Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-12-18
For the Democrat
LEAVES FROM AN OLD DIARY.


seemed to have stepped down from some
portrait gallery of an earlier generation,
or to have awaked from Rip Van Win
kle nap-so quaint and antique was his
garb-for, with an innate love for the
picturesque costumes of his youth, he still
wore the knee-breeches and long stock.
ings, low shoes and buckles, of a centu-
ny ago.
For many years, John Loring, Esq,
had been prominent man in town, and
not few of the earlier settlers were by
him united in wedlock-for there was no
minister here in those days, and Squire
Loring. as he was always called, tied
many nuptial knot.
The following characteristic anecdote
of the Squire has come down to US: be-
ing asked one day how it was that man
Of his ability could be contented in so
small a town, he answered promptly that
he'd Rather Be Big toad IA small
puddle, than a small toad IN a big
puddle"
His early days were somewhat clouded
ones; born in Hatfield. Mass, in A. d.
ITO, his father died when he was but
four years Of age, and the mother, unable
to keep her little family together, bound
the boy John to an uncle, in the neigh
boring town of Cummington.
Here he endured cold, hunger, and
abuse, for eight long years, and at the
age Of twelve ran away from his unnatu-
raj relative and went to Bridgewa,er,
where he obtained an education, taught
school, married his wife, Miss Jennette
Darrell, and soon after removed TO Tur-
ner, Maine, and in 1905 to Buckfeld,
where his son. Major Lucius Loring sur
wives him, at the advanced age of eighty
six years. There were two daughters,
one Of whom became the wife of Capt.
James Jewett Of this town; the other,
the wife Of Judge Stephen Emery of Paris,
and mother of the present Mrs. Hannibal
Hamlin.
During the later years Of his life it
was a favorite pas,ime with the old
Squire to keep journal of the weather
Incidentally recording any other items
Of interest
One of those old journals, covering the
period from March, 1885, to July, 1912,
recently fell into the hands of the writer.
Looking it over carefully, we were so
strongly impressed with the truth that
the cspricious weather Of this present
year of our Lord 1888 was by no means
unprecedented, that we thought it might
not be amiss to refer grumblers to the
miseries of their fathers; and at the same
time to give few items Of historic inter
est to the sons and daughters Of Buck
field. We note the following entries for
the year
1885.
March 25th. Meeting house near the
Federal school house dedicated To-Day: so
bad passing that but few people attend"
"May lst. The high lands covered with
snow. In the road in Sumner the snow Is
i've feet deep"
March 18th. Portland haroor has not
been frozen so hard any winter since
l7S9-90."
april SOth. Plenty OF snow to be seen
in all directions. The snow Is now from
two to three feet deep under our wood
pile, and plenty in our yards.
MAY 18th. SHOWS two or three hours. "
July sth. Thermometer rises TO l0l."
August 9Th. 1t is said there was
frost two nights this week"
aug. 9th. Frost last night"
Aug. 2lst. Considerable frost last
night. First cucumbers today we've had
this season"
"Aug. cath. Frost last night, which
did much injury on the low lands"
Aug. 2sth and 10Th. Thermometer up
to 80 in the shade"
Sept. 3rd. Frost this morning"
Sept. 9TH. Severe frost last night"
"Sept. sth. Heavy frost last night
"Sept. 18th. Thermometer is as high as
81 today"
"Sept. 18th. Ground frozen hard"
"Oct. lst. Pump failed Of water"
"Oct. sth. Very cold for the season,
springs very low, and most Of our wells
dry"
"Oct. 10Th. Last night was one Of the
coolest ever known at this season OF the
year"
"oct. nth. Ground covered with snow
this morning"
scot. 27th. Mill-pond froze over last
night"
"Oct. 9lst. Last night was the coolest
ever known in Oct"
"Nov. 3rd. Severe snow-storm."
NOV. 9TH. Snow on high lands eight
inches deep"
"Nov. 10th and 18th. Most powerful
rain rained for thirty hours. Snow entire
ly gone"
"Noy. 10th. 1t is supposed that snow
-. S.llan eiohtaen inches in