Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-08-09
ROCKINGHAM IN 1916.
ThereWas a Frost Every Month In the
Year and Snow Fell In June-Mr. Bel
lows and His Corn.

ThereWss a Frost Every Month In the
Year and Snow Fell In June-Mr. Bel
lows and His Corn
In Rockingham. the same as through
all New England, the year 1916 was an
extremely cold season. There was frost
every month in the year. Snow fell to
some depth in the month Of June and
severe frosts cut down the growing corn
and other crops.
The result OF this was that this whole
vicinity suffered many hardships from
failure Of the crops, and 1t was generally
known as the cold year OF poverty
year" Breadstuns commanded almost
prohibitive prices throughout the town.
and most OF the farmers lost even their
seed for the succeeding season.
Among the few farmers in New Eng
land who had a good crop Of corn that
year was Squire" Thomas Bellows Of
Walpole son Of benjamin Bellows. the
second settler in that town. He owned
and lived on the place now owned by
Copley Amory. two miles south OF Bel
lows Falls. that was EARLIER the home Of
his father He had more corn and other
produce than he needed for his own use.
and what he had to spare he sold in
small quantities at the same price as in
years Of plenty. TO such men as needed
Ii for their families In many instances
he accepted labor Of the purchaser in
place OF the cash which the purchaser
often could not command.
One day a Spectator called on Mr.
Bellows to inquire his price for corn He
was much surprised TO learn that Il was
no more than in years Of plenty. and he
quickly said he would take all that Mir
Bellows had to spare. You cannot
have it," said the worthy citizen, If you
want a bushel for your family. you can
have 1t al my price but no man can buy
70 n Of
city"
Some years later this interesting incl
dent was put into the following verses BY
the late George p. Bartlett.
The Old Squire.
In the time Of the sorrowful famine wear.
Wien crops were scanty and bread was
dear.
The good old squire's fertile and sheltered
farm
In the valley nestled secure from harm.
For the walpole hills in their rugged
might
softened the chill. winds deathly blight.
So the sweet connecticuts peaceful
Reflected the harvests golden CLEAN.
And the buyers gathered With eager greed
/ To speculate on the poor mans need.
But the good Squire said. 1t Is all In
vain.
No one with money can buy my grain.
I But ne who is hungry may come and take
An ample store for the giver's sake"
/ The good old man to his rest has gone.
But his fame still remains in the golden
corn.
I For every year in its ripening grain
/ The grand old story was told again
/ or him whose treasure was laid away.
For the banks that sevenfold interest pay
For to feed the hungry and clothe the
poor
Is a speculation that's always sure.
/ The Squire" as he was usually called.
was notiCeably peculiar in his WAYS in
some respects. He had an inirmty Of
speech. which sometimes produced a lu-
dicrous smile on the face Of the stranger.
but to an acquaintance II was Of little
moment. One time a stranger asked the
distance TO Charlestown. when Mr. Bel
loWss peculiar nervous utterance pre-
vented n distinct and ready answer. and
in his impotence he blurted out: Go
long, you'll get there fore l can tell We.
He had n wonderful memory Of date
and OF personal history. He could re-
member every public house at which he
lever stopped. where II was. and the
landlords name. II a stranger entered
the church where he habitually attended.
he was impatient till he knew his name
and whence he came. SO, too. II per-
son moved into town. He had a habit OF
counting the numbers OF those that were
at church on Sunday, and in so doing he
would move his foreinger slightly as he
[ counted. and at the same time gently
move his lips, and II any family or any
member Of II was absent he knew it, An
absence from church by any person or
any family whose attendance was usual
~ constant, was followed by the inquiry
/ whether such an one was sick or well
Left with a handsome fortune he was
content 10 enjoy its income in part. and
leave 1t 70 his children unimpaired. with
a moderate addition. In his dealings
with the world he was proverbially hon
est; sometimes. it was thought overstep-
ping the Golden Rule by doing better by
others than he wished others to do by
him. He lived a long and blameless life
being in his S6th year when he died.