Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-08-20
o,.
From tho Squirrel Island (Me,) squid'
A Queer Character.

AQussr Character.
The following entertaining bicgra'
ply Of the lato Squire Greenliei
whom tho .Squid calls the "Klng o.
Squirrel" and OF whose heirs thu
Squirrel Island Association, purchased
the island In 1870. His wife was sol
fine old family Of an old seaport
town Of Maiue." She belonged to
the old school that loved its cups, and
II was In part with view to remov'
lug her from temptation that in 1886
Squire Gresnlief removed his house
hold goods to Squirrel Island, and
there he lived for SO years, or until
his death 10 1868. OF the closing in
cidents Of his career tho Squid says
The peculiarities Of the King die.
played themselves NJ their most gro
tesque, on the occasion of his taking
of. The King, wi!hal, was as much
. believer ia dreams and visions Of
tho night as the most orthodox He.
brew patriarch. His head was full of
queer notions and superstitious. H.
would as soon cut off his right hand
As 90 out a-6shing on Friday, or turn
over the hatch Of a new vessel that
had not had its baptism in the brine.
Hs had an abiding faith in the super
natural. Que night the King had q
dream. The time and manner Of his
death was clearly revealed to him.
His vision was that he should die the
next February on the full Of the
moon--and that be should die at
Boothbay and not at the Squirrel.
The King arose on the morning after
this vision, and put on his Henry
Clay coat, brushed his hair with great
precision and deliberately yet abou,
making preparations to die, He went
over to Captain Me- at Boothbay,
and thus said be to his right good
friend:
"Captain, if you'll only let me come
over here and die IN your house, III
give you deed of Squirrel Island
and all of my stock; and III agree to
die the 18th of next February!'
These words, uttered as If from be.
yond the veil, made the Captain shud
der, and for while both SAT in silence,
while the March wind ratified the
shutters. 1t seemed all age of witch.
ing, disembodied existence, when the
silence was broken by Captain Nc
who, in a tremulous voice recalled his
guest to sublunary things by this re.
mark: mr.. Greenlief, take q little
something to drink; it will steady
your nerves.
Unsuccessful with Captain Mo,
the King made arrangements to die
at another house in Bootbbay, agree.
ing as before, to shuttle of the mortal
coil in February following. Then he
went to Boothbay cofin-maker's and
asked him to take HE measure for a
coffin. To another man he went and
engaged him to take charge OF his
burial. He went to the grave-digger,
and begged that tunctionary to dig
bis grave at once. The King of
Spades agreed to have it ready at the
appointed time, although he declined
to dig the grave SO early in the season,
for tear 1t would cave in. The Squire
paid the grave.digger on the spot lie
also engaged this person and paid him
for bringing to Boothbay, half ton
Of sand from Spring Cove and the
same quantity from Chase Beech ON
Squirrel Island. "Carry this said in
q gunlow over to the Harbor, and
when am dead, pour it on my grave"
said the King
Then went the King to tailors,
and said: II want you to measure me
for . suit Of black. brosdcloth for my
grave clothes" He paid tor the suit.
When he went tor it, be 6rst called on
Captain Mo-. aud saiI he "Cap-
tain, I'm just going down to try on
my grave clothes, and wish you'd go
down to see ii they fit well. One
wants 10 Gross the Styx in clothes
that don't chafe,' said the King with
q grim smile.
Captain Mo- went down to the
tailors, and the King tried on the