The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-08-12
CONCENTRATIONS
A RAMBLE. (Continued.)

desired is not always found in tavern for there
is often busy, cowardy little animal that seeks
the night for his spoiations and prev who is a
bitter enemy to our quiet. But in the present
instance have no complaints Of this sort to ut
ter; and being unmindful of all worldly Dispute
tudes soon sunk into a sweet forgetfulness, in
which remained until the matin bird brought
the thought of new tolls and new pleasures for
the passing day. After putting again in requisi-
ton my landlady's science in the culinary de-
partment and swallowing hastily the meal she
provided, during which, let it be remembered she
gratuitously bestowed upon me her agreeable
company, took my departure and entered upon
the "hill countrie." Waterford is fourishing
settlement, surrounded by high land, of which it
is the commencement as you journey north, and
lies upon the margin ofone or two ponds. 1t has
doctor, lawyer and minister, curators for
the three grand disorders which afflict humanity
The billy region extends from Waterford to
the Andrescoggin about 10 miles The ride
through Albany the next town TO Waterford is
in some respects pleasant, but the almost ever
lasting continuity of hills exhansts ones pa
tience. Although you pass over high land, your
prospect is not extensive, being bounded by hills
still more elevated in the vicinity. Now & then,
you catch between the opening hills, glimpse
of the White Mountains, which rear themselves
! far above the surrounding country in misty
| grandeur and mingle with the clouds of which
sometimes they seem to form a part heavy
| clouds were passing over them to day so that
they could be only occasionally and indistinct-
ly seen. had not much intercourse with the Al
banians, and indeed saw but very few signs Of
life in passing through this town. It contains
but about go inhabitants and they are sprink-
led over a wide territory. Bethel comes next
to Albany, lying along both banks of the An
droscoggin Of which it occupies about twelve
miles. The ride down this river TO Rumford
point, where you cross it BY ferry, to go into
AndoveF, is very pleasant the country is entire
ly cleared of timber and pretty well settled
There are two or three meeting houses in Beth
ell round which are grouped the usual accompan-
iments Of every village in approaching one Of
these overlook small boy, whom pressed into
my service, to obtain some information about
the town and to relieve the ennui of solitary
ride. Well, my little fellow said l. how far are
you going only to the school yonder sir What
is the name Of the village we are coming to 1t
is part of Bethel sir. And who breaches in the
hne meeting house that we see Mr.. Mason sir,
but he will not PrGch tomorrow for he has gone
over TO Rumford. Where does he live He lives
in the howell yonder Just under the hill You
were born in this town, suppose? o no sir |
was born in ireland. ireland exclaimed YES
sir. And how long have you been in this coun-
try about year, my father came over from
Ireland year ago and settled in this place. Do
you like Bethel as well as your native country /
Why yes sir, like il very well. had not time
TO make many more enquiries for we soon came I
opposite the school house, when nv interesting
little companion leaped ont before | had half sat
isfed myself with his company. My little Irish
hprrr ,t,II.a - o
had none of that sheepishness in his manners
which prevails among the boys in the interior.
learned from him that his father had scrared
together enough ia bis own country to bring bis
family htherand procure small farm, on which
he was living comfortably. What relief it
must be to the poor Irish whose peculiar destiny
IT seems to be to starve on the best soil in Europe
and to suffer the most detestable expressions
under government which boasts of the liberali-
ty Gifts institutions and the liberty of its sub
jects whata relief it must be to them, to find
themselves under a government, which they
feel only in the protection it affords to their per-
sons and property, and ander which the frnits
of their toll are not seized to pamper the insatl-
able nav Of the idle and prohigate.
The Androscoggn at the ferry in Rumford is
about 70 yards wide, and in the chanpel from
10 to Is feet deep: it flows quietly and calmly
along hSrmonizng with the occupation of those
who inhabit its banks. Rumford extends on
both sides of the river, on each Of which there
is small settlement, congregated on one side
about tavern, and on the other about two
grog shops. On the northern bank Twas FORUM
ate enough to be witness to a military display
a company consisting of Is or 90 men, part Of
whom were in uniform, was maneuvering with
deal of consequence, and carrying their bodies
beyond perpendicular, which is your true line
of beauty in soldier. A number Of people
had collected here from the neighbouring towns,
to see the sogers, spend Saturday afternoon, and
drink grog. | amused myself awhile with this
party ofrecruits, whose military ardour, thought
was elevated by spirit of another sort, and then
pushed on the solitary track that leads into An
dover, the most northern town in the county of
Oxford. Andoyer is five miles from the river
and eighty two from Portland through Bethel
but my business carried me across the town six
miles farther. As there is but one road in this
direction leading into this singulariy situated
track,whch is on the bank Of small stream, / had
an opportunity to observe all the beauties Of the
place. The settlement appears to be entirely
surrounded by hills, and when You are within
their circumference, you can perceive no way
to escape, unless by surInounting them the in
habitants are scattered in the valley, in the bot
tom of bowl as it were, secluded from the
rest OF the world BY natural barrier. Few
settlers have yet ventured north Of Il 5, to oc-
cupythe vacant soil towards the Canada line.
which is nearly fifty miles distant A road has
been cut through TO Canada, and although it is
not passable in carriages, yet it affords COM
municaton TO the adjacent provinces which is
occasionally improved by the people on both
sides for market. Another road goes out of
this punch bowl to Pennington and Hallowell.