The Osceola times., 1880-04-10
Poor Ben; Perley Poore.

lndianapOli. urual Washington Letter.
Among thc notaOles who gather here
every winter l. the journalist Maj. Ben;
Pcrloy Poore. He Is correspondent Ior
several new England papers, and a reg
ular contributor TO the Atldntic Monthly.
HIS life has been an eyentful one, and
his warm friendship for Charles sumner
and other prominent men has closely
connected him with pubhe events. Maj.
PoOre is great diner-Out, and frequent
guest OF Gen. Burnside. His round form
and ford complexion tell that he Is
high liver. He Is short in stature and
weighs 27O pounds. In conversation the
other day, ms vile related an old story
OF her husband, which. is, perhaps, IA
miliar to many of the older leaders OF
the Journal During Pierce's canvass for
the Presidency, Mai. Poore, then a
Young man, wagcred with 4 friend living
IN Boston that Pierce would not be
elected. He agreed If he lost the bet to
wheel a barrel of apples from his home,
Indian Hill, thirty miles distant, through
the streets of Bostor to his friends door.
The election came off. and the friend
held the Major to his wager. Mrs. Poore
thought II too severe task, and begged
her husband TO have the barrel sent in
q wagon. The Major was too conscien-
tiOus to do that, and insisted on fulfilling
his wager He went TO a neighboring
farm and bought the fullest barrel of
apples to be had. Witnesses saw that
the barrel was well and closely packed.
lie put on pair OF snuH- -colored pants
tucked into his heavy farm boots, vel
vet vest, a jacket and large red felt hat,
some one had sent him from California.
Thus arrayed, he started at daybreak for
Boston. wheeling his heavy load on
wheel-barrow. His wife sent man
with wagon after him, SO that in case
ne gave out there would be some one at
hand 10 help hlm. After the sun was up
the country people began 10 pass him as
he trudged along, persplrlng and dusty.
Each one offered him lift or tned to
pursuado him to give up the job. He
kept on fifteen miles, tired and sore. then
he concluded TO put his apples in far
mer's barn and go back home for the
night and start afresh the next morning.
lie rode home and was glad TO rest. lie
was sore and bruised, but after good
rubin. and nights rest he was able to
proceed with his task. BY this time the
ItbIht tiDllE NAlt iOdAA A4Nslih VI Ms NpAAA-
ing and they gathered together to meet
him. Boys followed him and women
stood at their doors TO see him go by.
There was great excitement, and the
news soon travelled to Boston. 1t reached
tie ears Of the authorities. They sent
HIM word not TO enter the city in the
evening, but to stop outside and come IN
the morning. A few miles from Boston
Inc stopped over night The next morn
ing on the outskirts Of the city he was
met by a large crowd of people and a
brass band. He was escorted by this
procession through .he principal streets
Of the city to his friends home and
from there TO the fremont House to a
1000 breakfast. lie had accomplished
his feat and was amply repaid by the
reception and breakfast given him by
the city authorities. 1t was many days
before he could appear without being
stopped and asked iii he was the man
who rolled a barrel Of apples through
the streets of Boston"