The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-07-18
A CHOCORUA EPISODE.
BY JOHN ALBEE.

Like many supposed mlSfortunes 1t Is
turning out a blessing; three Of these
are already apparent. 1t has offered
surprising bargains to city dwellers
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
q 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 tho yards and still
living on, in spite Of neglect and en-.
croaching grass or wild shrubbery
They bloom perenAially, snd some
kinds even increase. .'a-
These abandoned farms are usually
widely separated; but along the old
"North Division road" in Chocsrus,
directly under the wonderful peak Of
Mount Chocorua, there are II farms,
not one Of which is now occupied. A
few buildings are left and the an.
cient schoolhouse, in which 40 chill
dren used to cipher out Of Daboll'u
arithmetic and Webster's speller.
Each Of these old farms has its rustic
history, pathetic, uneventful or anus.
ing. From them sprang small, local
poet, one college valedictorian, and
several public men with short his.
tories. The would-be statesman Il
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
nected with these IA abandoned farms
Thus far he has succeeded in learn
ing several worthy of relation; one
of these he heard with many detail,
here omitted, from a very aged man
himself having acted q certain part
in II. = I
In the little red schoolhouae just
spoken Of. Lucy Winn, the daughter
Of farmer In an adjoining town
taught school for several seasons
She was only IS when she began Il
teach, a 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 whel
her day of fatiguing and Otter
harassing labor was over It was sue
cesded by an extreme pallor. He
pupils were Of all ages, from thos'
learning their letters to young mel
and women of her own age, and twv
or three men older, for II used to b.
the custom in country districts 70
boys and girls TO continue In schoo
until almost OF quite men and women
especially in the winter term, whe,
| <h.rn x.,a . Rttl> >ls> -, ~
Lucy loved her small A, B, C pupili
and her older ones were fond Of hei
and one Of them, Sylvsnus Waldron
was too fond. His attentions wer
open and bold, and they often m
noyed her to desperation, as she wa
conscious of the increased flush Il
her face whenever he asked any ques
ton or recited a lesson, and she wa
aware that the whole school observe
it. Besides she had q lover, Wit
whom she was well pleased, althoug
the decisive word had not yet bee
spoken. He was called En6gn Gof
He was six feet two in his stockings,
stalwart, frank, noble-hsarteA youn
man. who carried the flag in the mil
tia company to which he belonged
where he got his title of ensign, b
which he was always called, and 9
which he was rather proud. II wa
his habit to spend every Sunday ever
ing with Lucy, and he seldom saw he
at any other time. Usually she ha
recovered her strength and color b
the rest Of Saturday afternoon an
the Sabbath. But toward the end {
the term this became difficult and IL
frequent. Her relations with Sylvanu
Waldron were more and more distress
ing to her; he persisted in his after
tions In snd out Of school, wake
homo with her whenever the chanG
offered and Joined her oa her way
tho schoolhouse in the morning. 81
was afraid 10 have an open QUAR-,
with him. a 70 demand HE disndss'
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