Year: 1859

after. Though this may be called extor /
ton, it was a solitary instance Of the
kind; all were friendly and ready to as
sist me in my known distress, as far as
they had ability. An uncommon degree
of sympathy pervaded all the new set
tiers, and believe this man heartily re-
pented the act, for he was by no means
INDECENT, and was many times reminded
of it by way of reproof.


My scanty supply of bread-corn made
it necessary to improve the first fruits of
harvest at Lake Champlain, to alleviate
oar distress, it being earlier than with
US. Accordingly, on the last days of
July or first of August, l took my sickle,
and set out for the Lake, a distance of
better than forty miles. When I had
got there, l found their grain was not
ripe enough to begin upon but was in
formed that on the Grand-Isle they had
began their harvest. I was determined
TO go on, but had nothing to pay my pas
sage. l finally hired man to carry me
over from Georgia for the small COM
pensation of a case and two lances that


l happened to have with me-; but when


| had got on to the Island, I found was
still too early. There was no grain ripe
here, but I found the most forward |
could, plead my necessity, and stayed by
the till l got one and half bushel of
wheat, and worked for him to pay for it
it was quite green dried it and set


out for home; but my haste to get back
prevented my drying sufficiently. l
found boat bound for Mansfeld's mills.


on the river Lamoille, and got my grain


on board, and had it brought there free
from expense. | got it ground or rather


mashed, for it was too damp to make


meal. | here hired my meal carried on


to Cambridge borough for my sickle, and


there got it ground the second time, but


it was still far from good meal From
| the Borough | was so fortunate as to get
/ it home On horse. l was fortnight


on this tour. My wife was fearful some


accident had happened, and sent man


in pursuit of me, who met me on my


way home. I left my family without


bread or meal, and was welcomed home


with tears; my wife baked cake, and


my children again tasted bread.


/ had the good fortune TO buy on trust,


the winter after I lost my corn, of man


in Cambridge, twenty-four miles from


home, twelve bushels of corn, and one


of wheat. This, by the assistance of


some kind friends, l got to Esq. Nc
Daniels. | also procured by digging on


shares in Hydepark, twelve or thirteen


bushels of potatoes. This grain and


potatoes / carried eight miles on my


back. Ny common practice was one


half bushel Of meal, and one half bushel


of potatoes at load.


The singular incidents took place in


getting this grain on, though tedious to


mention, may be worthy of notice. Soon
after l set out from home, sometime in


the month of March it began to rain,
and was very rainy day and night. The
Lamoille was raised-the ice became


rotten and dangerous erossing-many o.
the small streams were broken up. The
man of whom purchased the grain wa;


so good as to take his team and carry
, it to the mill. The owner of the mil
asked me how l Iexpected to get my mea
, home. answered him as the case real


ly was, that knew not. The feelin,
: man then offered me his oxen and slet
: to carry it to the Park, and thankful,
? accepted his kind offer. He then turned
+ to the miller. and directed to grind N,
grist.toll free. While at the mill MAJ
: requested me to bring half hogshea,


tub on my sled up to johnson. By per
= mission of the owner of the oxen, b
n put the tub on the sled, and it was
i Providential circumstance for when
4 came 10 Brewster's branch, wild stream
o | found it broken up, run rapid and deer
t At first | was perpIexed what to 90. T
+ go across with my bags on tine sic
r. would ruin my meal; / soon thought c
!. the tub; this held about half Of my bag
il the other half I left on the shore, an
d proceeded into the branch and crosse
-, with safety. Though / was wet nearI
st to my middle, anloaded the tub and re
J. turned into the branch, holding the to
% on the sled, but the stream was so rapis
1t the tub being empty, that in spite of a
h nay exertions | was washed off the sic
J. and carried down the stream, holding O
], to the tub, for this I knew was my onl
n alternative to get across my load.
n length | succeeded in getting the tHb !
At the shore, though / was washed dos