Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-29
Green WOOD.

running again, and the ground looks
gresner on hill and plain; so thanks to
kind Nature that gave US the rain.
Another tramp of several miles into q
higher latitude, through North Wood.
stock, Milton, and part of Rumford,
caused US to gain some knowledge Of
divers things, q few of which may be
worth the time required to give them
away.
Our first call was on D. A. Coffin OF
Milton, and found both him and wife
growing old, be having lived beyond his
threescore years and ten, while his wife
is few years younger but totally blind
yet endures the great misfortune with
all the fortitude OF true Christian.
A half mile farther travel found US at
the residence OF Mrs. Addie Lapham,
who, more than 20 years ago was our
boarding mistress while at work there
for the Mann brothers. While there she
had occasion to speak of the Chase
family, with whom we were we'll &C.
quainted years ago, now living ut Alb.
bolts Mills, three miles farther on 10
Rumford; We started for the place re-
solved to sec the family once more, and
II not now perhaps never.
In due time the family was found, the
same In numbers a. years before, but
much larger In size, the young Mr..
Chase's daughter being then . year old
baby, and now charming young lady Of
sixteen.
Merrill Chase, the father and grand.
father OF this family, has spent nearly
bis whole life In building and running
Maine but also In Canada, and 10 several
western states. he 10 . man OF unc0m-
mon ingenuity, and among the coarse
and fine things OF art he showed rs, was
Q violin for which he had been offered
80, but refused to part with Il for any
price.
Merrill Chase and Elijah were twin
brothers, born 81 years ago, and We
first became acquainted with them 10
early boyhood when visiting their aunt,
Mrs. George Berry, who was our nearest
neighbor. On inquiring for the twin
brother We were Informed that he died
10 an insane asylum In Massachusetts,
FIVE years ago, the disease being caused
BY the softening OF the brain. Well
pleased with our call on the Chase fam
lily, We returned and stopped over night
with our former boarding mistress, Mrs.
Lapham, before mentioned.
And now . few words In regard to
that good, but hard fortuned woman
for such It was all the first part of her
life. For her first husband she married
q man whom we will call Mr.. Blank; and
after four children were born to them,
three sons and one daughter, the hus-
band became untrue and left her to her
own limited resources. About that time
one Of her little boys was drowned In a
stream running near by, and some years
later, after her daughter grew to woman
hood she married; and after four sops
were born to them she was called away
by death. Then she took the four little
boys to herself, acting the part OF .
mother until the father married again,
when be took three of them away, still
leaving one In her care.
Awhile after the youngest son mar
ried, and procuring rent of his mother,
set up housekeeping. A year or so
later . daughter was born and subse-
quently the mother died, thus giving
another child into the hands OF its
grandmother, where 1t remained until
the fathers second marriage.
About this time the father had q
severe attack Of typhoid and rheumatic
fever, but pulled through at last, be-
cause, a. the report went, his time
hadn't come to die.
After these events this woman of sor.
row married Francis Lapham, but soon
learned there was further trouble to en-
dure. She was obliged to 60 to the
hospital for treatment, which nearly
proved fatal, but finally recovered and.
like Ruth Of old, now enjoys passable
health, has good husband and 60 cd
homo.