Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-05-16

west haIOor, May - 1871 u"llsHtu ~ ~
quest.
And it came to pass in the days OF Ben
jamin. the wise ruler, before King Grover
and the panic overshadoWed the land,
that certain of the people of Southwest
Harb Dor of the tribe of fremont, who
kept guard over the literature and dealt
out books according to the needs OF the
public, took counsel together and rea-
soned in this wise saying: Behold the
little house wherein our literary treas
ures are stored; it is neither comely to
the eye nor large enough to contain many
books or readers; moreover it is exceed
ingiy shabby i'll appearance, insomuch
that the passers by hold it in derision,
the fowners of the great house near by
frown upon it with contempt and even
the children cast stones upon it, break
ing the glass of the windows; 10, these
many times putting us to much trouble,
for We must needs keep unsightly bars
across for defense.
Let:us make haste and gather in tithes
and offerings from the people, and build
spacious store house, large enough to
contain all our rolls and records. More
over let there be reading room therein
of goodly dimensions where the people
may gather to study ancient lore and the
/ wisdom OF the sages.
And the chief rulers of the library
pondered over this plan and ssaid; 1t is
well, even so let it be; and there arose a
local scribe who went forth up and down
the land mum bering the people, and bid
ding them work diligently upon whatso-
ever their hands found to do until dol
! lar should be gained, which they must
strsightway bring and cast into the
library treasury for the building of this
stately mansion.
And this decree found favor with many
Of the nhs bitants OF this seaside town,
and they hasted to do the bidding OF the
scribe. How be it there were some OF a
stu bborn and perverse nature who said {;
Go to. whos mRdest thee ruler over US?
We have reading in plenty in our own
homes, hat care We for our neighbors?
Let them labor, il they will, it is naught
to us.
divers ways to gain the dollar 1.-THE. In
the beginning only women were taxed :;
some wrought cunning needle-work and
sold; others nursed the sick and built the
kitchen fires, BACKED boots and fed the
tiocks, soldicakes land bread and traded
barn yard fowls; then with feasting and
rejoicing The tithes were counted and the
nd
mid merry laughter all the doings Of
these noble women.
But there was not yet enough money
to buy he parcel OF land to set the house
upon, and the scribe cast about in her
mind what she should do next. And i'm
mediately she called to her aid comely
young woman called Katherine, the
daug hter,of John and Ada, and babe her
| tax all he men of the tribe, knowing full
we'll that they, seeing the good works OF
the women, would not refuse to go and
do likewise
And Katherine: being nlmble-footed
and ever helpful in spirit, went cheer
fully upon her mission, and all the men,
both young--and old, because Of her pleas
ant ways, gladly obeyed her commands,
and straig htway set about earning the
tribute money they were hidden to bring.
Some wrought with the tools of their
craft, some bought and sold articles OF
mere handise, yet others, staid and sober
men, put on female apparel and scrubbed
and eleansed their dwelling places or pre-
pared the meals for the family, while the
| housewives rested from long and weary
toll and gladly paid their hire; and again
the feast WAS: spread and the dollar
rhymes were read, but by reason OF the
many who were hidden to the merry
makingl yet would not come, the funds
which should have increased an hundred
| fold were much less.
Now there was rich man from far
country, a summer sojourner among this
people, called Mathews, learned writer
of great repute who had many a time and
oft given of his su distance to buy books
for the public library Of this fair land,
and when the fame Of this wise plan had
been. brought to his knowledge, he re-
joiced exceedingly that so many of the
people had been in accord to work for the
building of home for the books, and he
arose and testified his pleasure by send
ing to the treasury more than three score
dollars, thereby gladdening the hearts Of
the chief rulers.
And anon there came young maiden,
plump and fair haired, surnamed Hans
com, to teach the children of this
province, and she was minded to aid in
the good cause; therefore she assigned to
her learners fragments of poetry and
wise sayings of great men and songs and
| play-acting scenes to be given for the
editication of the people, and there were
much feasting and merry making, and
the sum Of money cast into the treasury,
though but little, was welcome because of
the good will OF the young teacher and
/ [ he school children " no earned it.