Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1863-06-05
IT, NO 10. PARIS Me, FRIDAY JUNE J. 1863.

d - $3.50 ftfteh~ NoIra-e. VI fhls. tie
the following incident AFFORD, ample s,i-
dence
The - Old Gardener vas once subjected
70 a burglary and attempted robbery. lie
lived with his wife. a oouuterpar- Of him
self. IN a small and somewhat dilapidatsd
cottage. not far from the high road. Three
Young squires. Of large expectations. ~ho
bad Just fnished studies AZ the university.
and Who al desPised and hated Methodisn,.
having heard that the old man had been
recently making a collection to build a
Methodist Chspel. thought Il would be
good frolie to rob him. temporarily. % the
proceeds q his collection A plan vas
immediately formed. and time appointed
for carry isg into execution. IL is supposed
that the Old nan must have had information
ofth plot from Methodist servant in the
employ q the mother of one % the voun-
gentlemen. The result Of the frolic I,
best related in the words of one Of The
actors
We set cut. he said. " upon our ex-
petition with blackened faces. on a DARK
night. little before twelve O'Clock. III.
Old Gardener vas one OF nv father. ten
ants. and kns- the locality Of the cottage
we'll We bad dined late. and all Of u,
had Dutch a. sell a. Cornish courage vet.
confess. When Il zane 70 the point ielt
myself a coward. began 70 rvtiecs that u
vas bat a dastsrdiy froIc to frighten = poor
oil man and BIS wife IN the dead Of night.
vas acquainted with the history Of the
Old man. and bis simple mode % life. and
once. out o. curiosity. bad heard hirn prrach.
Has preaching Vas utterly ind-,rribable.
AMI has appearance in his tub-like pulpit
~as al times. when BE- was wroash, % %
hish patch a snthusiAsm. truly awful
one of his frequent expressions va. .' an
under the protection - the Almighty. AM
neither man nor the devil can harm ne
hose words rang IN nv ears. and although
had determined 70 form one % the party
~ho had plotted together TO rob tie old
man. Ultimately compromised With con-
science. by resolving 90 rrmunerate him tor
the frght--If such a uian could Be frirhten-
ed
The clock struck twelve. Nov come,
The ~itrhins time OF nish,.~ exclaimed
Tom.
" Don't let u' irighten the poor old eoa-
pie out % their wits. said I.
" No saiI Ryder we will BE- gentle
robbers- gentle as Robin Hood and Et,ls
John-
SAD that I had rAtber travel back than
proceed. Recollec..~ sad 7. u she old
fellow Is an oh soldier. a. veil a, a saint.
and fears nothing human
o. Nonsense - exclaimed RYDER. here
goes lie pressed the feeble door Of tie
cottage ia which The old man resided: it
Immediately gave way and fe~ open. We
entered. AMI found ourselves IN a sort Of
Kitchen. To our great surprise there -ss
a light shining from an inner room. This
made rs hesItaie.
d" Who j. oct there a; this time Of night
exclaimed hoarse voice from ~i,hia.
knew g 90 De tie unmisiakabio voice q TIE
ola Car,lcuer.
'' GIVE - your money and no harm shall
befal you. saiI Tom '' bat Ne must have
your money
" The Lord will be nv defence re-
joined Oid Gardener You sian have no
money from me al IN the house is the
Lord s-take it II you dare 49,
d" We must and vii have it. ~ .sid We. A.
We entered tbc inner room. after taking
thc Precaution of fastening the chamber
door a. 80 entered
We soon wished ve hai suffered it % re-
main open a. you Will see.
Nov con.ider us face 20 face vith the
Ola Gardiner and pretty sght ~ pre-
scnted Three r1fans (oursei,es.) vith
vagoner's frorks ani biarkcne,l fsres BE
fore us fhc ola Gardener. sitting on the
siie ofh.s bed o. wore red wor.tei
nshfcap. q cbccked shirt. and q flannel
jacket BIS iron grey face. fringeI 9TH a
grizziy beard, looked AZ cool and undismay-
ed a. ihe hai been in the pulpit preaching
3 table vas by ihc side 81 the bed. and im-
meliateiy in front ofh.m. on large deal
tahle, vas an open Bible. close % which re
observed. to our horror. q hcsp 81 cua-
powder large enough 90 Bios up a castle
4 candle vas burning on the table. and
the oh t-llow heii steel .n one hand and
a large flint in tLc other We we're aI
tlree completely rara'ysei The ~Id.
iron faosl determined look the Oid Gar
drnrr. the candle. the fint anl steel. and
o. great heap ~ povjer ahsolatelv frore
oar blood. ard made d" covsrds of us all
The Gsrlsner sav The impression D. haI