The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-05-18

NEW HAMPSHIRE has of late
IN gained an unenviable notoriety
for its numerous abandoned farms.
Like many supposed mlsfortunes it is
turning out a blessing; three of these
are already apparent. 1t has offered
surprising bargains to city jewellers
in search of summer homes in the
most picturesque region of New En-
gland; then it has benefited the fam
lilies who remained on their farms in
giving them more opportunities to dis
pose of their produce and labor with
less competition, and lastly, forests
) are growing up over these abandoned
lands to make good the devastations
of the lumber companies.
There is nothing that gives one such
feeling of sadness, mingled with ro-
mantle interest, as to come upon the
sight of one of these abandoned
homes. Sometimes the buildings re-
main, but in ruins; more often they
have been removed or torn down, and
there is the uncovered cellar, trees
growing in it; the remains of the
chimney stack, the well, now covered
or filed up with stones. But beyond
all other signs of dissolution and aban-
donment, affecting alike to sentiment
and memory, are the forsaken flowers
once cultivated in the yards and still
living on, In spite of neglect and en-
croaching grass or wild shrubbery.
They bloom pcrennially, and some
Kinds even increase.
These abandoned farms are usually
widely separated; but along the old
NORTH Division road" in Chocorua,
directly under the wonderful peak of
Mount Chocorua, there are IA farms,
not one of which is now occupied. A
few buildings are left and the an
cient schoolhoUse, in which 30 chill
dren used to cipher out of Daboll's
arithmetic and Webster's speller.
Each of these old farms has it's rustic
history, pathetic, uneventful or anus
ing. From them sprang a small, local
poet, one college valedictorian, and
several public men with short his
tories. The would-be statesman is
not allowed to become great in New
Hampshire. When that is imminent he
moves to Boston or Ohio.
The present historian has busted
himself for several past summers in
recovering some of the incidents con-
nectcd with these IA abandoned farms.
Thus far he has succeeded in learn
ing several worthy of relation; one
of these he heard with many details
here omitted, from very aged man,
himself having acted certain part
in it.
In the little red schoolhouse just
spoken of, Lucy VIM, the daughter
of farmer in an adjoining town,
taught school for several seasons.
She was only IS when she began to
teach, comely, country maiden,
rather better educated than was COM
mon, but excessively shy and modest.
The blush never left her cheeks dur
ing the hours of school; and when
her day of fatiguing and often
harassing labor was over It was sue
ceeded by an extreme pallor. Her
pupils were of all ages, from those
learning their letters to young men
and women of her own age, and two
or three men older, for it used to be
the custom in country districts for
boys and girls to continue in school
until almost or quite men and women,
especially in the winter term, when
there was little else to do.
Lucy loved her small A, B, C pupils
and her older ones were fond of her
(. and one of them, Sylvanus Waldron
was too fond. His attentions were
open and bold, and they often an
noyed her to desperation, as she was
conscious of the increased flush in
her face whenever he asked any gues.
ton or recited lesson, and she waf
aware that the whole school observed
lit. Besides she had lover, with
whom she was we'll pleased, although
the decisive word had not yet been
spoken. He was called Ensign Goff
He was six feet two in his stockings, 9
sstalwart, frank, noble-hearted young
man, who carried the flag in the mill.
sta company to which he belonged
where he got his title of ensign, by
which he was always called, and OF
which he was rather proud. It was
his habit to spend every Sunday even.
ing with Lucy, and he seldom saw her
at any other time. Usually she had
recovered her strength and color by
ths rest of Saturday afternoon and
the Sabbath. But toward the end OF
the term this became dificult and in.
frequent. Her relations with Sylvanua