The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-09-12
A STORY OF SPOONS.
Wiscasset Man Defends the Memo ry of
Gen. Butler.

A Wiscasset Man Defends the Memo ry of
Gen. Butler.
John Budd of Wiscasset, the Oldest
and quaintest toll gatherer in Maine,
now has more singular tale to relate
than the story of his life which is
strange enough for most people.
Budd was one of twin brothers. His
parents died when he was an infant,
and the two little shaverS were taken
in hand by charitable people. No one
family desired both of the twins, and
so the boys were separated. John Budd
was adopted by French-Canadian
family and was taken into Canada and
there reared His brother Thomas was
taken into Scotch family in the prov
inces, and there arrived at manhood.
After they had become men the broth
ers traced each other out and met, but
they required an interpreter before
they could converse. John had lived
among French Canadians all his life
and had not then learned to speak Eng
lish: the brother had broad Scotch
accent that might bother even Yam
kee ear.
For years John has been the toll
gatherer at the end of the Wiscasset
bridge. the longest in the State OF
Maine. 1t is built Oh trestleS and is
something over miles long. Whenever
Chief Justice Peters, now retired, held
court at Wiscasset each April and
October he never allowed day to pass
without calling on John Budd at the
toll office. The chat of the old man
amused the justice very much, for, as
the most noteo wit and raconteur in
Maine. he loves picturesqueness OF
eharactermore than any other attribute.
He knows intimately every quaint old
chap in the state
4 few DAYS ago Budd was sitting in
the sun at tile door of his little booth
smoking his pipe. Two young men.
evidently city boys on pedestrian
tour. came along across the bridge and
stopped to pay their toll. They eased
their knapsacks off their shoulders and
sat down on bench at the booth for
moments rest Budd naturally asked
them whence they had come and whittier
they were gong.
"Our home is in New Orleans said
the Older OF the young men. we are
up here in Maine for the summer.
Il stopped in New Orleans at one
time, " said Budd.
~ men was that. c...7 p,lon,,
w hen l was with General butleI.
j ne faces OF the young men udl he ~
ed. The older one SAID WIN lhueh pi'-
lef4esS OF Tone
w ell, you can't be very PROUD Oh
that"
And why not. you young snippet
demanded Budd, with just AS much
aSupTi1V
because Butter was an insurer o.
What he was, ana the boys OF ~" W.
a. much as the men ana women VINO
suffered nom his orders. AND oeslaes'
ht Sto!r all me spoons OUT ol my slailu
father ; hotel .,,,,.
He did, cir snapped Budd; " hal
was TIE name OF your grandfather
hotei'
ne - Aafles
~ on Just wait moment young
man. ,.-.
buoo Went upst"5lIs ihoo M, ms llslns
room ana brought down heaNy Call
cass bag.
He opened 1t and took out hand1ul
OF spoons. On the lanale Oh eacll was
engraved, st: ChaIles.
Nv nat 40 those look IKE: oehdilo-
ed Budd.
ivy ny those are some OF the spoons
from my gfanuIatlier ilotei SaSPeu lile
young man. Where dld you come on
those:'
Il stole EN-, SAD Budo placloly.
Ana know VINO Stole tile rest VI ell
and we dld 1t at the FISK OF our l!Ves,
for if Genera Butler had known it he