Thrilling Adventiir 
 
 and 
 
 Darind Deeds 
 
Class ^£^2^ 
 
 Book_K±tllSL 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
MiLO A. Everest. 
 
THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 AND 
 
 DARI NG DEEDS 
 
 OF 
 
 Lieut. Benjamin Everest 
 AND Others 
 
 //{.-c 
 
 Favorite Poems, Spirited and Inspiring 
 FOR THE Home and Fireside 
 
 ROXBURGHE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 Boston, Mass. 
 

 LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
 Two Copies Weceived 
 
 DEC 16 i904 
 
 Oopyn^iix t-ritry 
 I CUSS <a^ XXc ?io{ i 
 
 COWY B. 
 
 |;^-.,s3-L 
 
 COPYRIGHT BY 
 
 Milo A.Everest 
 
 Everett, Mass. 
 
 1904- 
 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 ■♦♦♦♦♦ 
 
 Whenever a new publication is presented to 
 the public, it is very common for the author to 
 make some excuses by the way of introduction; 
 and when a new author issues a book, the gen- 
 eral inquiry is. Who is this author and where 
 does he hail from? Such information may be 
 found on page 200 — 
 
 There were brave and noble men in the early 
 history of this the-American Republic, whose 
 THRILLING ADVENTURES will be cherished by the 
 true and the fearless, and their history will pass 
 down from one generation to another. 
 
 The DARING DEEDS of Lieut. BENJAMIN 
 EVEREST-and others, as related in this little 
 book, are not fictitious or imaginary, but authen- 
 tic, and took place when America had need of 
 the bravest and ablest men and women on earth 
 in order to secure their liberty and maintain 
 their independence. 
 
 True honor, and wisdom, have maintained this 
 REPUBLic-until she can now, and hereafter be 
 properly called-THE star of the world. 
 
THEILLma ADVENTUEES 
 AND 
 
 DARING DEEDS. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ » ■ 
 
 Lieutenant Benjamin Everest and his brother 
 Joseph were born in Salisbury Conn. , and moved 
 with their father Benjamin to Addison Vt., in 
 1768. Three years before this their brother Zad- 
 ock, who was born in Shay brook Conn., moved 
 to Addison; became one of the first settlers, and 
 was the first appointed court judge in Addison 
 County . His dwelling was made for a time the 
 court-house and jail. 
 
 His Brother Benjamin was well known, and 
 noted when a young man for his power and act- 
 ivity in all athletic exercises. 
 
 There was not one in all the settlement that 
 
 could RUN, JUMP, OR WRESTLE WITH HIM. 
 
 With a heart that never knew the sensation of 
 fear, and a frame capable of enduring any hard- 
 ship he was by nature well fitted to take part in 
 those early and troublesome times. 
 
 In August 1Y73 when Allen, Warner and 
 
2 THRILLING ADVENTUEES 
 
 Baker came up to help the settlers drive off 
 Col. Eeid and his Yorkers from their position at 
 Vergennes, Everest with his brother Zadock and 
 other neighbors joined them . 
 
 After having torn down the mills, burned the 
 dwellings, and destroyd the settlement, being all 
 ready to return, Allen made such an impression 
 on Benjamin, their spirits were so much in un- 
 ison, that he wished to go with Allen as more 
 trouble with the Yorkers was expected . 
 
 Allen was glad of his service and soon gave 
 him a sergeants warrant in hand. From that 
 time until the opening of the Revolution, Ever- 
 est was with Allen more or less . 
 
 On receipt of intelligence of the battle of Lex- 
 ington, Everest immediately reported to CoL 
 Allen's headquarters, where he received a Lieu- 
 tenant's commission, which was afterwards con- 
 firmed. 
 
 He was very active and useful in procuring 
 men and information, and in many ways aided 
 in the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, 
 and was with Allen when he demanded the 
 surrender of the fort ( ticonderoga ) in the 
 name of the ''great jehovah and continental 
 
 CONGRESS." 
 
 After Allen was taken prisoner at Montreal 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 3 
 
 Everest and his company were incorporated 
 into Col. Seth Warner's regiment and was with 
 Warner at the battle of Hubberton, and with 
 his company as rangers held the British in check 
 by making a dash here and there, in and out of 
 the woods, facilitating and covering the retreat 
 of Warner who had decided it was best to fall 
 back to a better position. 
 
 Everest at this time received the thanks of 
 Warner for the bravery there displayed by him- 
 self and men. 
 
 Everest commanded the fort at Eutland dur- 
 ing the summer of 1TY8. Major Careton having 
 come down the lake in the fall of that year with 
 his fleet, undertook extensive repairs in and 
 -around the old fort at Crown Point, concerning 
 which the American officers desired some cer- 
 tain information. Everest was asked to go. 
 
 He was willing and was called one of the best, 
 as he was acquainted with the locality, having 
 lived for a number of years in that section of the 
 country. Doffing his uniform, he soon procur- 
 ed a Tory dress (gray), and boldly entered the 
 garrison and offered his services as a workman. 
 He was set to tend masons. At this work he 
 made himself very acceptable by his promptness 
 and cheerfulness. 
 
4 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 After a few days he had acquired about all the 
 information that was desired, and was planning 
 to give up his position and return to the Ameri- 
 can army when, as ill fortune would have it, a 
 man by the name of Benedict who was an early 
 settler in Addison, but who espoused the British 
 cause; came into the fort for some purpose, and 
 there saw Everest and knew him; but Everest 
 did not see Benedict. 
 
 Benedict at once informed the officer who was 
 then in command at the old fort that one of his 
 workmen was a spy, and that he was an officer 
 from the American army, and before Everest 
 was aware that he was in anyway suspected, a 
 sergeant and a file of soldiers, who were on duty 
 that day, came to him and informed him that 
 the commanding officer desired to see him at 
 his office. Everest at once believed that some- 
 thing of an unusual nature was to be made 
 known to him. 
 
 He readily obeyed the summons and accompa- 
 nied the soldiers to the commander's office. 
 
 Soon after entering the office Everest was 
 asked, -^ 'Have you been in any way connected 
 with the American army? Everest did not 
 know at first what sort of a reply to make, but 
 as soon as he could collect his thoughts he said^ 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 5 
 
 '^What do you take me to be? I'm a laboring 
 man sir, and came here to obtain work." 
 
 ^'But, said the officer in charge, ^'I have some 
 valuable information relative to your work prior 
 to entering this place. Mr. Benedict with whom 
 I presume you are somewhat acquainted, will be 
 a witness against you. I therefore shall hold 
 you-as prisoner of war, and your trial will take 
 place sometime in the near future." 
 
 He was then ordered to be put in prison, where 
 he was confined nine days. 
 
 Meanwhile Major Carleton of the British army 
 had collected thirty-nine prisoners of war, and 
 a number of them were neighbors and acquaint- 
 ances of Everest; and all this was accomplished 
 through information furnished by the old tory 
 Benedict. The British officers held a counsel in 
 regard to Everest and decided to take him to 
 Montreal, and there try him as a spy. 
 
 Soon after this he was ordered to be put in 
 irons and taken on board one of the vessels that 
 was about ready to set-sail. 
 
 On board this vessel was his younger brother 
 Joseph, Kellogg, and Spaulding, who were also 
 held as prisoners. 
 
 It was now a little past the middle of Novem- 
 ber, a severe storm from the north-east came o% 
 
^ THEILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 with the wind blowing furiously. The vessel 
 ivas ordered to sail down to Ticonderoga, and 
 there take on more freight before proceeding to 
 Canada. While at this place the wind shifted 
 to the north-west, and the storm increased. 
 
 The prisoners were kept on the quarter deck 
 so called, with nothing to cover them but a 
 leaky old canvas. Everest would often ask the 
 officer in charge to take off his irons, and give 
 them the prisoners, something better for a shel- 
 ter, to protect them from the storm. His reply 
 
 was, ^'GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU REBELS." After 
 
 some time however, Everest prevailed . The irons 
 were taken off and a better canvas was put up, 
 which made it somewhat more confortable. 
 
