Smyrna times., 1904-03-16
BLACKBIRD UNDERGOES CHANGES.
"yisit to BIackbird in 1904" Written by Miss
Frances E. Husbands and Read Before
Recent Meeting Of Literary Society.

BLACKBIRD, March 15.-One day
while in Wilmington during the
month of May, business called me to
Dover, so 1 boarded the nine o'clock
train and started, little thinking of
what Law before me. After we had
travelled for about an hour L was
aroused from my paper by a sudden
lar. We were informed by the con
ductor that we had run over a spring
chicken and would have to wait until
some repairs were made. The outside
surroundings were familiar, and l
knew not where we were. l recOg-
| nized the green house on my right.
Where was l 1 went out on the plat
form and read on the side of a large,
red brick building, "Blackbird. " With
the reading of those words came a |
flood of msmory; L began to wonder |
what changes had taken place since l
left, nearly ten years ago. What had |
become of my friends and scholars |
The desire to see them Overcame the |
desire to accomplish the purpose l
had started out with.
Familiar Faces Amid Entirely New Scenes.
1 walked to the platform and APP
preached the station. L heard rustic
and hustle, and looked up, only to
see a chap with blue suit approach
ing me. His very smiling and pleas
ant face told me this was Willie Wat
son, the present Blackbird ticket
agent, with David ID. Stats as tele-
graph operator. This did not surprise
= me for when l was at Blackbird they
d were we'll on the road to these posi-
E tions. Just then carriage drove up
s which proved to contain Mr.. William
Spicer. [ made myself known and we
: started for the village. On passing
the mill, I inquired whether Miss
Clara was at home, and found that
/ she was no longer a country lassie but
e was in Philadelphia at the head of the
Remington typewriter Office there. At
q the entrance to the village 1 noticed a
o new house being erected. l asked of
l. nv companion, "Whose?" Father
a and mothers" was the reply. "Why
. who is going to live on the farm %
Before he answered | had guessed.
shall not describe to you my feelings
ID as 1 approached and went through the
" village. 1 wanted to see the little
o. preaching the school. But what is
- that see In the place of the little
70 green school house is large red brick
: building. AS [ approached it nearer
~ am greeted by a small boy in long
al pants in which he is almost lost, and
al of HIM l inquire for the teacher
u (Which One," said he. "Why, is there
Oh more than one ?" "Yas 'unc." Tha
word was enough. knew was talk
AZ ing to Master Freddie Heinold. "Wel
." let me see the head teacher" AS W.
A. walked into a large room Il won
10 say lean) digniied school marin ap
preached, no other than Miss Marth
lu Ferguson, who like myself was begin
~ ming to carry the scars of battle-a fey
gray hairs. 1 visited the other tw
rooms and found the Misses Nellie an,
Bessie Schafer as Miss Ferguson
assistants. OF them I inquired of tn
elder sister. 1 learned she was not a
~ home now. guessed the rest and
hope l was not wrong.
Inquiring for Old Friends and Their Location
In a short time 1 left the school an
30 80, started after my old friend Mr.. Earle
10 the blacksmith, first inquiring whethC
III Mrs. Stats still lived up the lane. I'll
no shop was closed but signboard ov
40 the shop told me enough for it reaC
w. "Mr. Edgar T. Heinold, Practic
'oI Horseshoer and Blacksmith" Edg
'oo had at last found a vocation in life, f
'1 >" he always liked to hammer while
" talked. My ears were now greet'
''c0 with gong sounding, and lookin
down the road what do you think
= saw? A trolley boarded it, and
Wy my surprise was helped on by 81
-'oN footer, who proved to be no other TIL
=, Willie Fenemore. Inside sat N
i -" friend, Mrs. Buckson. She told 1
the motorman was Spencer. At tn
loi point the car was boarded by anoth
.ne lady whom Mrs. Buckson told me "
Miss Ethel Fenemore. Our tongu
YIN seemed let loose for awhile, but h
nam we are at Ferguson's. L found n
and M e :, tbair Dow hon
o. and nearby noticed an Office. H
lary' found Miss Ella installed as boz
,uet' keeper and clerk for her brother, W
luee' was selling building lots along
'aul; 49, +rollev road. On returning
,ene IaoLhird rat a carriage with tn
young ladies in, whom L recognized
nary Miss Molly Rowland and the Mis-
/. on T,,.,4l noyo,;ob M,