The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-02-14
Jenny Eaton, the Woman zzerrsi,.
A REMARE rASD

a hEMAhhABLE CASE.
We have already announced the death OF
Jenny Eaton, the woman hermit, who died
alcne in her hut in Brunswick on the Goth
ult., at the age of so. The Brunswick Tele-
graph gives some interesting particulars of
this poor old woman's life. She seems to
have been as independent and as terrified at
the thought of being an object of public
charity as old Betty Higden, whom Dickens
immortalzes in "Our Mutual Friend:'
She stated to parties before she died, that
she procured the material of which her hut
was constructed from driftwood thrown INTO
the river, and among some papers found after
her death, were receipts signed by Mr.
Storer, long since dead, for money paid him
Tor work in putting up the hut. There was
but one room in the hut, and Only one wln-
dow IN The room; the window, for loue Pc
riOd, has been boarded up, both on the inside
and outside, so that no ray of light could en-
ter 1t. When any one called, Jenny would
light bit of pitch wood, a supply OF which
she always kept by her side, to ascertain who
was her caller; she always kept lot OF ows;
they lived in her hut, and roasted upon her
bed Rats and mice were her inseparable
companions, and Jenny declared no cat
should ever enter her dwelling, as she wosld
trighten away the animals which she regarded
as her best friends. A lady who has called
on her for years, told us the other day, that
when she has been in the hut she has seen
mice sitting upon the floor, quietly nibbng
food, with no fear OF the parties present, evi-
IDENTIFY trained by their mistress to hold per-
feet confidence in her good intentions.
One can readily imagine that with hens aud
vermin constantly in the hut, both the floor
and the rags which answered for bed were
IN a sad state. Last fall, kind friends insist
ed that the rags which had furnished a bed
for the old woman should be removed; tue
hlth which had accumulated under them was
sight to behold; there was a monstrous
quantity Of rags, too. The sale of the rags
alone netted several dollars in amount. TIE
quantity thrown out, if W should give the
statement as given to us, would hardly be be-
lieved.
The place was thoroughly cleaned and
| comfortable bed and bed clothes provided for
| Jenny; she must have made the statement
to our informant who says that her bed bad
| not been touched for forty, one years.
| Jenny resisted and in fac. resented every
attempt on the part of the town to relieve
her wants. Some years since, the town OIL
| ficers sent her out lot OF wood, and she
burned little before she knew whence it
came. As soon as she ascertanPd that the
town sent it, she commenced to haul il back
upon her handsled and notifiee the officers, it
euCy uiu uOI IemOfe IL, SUS DauI IL
to the v!llage,-a distance OF a miie or mole
every stick OF it; it is needless 10 say that the
wood was speedily removed. Capt. Adams
near nei9hbor, once sent her load OF wood.
Inc man who drove the team, to tease Jenny,
told her that it was from the town,-"Iaul it
back, haul it back" screamed the woman, ~
won't touch a stick of it," 1t was some time
before she would allow him to unload it.
| Whenever any article was taken to her, her
fret tsnr. H. - /.
| town." All through her life she exhibited
| great independence of feeng,ss the incidents
we have above relatec, fully show, aud at
| times her temper was a little sharp. But she
| ever exhibited true gratitude to all who indi-
| vidually aided her.
How did she live? She picked and sold
berries in the summer and doubtless her heus
afforded her an income. She gathered her
wood in summer, for the winter-but of
course it was none oil the best. The dress
| which she last wore was burned all round the
| bottom, and the sleeves also were buraed-
| Her legs and arms were one mass OF scars
| from burns. The burning of her dress, lees
and arms was caused by her constantly pok-
| ing and handling the fire brands. 1t is per-
fectly marvellous that she had not been burn
| ed years ago.
| She had by her in the house when she died
ten or twelve dollars, the results of her sale
OF berries last season, and there was in the
First National Bank small amount OF mon
ey, the balance OF some $500, left TO Jenny
several years ago.
Mrs. Cram aud Miss Harriet j. StaDwo od
| were constant in their attendance upon Jen-
ny during the last few weeks OF her life, and
know that she wanted for nothing in the way
| of food and tuel Miss Stanwood found un-
touched, several packages of Sugar, tea, &C.,
which had been carried to Jenny months ago.
| and Miss S--has been in the habit of CALLING
| quite regularly Tor ten or twelve years. She
| died from neither cold nor hunger. Or
Thursday last she was found by a neiobbol
dead in her hut, aud the body was quite warn
when discovered, so much so, that IT wa;
Strengthened out in decent order for BURIAL
For, years, as the reader will recoliect, Jenny
| waSbent almost double