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observed； 〃is simply a matter of taste。〃
The storeI must not forget the store。 It is an object of great
interest to me。 I usually encounter there； on sunny afternoons； an
old Revolutionary soldier。 You may possibly have read about
〃Another Revolutionary Soldier gone；〃 but this is one who hasn't
gone； and； moreover； one who doesn't manifest the slightest
intention of going。 He distinctly remembers Washington； of course；
they all do； but what I wish to call special attention to； is the
fact that this Revolutionary soldier is one hundred years old； that
his eyes are so good that he can read fine print without spectacles…
…he never used them； by the wayand his mind is perfectly clear。
He is a little shaky in one of his legs； but otherwise he is as
active as most men of forty…five； and his general health is
excellent。 He uses no tobacco； but for the last twenty years he has
drunk one glass of liquor every dayno more； no less。 He says he
must have his tod。 I had begun to have lurking suspicions about
this Revolutionary soldier business； but here is an original Jacobs。
But because a man can drink a glass of liquor a day； and live to be
a hundred years old； my young readers must not infer that by
drinking two glasses of liquor a day a man can live to be two
hundred。 〃Which； I meanter say； it doesn't foller；〃 as Joseph
Gargery might observe。
This store； in which may constantly be found calico and nails； and
fish； and tobacco in kegs； and snuff in bladders； is a venerable
establishment。 As long ago as 1814 it was an institution。 The
county troops； on their way to the defence of Portland； then menaced
by British ships…of…war； were drawn up in front of this very store；
and treated at the town's expense。 Citizens will tell you how the
clergyman refused to pray for the troops； because he considered the
war an unholy one； and how a somewhat eccentric person； of dissolute
habits； volunteered his services； stating that he once had an uncle
who was a deacon； and he thought he could make a tolerable prayer；
although it was rather out of his line； and how he prayed so long
and absurdly that the Colonel ordered him under arrest； but that
even while soldiers stood over him with gleaming bayonets； the
reckless being sang a preposterous song about his grandmother's
spotted calf； with its Ri…fol…lol…tiddery…i…do； after which he
howled dismally。
And speaking of the store； reminds me of a little story。 The author
of 〃several successful comedies〃 has been among us； and the store
was anxious to know who the stranger was。 And therefore the store
asked him。
〃What do you follow； sir？〃 respectfully inquired the tradesman。
〃I occasionally write for the stage； sir。〃
〃Oh！〃 returned the tradesman； in a confused manner。
〃He means；〃 said an honest villager； with a desire to help the
puzzled tradesman out； 〃he means that he writes the handbills for
the stage drivers！〃
I believe that story is new； although perhaps it is not of an
uproariously mirthful character； but one hears stories at the store
that are old enough； goodness knowsstories which； no doubt；
diverted Methuselah in the sunny days of his giddy and thoughtless
boyhood。
There is an exciting scene at the store occasionally。 Yesterday an
athletic peasant； in a state of beer； smashed in a counter and
emptied two tubs of butter on the floor。 His fathera white…haired
old man； who was a little boy when the Revolutionary war closed； but
who doesn't remember Washington MUCH； came round in the evening and
settled for the damages。 〃My son；〃 he said； 〃has considerable
originality。〃 I will mention that this same son once told me that
he could lick me with one arm tied behind him； and I was so
thoroughly satisfied he could； that I told him he needn't mind going
for a rope。
Sometimes I go a…visiting to a farmhouse； on which occasions the
parlor is opened。 The windows have been close…shut ever since the
last visitor was there； and there is a dingy smell that I struggle
as calmly as possible with； until I am led to the banquet of
steaming hot biscuit and custard pie。 If they would only let me sit
in the dear old…fashioned kitchen； or on the door…stoneif they
knew how dismally the new black furniture lookedbut； never mind； I
am not a reformer。 No； I should rather think not。
Gloomy enough； this living on a farm； you perhaps say； in which case
you are wrong。 I can't exactly say that I pant to be an
agriculturist； but I do know that in the main it is an independent；
calmly happy sort of life。 I can see how the prosperous farmer can
go joyously a…field with the rise of the sun； and how his heart may
swell with pride over bounteous harvests and sleek oxen。 And it
must be rather jolly for him on winter evenings to sit before the
bright kitchen fire and watch his rosy boys and girls as they study
out the charades in the weekly paper； and gradually find out why my
first is something that grows in a garden； and my second is a fish。
On the green hillside over yonder there is a quivering of snowy
drapery； and bright hair is flashing in the morning sunlight。 It
is recess； and the Seminary girls are running in the tall grass。
A goodly seminary to look at outside； certainly； although I am
pained to learn； as I do on unprejudiced authority； that Mrs。
Higgins； the Principal； is a tyrant； who seeks to crush the girls
and trample upon them； but my sorrow is somewhat assuaged by
learning that Skimmerhorn； the pianist； is perfectly splendid。
Looking at these girls reminds me that I； too； was once youngand
where are the friends of my youth？ I have found one of 'em；
certainly。 I saw him ride in the circus the other day on a bareback
horse； and even now his name stares at me from yonder board…fence；
in green； and blue； and red； and yellow letters。 Dashington； the
youth with whom I used to read the able orations of Cicero； and who；
as a declaimer on exhibition days； used to wipe the rest of us boys
pretty handsomely outwell； Dashington is identified with the
halibut and cod interestdrives a fish cart； in fact； from a
certain town on the coast； back into the interior。 Hurbertson； the
utterly stupid boythe lunkhead； who never had his lessonhe's
about the ablest lawyer a sister State can boast。 Mills is a
newspaper man； and is just now editing a Major…General down South。
Singlinson； the sweet…voiced boy； whose face was always washed and
who was real good； and who was never rudeHE is in the penitentiary
for putting his uncle's autograph to a financial document。 Hawkins；
the clergyman's son； is an actor； and Williamson； the good little
boy who divided his bread and butter with the beggarman； is a
failing merchant； and makes money by it。 Tom Slink； who used to
smoke short…sixes and get acquainted with the little circus boys； is
popularly supposed to be the proprietor of a cheap gaming
establishment in Boston； where the beautiful but uncertain prop is
nightly tossed。 Be sure； the Army is represented by many of the
friends of my youth； the most of whom have given a good account of
themselves。 But Chalmerson hasn't done much。 No； Chalmerson is
rather of a failure。 He plays on the guit