 Everest and the prisoners, then had a good op- 
 portunity to consult with one another in regard 
 to making their escape that night as they under- 
 stood the boat was to set sail for Canada in the 
 morning. Everest suggested that sometime in 
 the night, they swim to the shore or bridge but 
 there was a sentinel to contend with, and how 
 to overcome this difficulty was the great ques- 
 tion. It was proposed to buy a bottle of rum, 
 and then treat the sentinel until he became of 
 no account, and by so doing they would have no 
 further difficulty, as they could easily swim to 
 
AND DAKING DEEDS. T 
 
 the bridge that crossed the lake. 
 
 It was not long after their plans were made 
 before Everest had an opportunity to visit with 
 one of the sailors, who said there was plenty of 
 old rum to be had, and furthermore he said he 
 would purchase a bottle for him if he could 
 furnish the money to pay for it. 
 
 Everest gave him some money, and the sailor 
 went for the article. On his return just as he 
 stepped on the deck the captain met him and 
 said, ''What have you got there?" ''Nothing 
 sir," was the sailors reply. Again the captain 
 said, in a gruff voice, *'what have you got 
 THERE?" The sailor then drew from under his 
 coat a bottle of rum, and stepping forward hand- 
 ed it to the captain, who while looking it over^ 
 drew the cork and after snuffing it, he took 
 a look at the sailor which was far from any- 
 thing of a pleasant manner, at the same time 
 saying, "You don't want anything of the kind," 
 and stepping to the side of the boat he emptied 
 the bottle of rum in the lake, and threw in the 
 bottle also, saying, "I'll take of you." 
 
 Soon after this the captain went away, and it 
 was supposed he had gone to forbid the sale of 
 liquor to his men. 
 
 But this did not however, frighten the sailor 
 
8 THRILLING ADVENTUEES 
 
 in the least, for in a very short time he came to 
 Everest and said, '^To the devil with him, "mean- 
 ing the captain, ^^I will try and procure another 
 bottle if you can furnish the money to pay for 
 it, and the captain will not have the honor to 
 examine it, I can assure you*" 
 
 Everest gave him some more money and soon 
 he went away saying, ' 'If I am questioned as to 
 what became of the first bottle, I shall say it 
 dropped 'from my hand on the deck of the boat 
 and went all to smash. Meanwhile in the ab- 
 sence of the sailor the captain came on deck and 
 after looking around and making a few rough 
 remarks, he retired for the night. 
 
 It was not long after this, when the sailor 
 came back — smiling, and quickly approaching 
 Everest he said in a very low tone of voice, ''I 
 have been successful, here is a quart bottle full 
 of old rum, I was quite sure I would be able to 
 purchase another bottle." Everest and the pris- 
 oners were more than pleased. Soon the cork 
 was pulled and they all had a drink. After this 
 the sailor retired for the night. 
 
 Everest and his comrade prisoners again very 
 quietly talked over the project which was up- 
 permost on their minds in regard to the plan of 
 escape. 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 9 
 
 It was then about midnight and the storm 
 nearly over and all was quiet on the boat, the 
 officers and crew having retired for the night 
 leaving one man to guard the prisoners. 
 
 Everest went out near the guard and talked 
 with him-invited him to take a drink and to 
 stand under the canvas where it was more com- 
 fortable, which invitation was accepted. 
 
 After a little while they had another drink 
 from the bottle, and soon the guard appeared 
 extra friendly, and he would drink as often as 
 it was offered to him. About that time they all 
 became somewhat cheerful. 
 
 After moving some boxes to make the place 
 more convenient, the rum was passed around a- 
 gain;at this time the guard drank quite freely, 
 and was pretty mellow. 
 
 Everest was somewhat bold and ventured to 
 take the guards sword and examine it, and on 
 returning it he said, ''He wished he could have 
 the honor to carry such a one." Then it was 
 proposed to finish up the bottle of rum and go 
 to sleep, which was agreed to. 
 
 The prisoners had now accomplished their pur- 
 pose, the guard soon leaned over and was sound 
 asleep and the time now came for the escape. 
 
 The prisoners quickly took off their clothes 
 
10 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 
 
 and tied them in bundles and fastened them up- 
 on their heads. Everest was to lead off and the 
 rest to follow. The boat was heavily loaded, 
 therefore the distance from the deck down to 
 the water was not far. 
 
 Everest said to his friends, ^'Come on, "-and 
 soon lowered himself into the water, and then 
 for the bridge he went a swimming which was 
 forty rods away. It made him almost cry out 
 aloud when he first entered the water, it was so 
 piercing cold. Spaulding was the next to follow 
 but the water was so cold he crawled back on 
 the boat. This so frightened the others they 
 would not make the attempt. 
 
 Everest however was successful in reaching 
 the bridge on which he crept to a small pile of 
 boards that protected him somewhat from the 
 wind, but before he could dress he came near 
 perishing, it was so much colder out of the water 
 than in. It did not take him long to dress for 
 he had managed to keep his clothing dry. 
 
 There was a party of British on the east side 
 of the lake and Indians on the west side. 
 
 After warming up somewhat and looking over 
 the situation, he concluded to pass through the 
 Indian encampment, for his dress was gray the 
 Tory uniform. 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 11 
 
 He believed that if seen by any of them, they 
 would think he was from the British encamp- 
 ment on the opposite shore of the lake, and that 
 he was out with special orders. 
 
 Just before reaching the shore he discovered 
 a large quantity of goods piled up under a shed- 
 like building; this he believed was the general 
 freight house it covered nearlv the whole bridge. 
 There was a narrow passage-way and in this 
 there stood (or rather leaned) a sentinel. 
 
 In this dismal place there was a small lantern 
 which furnished a little light. Everest looked 
 about him for a stick or a weapon of some kind 
 but could find nothing. 
 
 How to pass this sentinel was more than a 
 question. He then concluded to go back and 
 pass out at the east end of the bridge ; but on ar- 
 riving there, he found it was closed and in such 
 a manner as to make it very difficult to climb 
 over without making considerable noise. 
 
 He therefore concluded to go back and exam- 
 ine the west end once more. 
 
 He recollected he had a razor in his pocket, 
 and with this article of defence approached very 
 cautiously. He then discovered the sentinel had 
 not moved out from his former position. 
 
 This circumstance led Everest to think he was 
 
12 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 
 
 asleep. With his razor in hand, and his face to- 
 ward the sentinel, he passed within six inches 
 of him, ready to cut his throat, if necessary, in 
 order to make his escape. 
 
 Having reached the shore, he then folded his 
 arms like it was the custom with the British 
 Lords, and walked slowly through the Indian 
 encampment. Only a few Indians were up and 
 they were sitting on a log near an old fire and 
 did not appear to notice him. 
 
 Everest then went in a north-westerly direc- 
 tion with a quick step for he was cold and had 
 a strong desire to get out of that section as soon 
 as possible for he was in the enemy's country. 
 
 He had not gone far before he came into a 
 field the French had cleared some years before, 
 and through it there was a deep ditch dug that 
 he knew nothing of previous to this time. 
 
 It formed on one side a steep — embankment 
 with pointed stakes firmly embedded. 
 
 It being dark, and Everest in somewhat of a 
 hurry, he tumbled into the ditch, which was full 
 of water. It was then a struggle for life, or a 
 life-struggle to get out. Finally he succeeded in 
 climbing the embankment after breaking off a 
 number of stakes . Then dripping wet he hast- 
 ened on to keep warm. 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 13 
 
 He then went in a south-westerly direction 
 about one mile, and came to where there had 
 been a big fire . After satisfying himself that no 
 one was near to the place, he rebuilt the fire 
 which gave him a good opportunity to dry his 
 clothes. This fire was probably built by some 
 Indian hunter the day before. 
 
 He there lingered by the fire until about day- 
 break, and then he secreted himself in a thick 
 piece of woods and-amongst some large trees 
 that had fallen down in a cluster; This he said 
 was a good hiding place although it could not 
 be called very pleasant. 
 
