Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-13
DORIS Revenge.
THE PENALTY FOR NOT WEARING BELLS
HALLowELL'S ECCENTRIC ANNUAL VISITOR.
From the HalloweI Cfe.) Register

THE PENALTY FOR NOT WEARING BELLS
HALLowELLs ECCENTRIC ANNUAL VISITOR.
From the HalloweIl (Ale) Register.
In the winter of the year IS the 14th day
of February was bright and pleasant in the lati-
tude OF Maine. Along a wind-swept plain
stretching for miles In one general trend be-
tween hill ridges-the bottom o: an ancient
water-course, in fact-runs '.the valley road" so
well known throughout the farming country
which it traverses or serves as natural outlet;
and over this road, in the afternoon Of that
February day, drove farmer Edmund Dorr, re-
turning from tine city at the valleys end. With
dOwncast eyes he rode along behind his logging
horse needless of the way or of the beauties Of the
cheerful winter scene, the influences of which.
though lost to him. were such as made human
1ty In general feel socially disposed. Without
word for any one he met upon the way, old
friend or new. scarcely deigning a chirrup even
of his long drive was broken only by the sound
OF snow beneath the gliding runners and the
irregular beating of his horses feet upon the
One would have thought that some great
calamity had happened to him, or some great
wrong had been done him, but truly such was
not the 1act No! The wrong was right, the
injury was nothing, or next to nothing.
Another man would have soon forgotten 1t
and let MS wrath. If he felt any, go down be-
fore the suns setting. But not so Edmund
Dorr.
Early In the morning of that February day
ne lett his farm and drove into the city, where,
ior his neglect to wear sleigh-bels upon his
morse harness, he arrested as viOlatOr
ol tnat sensible ordinance. An oversight or
neg Ilgence Oh his part; that was all. so simple
Il thing as this would not be worth the telling
were 1t not for the effect his arrest produced
Justice he paid his fine with the worst grace
possible, though with reluctance yet with n
swagser, and turning as he went from the
house said, half chOled with rage, II swear that
L will remember this day and you. too, shall re-
member it as long as l live" Then he drove
homeward leaving the city filled with wrath
Il a hot icon cd
For more than twelve years that he lived
thereafter he kept the promise that he made
writer's recollections is DORIS annual ride to
town. One of these periodical visitatiQns let
me attempt to describe. A jingling and jang
ling noise, sound of shouts and laughter heard
coniusedly in the distance but gradually be-
coming more distinct as the distance lessened;
nearer sound OF opening doors and windows,
ana sight of people looking out to note what
sucn unusual sound might indicate and what
its cause could be. \ boiler shop in full opera
ton, or dozen blacksmiths working at their
anv1ls could not make louder din, less IN usical
or excite more general notice. As the source
from which this confusion sprung drew nearer
into view the center of it all disclosed the old
man Dorr seated in his rusty cutter driving
rlng-boned mareat dog-trot gait. Every move
ment OF the limping horse shook peals of hOrrid
dlscord from the threats of nearly two hundred
bells fastened on to every part of vehicle or har
ness that could bear a bell or where bell could
speak.
And such BELLS too big as a mans fist and
green with the rust OF forgotten years. What
junk shop had the old man raided to wrest such
SpoilS from Father Time? A string of twenty
five of them around the horses neck another
string OF three times twenty-five surcinge-
wise around the horses body; from belly-girt a
line OF them ran out between the horses for
ward legs to meet the throat lash where a dang
ling cOwbell swayed in beats of Independent
time and independent discord of its own from
any other element in this old farmers SYM
phony. Other bells on every part OF vehicle or
harness where it was of the slightest use to put
them. In every place where an industrious bell
could get hearing for itself it was afforded OPP
pOrtunity. Damn um, said Dorr, 'they won't
arrest me for not havin' bells on any more.
guess they'll let the old man alone, next time"
And SO he rode.
Down one street, up another and through
cross streets the old man drove his noisy way
until he had enough of it. Then he turned
about, past the court house, where years before,
he paid his fine and through the busy streets
again he went with echOing sound: provoking
shouts of laughter from the loungerS at street
corners, and SO on and out upon the country
road again lie passed, leaving behind trail of
sound that could be heard long after he had
disappeared from view.