12 Reminiscences of 



recovered from the gizzard and found with the needles 

 gone, and the glass pretty well worn away. The 

 turkey may be regarded at the head for its digestive 

 qualities, as well as for its delicious flavor. 



Those were very happy days I passed in Illinois, 

 to which my memory frequently reverts, and while 

 many say they can only find pleasure in the expecta- 

 tions of the future, I find much in the contempla- 

 tion of the past; and although I have committed 

 many follies, and probably but few wise acts, I 

 have certainly enjoyed life to a large extent, which 

 more than balances the disappointments I have ex- 

 perienced. 



Some twenty years after leaving there, being near 

 the scenes of such pleasant memory, I procured a 

 vehicle and drove over to the old Stone farm, but 

 sic transit gloria mundi what a shock I received! 

 What an obliteration of all the old landmarks had 

 occurred! The woods on the south had disappeared 

 and in their place was an extensive cowfield inter- 

 sected with trails, and beyond cornfields and houses. 

 The dense forest extending to the river, and so wild 

 and sombre I hardly dared to penetrate its far depths, 

 had entirely disappeared. The brooks seemed to 

 have dwindled away, and the old hickory trees of 

 lofty height, which had appeared to me as sentinels 

 of time, were gone. In vain I inquired of the set- 

 tlers for the families of yore, only to be answered by 

 the response, " Moved over to Missouri," or " Gone to 

 Kansas." The tears unbidden came to my eyes, and 

 I departed for new scenes, never to return. 



After leaving Illinois, I attended school at West- 

 minster, Mass., where I gave more attention to duck 



