Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-22
DR., 0scoOt, OF Springfield.


The stories which were ence tod by the
tavern fire are now pretty much lost. An
occasional spark, however. is found among
the ashes. Col. JOIN wortiington and
Judge Hooker used to travel to Boston in
company, and, while there. roomed togeth-
err They say that once the judge noticed
that his dignifed companion, who was
| famiiiarly known as the ''don, was IN us
| tross. lie had unfortunately made mis-
take in packing bis linen at Sprlngneld.
and was vainly endesyorng 70 ind the IN
side of ohemiss dS femme. Mr.. Hookers
face ssddened, Tor the melancholy part was
that the blessed man didn see the mistake,
and wondered what there was about Boston
that would shrink mans shirt so. Judge
Hooker did little shopping, that morn
ing, before breakfast. for his friend. The
"dOn."
Among the early customs that hung on
into the century was that OF posting pubic
notices OF intention of marriage Tor three
weeks. In Springfield the public place was
the church yestibule. The notices were
| deposited for three Sundays in mahogany
| box, covered with a wire screen, from which
| il was dubbed the squirrel box, and after
sermon time it was often heard: Lets
see who's in the squrrel-box. this morn
| ing It's pity f1r ministers who value
their sleep that the long wedding sermon
and squirrel box have become lost arts /; Tor
it takes a deal of patience to marry a couple
religiously at midnight without any notice,
as they often do. nowadays.
The anecdotes concerning Rev. Mr.. Os-
good, of the First parish, are numerous and
about evenly divided as to authenticity. Inc
predestination story told Of DR.. Osgood and
Rev. Mr.. Howard. which went the round
of the papers last winter. was incorrect 10
name and incident. DR.. Osgo0d had
nothing to do with it at all. Mr.. Howard.
Mr. Osgood', predecessor, and Rev. Mr..
Storrs. of Lonemeadog, grandfather OF
Richard S4lter Storrs. OF Brooklyn, \. y.
had arranged to exchange, and they met
on the rad. Sunday morning. Tlev fell
into theological discussion, Mr.. S;Orrs
saving, ~. Is Gods decree, that You
should rrsach for me, this morning
Howard answered " Then | will break the
decree. TIL turn hack" To which S:orrs
replied Don't be fool. If you turn
hack. 1t will be Gods decree that you be a
fool Il Is on this LongmeaGow road
(near the present papler-mache works. that
the rayiue OF Magawisca is situated. This
- slender. flexible" graceful daughter OF
the PtqU0t MOn0natto Is known TO novel
readers who have admired her in Hope
Leslie, with her walst-coat Of Geer-skin
and her purple mantle. leaving free her
bare and weather-brown arms. Few IN
this city are familiar with this grOito, ard
it is wei-wOrth visit.
There are, however some authentic stories
about DR.. 0Sgood. lie was man Of large
hospitality, entertaining much company,
AMI was a generous lover Of his kind, bluff
AMI outspokeu. lie was one OF Sprlngfeld's
early abolitionists At the time OF
the fugitive slave law excitement,
his house was one OF ;he stations
OF the underground railroad" between
the South and Canada, and large numbers
were sheltered there. During one year
alone over 80 escaped siayes were concealed
in it. lie would give them letters OF INTRO
ddction TO friends at the next station
Greenfield or ChariemOnt- and even furnish
them with money from his own pocket or
raise some among abolition friends. Some
preferred to take the risk Of settling and
became citizens, and among them Dea.
j n Howard, our South church sexton.
After lo had been here some tIme be was
( reed to sell his property at q nominal
value ami flee 10 Canada to keep his liberty.
and the stories he tells during these fearful
wears If his life are the real Uncle T. ms
CABIN sort One Of the fugitive slaves who
remained here went into a hotel as a waiter
lie was short fellow, and had been known
in the family of ms master az the South as
the Little Doctor" Ore day. a stranger
whom ne was serving, said Some more
steak, little doctor" The poor fellow
though his time had come. bat DR.. Osgood
advised him not 10 fee, and be was never
mOlested.
Many remember Mr. 0sgood'> misfortune
in the pulpit. lie once knocked at horn
bug aud hit the lamp, which fell TO the
hoOr. lie ciuliy waited until 1t was picked
up. ard, returning it unhroken, said
Good glass, Let u pray" While preach
ing ia tte PaIisn house" be suddenly
asked, Who's aseep?' Ii was suggested
thai the noise was not snoring, but cams
from the ducks 10 the basement. Again he
stopped, Some one l. asleep" Profound
silence and c utinuance of the sermon. \
third time Ac stopped, "H Ill somebody
rouse that Young man ia the gallery The
Young man VS. Tobs-d. and proved to
be- ni- awa SD, &ho, Ike Byron, woke to
fuJ himself famous. Another Of his
pulpit sayiugs was. "WAl the brother 10
tie gallery win the ,queaklng boots sIt?'
WI thr I'd UBiVersaiist church on State
str-,t MAS beiys blilt, the doctor accosted
GOV Task With, " Mell. Brother Trssk,
what are you building here?' Trask re-
piled, - \ house where the truth will be
preached" - If it L." was the repsrtee,
there will be scattering among the
Univorsa.is;s One OF the quickest re-
plies j. that given to Mr.. Bacon - Why
l. II, Mr. Osgood, he asked. :" that they
call the head Of a bog administer face?"
The doctor did not relish the slur on his
profession, and said, " don I know. Per-
haps for the same reason they call the
other end the bacon Springfield Repub
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