Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-03-29
COAST LEGENDS.
Some Interesting Tales Of the
Maine Coast.
A Good Story Of Uncle Theodore
Trafton.
Saint Aspinquid Of York-Lesend OF
Old Trickey.

preserving, not only because OF thel
connection with its early history, bu
because they give an insight into tn
character and temperament of the peo
pie among whom they have beel
evolved and by whom they have beel
perpetuated, says a writer in tn
New York Post
The topography of n locality eXer
cises a strong influence on the menta
as well as the physical characteristic:
of a people, and those living in noun
tain fastncsscS or on the shores of the
sea possess certain qualities that cor
respond to the physical features o
their environment. The mountaineer
for instance is taciturn, sombre, stead
fast, imbibing something from the
rugged strength of his surroundings
while sailors and fishermen are nat
urally superstitious. believing in signs
auguries, ghosts. and dreams. This is
perhaps merely a manifestation of the
human instinct to rely upon occult OF
spiritual agencies to protect them from
the relentless forces of nature.
This inherent superstition is found
to some degree even among the most
practical, matter Of-fact coast dwell
ers, and when it is joined to austerity
creates most interesting personality
The writer spent the greater part OF
a several months visit in the vicinity
Of some old scacoast towns in Maine
digging up the traditions and legends
of the surrounding country, and was
surprised to find what a large part an
unconscious belief in psychical phe-
Al, IN, hn ,f ba;
FOLKLORE tales.
our party had engaged board at a
place known as Dobson's Farm, to
which we were lured by certain delu-
sions concerning New England farm
life and the protestations of our host,
who. set forth the attractions of his
place with more eloquence than veraci-
ty. 80
The most. conspicuous features of
Dobson's Farm Were its barn and it's
burying ground. Perhaps the pomp of
pride in worldly possessions, as shown
in the display of the ever-obtruding
barn, finds a balance in the spectral re-
minders of mans mortality that are so
often placed before the front door of
the dwelling house on New England
perform the same service as the Off
cial who in~former ages stood behind
the chair of the Persian monarch and
whispered in his ear from time to time:
20 King, thou art Mortal"
New it Happened that my bedroom
windows looked out upon the white
headstones of several departed genera
tions of DobsOns. three females in the
family having KILLED themselves, being
mani acts" our landlords daughter in
formed us with n touch of pride. These
depressing details SO wrought upon our
minds that we We're oVerjOyed one day
to learn that one of the local celebrities
known as Uncle Theodore Trafton''
and held in great repute as raconteur
had elected to visit the city boarders
from Boston, to relate some of his
"reminiscences.
1t was on Sunday that Uncle Theo-
dore presented himself. After a few
preliminary remarks of a religious ma
ture suitable to the day, he asked us
if we would like to hear him sing. On
being assured of the pleasure that such
n form of entertainment would afford
us. he chanted a number of funeral
hymns in a high. cracked voice that
showed traces of having once been
clear and sweet. but was now much the
worse for wear.
"Ain't that edifying, now?'' he asked
as he finished the sixth stanZa of n
very mournful ditty.
That's suitable to the old lady," he
remarked amiably, referring to our
chaperon.
But now I'll sing a song better suit
ed to your understanding; not but what
it's got a sound moral in the end, else
l should not sing it to you on the Lord s
day, being professor and not wishing
to set bad example to the young"
After this prologue, Mr.. Trafton
crooned a ballad relating at great
length to the wreck of the Isidore, a
gallant little bark that set out from
Ogunquit Harbor on November Is,
1912. and went down in a sudden gale
with every soul on board. This an
cient ditty set forth the dangers of the
great deep in thrilling fashion, and
wound up with a warning to the frivo-
lous and unregenerate.
"Uncle Theodore" rendered with
great feeling the couplet concerning the
crew
"Who had met their fate
And God had sealed their future state. '
The old man laid great emphasis up
on the woful condition of the
Dear children who were orphans made.
and finally the pious lines beginning:
May God protect them with his hand,
And bring them to the Promised Land
How much of the original compost
ton our troubadour had given us it is
impossible to say. but as the effusion OF
| local poet it held certain interest
Now, I'll tell you strange thing
about that craft and crew. continued
the old man, his tongue loosened by the
oil of applause.
The lsidore she was laying here in
/ the harbor for some little time, and the
/ cap'en he was all ready for to start
| when the mate-as well as I can re-
member. it was the mate-come to him
and says:
| Cap'en. you will have to get an
: other man in my place for this trip, for
! l amt a-going.'
! Amt a-going, says the Cap'en
What ails your
! Nothin' ails me in particIar,' said
the mate, but, Cap'en. I've had a
, mighty queer dream about the bark
( and all hands. and / am a-going tc
/! throw up the job
! Well says the Cap'en, I never took