Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-05-23
Letter from an Oxford Boz.

same County, asked me il was sub
scriber to the Democrat Being answer.
cd that was not, be urged me 10 take it.
told him would do so--bu!, like n
thousand other things. ii was neglected.
lie often erquired if had sent 10: it,and
at last, y few days since, he said, give
me your dollar and hall. and | will get
( it for you,n aua did so.
When got my first paper, saw in il
the names OF many OF the former play
fellows OF my boyhood, aud companions
and friends of my youth, which called up
many pleasing recolloctions of happy
days gone by. | thought il | got but
half dozen papers, and all were rs in"
( tercsling TO me rs that one, the dollar
/ and hall was well spent, land thinking
that YOU and your readers might be some
what interested To know something in
general of tho absent sons and daughters
of old Oxford. determined 10 write q
! few lines of those in our town. which il
YOU consider worth publishing, YOU can
give in the columns of the Democrat
| came to this town when boy, alone,
twenty-five years ago this very month.
A few OF my friends and acquaintance
had preceded me, and many have come
since For quite long time-soon after
my coming, there were sixteen in this
village, all from one school district in
/ Oxford County; and not unirequently,
nearly all were together to spend social
evening nc the house of some of the old
ones among us. who had families and
homes here At one time ! recollect
when there were over sixty persons in
this town (mosly young) from the town
OF Sumner in your County. OF course
the most of It's work on leather, in some
OF the processes of making II into boots
and shoes No breath we draw but Is
somewhat tainted more or less, with
! the smell OF leather | remember that
not long since, nh able. scientific lecturer
from distant State, seeing the loads
+ of leather. and boots and shoes coming
and going, sail to me that he was tempt.
ell to exclaim. "d---n the leather"
} Many are probably not aware that
hides and leather. and their products, 10
of the largest interest. financially of any
one business in our country; such how
ever is the fact Notwithstanding all the
excitement of living in the hustle, and
noise and hum or manufacturing COM
muuily. and all the privileges Of COM
pact population (and I acknowledge
them to be many can still assure You
that The most Of us often long for n light
OF the rugged mountains, the green hills
and the gently running riye-s If dear
old Oxford
/ Ny fathers pasture at homo il ON 4
hill: (aud whose is not down thcIe) and
Shall never forget with what untold dis
gust used to look up at that same grand
old hill when n boy, because il WAS 80
hard TO climb, after a hard days work.
or play for the cows NJ night. The
beauty OF my native hills never saw till
after left them, and since lhe0, can
only enjoy their grandeur 10y occasional
visits which make to the still dear ma
tive place. The demands OF business
keep the most oi rs from making those
visits often.
recoIlect that in 1876. OF cold, squal.
" day in November, | WAS passing up
the Grand Trunk road and Tell into COM
pauy with the Hon John b. Alley, then
Il member of Congress from this Stale,
and as knew him ia a business wayne
being in the leather buSiness-and one OF
the most genial OF men; We got into
conversation, and aS we neared the place
where was To leave the train, | told
him there was the town where | was
raised Mr.. Alley looked out. The
mountaintops were covered with snow )
squalls of snow were then hurrying along
their sides. marching in the driving wind
like n destroying army, along their rugged
faces. You and your readers, Mr.. Editor,
know lust how it looked ! must az
knowledge that it had u dreary look. He
said, II have known good many people
f,.,r, TIL ,.;.initv .nA from, M. apnna inf
ance with them, think this must be II
good place in which TO bo born and rear.
ed, but should hate TO spend my days
here" The natural pride in the home of
my early days was touched OF course,
and urged him 10 see il in the summer,
when Nature had spread her magnificent
green mantle over that lovely valley,
along the banks Of that beautiful river,
and dressed in living colors the now
barren and brown hillsides; and when
, the summer sun should lend his rays to
beauty and tone down TO 4 softer lint the
now .rowning mountain peaks. Let
: critics say what they may, those rugged
hilsides and lovely valleys, have been
the homes of mary noble, courageous,
and honest heart. and have given TO the
world an energetic and dauntless race OF
men and women In the aggregate,
none need be ashamed OF the evidences
they have given 10 the world OF their in
tegrily and ability. Wherever civiliza'
lion has gone on sea or on land, there
will be found the sturdy yeomanry OF old
Oxford. II brave and heroic deeds are
wanted. the whilened brows Of her sons