The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-12-11
SHEPPARD ALDRlCH.

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Associated, as he has ever been, with
all the most cherished scenes and
events of my life, long ago, knowing
well that in the ordinary course of ma.
ture | should survive him, made the
resolve 'that when that man dies | will
write his epitaph." 1t will be trib,
ute of simple respect and love, coming
straight from the heart, utterly regard
less of what men shall think; but such
as could desire to lay before his own
eyes, Heaps of gold could not buy it.,
and no other name on earth could draw
it from my pen.
Great heroes and rulers of the earth,
men noted IN the ranks of fame, are
stricken from us by the hand of Death,
and the whole land pays tribute TO
their memory. Here was a man, not
hero in the worlds esteem, not great
as men view greatness, of humble rank
and low degree, but in many respects,
towering far above the heads of those
whom the accident of wealth and birth
have placed in positions of high rank
and honor.
This man had soul; and a soul as
clean, as pure, as unspotted by the cor
ruptions of greedy gain and lust as the
wild surroundings of his life could well
have fashioned it. Physically of gi-
gantic build, strong as an OK, yet as
unconscious as babe of his strength,
body and soul seemed well mated and
in perfect harmony.
SHEPPARD Aldrich never told lie.
No one ever thought of requiring that
his promises should be putin black and
white, unless it be he whose soul was
itself dark and treacherous. There
was no fraud, no deceit, no trickery a.
bout him. He never spent single
moment of his life studying how he
could circumvent some fellow mortal
in a sharp trade. Every bunch Of
shingles that bore his name was as sta.
pie an article as wheat or gold "He
was as honest as the day was long"
And more than that; he was jovial,
the very essence of good nature. Who
ever drove up to his humble habta-
ton met with honest welcome from a
countenance, set above the shoulders Of
an Atlas, upon which a feeling Of
hearty good Will seemed to have fair
ly rooted himself. And his words
wish | could initiate them, every tone
a simple index Of his thought. Never
man or beast knew of harsh tone to
come from his lips. All me how that
record rakes me through and through
And what a healthful soul he was to
associate with! Spending his whole
life, nearly, as he did, within the re-
cesses or upon the outskirts of the vast
forest skirting his home, there was no
touch of selfish greed in any remote
corner of bis nature, or faint of artifce
in his mould. He was emphatically
one of natures noblemen the proudest
title that men can bear.
He did not belong to any church
militant He never made any long
prayers in public; yet | would give as
much for his chances of heaven as those
of any priest or deacon within my ken.
The Lord put him just where he be.
lon, ed; endowed him with his peculiar
gifts; and built him up after His own
workmanship. There was no fine gloss
or shine of varnish about it, but the
foundation and ribbed structure were
as strong and massive as the frame Of
the old mill and the wall of the trout
pond, six feet thick, which he built or
his premises.
SHEPPARD! We shall never again
tread together the wild forests around
old Buffum, or pitch our bark camp
beside its still, deep waters. Never a
gain shall we pole our raft across 1t;
cool depths, or sit by the hour, in the
glowing sun, upon the Big Rock await
ing the tremor of our lines as the tip:
of our polesdip to the pull of its gamey
denizens. Not once more will the MIN
BILE trout jump at our hooks from the
foam at the head of Long Lake; OF
we stand by the freight and listen tic
the distant screech of the owls away of
at the North End. Yet an abiding
Faith whispers in my ears there are
other forests not pressed by mortal
feet; there are other waters not FLASHED
by pole of spruce; as secluded, as secure
within the bosom of purified Nature,
as we ever yet have cast our eyes upon.
There laughter and perfect good will
reign supreme; yet not more supreme
than that which SO often filled our own
bark lean-to.
If such forests there are, if such wa
tiers really do exist, then there is your
glol flied spirit; and there old camp
mate, prepare for me balsam scented
resting place.
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