Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-10-21
Autumn Ramblings.
No. l..

breath; but the autumnal sun with his
.lanting ray. eliminates the variegated To-
liage with a soft and mellow light, at once
grateful TO the mind and pleasing TO the
sight. On the fourth OF October. inst. we
started on a short tour through some por.
,ions Of Oxford County and into the borders
of New Hampshire, and few stray do,,ings
from our memorandum, may be interesting
TO some Of the readers OF the Democrat. A
pleasant ride Of two hours brought ~ TO
the fair grounds in Norway. where prepnr.
a,ions were going forward for the annual
exhibition Of Oxford industry and improve.
ment. A complimentary ticket was fur.
ui,hed US by the Secretary, and we spent
few hours in watching the progress OF the
fair and in examining the entries in the
several departments. We saw enough TO
convince Us of the great benefit Of these an
nual exhibitions 10 the agricultural and
mechanical interests OF our County. The
rivalry which 1t produces in stock raising
and in other departments [: the interchange
Of thought and the development Of the 90
eial faculties TO which such gathering. are
favorable, must DO productive OF good 70
those who engage IN II as they ought. Prom
ih. place we passed through the thriving
village Of Norway. which, notwithstanding
the " frog ponds around it, has attained
a very respectable growth, aud a. place u
business is no, squalled by any in the coun.
ty. The road from here winds Tor a short
distance along the shore OF that beautiful
pond which has such an unpronounceable
name. and then we took the road which
branches OF n the valley OF the Crooked
river. The land bordering on the road
through the ives, OF Norway and the east Of
Waterford, is light and sandy, and covered
with \ growth Of dwarf pines. with hero
aud there a struggling oak. Crooked river
!. fine. clear stream, which receives its
waters from numerous little ponds in Wa.
terford and Albany, and as It's name indi.
Gates, It ripple' along in a Eis rag course as
II 10th to leave the pleasant valley through
which u passes. A good water powrr Is AZ.
forded on this river, at North Waterford,
upon which Samuel u. Locke. Esq. hiss
erected tine set Of mills. This has given
an impulse TO the business Of the place.
which nothing else could have done. The
land around i. rather unfavorable for build.
ing upon, being uneven and in many places
steep. There are two stores here. and a
high school /. we'll sustained two terms in
the year.
The road from North Waterford toward.
Lowell. Tor the fret few miles, is billy, and
- bounded by hnc upland farms. Leaving
Kerar pond on the right, We passed from
the hill country into pine plain which eI.
tend. through Lowell to Fryeburg. Thi. 1,
spor,ion OF the Pcquaks, valley. taking It.
name from the tribe Of Indians which once
inhabited IL. Lowell 'llsgc is a picturesque
little place, and IT. neatly palnt'd houses
and shaded streets indicate thrift and pros
ycrity. Lowell j. famous for ias, men and
fast horses As We pass along. Pleasant
mountain is quite near US on the lef, while
old Klersarsc seems 10 rest his ragged head
against the Ky on tho right. About two
miles from Fryeburc village we crossed the
old bcd Of the Saco, which /. now nearly
dry, the water having been diverted TO a
new channel near III, village. by ,hi. new
channel the river i. made straighier and
many mi e. shorter. II, river in the old
bod wa. very crooked, branching of abrupt
lyas IL from mere wantonness, aud then
turning again /, flowed back almost paral'
lei with it, former course, making many
rods Of river 10 get lew rods ahead.
Fryeburg village is situated about on the
DIVISION line between the broad intervals on
the Saco river and the pine plains. The
venerable shade trees bordering on the streets
and the style Of architecture Of sone Of the
buildings indicate place Of considerable
antiquity. On arriving at the village, We
found it full Of people who had assembled
TO attend the Fair. We found good lodg.
ines at the Oxford House kept by that ubi-
qui,ous individual, John Smith. Here We
found our former acquaintance DR.. Towls,
who, saving his politics, 10 a downright
good fellow, and were escorted by him 10
the places Of interest in the vicinity. First
we visited the famous battle ground where
the brave Loyewell and his companion. had
III, sAnguinary engagement with tho In
dams. On our way we passed curious
bluff called " Jockey Cap" which rises alb
ruphy in the mid., Of the plain, aIordinc
from iis summit, fine view Of Loycwell
pond and the scene Of the battle. Huge
fragments have been detached from the
main rock and lie around il. base, some OF
them 50 disposed as to form large cave in
which the Indian. are -,id 90 have some
times .ecreted themselves when pursued by
the settlers. The scene OF the battle Is on
the shore Of Lovewell pond where a small
brook flows into ii. IL was at this brook
that Chamberlin and Paugus went to wash
their guns before the latter was shot by the
former. This was IN the year l725 in those
troublous times when the red men. seeing
their possessions were fast being taken from
them by the avaricious whites, arose IN their
might to eIterminats the pAle-faced sirang-
ers OF drive them from their shores. But
the fates were against them. and each san
culinary csnnict only served to dscima,c
| Ill. ,,,n, Lar. and hasten their dam