Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-08-04
/. MOOREFIELD, ". VA.
July 81. 1911
DEAR WILL

DEAR WILL
In conversation with
Mr.. y. D. Davis Yesterday, who came
to Woodstock after left, he told me
you were not feeting very well, not
quite so good as usual. / regret to
learn this.
Some one has said that Life at best
is one-thipg after another, or some-
thing to that effect. Even SO, there's
a whole lot in the retros pectise VIII CHI
makes the living mighty pleasant at
times. And as Mr.. Davis and | Con-
tinued the conversation there was a
vast deal of remin SCIENCES running
thro' my old hat. could almost see
myself sneaking out the back door of
of the HRRALD Office about II 90
m. and hiking for the apple tree in
MIR. Billy Donaldson's lot-right in
the corner. you'll remember, and on
| my return, Hen: Llchliter would APP
propriate the mellowest and mf st
luscious of the collection, or he'd
bend your little finger in such way
that one would collapse on the floor
Immediately, if not sooner. And
when these "sweet' apples had run
low, Mr.. David Walton's pears,
plums, etc., back of the kitchen, by
the aid of sfriend, who was
pledged to our cause by reason of
divers considerations purloined from
the HERALD Office proper, came in
very handy and supplied ''loug-
felt" want and gnawing of the stom-
ach; while later, the tomatoes, even
the undeveloped sweet potato, in Mr..
Donaldson's patch were toothsome
swe cts, unsurpassed by Huyler's top
n otch chocolates of more mature d vs..
Now and then, of course, with the
cents derived from the sale of Old
papers, or something else, we sane
wiched in a few of the little square
crackers from Schmitt's drug store.
None sIch crackers today.
But am inclined to think the "Long--
STEMS" which recessitated getting up
early in the morning, SO that one
would get in ahead OF the chickens
and Mr.. Sarbaugh himself, were the
prime fsvorities. That tree was next
to Capt. Grabill's present residence,
in the alley-way.
And the little molasses taffy cakes
Miss Mary used to trade for copy
of the "Herald"-slipped in on the
sly-were mighty good, too. Miss
Hoshour, at the other end of town Il
have forgotten her christian name)
was always first aid to theShungry
carrier, pr divided her father was moi
lpresent. But the rendezyous-the
most liberal and best of all hearts
(when Mr.. Matte and Mr.. Billie Ott
we're not round was Miss Belle
Bender,-I think that's the name.
Do not tell me that
Life is but an empty dream"
when made up of such memories
memories not of dyspepsia, of care,
of responsibility-but memories which
fill us up with the 10Y OF having
lived erstwhile,-joys such as. am
Isure, have never come to many boys
born within the city limits.
There's a host of past associations
lever and again running through ant
across the fields Of the present, lead
ling pleasure to the simple effort | am
lnow making, and without which the
lrag-to 9TH of discontentment and a
times physical weakness might be al
most unbearable.
1t is satisfaction-a pleasure--tc
know that | was given the opportunity
to share SO much of these early ex
periences with you,---you, who for &
short time only may be handicapped
in your effort: but my petition is that
an early restoration of all resources
in strength and mind may follow
without delay.
| But am firing you. With best
wishes, am,
Hurriedly, but sincerely,
| r, A B.