Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-10-31

courtesy as genuine and generous as if
the garb had been linen and broadcloth,
instead OF cotton and overalls. | have
thoroughly enjoyed studying phase oi
humanity comparatively new TO me.
The shadows had half hidden the land
Scapc in misty wells when we returned
over The hills and few stars were kind.
linz their watch fires. rode along,
learning the price ol butter and eggs.
the injury The ,lIouth had done 20 the
com and the prospects OF the iarmer-al
the time puzzling my own thoughts about
the falls" which Mr.. IIowland said we
should need in working in the well Sew
rral times men had used that expression,
what could they mean | may add that |
afterwards discovered tnat it was only u
mechanical contriyaucc. with pulleys. for
raising and lowering rocks or anything
in the well That night | concluded 10
sleep on my troubles. the best course
when there is nothing else 10 be done,
your ncighbor asleep and yourself just
about used up.
The next day renewed my efforts. and
the next. ill ii was quite time tO be dis
couraged II would be shocking to re
late how would ride with the sun. in.
wade the peaceful home OF lahuling
man. seize him nj his own breakfast In
bic, drag him 10 my house, pitch hn
down my well and compel him 10 earn
his way up again. OF course did not
do that literally, but did secure the
workmcn and the we'll was taken up.
Then came The second trouble There
was y hard sranitr ledge at the bottom OF
my well, instead OF a bed of gravel All
my artcSan theories were set aside tor
want OF competent men and suitable
tools. and the old fashioned method at
drilling and blowing the rocks with pow
der was the only alternative Now, my
well was close to my Kitchen door.
looked down into the bottom and up to
my window, around on my plum trees,
vines and flower beds, and shook my
head. bW was assured there was no
danger, rs timber' woul be placed over
tic mouth of the well so no rocks could
is up aud no harm would be done
There was anew willo' the.wjsp chase
after workmen. ton common laLorcrs
could not do that work Skill and cx.
pcricncc were needed. will not al.
tempt the history OF that chase. One
day rodc over twenty miles, in fruit;
less attempt TO find two competent men
who had been recommended to me. The
young man who drove the horse, was rs
unfamiliar rs was. with the roads and
byways through which our course lay, so
il was quite an exploring expedition. We
made many discoveries more interesting
TO ourselves than valuable to others.
Then We found the place where the men
ought to be, they were moi there, being
at work in q nelghboring town where
they had just engaged n long job. The
fact was. il seemed rs il my decision to
have better well. was the signal lor cv.
cry householder in the country to decide
upon the same thing. Such an upturm-
ing OF old wells; such digging of new
ones An orninous heap oi sand, or pile
OF rocks, was TO be seen in proximity To
about every other house, and How il
your well?" was more common greet.
ing than How is your family?' TO be
sure. tbs remarkably dry season may
have had rs much to do with it as my
undertaking.
Finally, men were secured for the see.
ond part of the work, and we made
preparations ior earthquakes and eX-
pnsions. was TO furnish the tools. [
did not know drills and sledges from
hammers and spikes, one kind of powder
from another, nor fuse from card, but |
could learn. | went one evening TO a
hard working man, after his days work
was done, and asked him 10 show me the
tools and tell me about the materials. He
did SO, explaining their uses and giving
me much valuable information concern
ing the whole matter. SO the next day |
collected and hired the necessary tools and
apparatus, with a practical knowledge
that surprised myself. find it is worth
II great deal 10 understand what is TO be
done, and how TO do il, when you de-
pend on others for The work. lntelli-
gcnce, judgment. justice and good tenn.
per i'll the employer secure confidence,
respect and faithtuness from the employ
ed. If women were never ignorant. nor
cross, nor lussy, nor unfair, they would
succeed better.
The drilling and blasting commenced.
All the morning we listened to the mo-
notonous click of the sledgc and then
waited with some foreboding. for the
effect Of the charge. Earthquakes,
thunder and haistones ! How the house
shook : How the broken glass ratified !
How the report deafened US To be
sure, the rocks did not fly out from the
well in any alarming manner, but the
house felt the shock in its foundation and
the conclusion had shattered three win.
dows. After that we took the precaution
to remove the windows from their castings
put protecting boards in exposed places,
in various ways guarded against damage.
For two weeks we enjoyed series of