The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-07-09
SELECTED.
For the Reporter.
The Long Look Backward.

"Our boys" long look backward In the
REPORTER of May 81 must be interesting
to The young and middle aged portion Of
the community as it gives truthful and
graphic description Of the village (north
side as it was sixty years ago; while to
the elderly 1t awakens both sad and pleas
ant memories of the days when "life was
new and Hope was strong -
~ brings before the pcnsive mind
The hallowed scenes OF carly years
And friends who long have been consigned
To silencc-and to tears
Looking back to that past, leautitled
by distance, many will be ready to adop,
the sentiments of Moores beautiful
stanZss:
con in the Silly night
feel like one who trcads alone
Some banquet hall deserted;
Whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead,
And all but he DEPARTED
Another poet has said
"Oi joys departed never to return
How painful the remembrance.
But rather there is a melancholy pleas
ure in recalling the friendships and associ-
atoms of early days. and though it cannot
bling back our vanished youth, it may In
some degree restore the kindly, generous,
youthful feeling, and preserve the heart
from the whitening power of selhshness
"Our boys" "reminiscences reach back
more than sixty years; 1t is more than
that since Stnson Herrln left the Skow-
hogan Hotel. He was landlord Oct. 3,
1926, when, the evening before my de-
parturc for the South, q ball was held
there, COTTON up by my young friends
specially for the occasion, in order to
give me a good send oil. His occupancy
did not con inue long after that.
"Our boys" memory of persons, places
and events is remarkable, but 1t is some
times at fault. Ben Hartwell lived on the
island, he had good bass voice and used
to sing in the choir at the old meeting
house many years before but he never
kept singing school. 1t WAS his brother
Sam who lived with his father mile
above the village on the south side who
had the singing schools. He had q tenor
voice and was successful teacher and
continued TO teach after he removed to
Palmyra.
Preceptor Hall had son James who
grew to manhood, and | was told four
years ago that he was still living some
where well up the river. | don't remem-
Der the name of the boy that was drown
ed, but it was not Jamie"
In the course of not many years, -four
boys were drowned between the bridge
and the place where the Hall boy was lost.
The first was Samuel, son of Josiah
Locke who lived in the house next west
of the old Dickman store. He was seen
| by some one playing on log that had
| lodged endwise on the shore near the
house, and when he was missed, his body
was found near the log.
The next victim was son of Capt.
Edmund Pearson. AS he did not come
nome at evening, inquiry was made, but
no one had seen him the whole afternoon.
Many joined in the search with lanterns
and torches. The family remained in
this terrible state of suspense till his
body was found two ar three days after
at the Great Eddy believe.
Another was a son Of Jonathan Adams
The south bridge was being repaired, and
ferry was run to the Island the boy
jumped on the boat to get ride, he fell
over board but 1t was not noticed till the
boat reached the shore. The body was
under water about half an hour, and all
their efforts failed to restore life.
rev WOruS dOOut "A. H. LlIIleHelu
| He was raised In some remote settlement
up the river, and his education was rather
| limited; but his natural shrewdness avail
ed him instead. He was Justice of the
Peace and was called on to marry couple
They stood up before him and he said
Join your right hands; in the name OF
Roscoe G.. Green, Governor of the State
of Maine, pronounce you man and wife.
So help you God" | presume it was q
valid marriage though Roscoe G. Greer
was State Secretary and not Governor.
EBEN WESTON.