loO THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 



beef-stew was served three times a clay, a bakery, a few other rum 

 dens, and the only drug store of "the City" of three thousand. 



Mr. Boxer the proprietor of the drug store, a grand "old vet," 

 (where fohnson found employment) introduced him to the ladies, 

 a dozen or so worth mentioning in tiie town. 



A dozen saloons greeted those who wanted to enjoy the evening, 

 or otherwise the moon and stars were the attractions then in sea- 

 son. In choosing between lake, moon and stars, it was either fly 

 or drown. When the noon-day whistle of the chair factory told 

 the hour, one would thinls the world was at an end, for its shrill- 

 ness rattled panes in all of the windows which were close by I 

 almost forgot "r/Iahoney" ye old "Apothecarie" by heaven, with 

 ancient bottles and cans upon his shelves, in the center of the 

 store a long table piled v/ith patent medicines in dainty colored 

 packages, papers and traps scattered in all corners made it look 

 like a" curiosity shop. Belov/ him was Allcock who sold clocks, 

 shoes and insurance always ready to greet you with — "W'hst d d 

 you get this morning," referr'ng to the hotel of the town. The 

 bank was the civilized port'on of the place, modern ?nd well 

 arranged, but busines seenied to be slack for the clerks were 

 mostly rubljering at the winsome ma'ds passing by on their way 

 to the Post Office, a veritable bee-hive on the arrival of mails. On 

 meeting Miss Allcock, the belle of the town Johnson's thoughts 

 ran to the smooth but sometimes rougli and stormy dream of life, 

 how happy he could be if — Am so glad to see you MV. Johnson, 

 and such a smile with it that his heart leaped to his throat as a 

 tiger on its prey. After again collecting himself a few courtesies 

 were exchanged, Miss Allcock asked for the most popular book at 

 that time which they had in the circulating library. Looking over 

 the list a few times a disappointment followed, and he was of 

 course obliged to reply "I'm sorry I cannot find it." Again a 

 smile, a pleasant good morning Mr. Johnson I was so glad to meet 

 you, and Miss Allcock left serene. 



In vacant thought, with honest sweat upon his brow for it 

 seemed as if he had done a hard day's work, he juggled nervously, 

 walking up and down the shop with the words "Oh! Could it be," 

 wondering how soon Miss Allcock would call again as the days 

 dragged on, but of no avail, his fate was sailing on the lake so full 

 of danger. (The wrecked hull of a ship sank at this place twenty 

 years ago in which one hundred and twenty lives were lost and a 

 rusted anchor is still resting en the sl:cre.) 



Having written to a firm in Montana and receiving telegram upon 

 telegram that they would like to employ him, Johnson packed his 

 traps and said farewell to the town of silent slumber, after a stop 

 of three weeks. 



The train speeding on through an abyss of inky darkness o'er the 



