that the roads, perforce. wind around as
best they can. Oit past trim farm
houses set in the midst of orchards they
lead you. but though you travel far, you
can still look back and see the red walls
Of the Cd Town and the white tower OF
the institute for the blind, most promi-
nent Of all. One roid that knoI takes
you out to the northwest by a zigzig
north and west line until you reach the
river timber. Then comes high bluff
above the timber, and a view OF the
mighty Old river far to the north and
away around the curve to the south.
1t is said to be the best view in that
region. The story Of the war between
the river and the land is written plainly
there. Out in mids.ream is consider
able island covered with green growth
which you take to he giass; but you are
told that it is only swamp Willows.
The island-iust an old sandbar
as firm as the banks of the stream.
Then on the Iowa side is great area Of
bottom land, backed up by bluffs, hazy
10 the distance, You stand on one side
and know that the cd river goes around
just about as it wills in that wide valley.
Now it flows on this side, close to the
Nebraska bluffs, but the old chs mel is
on the Iowa side, and some times there
are whispers, The river is going back
to the old channel" as il it were be-
ing of spiteful, revengeful purpose.
Then the railroad people hold consulta-
tions and tn, old steamboat goes
"thump-thump," riprapping along the
eastern side near Nebraska City to pro-
tect the approaches to the big bridge.
A turn to the west on the road brings
you out on a section line. and then you
are square with the world again. For
a mile or so there is rather uninterest-
ing country, and little timber. But a
turn to the south brings you back to
tie forest land, the home of the family
OF tree planters. Mr. Joy Morton has a
yellow and white house high on a wood
ed hill, looking rather neighborless and
lonesome. Nearer the city he has laid
out fine wide driveway. with two rows
Of thrifty trees-a Morton tree always
grows-on each side. 1t leads up to a
sylvan retreat, but there is as yet 10
house among the trees. In field by
this road, far away apparently from any
stony ledge is great gray rock. on
which, it is said, the Indians pounded
Their corn into meal.
You can get back to town on a good
bicycle road-one OF the few down
among the Otoe hills-which brings
you past Arbor Lodge and through the
,ity park. Arbor Lodge always i'm
presses me as place that has grown up
With the country. There is nothing
about it. Even the two
lows Of beautiful thrifty peonies, be-
,ween which you ride on an early June
lay up to the square yellow and white
he Morton colors-hoase, look as if
hey we're at home in some grandmoth-
RS garden, for all the studied stateli-
less OF the trees that flank the paved
driveway. The Arbor Lodge orchard is
lot go young as some, but it has we'll
.roomed appearance. North of the