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TWO CHAPS. IN A BOY'S LIFE.

Preface.

Late in an autumn of early days there lived in McMinnville, Yamhill county, a stately, old-fashioned professor, who always wore a tall "stovepipe" hat, a broadcloth suit, with long-tailed coat, a very high, sharp-cornered collar, and an old-fashioned "choker." He was smooth-shaven, angular, severe to the verge of cruelty, and presided over the destinies of the "college." The boys cordially hated him, while the girls stood in dread of him. Such honors rested easily on his shoulders, however, and, instead of feeling badly, he accepted them as a tribute to his ability. His name was M, and his title "professor," but the boys usually called him "the old man."

Chap. I.

Will B and Charlie W- were two schoolboys who sat together. The latter always had a limited supply of chewinggum, which was left in his desk while at recitations. He soon discovered that his companion improved the time by chewing it in his absence, and determined to put a stop to it. One day he gathered from his boot a little mud, which was carefully rolled into a ball. A little gum was then pressed out very thin, and as carefully wrapped around the mud, all of which was stealthily slipped into its accustomed place in the desk. In a few minutes, without the slightest warning, Will's fist came in contact with Charlie's ear. d there was an exhibition of "the manly art," which was interrupted by the teacher, who sent Charlie out for a stick with which to be punished, along with the other fellow. Now, Charlie had a bran-new Barlow knife, of which he was very proud. Near

the school yard was an untrimmed he ige of wild rose bushes, the branches of which were covered with vicious thorns. Charlie selected a bush about six feet

high, which was finally cut down, trimmed of its branches, two hand holds provided, and in triumph this was delivered to the teacher, with all its thorns in a good state of preservation. As he entered the room the teacher laughed heartily. There was no whipping that day, but Charlie was stood up, facing the wall. The professor relented later on, and sent him to his seat. Before the professor had gone, he discovered Charlie with one of his boots off. This shocked the dignity of "the old man," and he made a lunge for the rose bush. Not noticing hand holds prepared by the culprit, his hand was badly torn by the thorns, which raised his ire, and he flourished the stick over the culprit's head, with all its thorns bristling in the sunlight. Charlie was badly scared, bur, with his fright, however, he conceived a bitter hatred for "that big fellow with a stick."

Chap. 2.

On the way to school there were two houses side by side and about six feet apart. The one toward the schoolhouse had been moved back from the street 15 feet, and raised six feet from the ground. Rough boards were nailed from the porch to the ground in front, and also on the side toward the school. A bright, lusty billy-goat lived in this vicinity, and was subject to the treatment usually accorded to such pets by boys in any healthy neighborhood. On a certain morning Charlie and several trusted friends were annoying the goat, just beyond the first house, when the stately tread of "the old man" was heard ap

proaching. By the united efforts of the whole crowd, the goat was restrained until the professor was "right onto 'em," when all hands let go and skipped under the house. The goat shook his beard, rolled his eyes ominously, kicked one hind foot, then the other, worked his jaws spasmodically, kept time with his tail, and backed off, just as the professor showed up. Billy was on the warpath and understood his business. Like a battering ram he jumped into the air, and lit on the professor, just below the small of the back. "The old man" went off the sidewalk head first, and his tile rolled into the gutter. As quick as possible he started to his feet, but Billy was on hand a second time, and while the professor was yet on all fours, planted his head right where he did first time. Tell you what it is, Billy was a center shot. He always fought fair, too. As

long as the professor laid perfectly flat, Billy would walk around, work his jaw, but not say a word. He would kick one hind foot, then the other, roll his eyes from side to side, glance up town, then down town. All this time he was shaking his whiskers that the wind might blow through them. them. If the enemy moved, he backed off, lowered his head, and prepared for en:ergencies. After a long period, that seemed to the professor unduly protracted, he managed to crawl to the fence in a perfectly flat state, and with one quick motion he went over, assisted by Billy, who caught him in midair, and helped him along. In his haste the professor failed to select a good spot on which to alight, and went sprawling in a mudhole, with his clothes torn, and with divers and sundry bruises that were not described in the village paper. Charlie was satisfied.