 In that lonely condition, with no company but 
 that of brush and logs, he managed to be con- 
 tented through the day, at night he went up on 
 the hill south-west from BuUwaggy bay. 
 
 From that place he had a most excellent view 
 of the surrounding country. 
 
 Knowing the British were most everywhere 
 along the line of the lake he kept well back con- 
 sidering this to be in his favor. 
 
 Early the next morning he concluded to ven- 
 ture down and call on Mr. Webster, an old ac- 
 quaintance of his who lived near the lake about 
 one mile south of Port Henry. 
 
 Webster was out chopping wood when Everest 
 
14 THEILLING ADVENTUEES 
 
 met him. It did not take him long to relate the 
 trouble and condition he was in; they started to 
 go in the house, but on looking up the lake they 
 saw a number of British vessels coming down 
 the lake in a good breeze, under full sail. 
 
 Everest immediately, by advice of Webster, 
 went into the woods near by. Webster then 
 carried to him some food which he desired very 
 much, having been without food for nearly three 
 days. Webster agreed to keep on the lookout 
 until after dark; and when the coast was clear to 
 go out to the woodpile and chop some wood and 
 whistle a tune agreed upon. 
 
 The fleet soon after this come to anchor right 
 in front of Webster's old house. When all was 
 favorable the signal was given for Everest to re- 
 turn to the woodpile. 
 
 That night Mr. Webster with his canoe car- 
 ried Everest across the lake to the Vermont 
 shore very near his old home in Addison. 
 
 After visiting a short time with many of his 
 acquaintances he then returned to his station at 
 Eutland, where he made a full report relative to 
 the condition of things at Crown Point, how he 
 was arrested, and how he made his escape. 
 
 While at Eutland he received orders to enlist 
 as many men as possible, and no time was lost, 
 
AND DAEINO DEEDS. 15 
 
 for in less than two months he had enrolled two 
 hundred as brave and able bodied men, he said, 
 "^As ever wore shoe-leather." 
 
 They were early settlers, mostly from Mass., 
 Rhode Island, and Conn. Everest would often 
 8 ;vy, "They were men of the right stamp, "they 
 would not bend or bow the knee to any foreign 
 power. They hated oppression of every kind, 
 and abhored slavery, both of body and mind, and 
 regarded all bondage a great hindrance to that 
 onward progress which alone can elevate man- 
 kind to the true standard of liberty, which is 
 marked out by the finger of Grod. 
 
 And so long as memory shall cluster in the 
 chamber of wisdom, the war of the Revolution, 
 and its heroes will not be forgotten. 
 
 A PICTURE NOT FORGOTTEN 
 
 Oh, never may be mine the heart that feels 
 No thrill of joy at memory's fond appeals! 
 While many a weary pathway we may tread, 
 And thick inwoven boughs wave on o'er head; 
 These scenes the mind's historic leaves unroll, 
 Will wake the finer chords that thrill the soul. 
 
16 MEMORY ABIDING. 
 
 There are memories that linger forever, 
 
 And yearnings deep hid in the breast; 
 There are feelings unspoken, that never 
 
 Shall change till the heart is at rest. 
 There are hours when the soul is all sadness, 
 
 And darkness sits down like a pall, 
 Pierced by no ray of sunshine or gladness. 
 
 And life seems a weariness all. 
 
 There are friends whose sympathies cluster, 
 
 The loving, the true and the kind 
 Oh, would that they might ever be near us 
 
 To change the sad gloom from the mind. 
 There's a pathway our feet may leave never, 
 
 Marked out for the glory of Grod, 
 Where stern Duty is beckoning us ever 
 
 Where the footsteps of saints have trod. 
 
 There are hopes that will cheer us in sorrow, 
 
 Thus faith sheds her heavenly light. 
 While time points to a fairer to-morrow, 
 
 A day not succeeded by night; 
 Where the faithful ones, wayward and weary, 
 
 Are gathered to mansions of rest. 
 There exchanging the earth-scenes so dreary. 
 
 For joy in the home of the blest. 
 
DARING DEEDS. 17 
 
 CHAPTER TWO 
 
 »♦■♦♦♦ 
 
 In the spring a council was held for the pur- 
 pose of considering plans for taking Ticondero- 
 ga, and thus secure the military stores at that 
 place, and convey them to Bennington. 
 
 Accordingly Col. Allen was chosen to carrey 
 out the plan, and take with him all the force he 
 required. Everest was sent with a body of men 
 numbering sixty to Whitehall, to reconnoitre 
 and find out the position of the enemy if there 
 were any at that place, and then to join with 
 Allen at West Haven. 
 
 Everest with his 60 men arrived at Whitehall 
 late in the afternoon, and encamped that night 
 at a place called "Fiddler's-elbow." In the mor- 
 ning early, Everest told his men that he would 
 take a walk around the point and up the lake a 
 short distance, to see how things looked in that 
 direction, saying as he left, '^I will not be gone 
 long; stay here until I come back." 
 
 After Everest left the camp and passed around 
 the point a short distance, he was surprised and 
 taken prisoner by a party of twelve Indians, who 
 were secreted in a little clump of bushes that 
 grew in a ravine near the bank of the lake. 
 
18 THRILLING ADVENTUEES 
 
 The Indians no doubt discovered him walk- 
 ing along the bank and had made their plans 
 to capture him as soon as he came near, for they 
 were all prepared to spring upon him. 
 
 Everest knew it would be an act of folly to 
 attempt to break away from them, therefore he 
 submitted to their orders. They soon took from 
 him his knee-buckles and razor, then they bound 
 him according to the Indian custom with raw- 
 hide, and led him up the lake a short distance to 
 where they had several canoes. 
 
 They wasted no time in conveying their prison- 
 er to Crown Point, for they acted as though 
 they had something valuable for the British. 
 
 At Crown Point they delivered him up to the 
 British officers and soldiers there in camp. 
 
 Soon after he was received, a prison pen was 
 built, which consisted of four poles about ten 
 foot long, each end resting on crotched stakes 
 drived in the ground. 
 
 In this enclosure Everest was told to be con- 
 tented "and stay, "while a guard was put over 
 him. Shortly after this, Everest asked the In- 
 dians who captured him if they would before 
 going away, give him back his knee-buckles and 
 razor, which they did. It was not long after 
 this when a small boat left the shore with one 
 
AND DAEING DEEDS. 19 
 
 officer on board. Everest overheard some one 
 say, ^ 'They have gone, "meaning the officer had 
 gone after some irons to put on him which they 
 said were kept on board one of the large vessels 
 that was at anchor nearly two miles up the 
 lake, and near the old fort where he had been 
 once arrested and put in prison. 
 
 Meanwhile a great crowd had collected to see 
 
 who the prisoner was, and among a number that 
 
 Everest knew was Bennagor Benedict, who had 
 
 previously given information which caused his 
 
 arrest while at work in the old fort. 
 
 This Benedict was a genuine old Tory, a man 
 vrho could make a great noise about nothing. 
 
 At this time he was loaded with words of 
 thunder, because they did not tie him. 
 
 He swore that Everest would get away from 
 them, for said he, ''I know him, he made his es- 
 cape once and he will again before the irons can 
 be put on him." 
 
 During this time Everest put on his knee- 
 buckles, and kept walking about the inclosure 
 thinking over what Benedict had said, and was 
 saying; and he knew if the irons were put on 
 him he would be taken to Montreal. 
 
 Everest realized what had already taken place 
 and felt somewhat excited, but did not manifest 
 
20 THKILLINa ADVENTUEES 
 
 it in any manner, while Benedict kept up a war 
 of words to create excitement. 
 
 Meanwhile a number of young men and sol- 
 diers that were off duty, commenced playing 
 and fooling around with each other, by pulling 
 and hauling, and grabbing off their caps and 
 throwing them up in the air, and from one to 
 the other-saying in a musical tone-and from 
 many voices, * 'Ketch him! ketch him!!" 
 
 One of the caps was thrown into the prison- 
 pen, Everest quickly picked it up and placed it 
 on his own head finding it a good fit he wore it, 
 (the cap belonged to a British soldier.) 
 
