Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-26
IContinued from first page

taken its departure, leaving US far from our desti
nation, and with the brilliant prospect of being
arrested as tramps. A consultation was held and
the returning board" decided that we must walk
all the wsy to the capital city of the State. 1t was
impossible to procure a conveyance, for the river
was unsafe, and the roads almost impossible. A
walk of hall mile very dsmpened our en-
thusiasm for pedestrian exercise, and not feeling
like attempting rivalry with,
BERTHA Vos IIitiEgx
we raped at the door of a hospitable-looking
house, which was opened by a lady, who was pre-
vented from speaking by the appearance OF a
large, savsge-looking dog, which rushed on us
and would doubtless devoured the two weary trav-
ellers if he had not been called of, and held by
the lady, who remarked 1--WE have no accom-
mediation for tramps and you had better trudge
along, for can't bold myself responsible for what
the dog will do" We tried to explain TO the good
woman our utterly wretched condition, and to con-
vince her that we did not belong to the class so
frequently seen ION the roads :" but she made q
movement as if to unloose the mastlh, and so we
unwillingy p wended our tired way TO another
house, where we were more kindly received, and
after few moments conversation with the lady
of the house, felt quite at home. This house
proved to be the residence of
Mr.. JOHN STURGIs
situated at no great distance from Browns Corner
A warm, bright fire burned IN the stove, sending
q grateful feeling through our chilled bodies; ;
while outside the rain and sleet beat against the
window paDeS al II IN anger AT our fortunate Os-
cape from the fury of the storm.
A copy of the Journa-and every well-rcCulat-
ed family in this town takes this paper-was
handed us, and We perused its columns while dim
ner vas being prepared After partaking of a
most bountiful repsst we were told by Mr.. Stur-
gis that he had ordered his conveyance to take us
the remainder Of our journey, for we were COM
PEELED 10
REACH AUGUSTA THAT NIGHT.
The good man had not considered ease or grace
in his selection of q vehicle. Two strong, noble
looking white horses were harnessed to a market
cart, with wheels of different Sizes construction
and color and we were hidden to take seats and
make ourselves as comfortable" as possible dur
ing the journey. Two heavy robes and an i'm
mense umbrella were placed at our disposal and
We we're soon wrapped up and well protected from
the storm.
On leaving that hospable roof, we invoked our
choicest blessings the whole household, and
never shall we forget our new y-made, but gener-
ous-hearted friends. That ride one which
will liuger long in our memories. The faithful
horses plunged along over the rough and drltled
roads, as ii in sympathy with us, and anxious to
leave us at our journeys end as possible
Now the wheels would sink in the mud
To TIE DEPTH OF HALF FooT,
and then the horses would plunge and founder
about in an immense drift of the "beautiful snow
At last, after a two hours siege, such as 1t has
seldom if ever been my lot to experience. we
reacned the C0ny House, Mnere we ala ample JUS
tice to excellent supper, and were soon sweety
reposing and dreaming of snO.banks and mud,
paupersm and the little led school house on the
cross roads in our own native town.
VITAL STATISTICS
Through the kindness of Dr. T.. W. Bush of this
town, have been furnished a copy of the last an
nusl report of the doings of the town officers for
the past year. 1t embraces pamphlet of sixteen
pages, and is from the press Of the kennebec
Journal The town has paid bills incurred prior
to March 1876, amounting to S53l.33. The mis-
cellaneous expenses of the town during the past
year amount to 81 70l90, while the town officers
have received for their services the sum of 500.
An inventory of the property belonging to the
town farm foots up TO 81 ,4S0 80. 1t ha. cost the
town S4lS.92 to support its poor on the farm, and
the sum of 81 04S34 has been expended in giving
aid to the destitute WHO not inmates of the
farm. The liabilities of the town amount to $50
1899 while its resources given at S29, 233 ~
leaving balance against the town of SIG, 1922.
The debt of the town has been decreased li3 63
during the past year, good thing considering the
hard times. The annual report of
Mr.. b. c. NICHOLS,
Supervisor of Schools is also published in the
same pamphlet. II shows the public schools to be
in healthy and thriving condition, and the Su-
pervisor adds some practical suggestions at the
close, which the town would do well to adopt. |
you'd be pleased to quote more fully from this in
terestng little document, but my letter is already
too long, and must bid you and your readers
goodbye until some future time when hope TO
tell you something Of interest concerning hermit
and his deeds of blood which thrilled and startled
the whole town many years ago. X. Z. q.