The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-05-06
HERMIT,s HOME TODAY.


Old Granite state had Joseph Plum
mer penetrated az the age Of a. when
he purchased seven acres OF land In a
vast forest AZ the foot Of Meredith hill
Il was a desolate spot for a home.
a small cabin erected on a mere knoll
Of scrubby pines and sandy. poverty
stricken land In the large forest %
towering trees which struggled for ex-
isionce along the rocky banks Of lin
pied mountain brooklet. In the writ
ers mind this small riyulet must have
been the one thing that attracted the
hermlts attention and decided him to
select this unfayorahle spot Tor a home.
Doubtless the hermit's weary thoughts
were sooihcd TO rest many a night By
the lullaby this hrooklet sang In
those far-dIstant days when the hermit
founded his woodland home q was
away from the villages In the midst
Of a forcst-whero the only sounds that
could have disturbed bis lonely lie
were The singing % tho birds. the sweep
of the wind through the lofty tree tops
and the murmurlug Of the nouniain
stream seeking be- level in The distant
lakes But gradually. "a change came.
Settlers became more plentiful. high
Ways we're laid uut. and visitors hoping
90 see the now noted hcrnit encroach-
ed upon bic domains Doubtless real
izlng that In view OF the changing time
he could not De al solitary as To- his
earlier years. he became more soclable
and entertained his visitors In the
style Of the times" treating them 10
apples and cider. although when any.
one was near him he watched him
with eyes made sharp with dlstrust In
his later years he made a considerable
sum Of money by selling baskets aud
other small articles OF his own manu-
facture. The hermit could read and
write and some verses Of bis compost
ton dcnounelng the building Of rail-
roads and turnpikes are as follows
Iron stoves and wooden clocks,
Awful storms and dismal shocks.
Railroads and turnpikes through the
land.
Borebodes destruction near at hand.
But who can make the people see.
II blind as bats they choose TO be?
Deaf as the adder they appear.
The truth they cannot hear.
Devils lies they much esteem.
Because It suits their wicked scheme.
His hook Is baitcd with deceit.
And they no doub; will bite the bait
Then on to ny In vain they try.
Like that from the hook would ny.
The barbed hook will no, let 20
but draws them down TO endless woe.
The hermits cabin contained no win
dows. although there was a hole II
the garrett closed with a board. On,
door with dimensions ~ four feet By
three feet wac the only entrance. Jus
inside this door was n trap door so tina
any one entering without his permits
sion would tumble into the cellar. II
constructing his chimney he placed tw,
scythes. edge upward. protruding. 4
prevent anyone coming down" on him
Originally II was a log hut which at
ter living In for many years the hermi
built the present building. Joe" wa
very ingenious. constructing many use
ful articles. amous them woodel
scales. ylolins and bass ylols, on whic
he was a remarkab.e player His sub
slstence was composed mainly OF potn
toes. corn bread berries FISH. herb
and meat from Wild animals which h
captured In the woods lie never rea
newspapers. but was a great student d
the Bible In the later days Of his M
the n. H. L. institute theology student
used TO Journey TO his home TO engag
him In n discussion on the doctrines q
the Bible. Tradition says that hi
single counting experience resulted a.,
astroualy for himself. Two OF hi
brothers had married daughters OF Dea
con Fox, who resided on Meredith HI
and Joseph determined to WOO the del
cons remaining daughter One ever
ing he went TO his lady loves hous
and quietly took himself to the dauRi
ter's room and was calmly sitting o
her bed when she opened the bedroom
door TO. retire for the night She b.
ian screaming and rushed dovnstail
20 inform her father. The worthy de'
con. on hearing the facts Of the cas-