The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-05-01
THE D0wN-HrLL SHED.
BY BRALEY SANDS.

BY BRALEY SANDS.
eve were at Grandfather Delivers S
farm nearly the whole of one winter
four of us young fellows" Uncle
Gideon Deliver was in a reminiscent
mood, and we were always glad to
listen.
"There were Dan and Cyrus, Har-
vey and myself. Dan and Cyrus
were year or two the oldest. AS I
think of it now, / am sure we must
have caused the old people much
trouble and not little uneasiness.
Grandfather never complained, and
seldom rebuked us. He had a way,
however, that commanded our re-
spect. His gray eyes could flash
when necessary, and none of us ever
dreamed of questioning his authority.
1--WE were obliged to settle most of
our youthful disputes among our
selves, but on the rare occasions when
grandfather did feel called upon to
arbitrate we knew there was no ap-
peal. His decisions were final. He
meted out justice as he saw it, and if
any of us failed later in life it was not
the fault of our early training at the
hands of Grandfather Deliver. But
1 know there were times when we
caused him much anxiety.
"There were plenty of young peo-
pie about that winter; the sleighing
was unusually good, and I don't need
to say that the season was anything
but dull. There were sleighrides,
'sociables' and merrymakings galore.
Of course the young folks paired off
somewhat, as they always do more or
less at such times, process that
usually works smoothly enough ex-
cept-as happened this winter with
Dan and Cyrus-when two choose
the same mate. This was Violet
Medbury, the pretty daughter of
farmer who lived some two miles from
grandfather's, who was the innocent
cause of sudden but very pronounced
rivalry between the young fellows.
"Dan was quiet kind of chap
not much of talker, but one who
always meant what he said. You
could depend upon him he was the
kind that improve on acquaintance.
Cyrus was a handsome fellow, quick
witted and gay enough, with dash
ing way that usually made friends.
But there was something about him
nearly always we'll -hidden-that fail
ed to ring true. Experience had
shown those of US who knew him best,
that handsome Cousin Cyrus would
bear watching.
1T was the winter that grandfath-
er's famous colts, Snip and Frisk,
were three years old, coming four
the next spring. They were beau
ties, these colts; jet black, except
that Frisk had pair of white stock
ipgs, while Snip showed only broad
white star in his forehead. Grand.
father had handled them some. They
were what he called half broken
When harnessed to the new, swell
bodied cutter, they certainly were
we'll worth looking at.
Harvey and 1 were not allowed
to handle the spirited colts, but Dan
and Cyrus had each driven them oc-
casionally. Grandfather's shire w d
eyes at once detected what was easily
apparent later, that quiet Dan was
by far the more capable driver. The
colts would fret and fume with Cyrus,
while Dan would invariably bring
them in from a far harder drive in
perfect condition. About the time
the young fellows became acquainted
with Miss Violet Medbury the colts
suddenly came into great demand.
Grandfather was generous with
his tools, rigs and turnouts, so long
as we used them properly. If we
misued them-well, we didn't get
them again. He had a pair Of light
double sleighs that could be used with
either one or two horses and with
either one or two seats. 1t was
good, comfortable rig, though, of
course, not to be compared to the
stylish new cutter. When the cutter
was In use and two rigs were called
for, Napoleon, the stout single-driv
ing horse, was attached to the light
sleighs.
"The strife for the colts and the
new cutter became so pronounced that
finally grandfather felt called upon TO
interfere. He ruled that the colts
and double sleigh should be Dams
rig and that Cyrus should have Ma
poleon and the new cutter. Napo-
leon was a stout old fellow, with
plenty of life, and the decision SEEM
ed fair enough; but 1 think Cyrus
was badly disappointed.
"About this time, too, another mat
ter came up for settlement. Grand
father belonged to the good, old ortho-
dox school, and his rules in regard tc
public worship were stern and un-
compromising. Not only himself
but every member of his household
as we'll, must be in his place in the
long pew at church on every Sunday,
actual sickness alone serving as or
excuse. He owned two church sheds
as two full loads often went from hi:
home. The church sheds occupied