The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-08-21
HOME COMING ECHOES.
lContinned NOM Ist paqe.l

w. Free, who is far away descendant OF
the versatile MOSedu, that learned ply
stefan part of whose name | bear, Isaac
b. Conner and his accomplished wife,
God bless her, they ought TO be happy,
have an old age, rich and beautiful IN all
the pleasures of their home, for they are
both off of the same open hearted gen
erous and jolly piece; and the genial aud
charming Asa G. Glidden, in whose lace
handkerchiefs still fingers the altar OF
the 18th century roses; Jerome Warner
who still wears that "smile so childlike
and bland" the sturdy and adroit poll
tican, c. w. Young; the fat, brave and
Jolly Ed. Woodman; King Edwards able,
accomplished and adroit ambassador, W.
j. Sellick, and three others whom | must
not omit, who in my boyhood under
peculiar circumstances gave to me their
loyal and abiding friendship, Alfred In
gram, Benjamin Holt and Edward Hayes.
Ed. was the first boy | ever saw turn a
hand spring and he and his brother Ira
helped me in my first and only fight with
the town boys.
They helped me to settle my standing
in school then aud there and our friend
ship has never been broken. 1--WE do
pray for mercy, and that same prayer
doth teach us all to render the deeds of
mercy"
And there is my old accomplice in
many affairs still carrying his storm
swept head, VIM. Il. Shrine, who to even
up matters once sold me horse which |
could drive so far in one day that
could not get it back in three days.
None of that long list of names has
ever been out in the world beyond Law
ton.
AS | cannot be there, have called
you mossbacks, but if there some other
more endearing term would probably be
chosen.
If there, while we might be old boys,
still we would be young boys in friend
ship, heart and hope.
Why did you raise the curtain of the
past from around those old homesteads,
lakes and swimming holes? Do you want
to break my heart?
Ny cork seems to be moving now, and
| soon shall have bite. Sun fish, perch
and bass play and breed breed and play
as YOU may wish, for | shall never dis
turb your pleasures by catching fish
or two.
| have closed my senses as to- the old
homestead, for do not want TO learn of
its changes.
Forever photographed on my memory
is picture of the old homestead and
two faces upon which | look when the
"Home Coming" feeling is upon me, and
emotions urge a return 70 the place OF
my birth.
Swimming holes! Yes, have it in for
them. Their mud turtles and bull frogs
might not now recognize my spindling
shanks, and will not have a chance to
test their memories. 1t will take me ali
the rest of my life to get those "old
swimming hole" germs and tad poles out
of my system.
Spelling schools! Stand up and get
spelled down? No thanks, no more goings
down with that old dull sickening thud
for me. There they stand in a long line
around the house and through the aisles
all eager for fray in which friend and
foe will 90 down like soldiers on a
battles front.
Down they 90, before the unerring and
merciess memories of jerome, the spell
ing Napoleon.
He flew the black flag and was so
utterly ungracious and cold blooded
that he never went down on "incompre-
hensibilityness, that some sweet girl
from our district might win the honors
of the evening. The only smile he ever
gave was when he turned to take last
look at the fallen Gliddens, Chapins,
Gilmans, Lanes, Abrams, Buffers, Bed
dos, leeds, Orrs, Lees, Bardwells,
Youngs, Frees, Changers, Cranes, Bar
NUNS, Warmers and Mills. He never
stopped to soothe wounded, or bury his
dead. He was a young man of very
limited capacity, and no match for my
self in spelling, for he could spell word
in but one way, while | could spell it in
half dozen different ways and none of
them be like his way.
My dear old boys the glory and soul
of those nights was in the Home Go
ing" 1t was amazing to see how many
of those youngsters could pack them
selves into the bottom of a sleigh. The
spirit and fire of a strong and uervy team
were thoroughly aroused by their long,
cold waiting.
The driver, obedient to his previous
instructions from the girls, let the team
dash into the longest way home.
The crisp, moonlit air, creaking snow,
music of the bells, the squirming and
crowding of the load made old and
young blood Jingle and demand some
outlet for the accommodating glee and
fun.
Hands were pressed and shns kicked
under the robes, warm words were whis-
pered that melted the night frosts in
their short passage from lip to ear,
words which the angels may have heard,
but | did not.
The pleasing glide of the sleigh holds
them, until it leaps thank you ma'am, Il"
starts "Old Dog Tray" and the Home
Going" concert is on.