Evening journal., 1901-10-28


lated family. His body was soon recov-
cred and brought to the darkened home
and everybody was busy In supplying
their wants both of back. stomach and
sad heart. Many OF the true men Of
that period went to see old Benny Bill
liams, the coffin maker" as he was
styled-and became personally respon-
sible for the funeral necessities. and or
dered him to give old John a respect
able funeral Boys and girls were seen
all day long carrying little floral re-
minders OF parental sympathy for the
family. and every attention was given
TO making the sad home hallowed by
the presence and kindness of the peo-
ple of the Old Castle.
How II warns our heart toward the
people of this little but grand old town,
as we gaze back through our minds
eyes. over the 65 years intervening
since our bovhood days when first we
began to realize the true character OF
the men and women of that time. and
think over the wonderful resources Of
those people, to help one another. A
hnder-hearted people never lived. Big
ger and more sympathetic hearts never
palpitated in human breasts: and more
generous-handed. willing souls and
open pocketbooks. willing souls and
than we have ever witnessed since
although we have witnessed many-but
not as q community When an event
occurred In the lives Of any one Of
them. II was a signal of distress seen
by all-rich or poor alike. II seemed
TO reach the heart OF the community.
and radiate to those in the outskirts as
quickly and create a friendly rivalry
to provide relief from the calamity.
great or small. How cherished the
names. familiar to our youthful years.
of thOse-many OF whom naught Is left
but their ashes--and although full of
memories under the same sacred sod Of
our beloved parents and relatives with
some of the companions of our youth.
AS We remember their kind deeds and
words to the orphans of seventy years
ago. new we love 10 look and linger
and bring back the pleasant memories,
and call up 70 have pass through our
minds the panorama OF sweet memories
and well-remembered names and lovely
faces and happy traits possessed only
by those good Samaritan and kind
and gentle shepherds" To recall the
names Of the Rooths and Dodgers. Kin
.zeysiohns. the Stockmans. Carrahs.
Radfords. Sharpes. Billinger. Lott.
Jimmy X. the butcher. Uncle Billy. OF
Jersey Market. Neddalhvs. Becklevs
Vine. Israel. Ezekial and Guelma. all
shOemakers. Captain Splityer and Mar
garette. Sheriff Jefferson. good old Or.
and Sammy Barrels. CaTAaln Billy Bob
son and hundreds cf others. who are
Dsssing before our minds eye IN pano-
ramic splendor. VIII Bobson. Jim
Sharp. and Captain Search of the
Nautilus. were the trio who.upon this
mournful occasion. stepped to the front
10 aid the distressed family and never
since have we forgotten their manly
act The rector OF the church Of their
choice-gCod old Rev. Pressman. went
among his flock and gathered raiment
for HIS destitute parishioners. The ven
cradle old shoemaker. Thomas Ballin-
ger. and his companion, and his sister
were active and Mrs. Rooth and Mrs.
others, all active in supplying the
wants OF their unfortunate but not for
saken neighbors.
The benevOlen. spirit Of the old cas-
tie had free course to run and was al
ways glorihed I'M all sums from the
Widows mite to the rich mans dollar.
At that time there we're few million
aires even in the great commercial cen
tiers. and a man who had a reasonably
good bank account then was regarded
as rich. but to-day would be only re-
garded as well-to-do while the we'll
to-do man of then would be a pauper
to-day. in point of wealth The town
had been made historic by "A couplet
running thus:
Low church, high steeplc.
Little town. proud people.
But these same proud people were ear
ing little for repute made by such lines
over them by jealous scribblers. for
they were the most selfsatished people
on the west bank of that noble river
the De-la-war
Everybody seemed to know about the
great loss the Erbents had met with
and the calamity was on everybody
tongue, Aunt Sallie Bampbell and her
sister met Mrs. Boss" Radford and
Mrs. Vinerly and everybody else seem
ingly-as we remember-were interest
ed and talking over the sad conse-
duence to his loved ones. or doing
something about the Erbert case.
One week from the burial Of John
Erbert witnessed the dawning o