Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-04-16

silence. A curious Illusion CAME to me
then, for 1t seemed as II heard the
sound of distant music. Looking
thoughtfully out of the window he
asked:
Bart, do you know when our first
fathers turned out Of the trail OF the
beast and found the long road OF hui
nanity? I think it was when they dis
covered the compass In their hearts"
So now at last we have come to that
high and lonely place, where we may
look back upon the toilsome, adven-
turous way we have Travelled with the
aid of the candle and the compass.
Now let us stop moment to rest and
to think. How sweet the air Is here!
The night is falling. I see the stars in
the sky.
Just below me Is the valley Of Eter-
nal silence. You will understand my
haste now. I have sought only to do
justice to my friend and to give my
country name, long neglected. but
equal in glory to those of Washington
and Lincoln.
Come, let us take one last look to-
gether down the road we have trav-
eled, now dim in the evening shad-
ows. Scattered along 1t are the little
houses of the poor of which l have
written. See the lights in the win
dows-the lights that are shining into
the souls of the young-the eager.
open, expectant, welcoming souls OF
the young-and the light carries many
things, but best of all a respect for the
old, unchanging way of the compass.
After all that Is the end and aim OF
the whole matter-believe me.
Ny life has heightened into these
days when most of our tasks are &C.
complished by machinery. We try to
make men by the thousand, in vast
educational machines, and no longer
by the one as Of old. 1t was the Low.
Ing, forgiving, forbearing, patient,
ceaseless toll Of mother and father on
the tender soul of childhood which
Quickened that inextinguishable sense
of responsibility to God and man in
these people whom I now leave to the
Judgment Of my countrymen.
I have lived to see the ancient plan
Of kihgcraft, for self-protection, com.
Ing back into the world. It demands
that the will and conscience of every
individual shah be regulated and con.
trolled by some conceited prince
backed by an army. 1t cannot fail. ]
foresee. to accomplish such devasta.
ton In the human spirit as shall I'M
peril the dearest possession Of man.
II one is to follow the compass he
can have but one Knights God
I am near the end. rode back to
Baltimore that forenoon. They had
dominated Mr.. Polk of Tennessee fos
president and Silas Wright for VICE
president, the latter by Exclamation. u
knew that Wright would decline the
honor, a. he did.
I hurried northward to keep my up.
pointment with Sally. The boats were
slowed by fog. At Albany I was day
behind my schedule. I should have
only an hours leeway IL the boats on
the upper lakes and the stage from
Plattsburg were on time. I feared to
trust them So I caught the west
bound train and reached Utica three
hours late. There I bought q good
horse and his saddle and bride and
hurried up the north road. When he
was near spent traded him for a well.
knit Morgan mare up In the little vii.
lage Of Sandy Creek. Oh, I knew a
good horse as well as the next man
and a better one than she never
owned-never. was back in my sad.
die at six in the afternoon and stopped
for feed and an hours rest at nine and
rode on. through the night. I reached
the hamlet Of Richville soon after day.
break and put out for a rest Of two
hours. l could take 1t easy then. AT
seven o'clock the mare and started
again, well fed and eager to 60 on.
It was summer morning that short.
ems the road-even that Of the young
lover. Its air was sweet with the
breath Of the meadows. The daisies
and the clover and the cornfowers
and the wild roses seemed to be wav.
Ing a welcome to me, and the thorn
trees-shapely ornament Of my native
hills-were in blossom. A cloud of
pigeons swept across the blue deep
above my head. The great choir of
the fields sang to me-bobolinks, song
sparrows, meadowlarks, bluebirds.
warblers, wrens. and far away in the
edge of spruce thicket heard the
flute Of the white-throated sparrow.
/ bathed at brook in the woods |
and put on clean silk shirt and tie
out Of my saddlebags. / rode slowly
then to the edge Of the village of Cam
ton and turned at the bridge and took
the river road, although had time to
spare. How my heart was beating as
neared the familiar scene! The |
river slowed It's pace there, like dis
corning traveller, to enjoy the beauty
pf its shores. Smooth and silent was |
the water and in it were the blue Of
the sky and the feathery shadow-spires
Of cedar and tamarack and the reflect
ed blossoms of iris and meadow rue.
It was lovely scene.
There was the pine, but where was
my lady? / dismounted and tied my |
mare and looked at my watch. 1t
lacked twenty minutes to eleven. She
would come-I had no doubt Of 1t.