Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-02-24
For the Orleans County Monitor
WHY I LEFT THE WEST.

many times, that | tire Of telling the
story; and now propose to make public
my history, while in that earthly para
disc, and thus save my tongue much
trouble When l started westward, it
was with heart full of thankfulness
for that bourne of the landless and pen
niless | had heard much Of the kind
ness and hospitality of its people; of
its rich and fertile lands; its beautiful
lakes, broad rivers and far stretching
prairies. So with a light heart-and
purse-I babe good by to home and
friends; to old and loved associations /;
/ to all the advantages of long inhabited
and we'll cultivated land, and migrated
toward the ''land of the setting sun :"
and thatsmy reasons for not remaining
there may be we'll understood, | will
now relate little story:
! "Once upon time, - Tom, Dick and
Harry got into trouble. Tom, having
the ambition to become merchant, and
knowing all the advantages of the cred
it SYSTEM bargained for large amount
of goods, mostly "on time filled a
store and sold the goods. But, finding
that the profits were not going to enrich
him, conceived the brilliant idea of alb
sconding with the whole cash receipts.
Dick owned small farm, but getting
badly into debt he became disheartened
at the prospect of trying to gain an hon.
est livelihood, and so quietly disposed Of
his farm, and while darkness was upon
the face of the earth, he departed with
his little family, to seek place. where
honest merit was rewarded. Harry had
the misfortune to nearly take the life of
neighbor, and the climate thereabouts,
not agreeing with him, he too sought
elsewhere, peace and safety. The great
western world swallowed them UP and
for time they were ''as tho they had
not been" Tom going far away upon
the frontier 'started" upon a farm.
Dick and Harry soon followed, and they
then resolved to establish town, which
they did, having for q motto something
like this: "You stand by me and I'll
stand by you, and victory shall be ours. .
Other friends of the same stamp soon
joined them, and the town grew. But,
l in time there came those who were not
acquainted with the facts connected with
the early history of the founders of the
town. All preceding had been ingraft
ed under the motto, but these must bt
e informed Of the necessity in order tt
consent, which necessity it was disagree
able to explain. So the poor but homes
C?) men resolved to warm UP the hab
itations of the interlopers. Not tina
they applied the torch to their dwellings
oh no they were honorable men. Yo1
know that nest of hornets when excit
ed, although they do not produce a con
fagration, yet their touch is exceedingl
warm. These were human hornets, an
their stings were poisonous to the las
degree; for, having been in the countr
sometime they were regarded by tn
adjoining settlements as "old settlers
"a most powerful title throughout tn
west-and their words were as the word
of the Oracle of the Delphi. Thu
whatever new conner who did not sa
under their colors, did, was wrong
They were looked upon as lawful pre-,
Any one might pick them and nothin
must be said. Why, friends, this is NJ
fancy picture-by no means-but re-
life. | had the misfortune to go amor
a colony of old settlers. All those wi
were not reckoned in their band we
;, denounced by the euphonious title
iA scoundrels and villains. If anythir
was sold them, the price was raised.
anything was bought of them it W
calculated to- be had for half price. II
most scanda and ridiculous '7stori
Herecireulated in regard to their lives
past, present and future. 1T is2 q we
known fact that the Imagination of t
impure is most fertile in regard to t
- impurity of others therefore it was n
surprising that they looked upon all M
who refused to walk in their paths,
being dishonest. This was my first gre
eel objection to that part of the west whe
| stayed The people, generally ign
rant, depraved and malicious. T
free hearted, hospitable, honest, weste
settler is a creature Of the imaginatic
! too often he is trickster, who, unal
= to procure substance among honoral
men, has wandered to the west and
resolved that every man shall be ii
himself or pay dearly for his uprigl
ness. But to their everlasting praise
'th it'said, there are a few bright exec
tions; men, educated, wealthy, refine
who are making a noble stand for |
good of the country, and are determir
= to do their best to elevate the peop
Depressed in spiait by the condition
ieu the inhabitants, | began to look arou
A. me. and the former glories of the la
sfs' began to fade from my view The sea
lea fell slowly from mine eyes. began
asst see that for every beautiful sheet of
eal ter, there were numerous bogs .
hd' marshes with dirty. discolored wal