Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-10-01
THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE ON THE

TIE OeO 0STV0O6 gI0O0@ Wv ~
HILL.
Since there has been so much written
in prose and in song of "The Old Church
on the HILL" the spirit of the age con.
strains me to write of the old school
house which once sat across the valley
in southerly direction from the old
church, about one-half mile distant, on
what is known as LOring's Hill.
This was where some of the men now
we'll known to the public commenced to
enlighten their understanding.
MANY humorous incidents have been
listened to by the writer as they were
related by the old-timers, some of them
actors in the plays as they occurred.
Some of the teachers might not discover
the humorous side, for in those days
strenuous works were sometimes carried
on.
One old gentleman remembers well,
and bears the scar, of how he undertook
the swinging trip on his teacher when
she was tuning him, and caught the
stove leg instead, nearly severing his
big toe.
Another remembers how teacher
found himself suddenly floundering on
the floor, just for trying to stop the exit
of boy who had no permit to leave,
and how he ran to the village, to be the
"frst" (bOy like) to report the news of
the melee.
Some of the residents residing in town
known to the writer, are c. b. Atwood,
r. C. Themes, j. F. Jewett, and Benja-
min Spaulding, whose business has been
of mercantile order; Thos. S. Bridg-
ham that of lawyer. Secretary Long is
another who needs no introduction to the
public. 1t was his purpose to obtain the
old house Tor shop now for library,
as he said it was more dear to him than
marble walls, but it was not for sale
other than to be replaced by another,
hence new building.
Edward l.. Paris, Esq, of New York,
and r. NJ. Cole, merchant of Cape Eliza
beth, were early students here. Doubt
less there are others, but these are all
that are known to the writer at the pres
ent time.
But the old house years ago succumbed
to the exigencies of the times.
The progressive march of the age call
ed for greater and better school facili-
ties and it took up its march to the vii
lage, and since it has doubtless been con-
verted to more uses than any building
in town, some of which may be learned
by perusing the accompanying lines:
| Over the road from the din of the village,
school house sat on the brow of the hill:
Grand was the view from the eastern horizon,
Grand were the thoughts which those lessons
instil.
| Hopes that were cherished Of later advancement:
Found Impetus there through the teachers
| keen tact;
The years have we'll shown that time was not
wasted,
| The wort OF those lessons Is proven by fact.
Many have passed DER the river Of sadness.
| Sad are the friends who are left here behind F;
Some still remain on the footstool of changes,
Seeking for honors where the donors are blind.
Some have obtained them In duplicate measure,
Been honOred by man, and exalted to fame;
| The house on the bill has long since departed,
And the uses it's served we scarcely could
| name.
Uptorn by the hand of ruthless mutation.
On the banks of Nezinscot II stands ut bay;
Bearing the marks OF the rude boys invasion,
And cen the rude carving is potent to-day.
The home Of burgher was first In IL, line;
| Death closed the eyes of the wife Of his bosom,
Transforming again to another design.
The shoemaker's craft have often engaged 1t,
The home Of the burgher quite often appears
| The light of the cum first dawned on the infant,
Joys intermlngle with the shedding of tears.
The merchant. the doctor. dentist and barber
Have wrought for living within It's proud
walls;
MillIner, dress maker, and the watch doctor
OF have responded to the shop patrons calls
Mechanics and painters, by their ndentures
Are holding by right Of "to have and to hOld;''
Last on the list Is young engine maker,
The future enrolment well deign not unfold.
To-day the old house ia not without honor.
| Transformed though 1t Is by each tickle Will;
It's patrons revere It; when home returning
| Revert to the scenes of the house on the HILL
More dear to their hearts than palaces royal,
| This old wooden structure which sat on the
hill,
Not the rnrest Of marble, gem set included
Can supplant the oil house, or It's magic thrill
The rocks they remember, bold and astounding
Old Shay Top, landmark, grand and sublime
The mountains beyond, Owls Head and Old
Strcakcd,
These are Gods monuments for all coming
time.
The house and its patrons soon will surrender;
But the lessons they learned wi ever remain
To Hume the Old world In It's darkencl sur.
rnundngs
While its phantoms and phases enscn'ler
again.
Buckfield, Sept. 10, 1901.
GILBERT THToN.