Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-06-16

whether the remark was a compliment
Or bit Of satire.
CHAPTER XVIII
IA BE folks Of PARKWAY have
been carefully II rudely pic
|eTSsFSI tured, but the look Of my
own person since grew to
the stature of manhood I have left
wholly to the Imagination of the read
er. l will wager he knew long since
what manner of man was and has
measured mo to the fraction Of an
inch and knows even the color Of my
hair and eyes from having been 90
long In my company. II not-well, I
shall have to write him q letter.
When Uncle Eb aud took the train
for New York that summer day In
1850, some fifteen years after we came
down Paradise road with the dog and
wagon and pack basket, my head,
which In that far day came only to the
latitude Of his troussr pocket, had now
mounted six inches above his own.
That Is all I can say here on that
branch Of my subject. was leaving
to seek my fortune in the big city.
Uncle Eb was OF for holiday and to
see Hope and bring her home for q
short visit remember with what
sadness looked back that morning at
mother and father as they stood by
the gate slowly waving their handker-
chiefs. Our home at last was emptied
Of its young, and even az they looked
the shadow Of old age must have fallen
suddenly before them. knew how
they would go back into that lonely
room and how, while the clock went
on with its ticking. Elizabeth would
cit down and cover her face for mo-
ment, while David would make haste
to take up his chores.
We sat in silence long time after
the train was OF. mighty sadness
holding our tongues. Uncle Eb, who
had never ridden long journey on the
cars before, had put on his grand suit
Of broadcloth. The day was hot and
dusty, and before we had gone far he
was sadly soiled. But a suit never
gave him any worry once it was on.
he sat calmly, holding biz knee in his
hands ana looking ont ofthe open win
dow, squint in his eyes that stood
for some high degree Of interest In the
scenery.
"Whst do you think Of this countryY'
inquired.
Looks purity fair" said he as he
brushed his face with his handkerchief
and coughed to clear his throat Of the
dust, "but faint quito 30 pleasant to
the taste a. some other parts O. the
country. ruthsr liked the flavor Of
st. Lawrence all through, but Jefferson
II a leetle gritty"
He put down the window as he
spoke.
"A leetle tobaccer II improve it
some" he added a. his hand went
down for the old silver boz. 1.-THE way
these cars dew rip alonsl Consumed
II 1t amt hyin'l Kind O. makes me
feel like a bird"
The railroad was then not the famil-
lar thing 1t is now In the north coun-
Try. The bull in the fields had not yet
come to an understanding Of its rights
and was frequently tempted into argu-
ment with locomotive. Bill Fountain,
who came out Of o back township, one
day had even tied his faithful hound
to the rear platform.
Our train came to long stop for
wood and water near midday, and
then we opened the lunch basket that
mother had given Us.
Neighbour" said q solemn faced
man who sat In front OF US, do you
think the cars are ag'in the Bible? D.
you think Christian orter ride on
'em2"
"sartin." said Uncle Eb. LESS the
ccnstable's after him-then think he
orter be on balky hoss."
wife an hes talked 1t over a good
deal" said the man. Some says it's
ag'in the Bible. The minister at
breaches over n our neighborhood
says II God had wanted men t. fly he'd
gin 'em WINGS"
"S'pose II he'd ever wanted IN t.
skate he'd he'd 'em born with skates
ONT" said Uncle Eb.
"Dunno." said the man. "It behooves
Us all to be careful. The Bible says,
Go not after new things"
my friend" said Uncle Eb between
bites Of a doughnut, II don care what
ride In 70 long as faint hearse.
want sumthin' ats comfortable an
purity middlin' spry. It'll do us good
up here t git jerked few hundred
miles an back ev'ry leetle while. Keep
our jints Timber. Wen live longer fer
It, an thet'll please God sure, cuz /
don't think he's hankerin' fer our socie-
~, not bit. Don make no difference t.
him whuther we ride n spring wag-
! on er on the cars SO longs we're right
side up an movin'. We need more
steam. We're too slow. Kind O. think
q leetle more steam In our religion
wouldn't hurt US bit. It's purity fur
behind"
We got to Albany In the evening Just
| In time TOR the night boat. Uncle Eb
was a sight in his dusty broadcloth
whsn we cot ote 90 csrs. and ! know
~ arrerauey sussd NOT 1nye ases