 Everest then threw his own into the crowd, 
 and feeling the need of a little exersise he jump- 
 ed out of the enclosure or prison pen, and joined 
 in the concert that was then going on, shouting, 
 **Ketch him! ketch him!! ketch him!!!" 
 
 Everest did not know what this would lead 
 to, but he saw there would be soon an opening 
 to try his foot power for liberty while in this 
 state of confusion. Soon there was an opening, 
 and Everest entered in with all the foot power 
 he had. He ran up the road some forty rods 
 and then entered the woods in better time than 
 he had ever made before. 
 
 Only a few pursued him, one by one they 
 
AND BAKING DEEDS. 21 
 
 gave up the chase and went back . One big fel- 
 low followed him for sometime and quite near,, 
 not more than ten rods away. 
 
 Everest had become somewhat angry by this 
 time, and concluded to halt, and let the big fel- 
 low come up to him for an introduction if he de- 
 sired one. Everest stopped running suddenly, 
 and threw off his coat quickly, then faced about^ 
 and was ready to meet him. 
 
 The big fellow also stopped, and looking back 
 found himself all alone, he then turned and ran 
 nearly as fast back toward the camp. Everest, 
 then began to think about a place to hide, for he 
 believed the enemy would resort to all possible 
 means to capture him, and that a line would be 
 formed from the lake to Bull-waggy-bay before 
 he could get through that place. 
 
 His first plan was to find a hollow log or a 
 thicket of under-brush to conceal himseK in, but 
 he soon thought this would be unwise, for the 
 Indians would be employed to capture him, and 
 he knew their method of hunting. 
 
 He therefore concluded to hasten on as fast 
 as possible, and take the chances on getting out 
 before they could surround him. 
 
 Everest, realized he was in a difficult position 
 for soon he came to an open field, here he rested 
 
22 THRILLING ADVENTUEES 
 
 for a time watching in every direction . It was 
 not long before he discovered the enemy in the 
 woods nearly opposite, having got their line es- 
 tablished. Near to where he was standing be- 
 side an old stump of a tree, was a ditch used to 
 drain this swanp land and over this ditch there 
 was part of a bridge made of poles and brush. 
 
 Here the wildgrass grew thick and rank. Ev- 
 erest dropped down and crawled under the old 
 bridge; he then pulled some grass and sticks 
 around him leaving a place open where he could 
 look out. This proved to be a most excellent 
 hiding place and no doubt saved his life. 
 
 Shortly after Everest hid some of the British 
 scouts came marching in haste through the field 
 about four rods apart, and one came within ten 
 feet to where Everest was lying. 
 
 They were looking too high to find him. After 
 they had all passed by and had time enough to 
 have gone out of sight, Everest raised his head 
 and saw one of their company looking back; but 
 soon they were out of sight. 
 
 Then he turned his head in another direction 
 and saw a man about fifteen rods off coming 
 across the field. He came within a short dis- 
 tance and for some time he thought this man 
 would surely discover him. 
 
AND DAEING DEEDS. 23 
 
 Everest meanwhile had made up his mind, if 
 discovered, to give himself up, and at an oppor- 
 tune moment disable his captor. This officer 
 expected to find him up a tree from the way he 
 looked for him. It was not long after this when 
 he discovered some Indians out near the woods, 
 soon they came near the middle of the field and 
 sat down in a line back to back, until sundown, 
 and when the evening gun was fired they got up 
 and started for the fort . There was a foot-path 
 through this field which they had made. 
 
 From time to time, other squads of Indians 
 were seen by Everest passing through this field 
 until after 10 o'clock that night. 
 
 Everest believed there were more than two 
 hundred in all who passed over this clearing 
 while he was there. At about 11 o, clock, he left 
 his hiding place and and crept through the wild 
 grass to the woods on the opposite side 
 
 Then he took a south-westerly course intend- 
 ing to reach Lake George. His courage was 
 then good, but soon he came to another clearing 
 on the opposite side, and in the direction he was 
 going he discovered a dim light at the edge of 
 the v/oods. This brought on a change of feeling, 
 fearing it to be an Indian camp. 
 
 After standing still for a short time and not 
 
^4 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 
 
 ■discovering anyone in that direction, he crept 
 toward the dim light until he could see that no 
 one was stopping there — from the appearance 
 
 OF THINGS THERE HAD BEEN THE DAY BEFORE. 
 
 Everest rekindled the fire and was soon com- 
 fortably warm . After this he entered the woods 
 and hastened on fast as possible. 
 
 He had proceeded scarcely fifty rods before he 
 was surprised and somewhat frightened to hear 
 a dreadful clatter and cracking in the brush and 
 bushes near by. 
 
 His first thought was Indians. But he soon 
 discovered a number of deer had been frighten- 
 ed out of the camp this led him to believe that 
 Indians were not in that section of the country. 
 Everest then listened to the noise of the deer 
 and soon discovered their course was south-west 
 and about the same direction he wanted to go, 
 therefore he thought it would be wise to follow 
 their direction for they would not lead him into 
 any difiiculty. 
 
 He traveled on in their direction until about 3 
 o'clock that morning. Meanwhile he was think- 
 ing there was a farmer living in Benson by the 
 name of Fuller who had two sons in the Amer- 
 ican army. Everest had never met Mr. Fuller 
 but had met his sons and daughter on two occa- 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 25 
 
 siotts, and had no doubt they were loyal to the 
 American cause, and that it would be safe to call 
 there and obtain something to eat. 
 
 Therefore he concluded to change his former 
 plans and call on Mr . Fuller for refreshments . 
 
 He then changed his course for Fuller's where 
 he arrived at 7 o'clock that morning. 
 
 He met Mr. Fuller when he was coming from 
 the barn to the house where he had been doing 
 chores. Everest made himself known as well as 
 he could in a few words. Mr. Fuller then invit- 
 ed him into the house. His house was substan- 
 tially made of logs, the parlor, sitting-room, din- 
 ing-room and kitchen were on the ground floor, 
 and they were all in one, which was much the 
 style in thoes days . 
 
 Everest had not been in the house but a few 
 moments when a bright little woman came in 
 with a pail of milk and said, ' ^Father can't you 
 take the gentleman's cap." Then taking another 
 look she quickly recognized him~whom she had 
 met on two former occasions. 
 
 It did not take her very long to manifest her 
 pleasure in meeting him at this time. 
 
 Her mother was busy preparing the break- 
 fast. Everest found them loyal to the American 
 cause; and there was nothing too good for him. 
 
26 THEILLINO ADVENTUEES. 
 
 ' 'How quickly the voice of friends strikes deep 
 upon the ear, and vibrates through the heart." 
 
 While stopping with Mr. Fuller, some of their 
 good friends came in, and the day was spent in 
 the good old fashion way — In the evening about 
 eight o'clock Everest left for West Haven. 
 
 It was a most delightful starlight night, the 
 moon was full and beautiful. 
 
 His new acquaintances made that day were of 
 much value in directing him to West Haven, 
 where he arrived a little after midnight. He 
 came to the main road nearly one mile from the 
 little garrison, and when he discovered he was 
 so near he took off his coat and ran puffing along 
 making noise enough for a regiment. Soon he 
 was inside the picket line his appearance created 
 much excitement among those on guard and oth- 
 ers. But in a little while all was quiet again. 
 
 In the morning he had breakfast with the 
 officers and after relating his experience to them, 
 and taking a couple hours rest he started on for 
 South Bay to find his men he left at Fiddler's- 
 elbow, near Whitehall. 
 
 On arrival at that place he found his men all 
 there and in good health. If friends ever were 
 glad to meet it was at this time, for they had 
 worried night and day while looking for him. 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 27 
 
 As soon as Everest could account for his 
 absence and relate his experience which they 
 were so anxious to hear, they packed up their 
 tents and equipments and then started back for 
 West Haven, and there joined Col. Allen's reg- 
 iment, and from this place they soon went up to 
 Ticonderoga, and took that town. 
 
