Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1909-05-01

dar trees and repIanted them on that
bare level spot on the bluff overlook
ing the creek. | wonder if they took
root all right"
"A quarter of Il century" unused Jo-
scph.
Both brothers were silent for a time.
"lIang it, Jimmy" said the lawyer,
his face lit with a sudden resolve, 1--WE
ought to go down there in the OZarks
and see the Old home place bcforc-be-
fore You disappear from the map Of
the United States"
"Well, jump on the train with me,
and we'll do it. | will stop over in
st. Louis Il day, and we can utilize
the time by running down to Dale
Vile"
IFS our last chance" responded Jo-
seph, ''anl You know | never would
take a dare. I'll go; I'll telephone
home right Off"
Next morning the JamiSon twins
stood ut the ticket office in the great
Union station at st. Louis.
1.-TWO tickets to DalcvIle and return,
please" requested Joseph.
"What road inquired the ticket
seller And where is Dalcville?"
sixty miles down the Iron Noun
tain line
NO such station on that road" re-
piled the ticket man.
There certainly is; we were born
there" said both brothers.
"IIcrc'S the railroad folder. See if
YOU can find it," retorted the man in
side the window.
The Jamison twins turned to the To-
cal time table triumphantly. James
ran his finger down the list of stations
Joseph looked over his shoulder. Per-
plcXity sat upon each countenance.
by Jimmy" calculated Joseph.
"DaleyiIlc ought to be in there between
BarStow and MarshtoWn, but the only
station given here is The Cedars. Nev-
er heard of The Ccdars."
The ticket seller smiled "Oh, | re-
member now" he volunteered. "They
have changed the name of that village
to The Cclars. Lot of st. Louis peo-
pie moved down there and made it a
sort of summer resort, and they had to
have a hifalutn name"
Even the name of our birthplace Is
no longer on the map"' cried James
sadly, pocketing the two tickets to The
CcdarS "Wcll, it's high time we were
visiting the Old burg, Joey"
When, two hours later, the Jamison
twins stepped from the train both of
them recognized the little old depot
despite the new station sign which it
bore. They recognized also the grz-
Zled old station agent, Billy Allen, who
had held his job since the civil war.
But they passed by without making
their identity known to him and cross
ed the creek on the well remembered
stepping stones. Half dozen new
houses of modern type dotted the long
hillside Otherwise the village looked
much as it did in their bOyhood, save
that the homcly old houses were more
weather beaten and appeared smaller
than their images in the memory of the
JamiSon twins.
The lawyer and the civil engineer
walked slowly up the hill. Their eyes
surveyed the altered scenery with
eager search. Disappointment showed
plainly in their faces. Even the crook
ed old road leading up to the site Of
their birthplace had been Strengthened.
James stopped his brother by catching
his sleeve.
"Right along here somewhere" he
said, 1--WE built that pile of stones. The
road must run through the spot now.
We'll, let's go on up to the house"
"The house, exclaimed Joseph, who
had been looking ahead. "Oh, Jimmy,
Our house is gone. Look at that pretty
lawn. That's where our house was"
Guess you've forgotten the lay OF
the land, Joey" ventured his brother
weakly.
I'm sure | haven't. Our house Is
gone. Talk about progress. Why,
they've wiped Daleville off the map
and our dear old hillside home along
with it. I'm feeling rs blue as indigo.
I'm going to sit down on this rock and
think it all over"