The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-03-31

SouHuys DSiHo Ola WoSAo OioSoih6
the Atlantic, in sailing vessel
After teaching school in New Eng
land some time, he took charge of
congregation in st. Louis Mo-, at
the same time performing the duties
of pedagogue. He next went to
Ills. where he married his wife
who has been the principal agent
in bringing the wild land be pur-
chased in Lapeer county, Michigan,
to its present state of cultivation,
where there home now is. This
Pioneer missionary work developed
in Mr.. Rich character not easily
frightened or discouraged by trifies,
yet his particular failing seemed to
consist in being too lenient with
humanity, or in having too weak a
belief in human depravity.
AT the time of receiving these
sailors by Mr.. Rich, his family con-
sisted of his wife, daughter Mag
gie, aged about Is years, and two
lads younger. He also had two
daughters married, living away
from his home. Tom, the elder
of the strangers just admitted to
this circle proved to be quite a
talker and acquainted with some of
Mr.. Rich's friends in England,
which made the stories he related
during the long winter evenings,
doubly interesting to the family,
and before spring Tom and George
were looked upon as heroes and
warm friends.
Very soon, Tom became quite
attentive to young Maggie, occa-
sionally escorting her to parties
and elsewhere in the neighborhood.
When spring came, Tom had 50
far ingratiated himself into favor
with Mr.. Rich that he leased him
the farm to work for onethird the
crops, and George went away.
Once, while Tom and Maggie
were visiting at neighbor Pratt's,
Toms true character began to shine
through the thin shell in which he
had thought to conceal it, when his
tongue betrayed him into lying
about Mr.. Pratt's son Orson, then
working in Saginaw.
This little incident led Mr.. and
Mrs. Rich to open their eyes, and
they forbade Maggie going to par
ties any more with Tom, but his
influence over her had already
grown very strong, and they occa,
sionally got away together.
Tom had now become the ring
leader of the bad boys in all the
mischief of the neighborhood, and
a notorious liar.
One day he hired man and team,
ostensibly to take him and Maggie
to church, but really, to visit Mr..
Pratt. He then reported among
the boys that he was married to
Maggie, so one night the family
were startled from their slumber by
the most hideous noise imaginable.
Horse fiddles, tin pans, COW bells,
mouth-organs, squackers, horns, guns
and pistols, mingled with yells for
Tom "made night hideous" and SO
frightened Tom that he dared not
make his appearance, but few
words from Mrs. Rich soon dis
persed the would be mob. Next
morning an arrow with threaten
ing letter attached was found stick
ing in Mr.. Rich's barn door, also,
there had been thrust under the
door of the dwelling letter for Mr..
Rich, but which Tom managed to
secure and read to some of the
neighbors. Mrs. and Mr.. Rich
questioned Maggie and Tom con-
corning the confusion of the night
before, and inquired if they were
married, to which they replied they
were not.
TOMS scandalous lies and gen.
eral department grew worse and
worse, until the boys were so aroused
that they sent letter after letter to
Mr.. Rich, advising him to send Tom
out of the neighborhood, else they
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