The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-04-14
AID CANAAN DURING
THE REVOLUTION
Coming of Civilization
to Old Somerset
pauer Read Before State Council,
ID. A. Z.

rhe sparkling river ieaping,
Goes singing. laughing down.
Now over great rocks dashing
II sends up clouds of spray;
Its banks now softly FLASHING,
1t takes its quiet way
on either side great boulders
Gloom down upon the, stream,
And here without beholders,
The peaceful flowers dream.
Above the silver voices
OF streams that join its own,
The rivers song reJolees,
In glad, exultant tone.
The musk-rat makes a, splashing
Along the muddy bank
The tiny bubbles flashing
Are showing where he sank
The forests lean and listen
Above the waters clear.
Where stars at evening glisten,
And stoops the thirsty deer.
ripple on the river
Tells where the fishes leap;
I1pon the waves, culver
Stirs when the breezes sweep.
Full many and many an island
Lies bosomed in the tide,
While level plain and highland
Sweep back from either side.
And here and there a village
Stands by the rivers DrlnK,
And here are fields for tillage,
And there the cattle drink.
Now busy cities swarming
With busy multftudeS,
Their wonders are performing,
Where once were solitudes.
And ships serenely sailing
Are coming up the bay,
The messengers unfailing
From cities far away.
And many and many story
The river tells the sea.
OF sorrow and of glory,
Which was and still shall be.
Let us draw near and harken
To all 1t tells today
AS waves that CLEAN and darken
Go hurrying on their way.
Lsten!--You may hear today tn
music of Skowhegan falls, the sam
music that accompanied the shiftin
scenes of the panorama of changin
history at the beginnings of things
the coming of the van-guards of civi
lization to the solitudes OF old SomeI
set.
The earthquake that shakes dow
the bricks from your chimney, ma
have swallowed up cities elsewher
and the greatest events which hav
transpred in the worlds history hav
been factors also in the lives of tn
little hamlets far removed from tn
scene of action. The company c
Pilgrims who came over in the May
fower-bringing free thought, an
quantities of antique furniture to tn
new world-had something to do wit
the conquest of Canaan in the wilder
ness of Maine To William Bradfor
and associates was granted tract {
land fifteen miles wide on either sid
of the Kennebec, from the north lin
of Woolwich to a point leagu
north of the Wesserrunsett river, |
the present town of Cornville. TRAD
ing posts we're established at POI
ham, Cushnoc (Augusta), and TicoT
net, (Waterville); Fort Western an
Halifax were built and the tide {
emigration set slowly up the Kenne
bee.
Net far above the Skowhegan fall
at Old Point, was. the most seriou
obstacle to the advancing tide {
English colonization, old Norridge
wock, the Indian village ruled owe
by Jesuit priest. We have no tim
for discussing rights and wrongs c
Frenchman, Indian or Englishman-
we have no need to tell the story-th
river tells it still, over and over
Once I flowed on untroubled
Save by the light canoe,
In whose wake foamed and dubbed
My waters brightly blue.
But by and by the spoiler
Laid many a forest low
Before the earnest toiler,
My idle red men go.
First here and there a clearing
Was scattered in the wood;
Rude fortresses appearing,
For their defenses stood
Soon notes of strife came floating.
Across my shining tide,
While deeds of horror noting,
Seward in fear / glide.
And once where waters falling
Wake music in the rock.
I heard death songs appalling
From burning Norridgewock.
Continued on Page Five.)
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