The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-04

Ont of the Home Her Father Intendeo
ShouId Be Hers-Shiftless Brothers Have
Brought the Trouble Upon Her.
1t is not often that an eviction occurs
in this county, but occasionally family
is put out of doors for non-payment Oh
rent or because of the foreclosure OF
mortgage.
A case having pathetic feature in 1t,
occurred Saturday at Otisfield. Several
years ago there died in that town we'll
TODD farmer named Wight He left
fine farm of about an hundred acres,
and queerly constructed but comforta-
BILE homestead, consisting of two houses
connected by passageway which made
them one. Farmer Wight disposed of
his property in a way quite common
with New England farmers of the last
generation. To his two sons, Charles
and Elbridge Wight he gave the farm,
s.ive to. their sister Sarah a maintenance.
But no bond was required of.the broth
ers to compel them to do their part.
The sister, however, believed her home
secure, and has for many years worked
faithfully to make home, for her two
brothers.
The brothers, however, have not realized
the expectations of their father In
plain English they have been lazy and
good-for-nothing. They began by get
ting through with what personal proper
ty they had, and then began to mortgage
the farm.
This mortgage has crept up until its
holder, M r. George Hazen, of Oxford,
has found it necessary to foreclose to
protect himself. Then the Wights re-
fused to leave. Sew eral months ago.
when Deputy Sheriff Plummer was sent
TO evlct Elbridge Wight from one por-
ton OF the double farmhouse, battle
royal resulted, and the two brothers
were brought to Portland jail, where
they were confined for some time for re-
sisting an officer.
Recently it became necessary to eject
the family from the remaining portion
of the home, and Deputy Sheriff Buck
nam was sent Saturday to do it. The
reputation of the Wights was such that
he expected trou ple, and therefore he
took every precaution. Accompanied
by heavy team for moving the goods,
Mr.. Buchanan took up the line of
march in time to reach East Otisfeld
early Saturday morning. He knew thet
if,the W1ghts should perceive his cara
van from afar, they might suspect his
mission and go to- bed with feigned
sickness. Such manoeuvre would
have made the eviction embarrassing.
So Mr.. Buchanan dashed ION ahead Of his
teams and approaching the house rapid
" popped into the kitchen iii time to
surprise Sarah Wight in frying dough-
nuts. He stated his errand to her and
to her brothers. She behaved very well,
but her brothers seemed little inclined
to make. trouble by advising their sister
as follows: SARAH, haven't you got a
headache? Hadn't you beJter go to bed?"
But Sarah, who is about 55 years old,
and the most manful one of the family,
took no such advice. She stood boldly
upon her right to a home as her father
had intended that she should have one.
She had done her duty faithfully, and
she maintained that she shonld not be
disturbed.
Bucknam explained to her that he
could only follow the line of duty which
the law marked out for him. He was
provided with teams and would take her
goods anywhere in the town that she
might request.
II she did not name any place he
would have to deposit them in the road.
She was stubborn, still insisting that
her fathers will had secured her a main
tenance in the old home.
The oecers then began to remove the
wood from the shed. After three loads
had been deposited by the roadside, Sa-
rah Wight weakened and wanted to see
one of the selectmen. Mr.. Buchanan sent
team after him, and he soon came.
The selectman explained to Sarah that
the law, though hard and cold, was ir.
resistible. She finally yielded ana
named house where she would like to
have her goods taken.
Then the work of dismantling the old
home went on undisturbed.
e - n n. H.