“The Spring—she is a blessed thing !
She is mother of the flowers :
She is the mate of birds and bees,
The partner of their revelries,
Our star of hope through wintry hours.”
“Up! Let us to the fields away,
And breathe the fresh and balmy air ;
The bird is building in the tree,
The flower has opened to the bee,
And health, and lover, and peace are there.”[i]
The springtime has again dawned upon us; and the grasses upon the lawns, and in the pastures of the town are springing up prettily. Save this, there is by little other natural designation to denote the advent of the season. However, the industrious people are making use of time as it advances. The gardener is at work, clearing away and burning the debris occasioned by last year’s growth, and the farmer is plowing his fields preparatory to planting his sees for the present year’s crop. A few potatoes, onions and peas have been planted, but the ground is considered to be too cold yet to make much headway, even in this line. It is said that the things indigenous to a season will appear, be the weather cold of warm; and, indeed it does appear so; though in the matter of vegetation, it must be admitted that a backward season produces a stunted growth. The spring has brought back the osprey, or fish-hawk, and they may now be seen hovering over the waters of the Broadkiln spying out their prey and pouncing dow2n and seizing it then flying away to the woods to devour it. This looks hard; that a loving thing should be sacrificed to satisfy the cravings of another. Yet is it not following in the line of nature’s laws? The shrubs, the herbs, and the flowers draw their living from the organic world; the fauna, or animal kingdom, draws its sustenance from the flora, or botanical kingdom; and man, the highest order of the animal kingdom, draws his support from the lower orders of the fauna, and from the vegetable kingdom. This is a scientific fact; and taking the organic and inorganic worlds in their various generi, and viewing them in an evolutionary light, we are led to the unwelcome conclusion that the principal law of this world is: “The weakest goes to the wall.” And so we cannot blame the fish hawk – it is his nature. We will give the reader more of spring, when the subject becomes more rosy.
“Sam Bennett” died on Friday of cerebro spinal meningitis, aged many years. The old horse has been a faithful one, and his familiar form has been seen for quite a while hailing various articles about Milton. He is gone. Captain Bennett deplores his loss, and the people of town sympathize with him. The owner of “Sam” has gone to the city to purchase another horse.
Robert Conwell, the Milton baker, has purchased a wagon and had it newly painted, with his name and business emblazoned on the curtains. He now takes a commendable pride in riding on the streets and dispensing the “staff of life” to his many customers.
Miss Eva Smith, formerly of this town, but late of Philadelphia, has opened a millinery and trimming store at the corner of Chestnut and Wharton streets.
Capt. Rogers, of the schooner Rambo, of Bridgeport, Pa., has been the guest of Capt. S. R. Bennett.
Capt. Charles Cannon, of the American Dredging Company, and wife, of Camden, N. J., ae visiting relatives in town.
Captain Scull is still making Mt. Ararat to “Blossom as the rose.” A recent visit shows much improvement in clearing away the cripple and in the matter of drainage. A more distinct view is now obtained by his recent work from Milton of his improvements. A few more men like Captain Scull and Milton might be called “blessed.”
The tug Sparta has been ling for some months in a sluice between Milton and Scull’s landing. Why she is here is not known.
The old drying factory, formerly the property of Reynolds & Co., on Mill Street, has been torn down, much to the relief of the citizens living in that locality.
Mr. Thomas R. Wilson, as real estate broker, has opened an office in that of the late ex-Governor Ponder’s. He also deals in insurance policies, fertilizers, etc.
A heavy rainstorm visited this locality on Wednesday night of last week. The wind blew terribly and the rain fell in torrents. No other damage except a few washouts in unpaved sidewalks on some of the back streets has been noticed.
James Ponder, Esq., attorney-at-law in Wilmington, visited his mother and sister on Sunday.
Curbing has been put along the sidewalk of the Ponder Block on Chestnut Street—now Palmer Block.
There were no services at the M. E. Church on Sunday. Everyone knew the reason.
Our new town bailiff has entered upon his duties with a vim that, if carried out, will insure him a successful term of official life.
The crowd of boys and girls – or if you like it better – gentlemen and young misses, who have been congregating on the sidewalk in front of the port office every evening about mail time, have been made to stand aside and give a clear passage for those who may have business on the street or sidewalk at night. These parties—most of them—have no mail, nor do they expect any. Their object is only to meet together and have a “good time.” The bailiff is doing his duty when he clears the sidewalks of such gatherings. We are expecting to see this officer in his uniform soon.
Mrs. Emma L. Green, wife of William Green, died near Whitesboro on Friday, of consumption, aged 55 years, 5 months and 15 days. Funeral services were held at White’s Chapel on Tuesday afternoon, buy the Rev. Mr. Outten, and the remains deposited in the adjacent cemetery. S. J. Wilson funeral director.
The parsimoniousness of one man was illustrated at a meeting of the Board of Trade! He had become a member, all but paying in the initiatory fee of one dollar. This he was squeezing as long as possible. Pending a discussion relating to monthly dues, he say with mouth agape and eyes agog, and his hat firmly clutched with his hand; as soon as he discovered there would be other dues to pay besides the initiatory fee, he left the house instantly. This circumstance has been related to the writer. We do not know who it was, nor do we want to know.
Turnip greens are in market; and shad have been quite plentiful this week; the latter selling at fifty cents per pair.
Mr. Isaac Nailor has returned from a business trip to Wilmington and Philadelphia.
————————-
[i] These verses are extracted from the poem Spring by Mary Howitt (1799 – 1888), an English poet, and author of the famous poem The Spider and the Fly. This particular poem Spring was widely anthologized in the 19th century, especially in collections appropriate to young ladies and girls such as the Godey’s Lady’s Book, 1832 edition, and the McGuffey Reader series.