The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-08-26
TIN, THE TOLIrKEEPER.
Legend OF Early Days on the
Coast OF Maine
The Fats That OvrrsS0k an Asarlci0us old
sesunarcI An uld Woman's Curse and
ia strange Fuinliment~ tIaw
the nrtsiee iseraus Erce,

rSoNhtfrA M NtN MnNafe curse anu
la strange Eainiiment~ lfaw
the nrtsigc ascams Erce,
II you have ever cruiscd among the
pcrplexing reaches and inlcts that On
tangle Tile coast 81 Maine, perhaps you
have seen "Tim's lirfdro,f q queer de.
formed httic fabric ot bleclspicd lpgs
spanning mn arm 81 the sea. locally
known as lam riecE Worn md weak
ened by the service IL thrse genera.
tinns II travellers, 1t ircmiles Under
the passing ~ i heavy team. as " ~
days 81 usefulness were nearly over;
and the draw, when Il cpcns, tettera
On it, iniirm and leeasing pier like ~
old mnn With failing limbs
Within i hedge IL unlseinpt fish
weirs and fringed with growth Of
scrRgasy sprures. here lies tho sleepy
island town IL lIorknmock, rnt from
tho main Div this meandering nrnl %
the sen. ard nnited ~ Il w Tim's
bridge Opposite Il llrowsic, al an
olent and iishY hamlet Iii whose streets
tile grass grows NOW, but the senle af
stirring business IL The days when
fhipr.s tho Knight IL tho spanish
nnnhiaans, WAS building his ships and
iltting ont his brave expeditions
To these shores about thrce quarters
II century ngo. when the fishermen
and farmers ~ the two OH towns were
ia tho hsydny ~ thcir prosperity. eanu
1 settler named Tim stul,hs, Wbern
he came from nobody Istowa Ills %,
ginning. like his end. n involved In
mystery II Ii. however, Il wellsestab.
hshed fact TINT lae built the bridge, tho
wiseacres III tha dizzy Shaking their
heads AZ his venture md ypwing that
he never would get his money back.
but IL lid cams back. swelIing I'll Il
stream 81 silver ara copper eain that
made Tim Stubbs tho richest man III
lfoekamoek
When liz opened tile bridge there waa
great rejoicing Ia the two tawna ii
was sneha wonderful accommodation
b travellers that. they willingly paid
the tllla Some ~ the Fishermen and
coasting slsippers EFumblcd al having
70 lun up and hang on for Tim II open
his draw. hut they soon heealne acellas
TONED 10 II and blew their horns and
coneh,shella ehrcrilY, alsNAyAKiying the
alarm inst before they ROUNDED the
sharp bend MAIDS by the rcneh little
below the bridge Az for tho steam.
boats that now pass and repass every
day. they had not vexcd these waters
when orr story heRink
hut. unltckily for tho tellmnn and III
who went through his bridgeur oyer II,
Tim'a nature was ID fiwnrfed and Mgly
us IT. frame, mud he fed II on nothing
but his tolls lie lived iii little house
at tho lIuclanpclt end III the bridge,
together with his boards and tlinRy yell
palm for his toll, he Ind never word
Of greeting for tho pnaaer-hy, and II ons
ventured ',good morning" Tim
eilently hurried away his money rs
though civil word might break tho
spell that protected II.
Old Squire nummer. Of IIoctamoclt,
came tearing down tho road 10 the
bridge onn dark night, Ills horse ia q
Enilop.
open the gate. Tim, open the gatel
tia matter of life aud dcatiI" he
bawled.
There Tim ptood rs unIesponsivc MS
death itself, his dog BY his side, the
gate shut md barred
.tQniekl'' roared the squire. ..l'm
after the doctor for my wife, she's like
10 die
Tins only answer was to hold out
tint hairy hand Of his, while the dog
gave d low growl.
What do you mean. you snave9.
Squire Drummer cried, swelling with
anger. Would you risk my wifc's life
for tuppence2"
Excited md fuining he searched his
pockets for coin while his horse paved
and reared,
Iii, thcrei whoa, boyi Confound you.
haven't penny in my breecheei
Whoa, boy. steady PIlpay yon to-mor-
row, man. Open the gate IN heavens
nameit
But the grim statue did not move 80
much as q finger till the squire. fairly
atirc with Indignation, threw down his
watch und fob for toll
When, next day. he told the Villagers
~ tile affair. the warmest indignation
was kindied on both sides ~ the river.
though perhaps It never would have
burned Tins ears bnt for Aunt Han
nah Kicks
The scnryy villaini she mnttered,
her gray eyes flashing, I'm give him a
piece 81 my mind, II no one else dares
81 say world And away she hob
BLEED on her crutch down 10 the bridge
poor, bent and shriveIed old vom-
an, with face unpleasautly sharp and
a tongue that was sharper still
'Ah, Tim" said she, shaking her
long. bony finger III his face, '.ye won't
be IL yonr tricks much longerl'
What a. you mean2N growicd Tim.
s'-I mean robbing and abusing folks
and taking their watches aud fobs
when you've no right torthem that's
what | mean"
Get along. you old hagl won't
stand such talkis said Tim. with q
glare,
Hear me out, miserable mani, Aunt
Hannah went on "Let me tell You
that it's for the Evil One you're doing
all thisl It's for the Evil One you're
plnndering your neighbors and cheat
ing your own body and soul!''
''you witchr' Tom screamed, almost
beside himself with anger Ire Off or
I'll have you hungln
'lsahr' rctorted the beidane. with .
contemptnons snap % her fingers.
Wen have free bridge firstl''
Doubling his fist, Tim started toward
her, while the dog cronched for q
spring.