THE HORSE.

From the records of geology and a knowledge of the present it can be said that on two different occasions the valleys of Oregon have furnished this noble animal with pasturage. In the perusal of the writings of Professors Huxley, Marsh and Condon, recognized authorities on geological research, one will find that in our own state was the home of the original horse. His remains dug from the sandstone deposits near The Dalles are offered as evidence. Today we again find him proudly stepping over the grave of his past. From this paleontological age until the landing upon this continent of the Spanish explorers, there is no sign of his presence. With them came a stock descended from the steeds of Asia. These may have been worthy of the stride of a king, but their get, through running wild and attendant influences to degrade, retrograded into

what is known as the "Cayuse" ponies. With the advent of the pioneer came another breed, destined to push from the pastures the ponies, and they are being driven, together with other inferior stock, to the corral of the canners of horseflesh. The supplanters were for a time said to be of the English strain, which, by attention, climate and breeding, resolved itself into a new-the American— and it will not be many years before the world will acknowledge another-the Oregon-horse. Other sections of the Union have given years of attention to reducing the seconds in which a horse. could be driven a mile, Oregon but a short time, and during these brief years her progress has been wonderful. She can claim as hers the first of but four stallions in the world to be rated as having to their credit a get of over half a dozen 2:10 performers to their credit.

Oregon holds world's two mile trotting and pacing records, and of her horses one has a mile record of 2:07 and several inside of 2:18. Two have a pacing record of 2:041, and a dozen better than 2:15. What the future will bring forth in speed is yet to be learned, but if the

past is an index of its future, the prediction made will surely come true that the Oregon horse is ahead. Our pastures, climate, in a word, the environments by which he is surrounded, will force the issue.

ONE ON COLONEL NESMITH.

About the only person who ever got the best of Colonel Nesmith was a Cayuse Indian called "Sticcus." The colonel was very fond of elk meat, a dish which was not often to be had, even in pioneer times, and, with a prospect of securing a good meal of this savory flesh, he was, during a trip to Eastern Oregon, constrained to accept of an invitation given by the Indian to dine with him. As his dusky friend could not speak "Boston," and "Chinook" was equally Greek to him, the conversation had to be carried on by pantomime. The Indian's spreading of fingers convinced the colonel that he meant elk antlers, and that the dinner was to be elk meat, so he prepared himself for and did eat at the meal to his utmost capacity; but imagine his chagrin when he found outside the camp the ears, tail and hoofs of a mule, instead of some evidences left of the noble animal he supposed he had dined upon. Long afterwards the colonel smiled when any like signs were made, but it was years before he told the joke the Indian had unwittingly played upon him.

Mrs. Whitman and Mrs. Spaulding were the first American women to come to Oregon, and the first white women to cross the plains and the Rockies. They came in 1836. In 1814 an English woman by the name of Barnes came here on the ship Isaac Todd, but did not remain here long.

IN OREGON.

No extremes of temperature, no cyclones, no blizzzards, no drouth. Bu. little feeding and less housing of stock is required. The products of the field. the vine, the orchard and the garden grow in abundance and are second to none for quality. Timber, varied in kind, cut from Oregon's inexhaustible forests, goes to all parts of the world. The lordly salmon, taken from her streams, is sent to the ends of the earth to be the choicest dish on the festive board. Her stock from a thousand hills have fed the multitudes far away, and from these hills have been taken silver. gold and precious gems to enrich the nations and bedeck the highest with jewels rare.

"A region where all glories of scene, all charms of climate and all riches of resource meet and clasp hands."

TIMBER IN OREGON.

It is said that government statistics. show that there is more timber in Oregon than any other state in the Union. Enough to make a belt around the earth over a mile wide. Six hundred million feet of lumber was sawn in 1898. Such amount would make 20,000,000 cofins and nearly that number of bedsteads, cr a plank walk over 25 feet wide from Portland, Or., to Portland, Me.