 Everest had orders here to stay and superin- 
 tend in moving the military stores which they 
 had taken. A few boats were obtained to trans- 
 port the goods to Whitehall, no time was lost in 
 loading the boats, for it was reported that some 
 of the British vessels were in sight coming up 
 the lake in a good sailing breeze. 
 
 All the boats that were then loaded with goods 
 -were orderd to leave at once, or soon as possible. 
 The boat that Everest, and his brother Zadock 
 had command of was the last to leave, and they 
 were obliged to run their boat to the shore in 
 order to prevent being captured. At this time 
 they lost many things of value. After landing 
 and climbing up the hill from the shore, Everest 
 ventured back to secure his coat that he had 
 left in the boat. He had not proceeded far be- 
 fore the British commenced to fire at him. 
 
 Everest said, '^It did not take me very long 
 to climb back over the hill, and disappear from 
 
28 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 their sight.'' After overtaking his brother and 
 party, he was somewhat surprised on looking the 
 coat over, to find he had secured his brother's 
 in place of his own. 
 
 THE SOUND OF WAR. 
 
 Friend, hast thou from dark clouds heard 
 
 thunder break, 
 In peels so loud you'd think the dead 
 
 would wake? 
 And livid lightning flashing, darting 
 
 thro' the air. 
 Causing the mind to fill with terror 
 
 and despair. 
 
 Friend, hast thou been where hosts 
 
 engage in war? 
 Where balls and shells with terror 
 
 pierce the air? 
 Where the hero stands firm amid 
 
 explosions dier, 
 Inwrapped in clouds of powder-smoke, 
 
 and flames of fire. 
 
AFTER THE BATTLE. 29 
 
 Soon after the Battle, our boys wrote home. 
 
 They'd been out gathering the dead, 
 They could not then, all their losses relate, 
 
 For the field was covered, they said. 
 Many hundred slain, in the graves were laid, 
 
 This slaughter, our General, called hell! 
 The fiery-blue hale, made the earth look pale 
 
 Where many brave soldiers fell. 
 
 In that letter it said, '*You may all know, 
 
 Our boys had pure courage, and grit; 
 While time after time, a gap in their ranks 
 
 Would tell where some missile had hit." 
 They have bravely answer'd to every call. 
 
 While meekly they owned God's favor, 
 And now through history we can recall, 
 
 The Nation's roll of honor. 
 
 They also said, ''We have burdens to share, 
 
 While for this our Nation we stand, 
 And should it cast down the last soldier here. 
 
 Our Banner shall wave o'er the land." 
 There are millions on this beautiful shore. 
 
 The shore of the brave and the free; 
 Who can look back to the years long past. 
 
 When war-clouds rolled like the sea. 
 
30 THKILLING ADVENTUKES 
 
 CHAPTER THREE. 
 
 After the capture of Burgoyne Everest obtain- 
 ed a furlough, with the intention of visiting Ad- 
 dison to look after his father's property, his fath- 
 er having gone back to Connecticut with his fam- 
 ily. Not knowing how matters stood in that 
 section, he approached warily, keeping on the 
 highlands between Otter Creek and the lake, in- 
 tending to strike the settlement at Vergennes, 
 and then turn back to Addison. Arriving at the 
 Falls at dark, he kindled a fire and lay down. 
 
 About midnight he awoke by the warwhoop 
 and found himself a prisoner to a party of Ind- 
 ians that were on their way to lake memphram- 
 AGOG to attend a council of most of the tribes 
 of Canada, New York and New England. 
 He suffered much from the thongs with which 
 he was bound at first, but understanding the na- 
 ture of the Indians very well, he so gained their 
 confidence that they shovf ed him more leniency 
 afterwards. On the breaking up of the coun- 
 cil he was brought back to the western shore of 
 LAKE CHAMPLAiN near Whallons Bay, where they 
 encamped for the winter. 
 
 Everest had been pondering in his mind for a 
 
AND DAEING DEEDS. 31 
 
 long time various plans for escape, but conclud- 
 ed to wait until the lake was frozen. 
 
 It was now December, and the lake had been 
 frozen some two or three days, the ice was as 
 smooth as glass, the sun shone out quite pleasant- 
 ly, and the air was comfortable. 
 
 The Indians prepared for a frolic on the ice; 
 many of them had skates and were very good 
 skaters. Everest asked to be permitted to go 
 down and see the sport, as he had never seen 
 any one skate; they gave him leave to go, two or 
 three evidently keeping an eye on him. He ex- 
 pressed his wonder and delight at their perform- 
 ances so natural that all suspicion was luUed. 
 
 After a time when the Indians began to be 
 tired somewhat, and many were taking off their 
 skates, Everest asked a young Indian who had 
 just taken off a very fine pair to let him try and 
 SKATE. This the Indians readily consented to, 
 expecting to have some sport out of the white 
 man's falls and awkwardness. 
 
 Everest put on the skates got up, and no 
 sooner up than down he came, striking heavily 
 on the ice; and again he essayed to stand and 
 down he fell, and so continued to play the novice 
 until all the Indians had become tired of watch- 
 ing him and were somewhat scattered about the 
 
32 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 LAKE. Everest had contrived to stumble and 
 work his way some 15 or 20 rods from the near- 
 est, when he turned and skated a rod or two to- 
 ward them, and partly falling, he went on his 
 knees, and began to fix and tighten his skates. 
 
 This being done, he rose, and striking a few 
 strokes toward the eastern shore, he bent for- 
 ward to his work, giving himself a few insulting 
 slaps to denote that he was off. 
 With a whoop and a yell of rage- the Indians 
 that had on their skates started in persuit. He 
 soon saw that none could overtake him and felt 
 quite confident of his escape. 
 
 After getting more than half way across the 
 LAKE ; and the ice behind him covered with Ind_ 
 ians,he looked toward the east shore and saw two 
 Indians coming arround a point directly in front 
 of him. This did not alarm him for he turned 
 his course directly up the lake. Again he look- 
 ed and saw his persuers [excepting to or three 
 
 OF THEIR best SKATERS, WHO FOLLOWED DIRECT- 
 LY IN HIS track] had spread themselves in a line 
 from shore to shore. He did not at first under- 
 stand it, but after having past up the lake a- 
 bout three miles, he came suddenly upon one of 
 those immence cracks or fissures in the ice that 
 so frequently occur when the ice is glare. 
 
AND DAEING DEEDS. 33 
 
 It ran in the form of a semicircle from shore 
 to shore, the arch in the centre and up the lake . 
 The Indians on his flank had already reached 
 the crack, and were coming down toward the 
 middle. Everest flew along the edge of the 
 crack but could find no place that seemed possi- 
 ble for human power to leap. But the enemy 
 were close upon him, he took a short run-back- 
 ward, and then shooting forward like lightning 
 T^ith every nerve strained, he took the leap and 
 just reached the farther side — None of the Ind- 
 ians dared to follow. 
 
 KEEPING IN MEMOEY. 
 
 There are deeds long past, that linger 
 And shall we call them blest? 
 
 They may cheer, and they may sadden, 
 Far down within the breast. 
 
 The power is not within ones-self 
 To bid such things depart; 
 
 The lurking memories will intwine 
 Within the human heart. 
 
34: THKILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 Out in the twilight, all alone, 
 
 Out by the little gate; 
 I lean, and listen, for footsteps, 
 
 I listen, watch and wait. 
 Bright golden light, fades in the west, 
 
 A shade comes o'er the sky. 
 The dew-drops gather on the leaves. 
 
 And tear-drops cluster nigh. 
 
 Deep darkness shades the valley round, 
 
 And rests upon the hill; 
 The stars gaze at me lovingly, 
 
 While I am waiting still. 
 Waiting, yes, praying, all for one 
 
 As moments swiftly fly. 
 While in each breeze, yet all unseen, 
 
 They whisper, ^ 'Coming nigh." 
 
 A light, a soft pale silv'ry light, 
 
 O'er-speads the mountain brow; 
 The cold moon above the hills shine 
 
 While I am sad somehow. 
 Hark! to the steps, I know so well, 
 
 I hear him coming now; 
 Be still, ''My throbbing heart, be still, 
 
 Belov'd where linger'd thou?" 
 
