Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

CHANGES IN THE OLD HOME 217
John Burnett Easter had been to school at Bethany, West
Virginia, and had learned some college ways, so they arranged
programs. They told us girls a plan of theirs one day; they
were to have a grand exhibition in the "Hall" (the log house)
and Alexander Easter was going to invite Miss Ship out from
Hillsboro. An old Scotch Highlander was to dispense sweet
music from his bagpipes and Allen Easter and lady were to to
entertain at a supper. Oh, but it was all great fun! Everyone
had such a good time. Miss Ship was a town girl, young,
handsome, and refined, but she entered into the spirit of the
occasion and enjoyed the novelty of it all.
The bagpipes outdid all the performances of the evening;
the tuning up nearly convulsed Miss Ship and us girls. We
were to march over to Mr. Allen Easter's for the "banquet,"
and it was worthy of the name. Mrs. Allen had plenty of
roast chicken and good things. Going over from the Hall
we found the road very muddy, so we had to "march" over
"stake and rider" fences, through blackberry patches, and
across the damp meadow. The old minstrel marched ahead,
playing on his bagpipes, his tall, slender form swaying to the
music. His long gray hair shone from under his Scotch "bonnet"—
what a picture he was of a "minstrel, infirm and old!"
I could but think of that line of Scott's as I watched him. In
spite of the obstacles it was a gay march, and the banquet was
well worth it.
Long ago those youthful orators and debaters grew into
middle age, and we heard years after our paths separated that
Brother Easter had sold his great farm on Rocky Fork and
was preparing to move to Kansas. He told his boys that he
felt his life was ebbing fast, and should he not live it was his
wish that his remains might be taken to their new home. I
told the narrator I knew his request would be granted even
should it be necessary for his loyal sons to bear his casket on
their shoulders to that land.
Our father was known everywhere as an advocate of peace.
He thought that to be consistent he could not ally himself with
any human government by voting, as he would thereby obligate
himself, he thought, to defend his vote if necessary by