The fishing industry of Oregon is worth about two millions annually.

PURPLE AND GOLD.

Mr. H. C. Wortman has held two offices in the Grand Cabin until recently, those of Grand Treasurer and of Trustee. The latter position he resigned, and Professor A. P. Armstrong was elected to the vacancy.

Abernethy's cabin has been presented with what is hoped to become the nucleus of a fine library. The gift was an appropriate one-a history of Oregon. It was written by Hon. Wm. H. Gray, a pioneer of 1836, and one of the most prominent among those who brought about the formation of the provisional government. The donor was Captain James T. Gray, a son of the author.

During one of the January sessions of the Grand Cabin it was deemed advisable to add another office-Grand Librarian --to the number of officers in such body. It will be the duty of the incumbent of the position to receive, care for and endeavor to secure material of a historical nature incident to the history of the state; documents, manuscripts and publications of every description, appertaining thereto; narratives and records of the pioneers of the Oregon Territory; the Indian names of mountains, streams and localities in Oregon, and their interpretations and significations; the Indian traditions relative to the history of the Pacific Northwest prior to white settlement; views of historical incident, place or object; photos or other pictures of pioneers; in fact, any and all materials which would be of interest or value to future generations as a museum showing the difficulties, the labors and the triumphs of the pioneers in founding our great state, and who these heroes and heroines were, are to be used for the building up of a library and museum for the benefit

of the people of Oregon. It is also the purpose of the order to own a building suitable for the keeping of such and for the use of the Oregon Pioneer Assuciation, Indian War Veterans, Oregon Historical Society and for lodgeroom purposes of the Native Sons and Daughters. All of these various associations are moving in the same direction, and Oregon will in time, through their efforts, have a creditable, instructive and valuable col lection of relics, documents and other matter, which all can mention with pride. It will not be the intent of this move on the part of the Native Sons to divide the wonted articles which should be collected, but rather to act in conjunction with all interests, and, when the exhibit will justify, form with them a collective museum and library. Mr. F. H. Savler has been appointed Grand Librarian, and earnestly solicits that pioneers, their descendants and others, aid in forwarding this good work to their utmost, that the objects sought for may be attained. All reminiscences, however brief, or article of his toric character, small and perhaps looked upon as insignificant, will be most acceptable. Address F. H. Saylor, Grand Librarian Native Sons of Oregon, rooms 716-17 Oregonian building, Portland, Oregon.

If any member of Abernethy's Cabin is entitled to consideration for services rendered, that Native Son is Sol Blumauer. He has been the means of placing more names on its roll of membership than nearly all the rest put together, and he keeps going right ahead, not only for his own cabin's welfare, but also for the order's good throughout the state.

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Abernethy's Cabin, as well as the state at large, has sustained a loss through the tragic death of Hollister D. McGuire, late fish commissioner of the state, who was drowned in the Umpqua river on the 8th inst., while seeking a location for a salmon hatchery, Mr. McGuire was born Aug. 18, 1843, on a farm located a few miles west of Portland. In his early years his parents removed to the city, where he received his education in the public schools, and grew to manhood. He was active in various enterprises which were a benefit to the community, and for several years was in the cattle business in Crook county. In all his transactions he conducted himself as a progressive citizen and an honest man should. On March 1, 1893, he was appointed to the position held at the time of his death, and he was such a capable officer that politics were set aside and merit considered through the succeeding administrations, and he was reappointed as often as a change came, much to the satisfaction of the people of Oregon in particular, and our neighboring states. in general.

Mr. McGuire leaves a wife and five children to mourn his loss. He was not only a member of the Native Sons, but was also an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, the Elks, the Woodmen and the Artisans.

Grand President Leasure will have his hands full of organization if the prospects for the institution of one-half of the new cabins talked of are realized, and there seems to be no doubt whatever about such being the case. The Grand President is the right man in the right place, for no one could have accomplished more than he has for the order, especially under the difficulties attending and sacrifice of personal business affairs.

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