Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-10-24
"REMINISCENCES OF ISLAND POND.

Mr.. Editor:-Thirty years ago, when
youth of nineteen years, / taught a
winter school in this town. The school
house was then near the Hon. Geo. n.
Dale's farm, in the Currier district. A
few hardy pioneers had driven back
the forest and made comfortable homes
in what was then forest town. East
Burke was then the general market for
the shingles and any surplus produce
that could be spared from the rude
farm in exchange for the necessities of
the family. The comforts and much
more the luxuries of good living were
not enjoyed to any extent. The early
settlers, were nearly all blessed with
large families, which at this time, were
many of them young men and women.
My school numbered nearly forty, and
compared favorably for scholarship and
general department with the schools |
had attended. While considerable in
terest had been given to the education
of the children, but little had been
done in the way of sustaining religious
services in town. During my three
months term Of school no religious
meeting was held. Many of my schol-
ars were about my own age, and some
older. At first, it seemed strangely
wrong not to attend meeting unon the
Sabbath as | had always been accus-
toned to do. The Sabbath was spent
in visiting and enjoyment in a quiet,
social way, except by a few heads of
families, who started off with fishing
rod and gun early on Sunday morning
to obtain recreation for the Sabbath
and meat for the family for the ensuing
week. | soon learned that while
could repeat more scripture texts than
my scholars, they had far greater pro-
ficiency in other things, as almost the
youngest of them could give me lessons
in dancing and playing sold sledge." l
had at that time never seen pack of
cards, did not know what fine pictures
they contained nor that whole families
could be so pleasantly entertained
evening after evening, till late hour,
unless some one got out of temper by
losing a ''jack," and broke up the
evenings amusement. | never till that
winter saw a room full of people upon
the floor for a dance. | had in youth
learned to play many of those old time
elevating plays like Copenhagen"
and found the play the most elevating
that admitted of most forfeits, and had
been taught that no good came from
dancing. During the first few weeks |
had learned the names of the cards,
but not how to turn "jack'' at will like
many of my scholars; and had become
fascinated with the dancing but unable
to make all the sharp corners as
smoothly as my school. l have often
thought how sad it would have been
for the fair sex that winter if the fash
ion had been as now in regard to long
dresses. The worst was yet to come.
had never known of the bad effects
of rum drinking. Had been used to
have little new rum at sheepwashing,
and finishing hayipg, and such like
extra occasions that came but once a
year; but had not learned till that
winter how it could bring misery in an
hour to whole household. One Sena-
ca Foster, man more kind than pru
dent, and one of the early settlers of
the town, VINO, it is said came along
with the bears, bid off the nonresident
board, and this tax being the most of
the school tax, the owners not having
much to say about their valuation, it
became my duty to spend the most of
the winter with this family. Things
passed off quietly, and the novelty of
the situation made it to me quite inter-
esting. A new game was being learned
called "poker, played with kernels of
corn. remarked that it seemed child
like, but was informed that the interest
would increase when the corn was dis
pensed with. One evening upon my
return from school, ! at once discover
ed that something serious wqs the ulat-
ter with the head of the family. His
navigation was very much out of line,
and the whole family were excited and
getting into corners for safety. lie
soon fastened his spite upon his son-in-
law, who soon rushed out of the house
for safety, Foster following with his
best bear gun in hand. The coat tail
OF the son was hardly around the corn
er of the barn when charge of buck
shot was lodged in the corner board.
Confusion reigned supreme that night,
no supper was prepared and no sleep
came to my eyes till morning. MY
room was the pantry, which occupied
at an early hour. There were stored in
this room, dead hogs, the skins of bears
and OF many other wild beasts; and
was in such general use that Foster
several times that night had occasion
to stumble into my room. This was
nv first temperance lecture and the !