The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-09-11
A LIFE OF EASE
HOLDS NO CHARMS
Milford, N. H., Man Who Has an In
come of $50 a Week Goes Back
to His Old Job.

w LILO O1o wv
MILFORD, n. H., Sept. 11.-After
60 years of hard work and little money, |
a life of ease and fine clothes holds no
charms for Henry Lewis of Milford. A |
legacy received some months ago pays
him an income said to be $50 a week.
But after a few weeks of idleness he is
back on his old job as a laborer, work
ing on the roads and cleaning the
streets for So day, and happy to be
working under foremen who receive less
than third of his income and envy his
riches.
Lewis is native of the town of
Lewis, New York state, and was the
son of well-to-do parents who gave
him good education in early life.
From boyhood horses have strongly
appealed to him, and at an early age
he left home to make his own way
without help from relatives. He is now
81 years old.
For many years he was a driver and
hostler for the Boston Ice company,
and later conducted a livery stable III
lGranitcville, Mass He worked in stables
! i'll Nashua and about 10 years ago came
( to Milford with his brother Fred. They
| have been well known characters here.
Henry often was without a cent, but
soon the tradesmen learned his ways
and never refused to trust him when he
was out of funds. He could never save
money, but he always managed to pay
every bin he owed.
A peculiarly happy disposition made
him "a faNopitn with and old II
always has a jest and a CHEEKY word
for everybody, and everybody likes
him.
Years ago the last vestige of hair
disappeared from his head, which
caused him to be known as ''Baldy''
and Buckskin.'' The latter was soon
contracted to BUCK and it is as
I"Ol' Buck that he is known to every
man and boy in Milford
Last spring an aunt in New York
died, and in her will was a legacy the
income from which was bequeathed to
Buck during his life. Many reports
were current on the size of the fund,
but it is doubtless close to $4,000.
With this income Lewis decided to
travel, and this summer he has visited
many towns in New York state for
merly familiar to him, and took long
trip through Canada. \ short while
ago he returned to Milford and asked
for his old job with the street depart
ment.
When asked about his trip he said:
No, sir, Old Buck would rather work
than loaf. / We worked hard all my life
and reckon | can do a good day vet.
!, can t wear good clothes-iust can t fee
comfortable in EN-. Up in Canada they
was a-watchin me all the time. Thought
| a tough chap like me with a lot OF
, money must be spy, | reckon. So Y,
come hong and gone to work again
| We got to work. Yes, | had q gooo
time, but j ii rather be here where folk,
know me. What good is money to Ol(
! Buck! All m good for is to work, bu
| like to read the papers,
r tie IS thorough patriot. When thcr,
r was war in Cuba and the Philippine
e he enlisted, but drew q regiment whicl
) never got into active service. Th
summer he tried hard to enlist in tn
: army for service Ill Mexico, but was re
2 fused because of his age.
o Buck doesn t let his money worr,
: him. 1t is tied UP so he is in no DANCE
t Of losing the principal and the interes
Q is paid to him through a relative i
4 Aver, Mass. People in this section ar
n all glad of Buck S good fortune, and i
5 there is a touch Of irony in the situatio
a it is that so much money should come t
c one whose happiness is so completely il
dependent of worldly possessions.