AND DARINa DEEDS. 35 
 
 CHAPTER FOUR. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 After the war Everest returned again to his 
 home in Addison, where his father Kved from 
 1769 to 1TT6, then he was driven by the enemy, 
 and returned to Salisbury Conn. with his family, 
 and there died before the close of the war. 
 
 A number of useful articles that belonged to 
 his father had been hidden away by some one of 
 the family, and no doubt expected Benjamin 
 would find them on his return home — And sure 
 enough he wasn't at home long before he found, 
 an ax, two old books,.one iron-kettle, and the old 
 kitchen tongs. These articles Everest would 
 often refer to, as of much value to him. 
 
 He soon returned to Salisbury the place of his 
 childhood, and there purchased a number of arti- 
 cles that belonged to the estate of his father; and 
 then with the articles and his venerable mother 
 returned back to Addison and there engaged in 
 farming. Meantime he could not forget Miss 
 Patty Fuller, who had taken so much interest 
 in his welfare while stopping at her home after 
 making his second escape from the British. 
 
 He said, ^^I'll never be contented until I have 
 seen Miss Fuller, once more." It was not long 
 
36 THRILLING ADVENTUEES 
 
 before he had business out in that section of the 
 country where she lived, and quite frequently, 
 which resulted in an old fashion wedding, [most 
 royal]- And for more than 60 years they shared 
 each others company, in joy, and in sorrow. 
 
 During these years they were blest with a 
 family of children, 7 boys and 4 girls, who grew 
 up to love and honor their father and mother, 
 and who were a credit to their country and 
 name. Each year as time past on, the children 
 would return home and there have a re-union 
 by the old fireside, and there present to father 
 and mother, a token of some kind, to beautify 
 their love and affection for them. 
 
 The first break in the family circle was caused 
 by the death of Benjamin F. at the age of 42. 
 
 The next to follow was the beloved mother, the 
 
 STAR OF THE HOME. 
 
 Passed beyond all toil and trouble. 
 Passed beyond this world of care; 
 Entered through the gates to glory, 
 Entered where the loved ones are. 
 
 Her trust was in God who gave her wisdom to 
 direct in the destiny of her children. On the 
 3rd of March following, her true and life-long 
 companion crossed life's river to meet her. 
 
A CHAPTER COMPLETE ST 
 
 Among the early pensioners who were granted 
 a pension by act of congress, was one to Lieut ► 
 Benjamin Everest, of $240 a year. This sum 
 was at that time considered a large pension. 
 
 In every war America has been engaged in, 
 some of the descendants of Benjamin Everest 
 were there, loyal, faithful, and true to the 
 FLAG OF LIBERTY. 
 
 On a monument at West Addison, Vermont, 
 bears the following inscription: 
 
 Lieut. BENJAMIN EVEREST 
 
 WAS BORN AT SALISBURY CONNECTICUT 
 
 Jan. 12th, 1752, 
 
 AND MOVED WITH HIS FATHER BENJAMIN 
 TO THIS TOWN IN 1768, AND DIED HERE 
 
 March 3rd, 1843, 
 
 AGED 91 YEARS. 
 
 Thus lies the Christian, 
 
 The Philanthropist 
 The Revolutionary hero 
 And the Patriot. 
 
38 THEILLING ADVENTUKES 
 
 Should we who live to laud the deeds of our 
 ancestors, and who in part live by the result of 
 their labor, be content with less intelligence, or 
 less patriotism? A state exists in its history. 
 
 Take away the memory of the past, and what 
 remains? A name, and only a name. Takeaway 
 the sample and all the recorded wisdom of the 
 past, and what ray of light would be left for our 
 guidance? What could we do but grope through 
 darkness and inexperience, and wonder in the 
 maze of perpetual childhood? If we are bound 
 to respect the claims of posterity, we likewise 
 owe a debt to our ancestory. 
 
 A few recorded circumstances and events are 
 herein related, touching the early experiences 
 
 of the GREEN MOUNl^AIN SETTLERS whicll might 
 
 serve to interest the reader, and keep within a 
 proper limit so as to be prudent, and not dwell 
 long upon any single line, but at the same time 
 relate some of the trials and perplexities our 
 venerable fathers had to encounter, and the la- 
 bor they experienced in subduing the forests, and 
 braving the dangers and vicissitudes to which 
 their condition exposed them. 
 
 Besides the labor and privations with which 
 they all had to struggle, the country at that time 
 was considerably infested with wolves, panthers 
 
AND DAEING DEEDS. 3^ 
 
 and bears, which rendered it somewhat danger- 
 ous many times to venture a great distance from 
 home without being properly armed and equip- 
 ped to meet a deadly foe in the charactor of 
 some ferocious and hungry wild beast. Still 
 they were often under the neccessity of journey^ 
 ing into the wilderness, and sometimes to a con- 
 siderable distance. 
 
 At that time, most of the inhabitants owned 
 one cow, and for many years the pasture which 
 they had for their cattle consisted of the forest, 
 and not unfrequently they would ramble to a 
 considerable distance, in which case the only 
 guide the owner had in seeking them was the 
 sound of the bell, fastened with a leather strap 
 to the neck of the favorite cow. 
 
 I have heard of several instances of inhabit- 
 ants being beset by bears in their ramble, in 
 search of cattle. Wolves were not so plenty in 
 Vermont as in many other sections, yet flocks 
 of sheep, though small, were sometimes destroy- 
 ed by them — Yet some of the wild animals, were 
 a benefit at times, especially bears, as their flesh, 
 many times, served in part to furnish the settlers 
 with meat, (which from domestic animals was 
 very scarce,) and their skin were used for moc- 
 casins and varisus other purposes. 
 
40 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 The early inhabitants of Vermont were never 
 slow to show themselves capable and willing to 
 make war against all intrusions of wild beasts . 
 
 It was many years ago told how Ranney and 
 Brown went down to visit the old bear's den as 
 it had been the custom, there they found much 
 the same appearance as the year before. Im- 
 mediately, Ranney's dog went into the den. 
 
 Mrs. Bruin not liking such an unceremonious 
 call, or being partial as to what company she 
 entertained, soon ejected him from her domicile, 
 and followed him out, intending to give him 
 such a flagellation that he would be more man- 
 erly in introducing himself upon the notice of 
 strangers. As quiet as she was, he acted as if 
 he thought she had hurried him out rather too 
 quick, and that in doing so she had been as 
 rough and unceremonious as he had, and that 
 he shouldn't hurry about leaving the dooryard, 
 but would take the next lesson there. 
 
 The bear and dog immediatly closed in for a 
 fight. The men, with their snow shoes on stood 
 by. Ranney saw at a glance that his dog would 
 get the worst of the fight unless he had help im- 
 mediately ; so he stepped astride of the bear, and 
 took an ear in each hand. When she felt the 
 whole weight of this new element in the contro- 
 
AND DARINa DEEDS. 41 
 
 Tersy was made to bear upon her, she turned her 
 attention from the plaintive and suppliant tones 
 of the dog to the more defiant antagonist on 
 her back. In her effort to get rid of Eanney, 
 she took his hand into her mouth and bit it 
 through. Kanney couldn't fight any more ; but 
 Brown's dog, when he found there was fighting, 
 applied himself to her haunches, which had a 
 tendency to lacerate her feelings so severely, she 
 now turned her attention to him, having no fur- 
 ther fear of Eanney or his dog. 
 
 Meanwhile Brown had cut a small club, and 
 came to the scene of action just in time the bear 
 turned upon his dog. She had hurt him so that 
 he wouldn't trouble her any more than Eanney 
 and the first dog. The bear at once raised her- 
 self upon her haunches to fight Brown. 
 
 He struck at her, but she would either dodge 
 the blow or ward it off with her fore feet, and 
 every time she warded off or dodged a blow she 
 would step back and strike again. Eanney 
 in the meantime begging Brown to desist and 
 let the bear go, and come and do up his hand. 
 
