Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-01-08
Johns Letter.

In "Gllmpses OF English Poverty"
Hawthorne has this to say: sit might
almost make man doubt the existence
of his own soul, to observe how Nature
has flung these little wretches into the
street and left them there, 30 evidently
regarding them as nothing worth, and
how all mankind acquiesce In the great
mothers estimate Of her offspring. For
| II they are to have no Immortality, what
superior claim can l assert for miner
And how difficult to believe that any.
thing 30 precious as germ OF immortal
growth can have been buried under this
dirt heap, plunged into this cesspool OF
misery and vice! As often as beheld
the scene, it affected me with surprise
and loathsome interest, much resembling,
though in far intenser degree, the feel.
ing with which, when boy, used to
turn over q plank or log that had
long lain on the damp ground, and fonnd
vicious multitude of unclean and devil.
Iish-looking insects scampering to and
fro beneath it. Without an infinite
faith, there seemed as much prospect OF
a blessed futurity for those hideous
bugs and many footed worms as for these
brethren of our humanity and co.heirs OF
all our heavenly Inheritance. All, what
a mystery! Slowly, slowly, as often
cropping at the bottom of deep,
noisome, stagnant pool, my hope strug-
giles upward to the surface, bearing the
half-drowned body of child along with
1t, and heaving it aloft for its life, and
my own life, and all our lives. Unless
these slime clogged nostrils can be made
capable of inhaling celestial air, l know
not how the purest and most intellectual
of us can reasonably expect to taste a
breath of it. The whole question of
eternity is staked there. II single one
of those helpless little ones be lost, the
world is lost"
If any one fancies that he can utter
such sentiments in more graphic style
let him try-and fail.
| The fruit that was shaken down for US
from that little Christmas tree Is book
of addresses by Prof. Henry Drummond
It might as we'll be called sermons. II
is packed full of apothegms. He is 9
wonder. The chime bells in his dome
ring sweet and clear and sweep the
whole horizon round.
We have to thank Mrs. A. <. M. for 9
fine view on a postal card of the andre
scoggin River near Bethel Hill. We
looked upon it in nature years ago. Nc
one need feel so very bad to drown IT
such water and with such surroundings
We also have to thank cousin N. E. R
for the same of Main Street, Phillips
That, too, has familiar look with it!
background of the everlasting hills, al
though we have not looked upon it sine;
forty years ago. Memory is goot
thing to have lying around loose. i
would be much nicer thing II it would
have the grace to wink out o.
sight the unpleasant transactions Of th'
past. But they will pop up unbidder
sometimes, like Banquo's ghost.
Mrs. Fl. Davee is afflicted just now
with severe neuralgia pains, pains t
which we have been stranger. NJ
doubt there is family resemblance IL
all the pains that afflict mankind, from
blessings to belly-ache. AS counter
irritant blessings may relieve the collie
by diverting the mind into new chan
mel. Outward pain may soothe an in
ward pang, or it may not. 1t shall be
just as you say. If the pains OF dissolu
ton are more severe than some that WI
have known, we are not specially anxious
to be dissolved.
We hear that Mrs. Moses Brown Il
very low, and that Miss Laura Dean is il
a critical condition. Mr.. Tilton ha!
taken to his bed-passing out with the
Embarrassing the bar. Sometimes i
seems that it is ebb-tide with the mos
of those we know and have known il
the years gone by-and how many. alas
have crossed the bar and are hidden in
the low-broodIng mist on shoreles
sea. And yet perhaps the word alas ha
no rightful place in that connection.
| JOHN,