The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-01-28
Quaint Characters of the Past.

Our Prospect correspondent writes: On
person walking passed in the road by our
place, | got to thinking about Old times
when there were so many boys in this
district. and what the boys used to talk
about before the new laws came into
force. For years there was an Indian call
ed Joe Soeabesum who used to call at
stopped all night. We boys thought that
Indian talk was very funny and we never
missed many words he said. About that
time other very strange man came
along. that used to get down and kiss the
ground in the road when he saw anybody.
He travelled through here number of
years and every one got used to him, even
the children. Very often an Irish woman
with her child came along. She was get
ting money to bring her husband over
from Ireland. and She Jared sumptuously.
She often carried very large bundle Of
clothing. and was sure not to dress up
very well when she could do better An
other cl aracter was Frenchman getting
none, and clothing to bring his wife from
France. There We're often callers to stop
all II. ut. and some of them were quite
entertaining, especially if they could sing
songs or tell stories. Some terrible ghost
stories We're told by these travellers in old
times and they were very welcome guests.
Another was Charles Scott great talker
and who pleased the boys. He used to visit
here, and has stopped nights at my faith
er He had partially lost his mind ty
religious excitement and would rattle off
more talk than a half dozen sound people.
Another was clam peddler from Verona
He was a champion singer and has stop
ped at my place later. Our favoritc song
that he used to sing was, Way Down in
Van Diemans Land He was a very well
come caller and his horse was well fed
Since railroads and steamboat times the
disappeared. in oiIien times even young
women travelled alone along the bay and
river for employment Quite number
that came from the keHnebec found hus-
bands here and in old tines people put
up many transients. No doubl some were
not OF the hest. but it was tie custom to
give all travellers a welcome. Occasion
ally one would stop in the barn. but he
was considered one of the very lowest In
my boyhood days only one that | recall
stopped in the barn. and that was July 3d
ON the lth he cot a good breakfast and
went Oh.
Boys in those days never took to minis
terS for company, but they We're frequent
visitors, and some of the names are not
forgotten yet. Elders Sawyer, Lunt
Harding. Marden. Brown, Hodgdon and
Smith. There was one curious old fellow
we boys called old Elder Tobacco Splitting
osgood, He lived away off somewhere
and was a great dreamer. He would lump
up in meeting and spit the biggest stream
of black tobacco juice and tell of Won
always hit SO well they must have been
very fresh.
The only person that has called for
number of years came Just about daylight
in the summer time several years ago.
His first question was if | could give him
any information how to build lap-str
" He had b.,,l l,1i,,1,+ ,1-,.
on Mt. Waldo and wandered this way in
the night.
In the times past some very enjoyable
evenings were spent with the old settlers
Among the best story tellers and singers
was Joseph >tinson, who used to sing
Hampshire Light. y Rolling Stone will
Gather no Moss The Belle of New Or
leans, and either patriotic songs Nh
Stins"n went as substitute in the Aroos-
took war. He had an excellent memory
and his stories of the war have been MANY
times told here, As he was a near neigh
Dor
The young folks growing up now don't
seem to have so many interesting stories
to entertain them as did some of the old
settlers. Very much more reading matter
is found in every house now, but the
memory cannot contain the whole. But
still the young folks are way ahead.
Another thrilling ghost story teller was
William Green. Some of his other stories
We're exciting and wonderful if true At
one time he spent summer away up
above the Aroostook, and the wild geese
were very plenty there and very tame, so
much SO that he killed great many with
sticks for their feathers. In the fall he
brought down to Bangor a ton of feathers
on his back, they were SO very light, and
might have brought more, but he made a
very good summers work at that His
associates wherever he was were almost
always colonies, majors, judges, generals,
captains, elders and governors, and Il e
best there We're. After ALL Mr. Green was
a good citizen and was honest in his dc al
ings. He lived in Prospect a number of
years. Very much has been said about
him that is probably untrue.
Another eccentric character was man