Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-03-19
Characteristic Incident.

The recent death Of Hon CHARLEs REED,
possessing 10 so eminent degree tho ster.
ling traits Of his father, gives additional
interest to the following correspondence
which We find in Massachusetts, paper,
copied from published history Of the town
of Mason, in New Hampshire. The COR
respondence will explain itself
" Montpelier, w. Jan. 4, 1919
i" Rev. Ebenezcr Illl,-My Dear Sir 80
noticed not long since your name as a clergy
man in Mason. in a New Hampshire Register.
My object in writing to you IS to ascertain If
you are the person that taught district school
in Westford about the winter Of 1888 WIN YOU
he 80 kind rs to inform me by mail, and il End
you are the same person, will then inform you
Of my object in asking Cor this information.
Yours with great respect,
JosKrn REID"
To this letter Mr. Hill replied as follows
=" Mr.. Joseph Reed,-Sir Il received q ne
from you requesting information whether ! am
the person who taught a district school in
Westford in the winter Of 1888.
" In answer to Your question, | say, gradu
ated al Cambridge in the year 1876, and in the
autumn Of the year took the town school in
WestiOrd for y year. This town school kept
two years. removing from one district toanother.
Whether the turn came 10 the Forge or Stony
Brook district, in the winter Of l7SS, | do not
recullect. But this am sure that there was
no school kept in the town in those two years
other than was taught by me and for n sea
son after quitting the schools remained in
| WcstOrd, and made that my home; ~ | feel
confident that no other schOOl-master vt the
name Of Hill taught a school in Wexford but
myself
" shall. sir, with some degree Of excited
curiosity, be waiting for the promised intorna-
ton respecting the inquiry
Respectfully yours,
EBES q Hun
To this the following reply was received.
"Monipeiier Jan. IS, 1913.
Rev. Ebenezcr llill,-Dear Sir - Yours
Of the 10th inst. is received, in which you say
you taught school in Westford two years, com
mencing in the autumn Of 1855 | am satisfied
that you are the person have been anxious 10
find for the last halfcentury or more. am the
son of Joshua Reed, living in the east part Of
the town | attended your school in the winter
Of l1s7, and 10 the lnll Of the same year when
you kept in the middle Of the town, also the
winter school of 1888, when you kept in the
district where my father resided. Coils Wright
and Osgood lived in the same district. think
you boarded with Capt, Peletiah, or Capt
Thomas Fletcher, both winters. All passed
pleasantly till the last week in February, when
for some tritling iaultin-say whispering being
then only eleven years old you called me IN, and
ordered me 10 stand out in the middle Of the
floor, about an hour before the school closed in
the afternoon, and let me stand there, without
my reading % spelling, until the school closed
for the day, and without saying q word to me
which 1 considered great insult therefore
remained until you and the scholars had retired
except o young man (leyi Wright who was
10 take care OF the house. | then thought of
revenge. &C., collected your books, inkstand.
and ruler, with intent to burn them up but
before could effect the object Levi Wright
discovered what ! was doing and interlered
and saved ell except the iuksmnd, ruler and a
small book or two. say to the value Of from
three to six shillings worth Wright told me
I should be whipped 10 death the next day,
which brought me TO my senses | then resolved
to leave the country | had an uncle visiting
at my fathers, who lived in Plymouth. n II
| resolved to go home with him, to get rid OF
ofpunishment, and finally persuaded my father
10 let me 20, though ne would not il he had
known the reason, and | was of in day or
two 50 ! escaped the punishment | 50 richly
deserved, without my parents knowing my
crime and never returned 10 reside in the
town. ! have ever regretted my fault and
error. and have intended IL ever | could see
you or learn your place of residence. to make
, an apology and satisfaction, though perhaps
you have long since forgotten the Transaction
now, sir, incose to you five dollars, to pay
debt and interest which hope you will re
ceive with the same kind feelings which have
in sending 1t To you and wish you to consider
my extreme youth when the error was com.
, mitted
= Z" Respectfully yours, with my best wishe,
for your health and happiness.
JosEPH REKDn