Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-07-15
A LIFE STORY.
With Enough of Truth to be RecoS-
ni1ad hy Those Who Knew Joe.

nized by Those Who knew Joe.
(By A. 7. MilIiken, SurryD
Joe Cottle was born in Maine, the
middle of the last century. HIS
father, Luther Cottle, was an honest,
industrious, but poor man; in fact,
so poor that for several years the
town in which they lived was obliged
TO assist in their support. Joe's
mother was industrious and prudent,
too, but, somehow, luck was always
against the Cottle family
The Cottle family lived on a small
farm near a village. The house in
which they lived was of the old
fashioned style built a century be-
fore. The buildings were in dilapi-
dated condition. No repairs had
been made on them for a generation.
Several panes of glass had been
broken out, and in their place had
been stuffed old hats and meal bags.
The front yard was streWn with old
carts, sleds, moving machines, hay
racks-everything that could be
dumped there easier than anywhere
else.
The Cottles kept one COW, a flock
of hens and beast they called a
horse. This beast was older than
its owner. This animal would stand
for hours at a time with dropping
head. as if absorbed in deep
thought He was thin; his ribs you
could count as you can the rounds IN
hay rack. But, after all, this
horse was useful. Luther Cottle dug
and peddled clans
Often Joe, nine or ten years old,
accompanied his father on these
clam-peddling trips. In this way
| the boy learned something OF human
nature-learned that people are
greater study than books, Peddling
| is the quickest way for one to learn
| human nature.
When seven years old, Joe began
| attending school. He was shabby
dressed. The clothes he wore had
been made over as many as hve
times. The boy was dull in school.
| The teacher took but little interest
| in this dirty-faced, thinly-clad boy.
She was more interested in the chill
dren whose fathers had money or in
| nuence The other children, as we'll
as the teacher, made fun OF Joe.
Strange, the ones who are made fun
of always turn out the best in the
end One of the girls who made fun
of Joe married him later. This often
happens.
When thirteen, Joe left school.
When fourteen, he made his first
trip to the Grand Banks fishing. It's
hap II hD lie
nearly six months he never saw land.
He learned something of the rough
life of those iron men who brave the
storm and wave of the sea. Winters
the boy remained at home and
chopped wood. Chopping wood and
digging CLAIMS are considered two
of the meanest occupations. | don't
know why it isn't Just as honorable
to chop wood as it is to sell calico
in a store.
Winter in the village was the time
of the greatest social activities
Every evening some social or party
(kissng parties they were called
was held Joe Cottle was never in
vited. The parents of these village
girls warned them no. to associate
with the Cottle boy.
Time went on, and Joe COttle be
game a man The winter he was
twenty-five, the news came that an
uncle in Australia had died and left
Joe Cottle $4,000. This news ere
ated a great deal Of excitement
among the village folks. Think of
$4,000, Why, when Capt. Colt died
he only left $1,000, For weeks the
people talked about this fortune and
nothing else.
The first thing Joe did was to re-
imburse the town for every dollar it
had spent in assisting his father
years before Then he purchased the
finest home in the village for his
father and mother Everything was
done for their comfort. Joseph
Cottle," people began to call him.
He was invited to all the parties,
dances and socials in town. The viii
lage girls, even the village belle, now
sought his company. The parents,
who a few weeks before had forbid
den their daughters from associating
with Joe Cottle," now advised them
that Joseph Cottle" would be a
good catch" The best people in
town began calling on the Cottles.
The minister invited them to church
Joe went. When the contribution
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