The Republican journal., 1912-01-18

BY HART l.. WOODCOCk.
Aft who are familiar with the locality
nav that but one road runs through the
nonntry along the upper Kennebec. 1t
Uses through Bingham, Caratunk, and
p"' AZ, to The Forks, where it branches
~ sr! continues on through the wilder
r.s, TO Quebec.
There are several crossroads thlnly
,stIel. but the only pretense to an open
nopglous country is along the main stage
Unite. and even this is shut in by the for
~ an either side, and half mile to the
-,,5r or left takes one into the unbroken
nTterness.
Seyenty-five or more years ago many
attempts were made by the early settlers
N open up the country lying back from
n, river, but they proved mostly unsuc-
spssfu, so now all that is left to show
these places that were once the homes of
men are small fields, grown up to tan
rs Of weeds encircled by the ever en-
coaching forest; foundation stones
mmbled into diminutive cellars and a
few ancient apple trees, struggling for
pyjstpnce with younger and more Wig
orols growth of evergreens and hard
wood.
In Bingham, Maskow and Caratunk
recall many such: The Chase fields, Hill
feds, Gordon fields, Brooks place. Bas-
sci fields, and many others too numerous
10 mention. The roads leading to them,
never more than the very toughest of
vooa-ways, are grown up to bush and
hut loot paths remain, and these so in
iistnct that they can be followed only
by hose familiar with their direction,
h1, in the old day men and women lived
ir these secluded places, inhabiting rude
l5g cabins, kept their flocks, cultivated
pro uce for their support and raised fam
jTs-. eking out meager and in the end
Ar uusuccessful existence.
This is historic ground, as well. Carry
inc Place, on the Kennebec, the Carry
Ponds, lying several miles to the west,
arc rames given to mark incidents in the
rroEress of that Inflated expedition
against Quebec during the Revolution
IL. iy Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr.
both men Notwithstanding whatever
4s nay be said of them, who were able
an gallant officers, refined and polished
gentlemen.
sanding sentinel over all looms Bige-
low. FAMED after one of Arnold s officers,
who. on returning from its ascent, cheer
q. the spirits of the discouraged soldiery
BIZ clearing he had from its summit
s5en the Mecca of their desires-t the dis
tart eity of Quebec.
Hunting through this country one day,
nv guide and |, forcing our way through
the tangle of evergreens surrounding one
Of those old fields, came upon three little
graves. side by side, hidden away amid
ihe lamp and gloom of the forest. All
about the trees had grown to giant
heights, but nature was kind and had
not encroached too closely upon the
humble resting place.
Ta- wild denizens of the forest roam
I'll at will through the small opening;
deer tracks showed all about, and few
ris distant was wreck of poles lean
iag against big tree. They had for
merry sheltered bear trap.
Each tiny grave had headstone of
til smooth black slate in use so long
AZ small, only foot or so high, and
BEAUTIFULLY lettered in the quaint old CO.
l9nial style.
LUCETTA HILL
s months, 1912.
lie second was also lnSCrlD6Q.
LUCETTA HILL
2y.
This one was rudely cut, by the father
possibly, in imitation of the first. The
iasr rad simply head and foot stone
witt no inscription.
On the first little grave the mother, |
AT sure, had planted some ornamental
grasses which had struggled and lived
trough all these years and were now
icing up from among the fallen leaves.
PoG mother; poor babies-all dead and
:,.gotten, and the only things left to re-
m one of their existence are the tum-
b- and moss-covered foundation stones
r. teir deserted and vanished homes
a. these three little graves in the wild
Guess. Still, these people had their cares
en- lappiness, and have left behind
.m simple tales of their life and
TROUBLES, and it is of one of these am
f. r-ng.
We had carried" into Moxie lake
i Pleasant pond, nine miles think,
ats Ugh laden as We were with heavy
@ and fishing tackle it seemed much
.lsr.
lbs tedious way was over rough and
[Tet og-hauler road. This was in the
lays ong before the Somerset extension
la been pushed through this region.
You an go there now in Pullman. Ar
|ryug we took possession of an abandoned
0g aabin at Mosquito Narrows with the
Prospect of weeks fishing before us.
Barrer Spaulding was our guide, vet
eran hunter and trapper, and man who
had IN his day, doubtless trapped and
LlAei more bear than any other in Cara
Gnk
After supper, as we were all sitting
before an open fire in the big stone fire.
Pace, the conversation drifted to an in
G1ent of the morning.
4 small bear had killed a sheep during
tat night at the home farm. Just one
bite through the back had done the bust
ness, but the lamb following her had
been devoured, hide and hoof.
ne tracks of both bear and sheep told
loe story as clearly as though we had
oeen standing by. The sheep was caught
within twenty yards and the prodigious
IsprlHgs made by the bear to overtake
aer We're astonishing.
We always had no end er trouble
SI'h bears in our valley" said Spauld-
Mg,
The first old settlers couldn't do any,
ing couldn't keep no stock, nor moth
g ~ account of 'em.
T. Ever hear of Old Four Finger? No?
aL ne was round in these parts just
i4 back as / can remember. Jerusa-
en- but he was holy terror. Didn' It
9le Ut US dare leave er sheep out later'n
sltember. That old devil would come