The Osceola times., 1875-12-11
THE MADMAN:
A PHYSICIANS Story.
Unknown" "

In the earl Y part of the present cen
tury, my grandfather, by dint of youth
ful vigor, industry and economy, had
already attained the foremost rank
among the business men of his time
and city, and was beginning to think of
marrying, when through one of the
most romantic occurrences, namely: A
casual visit to the country, runaway
horse, large boulder by the side of
the road against which the carriage to
which the animal was attached threat
cned to dash itself and ITS precious bur
den-a bold dash-a seizing ofthe bit
success in controlling the ferocious
beast-tainting, and then gratitude on
the part of the rescued, and subse equent
mutual affection and love-he was made
acquainted with one of the most charm
ing young women of the town of @,
who was in direct line of descent from
one of the heroic families among the
Puritan emigrants and the revolution.
AIRY patriots.
1t is net modest for me, grandson,
to speak of her beauty, but if you had
seen the dear old lady as | had seen her
few years before my departure for the
west, with her dark brown hair, hazel
eyes, rosy cheeks and pearly teeth, at
the age of eighty-two, You would not
doubt the story of those who knew her
in her prime.
Well, grandfather married this young
lady, and in so doing changed forever
the destiny of at least score of young
men, each one of whom was even more
certain than he of winning the prize.
With the blessings of their parents and
the good old Parson Rogers, and II
witty remark of the village physician,
they proceeded joyousl ly to the city
then and now the metropolis of New
England and until grandfather could
complete his residence, unusually fine
for this period, in North Square, occu-
pied retired but pleasant and tidy quar-
tcrs in the immediate neighborhood of
his warehouse.
At last, the house being finished, the
Young couple moved into it. 1t was a
large house, built in antique style-at
least when | first knew it, it wore all the
dignity Of antiquity.
In the course of time six sons and
four daughters were born to them, and
no pains were spared to give them n
good education. aud to cultivate every
good quality of mind and heart, so that
far and near the daughters Of Col. NJ.
became known as charming, and his
sons rs the most enterprising and public
spirited.
In proportion to the ColoneFs in
crease of family, increased also his
wealth and influence and honors in
state and society, and in the church
also, for he was religious man, were
literally heaped upon him, until he was
ovcrburdened with the cares and re-
sponsibilities of honorable citizenship.
In 1913, when the war broke out
with England, grandfather was one of
the cusfom-housc officers, but resigned
his position to enlist, and after render
ing valiant service in the cause of his
country, then new, retired honorably
from the position of Colonel, to which
he had risen by repeated promotions
from that of a private soldier.
His home thereafter became the rem
dczvous of military men, who were ac-
customed to meet together to talk over
their experiences in the service, and to
discuss and inaugurate numerous en-
tcrprises calculated 10 promote the
commerce and internal improvements
of their country, and to part late at
night with hearty good cheer and a
drink all around from the large punch
bowl. filed with punch made from New
England rum, which was then the
national drink, and not abused H. il is
at the present day. All people were
temperate in those days, and not di-
vided, IS now, into antagonistic fact
tions. consisting of teetotalcrs and
drunkards. Though Puritan, still they
had been swept along by a wave of so
cial and theological evolution which
gave society an atmosphere Of liberality
aad tolerance, which should perhaps be
credited to the influence of the national
constitution, which had been in opera
ton but comparatively short time.