The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-02-13
Glastonbury Again.

To the Editor Of The Republican =
This day has witnessed Transaction
never before seen in this town or in any
other, am sure, in all New England.
We walked, at noon, two or three
houses above us to see the cattle let out
of their pen. BY orders of the collector,
the cows-seven of them-had been
huddled into Il space 10 feet by l. meas
ured by my sister and tied up for seven
days aud nights, together; always hav-
ing had their freedom before. It was
tobacco-shed, and the owner had TO
bring them hay from another building,
and give them water from pals, drawn
from a well at some distance. We saw
twenty-Oue pIilsfull carried at one
time. He did the best he could under
the circumstances. Tie collector could
not have them let out, well Knowing
that it would take the whole authority
of the town To ever coufine them there
again. Mr.. X, our tenant, had to take
the milk, for the sensitive young wife OF
the tobacco-shed owner declared that a
drop Of that milk should never come
into her house, for it seemed to her just
as if it were stolen. Mrs. X. said, yes
terLlay, that the cows had failed by
two-thirls of their milk, since they were
taken from our yard.
The procession soon started, headed
by the collector who is also constable),
leading the best COW; the others, driven
by four men with a dog and drumi
several teams, and we in the rear i'll q
wagon with Mr.. and Mrs. X. We in
tended to walk together alone, but Mr..
X. insisted upon our riding, as his wife
was determined to go with us. Mrs. X.
remarked on the way that it appeared
Z fr1tara ahnnf fort A.
men at the sign-post, who bid so low
/ that Mr.. X. was forced to speak for the
/ four best, below their value, which COW
cred the tax and expenses, leaving the
three smallest. All would have been
| sacrificed, for it was evident from the
bids that they intended to get them for
1 a song. Not a man came to speak 10
us. It was remarked by one who liked
the business that the whole town was
against us. We thought we had many
friends, as we have been treated with
the greatest outward respect, as II we
were complete, with only one falling
that of not paying our taxes this winter
We would not have believed the town
could thus persecute women who were
born and bred here, among the oldes
and most law-abiding of its citizens
who have never refrained from visiting
the sick and distressed through the
whole town, watching through Ions
nights in novels where none were will
ing to enter; and those, too, who have
paid the most money into the town!
treasury. We understand there is now
due $4,000 for taxes from voters, wht
are released by paying Il per cent. in
terest, and We pleaded for the same in
diligence; but we were women, and ha(
no power. twill not do TO offend voter
We know not what they will do wheI
the March tax is claimed, but must no
now be surprised at anything. They
saw personal estate must be seized first
and we greatly fear they will ransael
our house, tear up our carpets, and tax
ornamental things, the work Of a Ia
mented sister, and her fine paintings
: for she was an artist. My sister say
her feelings will not be so much tried a
, by the sufferings of her cows. She ha
= interested herself in sedentary pursuits
having translated and written out tn
whole Bible, three times, with her Ow
hand, from the Hebrew, Greek an
Latin. and needs outdoor exercise. Sh
saws now she can no more have til
comfort of raising fine calf, now an
e then, from the dread of following it
t the sign post to see it sacrificed. w
+ are now in u lonely situation. w
. were long family of five sisters; W
l are now but two. AS the town no
: manages our property, we must soon
,, forced TO the poOr-house, and none al
!, better acquainted with its inmates.
The towns answer to all this will b
o "Pay your taxes, then, san
answer the British gave to our Revolt
8 tionary ancestors.
ABBY III. SMITH.
;, Glastonbury, CT, Jan. s, 1874.