 Brown, however, didn't feel like beating a re- 
 treat under such circumstances, and kept plying 
 the blows. After some time spent in striking, 
 dodging, and hitching up, the bear made a mis- 
 
42 THKILLING ADVENTUKES 
 
 take in the rule of fencing and a blow fell upon 
 her nose, which she instantly dropped into the 
 snow, and Brown, plying his club vigorously, 
 soon killed her. He then did up Eanney's hand, 
 and he started for home. Brown dressed the 
 bear, and found the ball he had shot her with 
 the year before . He then went into the den and 
 found two more cubs, which he killed on the 
 spot.. When asked why he didn't keep and 
 tame them, he replied. ''He found it a d- sight 
 easier to kill young bears than old ones." 
 
 ON THE LINE OF WISDOM. 
 
 ■ ♦ ♦ »■♦ » 
 
 A handful of common sense is worth a bushel 
 of learning. 
 
 A bridle for the tongue is a necessary piece 
 of furniture. 
 
 It's no use hiding from a friend what's known 
 to an enemy. 
 
 A rich dress is not worth a straw to one who 
 has a poor mind. 
 
 If you would know what a dollar is worth try 
 to borrow one. 
 
 Soft words, warm friends ;bitter words, lasting; 
 enemies. 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 43 
 
 It is impossible at this day to form a just con- 
 ception of the hardships encountered by early 
 settlers of Vermont, leaving the comforts and 
 conviences of an older country, moving to a 
 distant wilderness into dwellings insufficient to 
 protect them from the wintry blast and with 
 but scanty fare : yet with unremittng toil th ey 
 sought to clear them up a home. And yet with 
 all their industry and frugality, for the first few 
 years it was difficult to raise sufficient provis- 
 ions to subsist upon. 
 
 Their corn had to be brought from the river 
 towns upon horses, a great part of the distance 
 through the forest, guided by marked trees. 
 
 At one time being out of provisions Jonathan 
 Gray and a neighbor started for the Connecticut 
 valley in quest of corn. Not being able to find 
 any on the Vermont side of the river they re- 
 solved to cross to the New Hampshire side. 
 
 No regular conveyance near and although late 
 in the evening they mounted their horses and 
 attempted to swim them to the other shore, but 
 the darkness was so great that they reached the 
 shore at a considerable distance below the old 
 landing place where a steep bank covered with 
 a heavy growth of bushes prevented their horses 
 from obtaining a footing. 
 
4:4 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 A few lusty haUoes, however, brought a sturdy 
 farmer to the bank who exclaimed with a strong 
 Scotch accent: ''Hoot, mon, what do ye here." 
 A few words sufficed to explain to him their sit- 
 uation and with the assistance of himself and 
 sons they were soon upon terra firma once 
 more, where wet and benumbed with cold they 
 gladly availed themselves of the invitation ex- 
 tended to them by the hospitable Scotchman to 
 spend the night at his home. 
 
 The following morning having procured their 
 corn, they crossed the river by means of a boat 
 and proceeded homeward. Mrs. Brown has of- 
 ten told that when she first came into the town 
 the only covering to their cabin consisted of 
 strips of bark confined to the roof by means of 
 large timbers placed at right angles. 
 
 A few plank were split out, upon which was 
 placed her bed ; while two more pinned together 
 served them for a door; and in such a dwelling 
 surrounded by wild beasts, and exposed to the 
 vicissitudes of a New England climate, they liv- 
 ed, and they prospered. No hardship so great, 
 no labor so severe, no undertaking so hazardous 
 as to daunt their spirits, or cause them to waver 
 from their firm determination to build them up 
 a home. Hiram Jennings said at one time 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 45 
 
 when he was a young man and just commenced 
 in life. His family consisted of a wife and one 
 child ;they lived in a rude log house, the door of 
 which was without suitable fastenings. 
 
 One night, weary with the labors of the day, 
 they had retired to rest: when about midnight 
 they were awakened by something traveling up- 
 on the outside of the bed. They at first sup- 
 posed it to be a dog, but upon looking up, they 
 at once discovered that their visitant was in 
 fact a full grown bear. They were terribly 
 frightened, but Mr. Jennings quickly springing 
 upon his feet caught him by the hind leg, and 
 endeavored to pull him from the bed, but Bruin, 
 it seems was as much frightened as the rest, for 
 quickly extricating his foot from the grasp, he 
 sprang from the bed leaned for the door, and put 
 for the forest with all speed. 
 
 The mountain streams were formerly a favor- 
 ite resort for the beaver tribe. There are sever- 
 al meadows in town, which were once formed 
 by these industrious little creatures, all of which 
 produce a luxuriant growth of grass. 
 
 Some of their dams still remain almost entire, 
 but the greater part of them have been leveled 
 by the plough of the farmer, and the beaver 
 have been destroyed by the hunter. 
 
46 WHISPEEING BILL. 
 
 So you're taking the census, mister? There's 
 
 three of us living still, 
 My wife an' I an' our only son, that folks call 
 
 Whisperin' Bill; 
 But Bill couldn't tell ye his name, sir, and it's 
 
 hardly worth the givin'. 
 For ye see a bullet killed his mind and left 
 
 his body livin'. 
 
 Set down for a minute, mister, Ye see. Bill 
 
 was only fifteen 
 At the time o' the war, and as likely a boy as 
 
 ever this world has seen; 
 An' what with the news of battles lost, the 
 
 speeches an' all the noise, 
 I guess every farm in the neighborhood lost 
 
 a part of its crop of boys. 
 
 'Twas harvest time when Bill left home;every 
 
 stalk in the fields o' rye 
 Seemed to stand tiptoe to see him off, an' 
 
 wave him a fond good-by; 
 His sweetheart was here, with some other 
 
 girls-the sassy little miss! 
 An' pretendin' she wanted to whisper 'n his 
 
 ear, she gave him a rousin' kiss. 
 
 Oh he was a hansum f ellew, an' tender an' 
 
 brave an' smart. 
 An' tho' he was taller then I was, the boy 
 
 had a woman's heart. 
 
WHISPERING BILL CON., 47 
 
 I couldn't control my f eelin's but I tried with 
 
 all my might, 
 An' his mother an' me stood a-cryin' till Bill 
 
 was out o' sight . 
 
 His mother, she often told him, when she 
 
 knew he was goin' away. 
 That Grod'd take care o' him, mebbe, if he 
 
 didn't fergit t'pray; 
 An' on the bloodiest battlefields, when bullets 
 
 whizzed 'n the air. 
 An' Bill was a-fightin' desperit,he used to 
 
 whisper a prayer. 
 
 His old comrades have often told me, that Bill 
 
 never flinched a bit, 
 When every second a gap in the ranks told 
 
 where a ball had hit. 
 An' one night, when the field was covered 
 
 with the awful harvest o' war, 
 They found my boy 'mongst the martyrs o' 
 
 the cause he was fightin' for. 
 
 His fingers were clutched in the dewy grass- 
 
 oh, no, sir, he wasn't dead. 
 But he lay o' helpless and crazy, with a rifle 
 
 ball in his head. 
 An' if Bill had realy died that night I'd give 
 
 all I've got worth givin', 
 For, y' see, the buUet had killed his mind an' 
 
 left his body Hvin'. 
 
48 WHISPERING BILL CON., 
 
 An officer wrote an' told us how the boy had 
 
 been hurt in the fight, 
 But he said that the doctor reckoned they 
 
 could bring him around all right. 
 An' then we heard from a neighbor disabled 
 
 at Malvern Hill, 
 That he thought in course of a week or so 
 
 he'd be comin' home with Bill. 
 
 We were that axious t' see him we'd set up 
 
 an' talk all o' nights. 
 Till the break o' day had dimmed the stars 
 
 an'put out the northern lights. 
 We waited an' watched f er er month or more, 
 
 an' the summer was nerly past. 
 When a letter came one day that said he'd 
 
 started for home at last. 
 
 I'll never forget the day Bill came-'twas 
 
 harvest time again. 
 An' the air blown over the yellow fields was 
 
 sweet with the scent o' the grain. 
 The doorway was full o' the neighbors who 
 
 had come to share our joy, 
 And all of us sent up a mighty cheer at the 
 
 sight o' that soldier boy. 
 
