Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-08-01
Jp the Grand Truak and D0tCn.


County. West Bethel and Glead are
both ea,,rprising stations above, ou'
neither ct them have yet attained 'ne
village dig1ity which surrounds aristo-
4, 4,ic Bethel Hill. Bethel is popular
Summer resort for The sin and business
taxed denizens at the z eat cities he:e
tie lawyers aud doctors, schooi teachers
asd literary characters rest from their
L ilS, and find IepoSe which Is
tuu.,ined in more pcPnlons anc
fashionable watering places and noun
tain rtSJrts.
We have visited Bethel in winter and
in spring; bu, never did the full beau
ties of It's location. the n atnesS oil lis
eroun6s and the home..ikc-slegance OF
its dwellings strike MS 50 strongly. as on
this occasion. Hon. +. Foster, Jr.
kindly gave US ride through the village
this evening. The all was cold and
bracinc, while with one OF Plsisteds
crack horses and carriages we were en-
ablcd 10 travel over considerable territory
in Mici time. The frs, point OF interest
viewed was Paradise, 80 named because
il i at The top OF "a hill 90 led difficulty.
From this emiuence a fine view can be
bad ofthe village. and lis surroundings
OF water and hills. We next drove
through the village. down TO the corners.
under the hill, and 20 other places OF
interest. There are many exeel!en,
iarms bordering the river. and they con
tain some OF the finest farm buildings
we have ever seen. The homestead oil
A. l. Burbank, Esq, now OF Portland.
may be mentioned among the finest OF
this class. lover the river" is Mayvl!le,
a pretty little spur OF Bethel. where are
many beautiful, tasteful and cOmlortabl,
dwellings.
The village is bull, on northesster!l
slope, rising from the Grand Trunk
Railroad, which here skirts the Aodro-
scoggin River, both seeking level
courses through country which is bill
bound. Driving up the main street to
the common one finds n large number OF
stores and manufacturing establishments.
all doing a good business. considering
1.-The times" Facing the common are
two large hotels, the Bethel House, kept
by j. +. Barden, and The Ems" by j.
). Record Both houses are filled with
guests, most OF whom are from the
cities.
In the office we ind Lawyer A from
Boston. endeayoring TO extract from
Connecticut youth his hearts secrets
bat the little son of Professor is too
sharp 20 be caught by an impossible
supposiiion Of wishing beans and caps.
A short moose story has no better effect
in drasiug out the youngster; so with a
brief practical lecture upon the bad habit
OF smoking. delivered between pulls
at his fifteenth cigar. 3" the distinguished
lawyer turns 10 the easter task of anus
ing his older admirers. lie is full of war
stories, and was evidently somewhat
familiar with the underground railway"
OF ante-rebeliion fame.
We would be glad to copy his inimita-
bic style as be recorded the adventures
OF John, an old negro, who went South
during the wsr after his daug hter. but
that were impossible. Perhaps the bare
facts. however. may interest our readers
John, armed with a pistol and the de-
termination not to be captured alive,
started for that underlined territory. "the
SOUTH Arriving at his destination. he
holds conference with some of his free
brethren. who agree 10 arrange meet |
ing between father and daughter on
the river bank at niue o'clock. Thursday
night. She resides twelve miles from
the appointed rendezvous, bat with her
baby in arms. starts on the Journey light |
hearted.-for were not father and free
dom before her? But the walk is more |
wearisome than she had anticipated, and |
the baby, like other weights, grew
heavier with the miles. Midnight passes
and she has not reached her father
Johns companions desert him, bat the |
old father, faithful as bis race, awaits |
alone her coming. He is sure she will be
there. At last, Just before day break, she /
is with him, her bare feet and ankles cut /
and lacerated by The tall grasses, sedges
and stones, through and upon which she
has travelled. The joyous meeting has
scarcely taken place. hen baying hounds
announce that her escape has been dis
covered, and her recovery determined
upon. John drops upon his knees and
Prays. Wading through the water they
hide in the tall grasses. and for three days
remain there without food. Their path
through the water threw the blood seek
ers of scent. and they are safe from their
PHlsuC4s- DOL tno IOtOmaC uas W NC
crossed, and there is no boat. Finally
an old dug-out with one end gone, is dis
covered, and the trio are ready TO embark.
The wind is blowing gale and it would
be impossible TO weather the blast" in
SO trail craft. John sgain has recourse
to prayer,-earnest prayer, full of faith.
II is answered, and the wind soon dies
down. So they cross, and two more ne
eroes are rescued from bondage.