The National tribune., 1902-09-11

encroached upon each others hunting
grounds. Sometimes the Hookers crossed
the river and joined with the Lees in n
war dance or grand pow-wow, but we al
ways came back to the north side in few
days if we could.
Sometimes the Lees visited us, and we
went a-gunning with or for each other
among our pleasant hills; but they always
seemed to tire quickly of our society, and
were glad when their Great Sachem called
them to return to their happy hunting
grounds south of the river.
In the early Summer of that year, how
ever, the whole Lee Tribe, without con-
sulting us or giving any notice of their in
tentions, packed up their belongings, rolled
up their blankets and departed for parts
unknown; but rumor reported quickly that
they had gone northward beyond the PO-
tomac, even into Maryland, My Mary
land" and that possibly they might fish
in the purling streams and hunt among
the picturesque mountains Of Pennsylvania
ere they returned. Immediately the Hook
ers became ambitious also to enjoy Sum-
ner outing with the Lees, in the same de-
lightful resorts and health-giving sports
that they were enjoying, and forthwith we
packed our grips, and on the morning of
the 18th of June turned our faces toward
the fair land Of the North. A picnic surely
| it was. Most of us travelled on foot, carry
ing our beds and our grips the whole dis
tance of 15S miles before reaching the pic
mic grounds proper; but we were all young
and full Of enthusiasm. We always ate
our dinners under the shade Of the trees,
| when we could, and at night we camped
| in the most beautiful and romantic places.
| Sometimes, of course, the drenching rains
| descended upon us and the mountain
breezes overturned our hastily-constructed
| tents, but when such slight misfortunes
| overlook US, we crept in between the
mountains and the river for protection,
until the day-star arose in the East and
the sun of the morning shone forth in his
| warmth and glory.
On June % we crossed the Potomac
River, and on the afternoon Of June &c
crossed the Maryland line into the old
| Keystone State and encamped for the
night at Marsh Greek. Then on the morn
ing Of July /, as we continued our march
northward, we met our old neighbors, the
Lees, with whom we had parted company
on the Rappahannock in the early days
Of June, near the quiet and peaceful vii
lage of Gettysburg. Lo! here had the
Great Spirit selected, It would seem, the
grand picnic ground destined to become
the eliminating point Of the Summer out
ing Of the tribes from the Rappahannocl
in the -ear 1868.
We were all boys then, or young men
so were the Lees, and on meeting each
other we waited not for the glorious
Fourth-so near and yet SO far to many
| Of either tribe-to begin our renowned cele
bration, but Immediately We began dis
| charging our toy pistols and exploding oul
cannon crackers with all the wild en-
thusiasm characteristic of young Ameri
cans; keeping the air filed with smoke ani
the hills vibrant with tumult during ths
long hours Of the LIST, I'd and Sd days o.
July; but on the 4th Of July we rested
for the picnic was over.
THE CHANGES OF THE YEARS.
Thirty-seven years had passed away.
was in the delightful month Of May, 1900
that / revisited the far-famed city O.
Gettysburg and the old battlefield, wher,
as boy Of 25 years l had marched ant
fought in one Of the greatest battles o
the worlds greatest war. Wonderful
were the changes wrought by those shor
years.
j In 1863 the United States of Americ,
was looked upon by the nations of Europ
: as in the last thrOes Of national dissolu
r tion, and "Bull Run Russell's" statement
made through the London Times 9TH
= foundation stones Of the young American
Republic are falling to pieces" was takel
as literally true. There were then with
E in and without the American Union 8
States, including West Virginia, which ha
t just previously been admitted; but of thes
35 States, II had seeded and were the
in open rebellion against the authority o
e the United States, waging a war of awfu
5 bitterness for what they termed thei
E freedom from oppression, and by all tha
8 was good and great they had vowed tha
neither force nor favor could induce o
. compel them to return to or become agai
D part Of the old American Union. Their
) were, also, three or four other States YER
anxious to follow the example of thei
wayward sisters, and were only held with
in the Union by the force Of arms, and we
who had fought beneath the Stars an
Stripes Of Gettysburg 81 years before, con
| tended for and defended the very life o
the United States Of America.