The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-10-16
SWIMMING HOLE TALK.
II Made the Prosperous Looking Man
Change His Mind About Going
TO the Seashore.

"All this old swimming hole talk is
inclined to make a man homesick,'
said one of the prosperous looking
group who were being served with
cooling liquids by an ebony-hued wait
er, who was polite to the point of servi
tude, according to the Cincinnati En-
quirer.
when it first popped up in the En-
quirer several weeks ago 1 had it all
fixed up to take belated flyer to Cape
May or Atlantic City. But l didn't. 1
caught sight of that swimming hole
contest announcement, and it brought
me back with yank to certain days
long ago when we didn't dare get our
hair wet for fear we'd get a licking
when we got home"
A reminiscent smile stole around the
board, and one man quietly ordered
mint juleps for the crowd. 1t seemed
the only appropriate drink at the
time.
well. the more | thought it over the
more the idea hung to me until at last
/ turned to my wife.
"'Mary,' said I, didn't you say the
other day we ought to go out and see
my mother this summer? ! thought
so. Well, we're booked to start Tues
day morning.
"Say!'-and there was a far-away
look in the big mans eyes-"did any of
you fellows ever go back to the home
where you lived as boy and do all over
again the very things you did when you
were a frecklefaced awkward urchin
in knickerbockers? Well. that's just
what I've been doing for three weeks,
and | want to inform this squad that
I've had just about the most scrump-
tious vacation | ever put in. | climbed
all over the old barn that l once had
to climb over looking for eggs and new
hens nests. | squatted-in my bare
feet-in the running water of the
springhouse, and drank cool, sweet
milk out of the crooks just as used to
when | was boy, but this time my own
eight-year-old prodigy was there to
help me. That prodigy was also with
me whenever | sauntered down to the
creek in the evening, both of us peel
ing off our clothes as we walked along.
The youngster enjoyed it, but his de-
light wasn't one-two-six with that of
mine as we splashed about in the water
or padded around in the dug-out that
has done duty at that particular spot
for 10! these many years. Some even
ings we would walk to the little old
schoolhouse where l went as young
ster. | was pleased to see that. aside
from the added dignity of a bell and
tower, it hadn't changed a particle.
On the banks of the creek near by l
found the beech tree l had carved my
initials on when a lad at that school,
and the initials were still to be seen.
when the cleaning began to
gloam the kid and | would return
from these wanderings and stretch
out in hammocks on the big, old
fashioned porch, where all the rest
of the family would be gathered.
Along about nine o'clock mother
would bring us-perhaps--a pitcher
of milk from the springhouse, with
gingerbread to accompany it; or,
maybe, it would be a watermelon
that had been, suspended in the well
all day-nOt as cold as ice, but
mighty near it; or, again, it might
be a basket of harvest apples that,
red-striped and delicious, lay under
the trees of the orchard. Anyhow,
it would be something good that
would be waiting for us at bedtime
The prodigy and | together occupied
great, oldfashioned four-poster,
and when we had retired to it mother
would come to see if we were com.
Portable and kiss me goodnight
just as she used to-and just as the
kids mother does with him nova
days.
''Well," added the big man, as he
noticed that his audience seemed
willing to stand for more, that will
be about all | merely want to re-
mark that I've been to the ocean
beaches and I've been to the noun
tains, where they have artificial
lights and live artificial lives, but
when vacation season comes next
summer I'm going right back to the
old home and drink milk out of the
crooks and wade in the creek"
The big man left an opening for
some comments, but the whole gang
seemed absorbed in deep thought
and nobody said a word for ten min
utes. Even then it was only a ierky
order for four more mint juleps.