Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-08-30
My Hebron Visit and It's Sad Ending.

MY Hebron Visit and Its Sad Ending
(Copcluded.)
A lady reader wishes to know II i
isn't about time to finish my Hebron
visit story; I answer in the affirmative
:, and apologize on the ground that 1t II
i difficult to do two things at the same
time. But having little leisure to-da.
= will try to finish up. Unlike loca
matter it has not grown stale by keep
8 ing over.
There are only few more persons tc
mention, the first and oldest being Rev
A. Z. P. Small, whom I had not seer
before since he held a pastOrate in
Buckfield away back in the fifties. The
last time l heard him preach was al
East Sumner, from the text: "If forget
thee, o Jerusalem, let my right hand
forget her cunning. If do not remem
Der thee, let my tongue cleave to the
roof of my mouth; if prefer not Jeru
salem above my chief JOY" His SER
mon was fine and especially adapted to
the fifteen converts whom he baptized
through the ice on that day. Not long
previous to that | heard him preach a
funeral sermon on very sad occasion
which may be described at some other
time.
l had an introduction to George D.
Bisbee of Rumford Falls, but native of
Hartford, and whom l had not seen be-
fore since his boyhood. He had no
idea that we were relatives until inform.
ed that my mother was Mollie Bisbee,
and sister to his grandfather.
George D. Bisbee's father, Washington
Bisbee, had twin brother, Jefferson,
whom he resembled so closely that
people used to say, by way of joke,
that they would sometimes get mixed
so that the only way they could tel
which from the other was by measure
ment, one being fraction of an inch
taller than the other. 1t is a we'll
known fact that the Bisbees are con-
sumptive race of people; but judging
from the size of the vest that George d.
wears l am inclined to think he will
never be obliged to 60 to the Greenwood
Hill sanatorium.
A very interesting person, partly on
account of his nationality, was Nicholas
Georgieff Katsounoff, of Sophia, Bull
garia. He stood at least six feet in
height, dark complexion and face
shaved to heavy moustache; to use the
words of another, in speaking of Wash
ington, "He must have been cast in
natures finest mold" He was gradu
ate, and his original subject of remarks
was entitled, with the World Before
U.s." and not student in the large
class did better than he.
1t so happened that when the exer-
cises closed and the students left the
house. was occupying Settee near bv;
and as he came along | said to him,
give me your hand, brother; you was the
only one of the class who spoke so
plainly that | heard and understood
every word of the subject. Thank you
for the compliment, said he, his face
lighting up with smile as he extended
his hand and passed on.
A man who sat near by told me that
when that student came there four years
ago, he knew hardly a word of the
English language, and that he was pre-
pairing himself for missionary work in
his own country. The principal spoke
of him as fine Christian gentleman.
During the week gentleman invited
me into his house, and while there he
showed me collection of old things,
some of which were highly interesting
on account of their antiquity: among
the rest an earthen bowl of about two
quarts capacity, made in Scotland and
came to this country in the Mayflower
in 1920. 1t was well preserved for an
article of that age, its original color
being white within and blue flowers on
the outside.
He also showed me sword which |
was picked up on Bunker Hill after the |
battle. 1t was nearly three feet in
length and Judging from its weight one
would say it was made for business.
The last person of whom will speak, |
but by no means the least, before leaving |
Hebron. is Professor w. f. Sargent, |
principal of the academy. He has
been there nineteen years and but very |
few persons have any idea of what has |
been accomplished since coming there.
During centennial week came in
contact with some of the students nearly |
every day, often heard them speak OF
their teacher in terms of praise, but
never otherwise; and not word did |
hear while in the place but what was
suitable to be heard in the most refined
company.
was introduced to Professor Sargent
soon after the Sunday meeting; when
learning that was student there near
" half a century ago, and had come
with the intention of stopping through
the celebration, he at once took a
special interest in my case, assuring me
that ample provision had been made
for all, and a committee chosen to look
after the welfare of every visitor. That
assurance caused me to feel quite at
home: and the treatment received not
only there but wherever | visited, was
always first class. And now good, bye,
classic Hebron, for the present at least,
and perhaps forever. /
There was mistake in the title OF
these hasty sketches; the four last words
there should have been omitted; and
even now am half inclined to excuse
myself from writing further incidents.
But probably there are those who |
would wish to know where the sad end
ing comes in, and so will explain the
fact very briefly.
Reaching West Paris Friday night on
my way home / learned that Arthur
Mann of that place was very i'll and no |
prospect of recovery. The next morn |
ing the news came that he was dead,
and that the funeral would occur the |
next Monday afternoon; and having
been acquainted with him when working
in Milton years previous, | resolved to
stop over and be present at the exercises.
This did and was filled with sadness
when looking upon the remains of that
young man, recently married and set
tied down in business, his future pros
pect unclouded and he an ornament in
the society in which he lived. In view
of these facts it was no wonder if the
question why would occasionally OBJ
trude itself, and the tears as often dim
my eyes on my way home.
Perhaps | ought to apologize for ex-
tending these sketches to such length;
but the fact is there was two or three
times as much material to work up as