Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-11-07

Mr.. Fernald. as he luXuriated in the
sunshine. and the breeZes from the
Iakc. 1T is the only place for man
10 live, | honestly believe. | think to-
day more than ever. the young mans
chance lies in the country. Many Il
boy is swallowed up in the city life,
who if he had remained at home, might
have become influential in his town, his
county and his state. If a man wants
10 get into politics. let him stick to the
country. too. Let him get into Grange
work; let him follow up his town af-
airs, and town meetings: from there
is but a step to the State Legislature
and then, his chances are limited only
by his ambitions. The country mem
bers of the Legislature are usually as
valuable as any members it has; and
John Doe of some small country towr.
often holds the balance of power. If
ne is capable and bright, he becomes
known to the state and can work for
his district in any line he wishes, when
n big city he is simply lost in the
crowd and never found. Give me the
country every time
Did you know that my people were
She first settlers of this town." con-
iinued Mr.. Fernald so early as the
.-car 1895 my erandfather's grandfath.
II. John Fernald. built for himself II
little homo right where these building :;
now stand. the first settler for miles
lround and the first in the town The
tmbers which made the Sils of that
house, are under the front room of this
one, too. That same year. the Kicker
boys great grandfather settled over
yonder where the Poland Spring House
now stands, and on. MeGquier Hill. the
third high hill in the township. my
Wife's forbears. the keenes. settled a
year later. So we have grown up with
The town. generation after generation.
always fast friends. When John Fer
nald died. his son Joseph continued
here. enlarged the house bit, cleared
more land. and in turn died, leaving
one son. my grandfather. Rev. James
lFernald.
Il expect my grandfather preached
more funeral sermons than any five
ministers in this state" mused he
He was living just across the street
here until a few years ago; and in my
memory never day passed that grand
sather was not called to of1ciatc at one
funeral or more. or at some wedding,
and sometimes be had two or three
such affairs in one day. Seemed to
have a special gift in that way. and
everybody wanted him to speak the
word Of comfort. or of cheer. Just up
the road here is the church where
grandfather preached for 40 years or
more. And say. there is an instance OF
the difference in living so years ago.
and now. T have heard grandfather
say tnat for the first 10 years he
preached here. his salary was $40 a
year. ana he got his own wood, pre-
rared his own fires, and was his own
church ianitor; and vet. grandfather
lived We'll; had a horse. and cows. and
~aised all his own produce. and l re-
member we'll when a kid. that visit to
grandfather, who lived then in this
house. was a treat for me beyond
everything. Such dinners as they had,
and such wholesome comforts They
enjoyed life then as well as we do now.
and perhaps better. They had every
thin; going, in those times: but there
was not much going, you see.
Why, ! remember when | was a
little shaver. one of our neighbors came
over here TO see us, one day, with d