Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-20
MARGARET, =

| The volume with the above title is known
to the most of our readers as the work of the
late Rev. Sylvester Judd. Originally pub
lished in 1851, it is now republished by Rob-
erts Brothers of Boston, and bids fair to be
more widely read and appreciated in this last
edition than in the first. To those who knew
the talented author personally it is unneces-
sary to say that the work is distinguished by
genius, or that it is independent in tone, truly
christian and progressive in spirit, and some
what eccentric.
Margaret is as near a child of nature as
the offspring of New England parents could
be in the early days of our history. Bereft of
her own parents in infancy, she was adopted
into a rough New England family in Massa-
| chusetts settlement, whore she grew up wild,
uncultured as to morals, uneducated in intel
lect excep. by the strangest chance. Her
adopted father was a good natured, shiftless
man, hating ministers and religion, schools
and churches, but loving ardent spirits, of
which he always kept supply and for which
all his earnings went. The mother was a
coarse, proper mate for her husband, whom
she could match in drinking and smoking, and
Guido in scolding, spinning and weaving.
Three sons belonged to the family. The
house was log hut of pri mitive style. Their
nearest neighbor was half mile off, and the
nearest settlement, where they were obliged
to purchase rum and tobacco, and to which
Margaret made her first trip for that purpose,
was two miles distant. Layishing the most
Of her affections upon fayorite dog, pet
squirrel, and her younger brother, who had
genius for music and could execute marvel
lousy upon the violin, and seemed to have a
softer and more spiritual nature than his
brothers or parents, she passed the time
strangely though not unhappily away during
her girlhood. Happening TO make the ac-
| quaintance of the village pedagogue, an &C.
centric old bachelor, who conceived a liking
for the child, he taught her in such a way as
lie could the branches of learning taught in
his school, and even instructed her in Latin
and Greek But while the head was trained
the heart was as uncultvated as the wild
flowers of the forest The Bible was a sealed
book TO her, religious meetings were almost
unknown, and ministers were puzzled to know
what to make OF her, the more sanctimonious
ones and their followers generally agreeing
that she belonged in the neither regions. The
village was not unlike some we have seen
described elsewhere. The women gossiped,
he grog- shop was kept by deacon who sold
iiquor freely to all and then mourned over
the depravity of mankind, there were good
, people and bad people, the most of which have
10 appear without polish in the pages of the
writer. 1t is plain that the Maine Law had
no existence then. Training day is graphic
; ally descTibed an Institution then of great
: Importance, one eff the principal duties of
: which was to get drunk. Margaret tried her
n hand at teaching school and failed Loud
e complaint was made by some of the females
d who favored the former teacher, a sour old
d maid, and SO the Parson after investigation
J. discharged her because he found that she did
not use the primer in school, did not attend
d meeting, and sometimes played with her
ii scholars out of school, and favored n little
v hunchback boy. Then in a drunken brawl
n at her fathers house murder was committed
and the brother she loved so well, and who i,