The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1907-10-03
.BASK AMID SCENES
OF THEIR CHILDHOOD
Mr.. and Mrs. J. N. Chamberlin
Away Down East.
Interesting Letter Tells Of Their Visits Enroute
Impressions Of Old Pennsylvania and
Their Longing for Home.
Kennard Pa Sent %

hennarQ, Fa., sept. Zo, 1SOt.
Dear Times: Thinking that perhaps
some of our Oakes friends not having
seen anything of our handsome (?)
faces lately may be wondering what
has become of US and whether there
is any danger of our ever returning.
Well, I can say that we are both
Very much alive at present, and are
having the time of our lives, travelling
and visiting.
We left home on the last day Of
May, turning our faces eastward. Our
first stop was Glenwood, Mimi, visit
ing our daughter, Nellie, and attending
the graduating exercises of our daugh-
ter, Emma, who graduated from the
high school in Glenwood. We spent
over a week in Glenwood visiting,
hunting and fishing. The people were
greatly relieved when they discovered
that we had moved on-for they wanted
some fish left in the lake. Our next
stop was Minneapolis, where we spent
two or three days visiting with our son
John and other friends. From there
we proceeded to Owatonna, Minn.,
where we spent two weeks with
Brother, M. NJ, and wife. They have
lovely home and were enjoying life
with perfect peace and contentment.
Our next stop was Ossian, Iowa, where
we spent several days at the home of
our old friend and former Oakes resi-
dent, o. Savold, where we had an en-
joyable time.
Our next stop was Chicago where
we spent two or three days visiting
with friends. We spent the Fourth of
July in Chicago. Talk about noise!
The Fourth of July is one day in the
year when they give the freedom of
the city to the children. When about
a quarter of a million kids are each
one seemingly trying to see who could
make the loudest racket there was
something doing. If anyone wants to
learn the true meaning of the word
noise they want to spend the Fourth
of July in Chicago.
Our next stop was Norton, Ohio,
where we spent several days visiting
an old army comrade, whom I had not
seen for forty-two years. We were
chums in the army-drank from the
same canteen, slept under the same
blanket, marched many weary miles
together, fought side by side in the
same battles, shared the joys and woes
incident to war. We became lost to
each other soon after the close of the
war, and as each supposing the other
dead for many years, our meeting was
all the more affecting. We hugged
each other until our old bones cracked.
We did not recognize each other at
first, as we had both changed from
beardless boys to old gray headed men.
No one can tell better than old soldiers
what the word fraternity truly means.
I have met many old comrades in my
travels on the cars, or on the streets
of the cities and on the highways and
byways and have enjoyed many a
pleasant chat with them. The little
bronze button on the lapel of the coat,
is all the introduction needed.
Our next visit was at my old home
in Eastern Ohio where was born and
raised. It is forty years since l left
the home Of my childhood, and oh,
what changes have taken place in that
time! What impressions will occupy
the mind as one wanders around the
scenes of their childhood! What a
panorama will pass before the minds
eye of events long since forgotten!
could not help but call to mind the
words of the poet:
Backward turn backward, on time in you,
Make mo a child again just for tonight"
| visited the spot where I first at.
tended school over fifty years ago. II
was an old log school house in the
corner Of the woods. The school house
has long since gone to decay. Not 8
vestige of it could find to bring away
as a relic. The woods are there vel
and the little saplings that we used tt
bend over to swing the girls on have
grown to large trees.
No doubt some of the readers of The
Times who attended school fifty o,
sixty years ago will remember "Pete,
Parley's Geography" On the map Of
the United States all the country be.
tween the Mississippi river and the
Rocky mountains and extending from
Canada nearly to the Gulf of Mexico
was designated as the ''Great Ameri.
can Desert" supposed to be uninhabit.
able by man or beast. ! little thought
then that some day it would become
the great bread basket Of the work