Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-07-06
A Hermlt's Lie.


TO New York paper, says: Austin
Sheldon. who has occupied q rocky
cave in the forests OF Lehman township,
Pike county, seven miles from that
place, for more than thirty years, living
without companion Of any kind. has
become tired Of leading single lie,
and recently became enamored of q girl
yet in her teens, who resides within q
few miles OF the hermit's abode. The
hermit has frequently visited the girls
home, and the last time he was there he
asked her parents to consent to their
marriage. Of course, they refused. and
ordered the hermit to make hasty de-
parture, and never trouble them again.
Sheldon felt greatly injured, and has
since been looking in other directions
with view TO matrimony.
Sheldon's life has been sad and
checkered one. He was born in the
village OF Bradford, Conn, in 1906, and
consequently.is is seventy-four years old.
In his boyhood he learned the black.
smiths trade, and arriving ut mans
estate he mysteriously left his homo,
came to Pike county and purchased .
few acres Of wild, uncultivated, worth
less land. Upon this Land was s~oaye,
in which, with a few alterations.S Sne old
hermit has since made bis abode. Dis
appointment in love is said to have been
the cause of his lea, ing lis homo. His
parents were we'll to do farmers, and 1t
was not until a paragraph appeared in
New York paper few years ago that
they knew Of Aus,in's whereabouts.
A brother and sister came here and
visited their long lost brother. and after
staying with him in his csve over
night, used every inducement to have
him abandon his lonely and rocky habi-
tation and return with them to the
home of his childhood, where he would
be well cared fer. lie refused, stating
that he preferred to die rs be had lived.
a hermit. They lcfi him some clothing
and money and returned home. Shell
don has frequently received letters from
his family since thtn, enueating him
to abandon lis wretched abode. A
short time ago he partially concluded
to do so, but becoming acquainted with
the young Girl above referred to. he
gave up the idea altogether. Sheldon's
dress and appearance Las OF late years
improved, although he is q wretched
looking object yet.
This cave is only about l2xl4 feet.
with q slab roof. His furniture con-
sists of four blocks OF wood for chairs.
q box used as table. fireplace, over
which ne does his cooking. and an old
.rickety rocking chair in which he
sleeps. lie has about an acre of Land
cleared, on which he grows a little corn
and garden truck. What he grows and
what is given to him by the neighbors
keeps him. He is as Ceaf as an adder,
has been 90 for years, and persons who
visit him occasionally, out Of curiosity,
converse with him 10y writing upon
slate, which the old hermit keeps for
that purpose. He is intelligent, and
reads a great deal. The book he most
loves is the Bible, which he has lead
through many times, and most OF
which he has committed to memory.
He has had many hairbrcadth escapes.
A few years ago his cave was sur
rounded by the forest iires. and the old
man came near being roasted alive.
He once fell from the uppermost
branches of q huge cnestnut tree
breaking several ribs and otherwise
crippling him, and he has been fre-
quently found In his cave in freesing
condition. That he will eventually be
found dead there Is almost certain.