St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-08-10
EARLY ST. JoHNsBURY.-Iv.
Written for the cALEpoNlAN,l

those carry udHs VI WHiSH "'' WV
ing. He was, as recall him, a small,
rather dried-up man; dressed in a
blue suit with swallow tailed coat
which reached ludicrously near the
ground and bobbed back and forth
as he walked. He lived in a white
house with green blinds, which lnev'
er remember to have seen open. The
house occupied the site of the Athene-
um, or possible little south of it.
The Judge was quiet man, with a
determined look that seemed out OF
place with his stature. Whether in
deed he had ever been a Judge, or wore
the title as brevet giver by the
courtesy of his neghbors, | do not
know.
Abel Rice, mine host" who kept
the public house which occupied the
site of the present st. Johnsbury
House, indeed, the rear of which is
the same old tavern, was another
notable of those days. On a high
standard in front OF the house hung
and swung on creaking hinges the
sign, "a Rice Hotel" Prominent on
entering its hospitable doors was the
indispensable bar, adorned with a
wealth of decanters which invitingly
contained a plentiful supply of good
cheer, ran through the garmut ofbev-
erages from potato whskey to
French brandy. The man who on due
occasions did not stepup and treat
was voted niggard or churl by
his neighbors. These were the brave
old days when it was counted agood
Joke for an honest man to lose his
way home of an evening or to mis-
take his neighbours home for his
own. Abel mixed toddies with
mild, satisfied air, and stabbed
horses in a determined way; while
the ample and jolly landlady be-
guied the traveller with fried sausage
and gossip.
1t was about then that this amia-
bic condition of things which had
been handed down from the fathers
was disturbed by certain cranks, who
began to talk temperance, and went
about forming cold water societies,
who thus sought to curtail the liber-
ties which the fathers had so valiant
~ fought for, Men ofmature thought
and independence were proofagainst
such an absurdity, and it was only
the women and children who were
hoodwinked.
recall distinctly the ridcule heap
ed upon this movement.
Lowell Moor, a prim, brisk man,
in the early prime of life, throve as
an cnterprising merchant. His place
of business was just north of the
tavern stand. His store was stock
cd with every species OF merchandise
in small quantities, from pins to cod
fish and from raisins to new rum.
The field, however, was too limited
for his ambition and he, with Others
caught the fever which then first be-
gan to rage. The far West was the
land of enchanted dreams, and he
fell victim to contagion and re-
moved to theland ofthe Chippewas in
the far off territory of Michigan and
became an energetic and hardy pi-
oneer of the wolverine state. In
time he blossomed into a lawyer and
ripened at length into judge.
Henry Little went West in company
with Moor. He was a man Of
stauneh New England character and
of;sturdy Puritan make; and took
these qualities with him. Nor did
they suffer any abatement by the
transfer, as, alas, was the case with
too many. These principles he laid
as corner stones in the social struc-
ture of the opening West. Thanks
to such men, away back in those
early days, that the integrities for
which Plymouth Rock stands have
just rescued for the country the i'm
perilled Christian Sabbath,
His memory is still fragrant among
the older citizens of St. ,Johnsbury,
His son Frank, slip of lad, some
twelve years old, whose careful
mother kept him SO clean and proper
that we used to call him girl; ruf.
he about his neck and an ample
apron to protect his dainty suit from
being soiled. He was game for us
rough, naughty boys who took a