The Somerset reporter., 1899-08-17
An Up Country Outing.

In former years it was a family affair
only two or three families being repres-
ented, but this year it grew to such
proportions that we can truly say it
was grange affair as nearly all the par.
ty were members of Skowhegan Grange.
Some who had arranged to go were
disappointed at the last moment, while
others were added so as the teams
moved out from North Arson on We'd
nesday morning, August 2, the party
consisted of 5. II. Beal, 5. II. Bradbury,
Mrs. Minnie Lord, Mrs. Lura Adams,
G. b. " bite and son Perrygan, Mr.. and
Mrs S. f. Emerson and daughter
Edith, Mr.. and Mrs. II. 5. Nithee and
Percy, Mr. and Mrs. Il. Fremont HON
stead, Eugene Merrill and Perley Foss.
Twelve of the party are members of
Skowhegan Grange.
We travelled the same route as in
former years, and not with standing
the scenery along the line of travel was
familiar to the most of the party, still
there were constantly opening up be-
fore us the intert sting scenes of field
and woodland, of valley and mountain
height, that marks this section as one
of The most delightful found any where
within the borders of our state
While the objective point was the
BURBERRY plains above Flagstaff ard
blueberriess the object. yet the party
had something else in view. The pleas
ure of camping out, the change from
the work and cares of every day life
and the social enjoyment connected
with a hundred and twenty mile journey
was duly considered.
" ednesday noon found us above
North New Portland, and as the
pleasant home of Bro. l.. II. Moulton
lay directly in our pathway, we con
cluded to take our MONDAY lunch under
the beautiful shade trees that surround
his dwelling. Like every true patron
Bro. Moulton rendered a fraternal
greeting, furnishing generous supply
of hay for the horses and doing all
possible for our pleasure and comfort.
OF course there was a break. here be-
cause sister Moulton was absent from
home, and there is not a man living
that can do his best without the aid of
his wife.
We bid Bro Moulton good bye and
move up across Lexington flats 80
called, in to the mountains beyond
reaching the trout brook just over the
height of land in time TO catch nearly
one hundred trout and pitch the tents
in the beautiful evergreen grove
at this place. This was the first ex-
perience some of the sisters ever had in
tenting out for the night, and 81 they
were up there surrounded by the dark
forest on nearly every side, of course
3 I.a Il Il Il.
and murderous savages would naturally
disturb their nightly slumbers. But
they were brave and determined and
arose in the morning with good APP.
ptes for the morning meal, which with
the exception of the trout, now nicely
dressed and cooked, we had taken from
home.
Just at the close of breakfast aud
about ready to fall in for the onward
march, one of the horses, fleet-footed
animal, concluded he had seen enough
of hauling big load and camping out
n the woods, so with mighty effort
he broke loose and started with break.
neck speed down the road towards his
own stable, and hay, and grain, up at
the home of Bro. White. 1t would
not do to leave our good brothers load
there in the forest, and his horse wend-
ing his way homeward. Oh, no, we
were going to stand by and help each
other in every emergency, and there
seemed to be no alternative but to over
take that horse and turn him back to
the line of duty. In every great emer.
gency of life when there is need of
nerve and activity coupled with a will
to dare and do; there is always some
one ready, some born hero at hand to
step to the front and meet the crises
We needed one now, and he was ready.
K. Fremont Homestead was the hero;
no asking questions, no longing for
some one else to go, but with the agility
of one of Col. Rooseyelt's rough riders
he was mounted on his own fleet horse
in moments time, and off with ire
mendous speed on the track of the
fugitive. The whole party gather to
see the race; down the hill from camp,
on across the level and up the long and
steep hill beyond they go, both horses
on the keen run and all of us anxious
that the race would turn in our favor.
They are soon lost from sight as they
pass over the hill and down on the
opposite side, and not one of us but
knew that Bro Homestead was the man
for the horse, and that the runaway
would soon come back to take his
place in the line of march. After
hard chase he did come back and Bro.
Homestead wears upon his brow the
laurels of hero.
The teams are soon in line again
moving along the famous horse. back
where at the creation natural road