Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-11-14

IN the ordinary course Of events have
retired to enjoy comfortable old age.
But his wife died shortly after the
daughters marriage to Boston man,
nnd Oh voyage to Manila Baxter him.
self suffered from u sunstrOke and q
subsequent fever that left him phys
ical wreck and for time threatened
to unsettle his reason. He recovered
portion Of his health, and the threat
ened insanity disappeared except for q
religious fanaticism that caused him
to accept the Bible literally and to in
terpret it accordingly. When his daugh-
ter and her husband were drowned In
the terrible City Of Belfast disaster 1t
Is an Orham tradition that John Bax.
ter, dressed In gunny bags and sitting
ON an ash heap was found by his
friends mourning In what he believed
to be the Biblical 'sackcloth and
ashes" His little baby granddaughter
had been looked out for by some kind
friends in Boston. Only Captain Fri
knew that John Baxter's yearly trip to
Boston was made for the purpose OF
visiting the girl who was his sole re-
minder Of the things that might have
been, but even the captain did not
know that the money that paid her
board and as she grew older for bel
GOWNS and schooling came from the
bigoted, stern old hermit living alona
In tie old house at Orham.
In Orham and in other sections OF the
Cane as we'll there Is sect called by
The ungodly the "Come Cutters" They
were originally seceders from the Meth
odist churches who disapproved or
modern innovations. They 'cOme out
once week to meet ut the houses or
the members. and theirs are livery
meetings. John Baxter was Come
OUTER" and ever since the entcrprlslng
Mr.. Saunders opened his billiard room
the old mans TRADES of righteous
wrath had been directed against this
den of iniquity. Since 1t became
known that Web had made application
for the license it was n regular amuse-
ment for the unregenerat" to attend
the gatherings of the Come Cutters
and hear John Baxter call down fire
from heaven upon the billiard room,
its proprietor and its patrons. Orham
people had begun to say that John
Baxter was "billiard saloon crazy"
And John Baxter was Captain Erfs
friend, friendship that had begun in
school when the declaimer Of Patrick
Henry's "libcrty or death" speech on
examination day took a fancy to and
refused to laugh at the little chap who
tremblingly ventured to assert that he
loved "little pussy, her coat Is so
warm" The two had changed places
until now it was Captain Fri who pro-
tected and advised.
When the captain raped Mt John
Baxter's kitchen door no one answered.
and after yelling "Ship ahoy" through
the keyhole a number Of times he was
forced to the conclusion that his friend
was not at home.
"You lookin' fer Cap'n BaxterT
oueried Mrs. Sarah Taylor, who lived
lust across the road. "He's gone to
Come Cutters" meetin', l guess.
There's one up to Barzilla Smalps to-
night"
Mr.. Barzilla Small lived in that part
of the village called "down to the
neck" and when the captain arrived
there he found the parlor filed with
the devout, who were somewhat sur
prised to see him.
"Why, Err" whispered John Baxter,
II didn't expect to see you here. I'm
glad, though. Lord knows, every God
fearin' man In this town has need to be
on his knees this night. Have you
heard about IT."
"Cap'n John means about the rum
sellin' license that Web Saunders has
got" volunteered Miss Melissa Bus
teed, leaning over from her seat In the
patent rocker that had been the pre-
MUM earned by Mrs. Small for selling
$50 pounds of tea for much adver-
tised house. "Ain't 1t awful? says to
Prissy Baker this mornin' soon 9 l
heard of 1t, 'Prissy,' q I, therell be q
Judgment on this town sure's you're a
livin' woman 8 l. Says she, That's
so, Missy g. she, and ] says
Well, when Miss Busteed talks inter-
ruptlons are futile, so Captain Eri sat
silent as the comments Of at least one
tenth Of the population Of Orham were
poured into his ears. The recitation
was cut short by Mrs. Smalrs vigorous
pounding on the center table.
"We're blessed this evenin'," said the
hostess, with emotion, ''in havin' MIR.
Perley with N. He's goin' to lead the
meetln'."
The Rev. Mr.. Perley-reverend bV
courtesy; he had never been ordained
stood up, cleared bis throat With vigor,