The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-09-11
FOLK LORE.
Written for the "Banner'' by G. W. Har-



man.
Much has been written and said in re-
gard to the reliableness of oral tradition,
that folk lore tales ana ballads have
been handed down from lip to lip for
centuries with curious fidelity, even in
cases wherein the reciter could not read
or write-and thus the truthfulness of
history has been preserved, and local
tradition has kept alive memories which
might otherwise have persisted altogeth-
er At this time, when the attention of
the community has been aroused and
turned to the contemplation of events
which TRANSFERRED more than century
ago, the memories of which have been
perpetuated through the lines of tradi-
ton, it may be well to rehearse tale
calculated to foster belief in the relia-
bility of those memories.
My father was born in ITO; l in 1872,
and Mrs Sarah w. Howe in 17SS; she
resided in Rupert and was unknown by
me or my father.
When l was about twelve years old
1S24-my father told me that during his
early life he had read "Lines on the
Melancholy death of Isaac Orcutt,
part of which was printed in the Yer
mont Gazette and, so far forth as he
could remember, he repeated them to
me, and l caught them from his lips and
have remembered them ever since.
About the year 1885, the late Henry II.
Smith, of Rutland, loaned me sheet of
note paper, upon which he had pencilled,
several years before, certain Lines"
from the lips of Mrs. Howe, who was
rather illiterate, and who repeated them
from memory alone. Without reading
them, l retained those Lines" until
about 1899, when, being about to copy
them, before commencing, l first wrote
from my memory the version l had from
my father-the first time | had reduced
them to writing-and l have no reason
to think my father had ever written
them down. This l did that my cast
might not be influenced by that of Mrs
Howe. l then copied Mrs. Howe's ver-
sion. And, last April, 1891, upon
searching the Vermont Gazette of June
-, 1899, l found and copied all that APP
pears therein.
1t will be perceived that my father
carried the matter in his mind about
twenty-five years before communicating
it to me; that l carried it about sixty
five years before writing it down, and
that Mrs. Howe carried it perhaps
eighty years before giving it to Mr..
Smith Comparing the traditional YER
sions with each other and with the Ga
zette the identity is quite striking.
In Washington, Co., NY, Westtield was
formed in 1876, and from it, Hartford
was taken in 1893, this explains the APP
pearance of both names in the Lines.
1t is needless to say that the present
reproduction of the Lines is not by
reason of their intrinsic merit, but to
show how nearly alike they have been
remembered by three different persons
for periods varying from twenty-five to
eighty years.
From the Hermont Gazette of June IS, 1891
One Isaac circuit was his name,
Who lately unto Westfeld came.
Resided with his brother James,
And went cutting wood it seems.
II He cut the tree off from the stump,
II The top being dry threw back chunk
Is Which fell and nit him on the head,
IL And killed him, yet he was not dead.
Repeated by NJ rs. Sarah W. Howe Born in
January, 17Ssl
Lines on the death of Isaac circuit, a young
man killed by the fall of tree in Hartford,
Wash, Co., N, Y, about 1898.
Come all you neighbourinR people wait
While doeful scene relate
OF bright youth as eer you see
Who was killed in Hartford with tree.
Isaac Circuit was his name,
He lately into Hartford came,
Resided with his brother James.
Last Thursday noon went as it seems
To cut some timber for a sled,
10 The snow being deep he had to wade
II Near forty rods to an ash tree,
II The top was dry you may see
13 He cut the tree off from the stump,
II The top being lodged threw back chunk,
10 1t flew and struck him on the head
III 1t crushed him yet he was not dead.
II There the poor sufferersenseless lay
IS All the remainder of that day.
- His charming face plunged in the snow,
20 While from his head the blood did flow.
p His friends and neighbors being gone,
- Not knowing that he had withdrawn.
% No search was made Dy any one
2i Until the setting of the sun;
% Till Mister Dandy and his son,
2j Alarmed, SOt out upon the run.
- They soon behed him with surprise
. And gazed on him with steadfast eyes,
% They then supposed him to be dead;
30 Til by motion of his head
81 They found that in him life was left.
80 Stirring his head and drawing his breath.
% One OF his hands was stitly froZe,
81 Part of his arms and some Ofhis toes.
81 The blood had issued from his wounds
81 And thawed passage to the ground.
81 o. twas an awful sight 10 see
IS So fair and sprightly youth as he
~ All crushed and crippled in heap;
AZ Twould make the stoutest heart to weep.
Al They took him up and bore him home.
~ Put him to bed in warm room.
43 They rubbed his limbs and dressed his
wounds,
a. Ard strove to force a cordial down.
45 But all in vain, the passage choked
46 His blood was chilled-his skull was broke.
AZ All useful medicines were applied;
4S Yet he on that same evening died
40 The heavy news did soon arrive
so 10 his dear friends and relatives.
81 1t filled their hearts with bitter grief
81 That he was past all their relief.
So When all his friends were gathered round,
81 A sermon preached by Elder Brown.
So His corpse with care was borne away
SO To mingle with its native clay.
So He was but twenty years of age
M ha ua oil
80 He was both sprightlY, fair and kind,
30 Beloved by every civil mind
IL Think on his virtues weeping friends
go Mourn not for him, but for your sins
SO Sin is the procuring cause
Ga That brings Gods judgments unawares;
% Let this q warning be to all,
66 tits our Great Creators call.
67 Methin1s we hear his word abroad
6S Saying, "Prepare to meet your God"
re-. W. Harmans version
One Isaac Orcutt was his name
Who lately into Westdeld came;
Resided with his brother James
Went last Thursday. as it seems,
To cut some timber for a sled;
10 The snow being deep he had to wade
IL Near forty rods to an ash tree,
10 The top being dry as you may see
10 He cut the tree of by the stump
IL The top being dry threw back a chunk
IS Which fell and hit him on the head
l6 And hurt him but he was not Gead
II There the poor senseless SUFFER- lay
IS All the remainder of that day
"a Until the setting Of the SUM-
rs When mister Daney and his SON.
26 Alarmed. set out upon the rum
q They soon beheld him with surprise
y And gazed on him with steadfast ewes
- The blood that issued from the wound
lad no uaA ma