Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-24
POOR OLD HERMIT.
Vassalboro Farmer Unable to
Properly Attend to Work.
Neglects Himself and Catt|e--Feared
That He Will Freeze to Death.
interested Neighbors Make a Plea That
Guardian Be Appointed.

GkstASf%2SA M,M = buro, stating
- IN ssS = that the latter
I.WaJys%% is not capable
49, rs of taking care
Of himself, and should have a guardian
appointed to look after him.
Edward Taber is a years old and lives
in Nassalboro, about a mile from the vii
lage, and almost everybody knows him.
For years, no one seemed to know just
how long, he had lived alone, and naturally
peculiar, he has become more So, year by
year, and has now reached a stage where
he is really a subject for sympathy. He is a
farmer, to some extent, and in this way
earns a fair living. But, as his evening
drawcth nigh, his powers fail him, and he
has become feeble in mind and body.
The people, accordingly, wish that some
thing be done. II cattle and horses suffer
frlghtfully, 1t is alleged, but it is an
abuse on his part born of neglect and not
intention. What his cattle suffer, in
some ways he himself suffers. and from
all that is learned of him, he Is badly in
need of help.
The two residents of Vassalboro VINO
have appeared before Judge Andrews, state
that many instances of suffering and death
among his animals were caused by his
neglect, In one instance which happened,
a few days ago, he took II colt to water, in
a bog or pond about Il quarter Of mile
from his barn. The colt had not been out
TOR some time and was weak, too weak to
return after he had reached the water
Tabcr left him, and it is thought that he
must have forgotten him, rs it was only
by accident that, two days later, the poor
colt was discovered, half frozen, and
shortly after died. Cattle have been found
wandering about his place in the cold, and
in one instance, In the last snow storm,
about Dec. /, the ice had formed in thick
layers, over their backs
A Journal reporter visited Mr.. Taber,
finding him at work in his barn, giving
water to IA young bull. The cut at the
head Of this article shows him, as he
trudged along pail in hand a pretty sturdy
act for such an old fellow. The bull to
which he was giving the water, was a
peculiar looking specimen with little
body and very large head. He was a
yearling and Mr.. Tabcr said that he
hadn't been out of his stall once, since
he was born"
When asked how be made his living, the
old man replied in his quaint Quaker
style: ''Thee knows that | am farmer.
But after ALL l don't do much work now.
am really getting too tired and lazy in
my old age"
Mr. Taber said that he had lived alone
since 1862 when his mother died, and had
always been right there on the old farm.
1t is said that his only relatives are in
California.
The house where he lives Is some dis
lance in from the street. The situation
is a charming one, being high and over
looking the country for miles around. The
house is sight to behold Everything is
all mixed up In the shed there is per
.ect tanglc of teams and wagons, long since
discarded
But it is the kitchen which shows the
life of the poor old fellow. Once, SO the
story goes, the old mans chimney caught
fire, and since that day, has never al
lowed decent fire in his stove. There is
no connecting pipe between stove and
chimney, and consequently no draft. The
smoke hole of the stove is placed under the
chimney piece, so that part of the smoke
sometimes up goes that way, but more
often goes into the room.
About the walls the old time-worn
paper is as black rs scot itself. Parched
and pecling, it looks as if it had been IN
der scorching fire. But time and smoke
have done it, Here the old hermit eats,
and dishes thick with the accumulation
of many a meal-such as they are lie
| scattered about in hopeless disorder.
The day was cold when the reporter
| called, but the Old man didn't seem to
| mind it.
! He admitted that the room was not what
| it should be, and politely apologized
His meals are frugal enough. He makes
kind of bread that reminds one of putty,
with which he eats molasses mixed in
water. Sometimes he buys Goldfish, for a
luxury, and in the past few years has been
known to buy meat, but only very seldom
| He was asked how he managed to keep
from freezing when in bed. "Oh, l sleep
between two feather beds, my friend ]
then do not feel cold He says he is all
right, but the PEOPLE fear for him, and
think that some day he will be found, as
his cattle have been. frozen to DEATH
| One of his neighbors tells of singular
ways the old man has fallen into about his
farming. He begins to plant the time the
rest of the farmers are gathering in the