Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-12-19
In Mes00s.idm.

merly OF Maine.
This little item which caught my eye
in newspaper few days ago. set in
motion a train Of thought, and awakened
happy and almostforgoiten "reminiscences
of an interesting family which | knew in
Bethel, during my school days, now
more than twenty years ago.
Jonathan A. Russell or Abbott
Russell as he was oltencr and more Ia
military called, lived on one of those rich
bottom farms, for which the town OF
Bethel Is distinguished. only short dis
lance from the charming village of Beth
cl Hill. He was descended. if mistake
not. from one of the first settlers in town,
and had grown tO mans estate when the
village was only small. rambling col
lection OF houses, long before tho great
revolution had been wrought in that part
of tho country by the introduction of the
railway and telegraph. Mr.. Rusioll was
n schoolmaster, and in the days of his
prime had great reputation through all
that region He taught in the DAYS when
the popular belief was that The great tree
OF knowledge was birch. and | have been
told that Mr. Russell was untiring in his
efforts to practically demonstrate the wis
dom of the popular idea.
II was in after years when ] knew him.
when he had given up the leruIe and hal
retired to his farm to spend his declining
years in the bosom of his family. He
was kind hearted congenial old man,
full OF Interesting ancc,lotcS Illustrating
his experience in the carly history ot the
down. and OF his vaiied experience. IN
school teaching. lis family. ut the Pc
Iiod of which write. consisted. besides
himself ni hi> excellent wife. one ot The
mothers IN Israel his sons Casper and So
Ion. and daughters BetSey, Sarah aud
Matilda lie had given his children IN
eXcclcn, bringing up, for which his long
experience in inslrucling youth we'll fitted
him. ana had sent each OF them tor soy
cIal tenn. 10 DR.. Trncs school al the
Academy ON the Hill Most nj thrm had
been school mates at mine, all ct them
had Taught school. ami some ul thcnI had
attended my school. when taught IN
the "AEholt Russell district and huard-
eel round Nv acquaintIn with them
and a ,>socationS in various ways, led
me TO pend many happy Sabbath with
them Al the old homestead. Never have
| met with happier I1mily. United in
interest, alike IN taste. striving a'waNs To
promote the CT oymenl oi each other,
how could they help being happy? But
happiness IN lhis world i, AT tie best
rphemeral, and in the ra.c OF this family
il was particularly bricI In a little more
than twenty year; the entire family has
pissed away, and the old homestead has
passed into The hands of strangers. EN.
cepl IN case OF some epidemic. ! think
such a moriuary record i rarely met
with Frs, the mead at the family, old
and full oi years WIS gathered to his
fathers. Next Solun he youngcSl SOIL
uho hrd gown to marhuod. and VIII"
was to shirc the broad acres ct the pa
tcrnal estate aud support his mother IN
her declining Wears, rickcncd and follow
eel IN, father Next died Matilda, the
voungcs; daughter. who hal married tud
had bcrpm, mother sarah, the Hover
OF the family, alter having especial pains
taken with her education Slraycd away
t. Grceuw ood. Kentucky, where she took
charge Of Seminary ol learning. about
this time | became acquainted with
Joseph Odcll, who lod just lcl Water
vile College. and who had engaged 10
take charge OF a school in The vicinity OF
the one Taught by Sarah. Before OdclI
len Maine. gave him letter oi intro.
dublion to her. and in tho COURSE OF two
vears, heard of their marriage, Il result
which anticipated from be beginning.
Their married life was brief one lor
Sarah was the victim OF an accident
which resulted in hen death. Her clothes
took fire iron, the explosion oI a fluid
lamp, and she WAS burned so severely rs
To cause her death in :. few hours Betsy,
the oldest daughter, next died. AMI about
the same time the mother, who bal been
so sadly bereavcd in n fcy short years.
passed away to the other side, soon To ne
followed by tht only surviving son,
Casper.
Thus. in a tex days. - II were, lam
liz OF seven. five of them in The prime
and vigor oi lilo, has passed beyond the
pale Of human existence. Bat let Us,
who knew them Gnly TO love them, keep
green their memory and strive To emulate
their virtues. ALPHA.
Big Pigs and Golden Bntter.
Clinton Howe, West Sumner, dressed
in November. for the market. tour hogs,