 An' all of a sudden somebody said: '^My God,. 
 
 don't the boy know his mother?" 
 An' BiU stood a-whisperin', fearful like, an' 
 
 starin'from one to another; 
 
WHISPERING BILL CON., 49 
 
 **Don't be afraid, Bill, " said he to himself, as 
 
 he stood in his coat of blue, 
 ^^God'll take care o' you. Bill; God'U take 
 
 care of you." . 
 
 He seemed to be loadin' an' f irin' a gun, an^ 
 
 to act like a man who hears 
 The awful roar o' the battlefield a-soundin' 
 
 in his ears. 
 I saw that the bullet had touched his brain 
 
 an' somehow made it blind. 
 With the picture o' war before his eyes an' 
 
 the fear o' death in his mind. 
 
 I grasped his hand, an' says I to Bill: ^^Don't 
 ye remember me? 
 
 I'm ye father-don't ye know me? How fright- 
 ened ye seem to be?" 
 
 But the boy kep' a-whisperin' to himself, as 
 if 'twas all he knew : 
 
 * 'God'U take care o' you, Bill; God'U take 
 care o' you." 
 
 He's never known us since that day, nor his 
 
 sweetheart, an' never will. 
 Father an' mother an' sweetheart are all the 
 
 same to Bill, 
 An' many's the time his mother sets up the 
 
 whole night through 
 An' smooths his hair an' says: Yes, Bill, God'U 
 
 take care of you. 
 
50 WHISPEKING BILL, CON. 
 
 Unfortunate? Yes; but we can't complain; 
 
 it's a livin' death more sad 
 When the body clings to a life o' shame, 
 
 an' the soul has gone to the bad. 
 But Bill is out o' the reach o' all harm, 
 
 an' dangers of every kind. 
 We only take care of his body, God takes 
 care of his mind." -irying bacheller. 
 
 » ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 ELDEE MOSES CHENEY. 
 
 The venerable Dr. Moses Cheney of Sheffield 
 Vt. of whom it can be said that probably no man 
 ever preached, prayed and sung more for thirty 
 years than he. By nature he was a natural spir- 
 ited and gifted orator, always setting forth so 
 plainly his ideas, that all who heard understood 
 and were pleased. He was a man capable of 
 the most deeply solemn feelings and looks; but 
 he enjoyed a little fun at the proper time, as 
 well as any other man, and was capable of us- 
 ing sharp words, and was sometimes sarcastic, 
 but never bitter. He used to say sometimes 
 he was sorry to have people laugh under his 
 preaching, but they would, and yet as often the 
 tears would flow with smiles. A stranger to 
 him once told it about right, when she said. 
 
AND DARINa DEEDS. 61 
 
 * ^Father Cheney, I heard you preach once, and I 
 never laughed and cried so much in one sermon. 
 
 He abhored dishonesty in any man, and hated 
 above all things to be cheated ; we give an anec- 
 dote to illustrate this: The Baptist Society in 
 Derby, on a certain time thought they ought to 
 do more than they were doing for the Elder. So 
 they appointed a committee to purchase a cow 
 and present her to him . They did so, and he 
 was very grateful. But upon trial, the milk of 
 the cow was found to be skimmed milk and that 
 continually. 
 
 She was faithfully tried for one week; during 
 which time the Elder assertained that the com- 
 mittee had bought her of a man who had once 
 made him pay for a pair of blinders twice, and 
 that, together with the fact that there was ^'no 
 cream on the joke," determined the Elder to re- 
 turn the cow. So one morning he called one of 
 his boys to him, and said: ''Here P., take this 
 whip, and drive that cow back to where she 
 came from, and tell Deacon Carpenter that your 
 father says he will stand a law suit before he 
 will take the gift of her." 
 
 He was a high-tempered man, but usually kept 
 that temper under his control, or as he used to 
 say, ''he kept down the Dustin blood." 
 
52 THRILLING ADVENTUEES 
 
 He was not in the habit of doing things hast- 
 ily, but when it was necessary for any work of 
 severity to be done, he was not the man to flinch. 
 Among the many peculiar things in his history 
 we may mention some narrow escapes and ad- 
 ventures, when there seemed but a step between 
 him and death. " Once barely escaping freezing, 
 having fallen into the water on a very cold day, 
 and having miles to go before he could reach a 
 house. At two different times it was thought 
 he must die with fever. His life was despaired 
 of when he had the measles; and he was once 
 thrown from a carriage and his neck nearly bro- 
 ken. At the age of 18 he had an encounter with 
 a cross bull, which so well sets forth his physical 
 powers, and so well proves that the Dustin blood 
 was * 'strong blood" even to the fourth genera- 
 tion, we are tempted to a discription of it in his^ 
 own words. '^I was requested by my employer 
 to go to a certain pasture and drive said animal 
 to the bars, I had heard by the by, that he was 
 cross, and drove his owner out of the barn yard 
 only a few days before. 
 
 I did not wish to discover cowardice; so not a 
 word was to be said, but out into the large pas- 
 ture I went in pursuit of the chap. But, by the 
 way, it looked proper enough to furnish myself 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 5S 
 
 with a tough beech sprout about six feet long. 
 I thought it best to go at him as one having au- 
 thority. At first he seemed to consider me so^ 
 and started off very peaceably; but suddenly, a& 
 we were rising a steep bank, he whirled and 
 came at me with great fury. I voided out of his 
 way, and flew to a large clump of bass bushes 
 that surrounded a great stump. 
 
 Eound the bushes, I went, and he after me, 
 on the clean jump. I soon overtook him, and 
 put on the cudgel the whole length of his back. 
 Then he whirled again after me, and I after him^ 
 and as often as I overtook him he took six feet 
 of beech . In this way I played circus till my an- 
 tagonist gave a frightful roar, and took off for 
 the bars. I was still at his heels laying on the 
 beech, till I saw the battle was won. 
 
 That was a terrible fight! It was both furious 
 and long; I was very warm and rather short for 
 breath; and as for curl-head, if he did not puff 
 and blow and sweat, no matter. 
 
 Moses was at this tine a healthy and powerful 
 man, stood six feet and an inch in his boots, broad 
 shouldered, with long and strong arms. Morever 
 he was not only strong, but remarkable quick^ 
 and could leap a line that he could walk erectly 
 under with his hat on. 
 
54: THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 Moses when a child, was a weakly boy; kept 
 in doors pretty much in childhood. He sat on 
 the split basswood floor by the side of his moth- 
 er, and learned to read of her while she spun 
 linen. Their library consisted of the English 
 Primer, Watts' Psalms and the Bible. The first 
 he committed to memory and much of the New 
 Testament, which he retained through life. 
 
 The family was emphatically poor. Moses 
 never had clothes proper to wear from home till 
 after he was thirteen. That spring, in imitation 
 of his father and brother who were making sug- 
 ar, he split troughs and dug them out, tapped 
 several trees, obtained sap, and after the others 
 were done boiling and retired to rest, then he 
 could have the kettles, and in the dead hours of 
 the night he boiled his sap, and alone, 
 
 He made wooden "clappers" for shoes, drove 
 nails through the bottoms to keep them from 
 slipping on the crust, and with some rags wound 
 about his feet for stockings and the clappers on, 
 he was able to brush about and do his work. 
 With his sugar he bought 8 yards of tow cloth, 
 which was colored black with white maple bark, 
 all but enough for a shirt,which was bleached as 
 white as snow, and made up by his mother, who 
 also made his whole suit; and when it was com- 
 
AND DARINa DEEDS. 55 
 
 pleted he put it on, and went into the field to 
 show his father and Daniel. When his father 
 saw him coming he exclaimed. ^ 'There comes 
 our clergyman; see there, Daniel, I guess our 
 Moses will make a minister." It is to be borne 
 in mind that only the clergymen wore black in 
 those days. When a small boy, he went out 
 to carry his father's dinner to him where he was 
 felling trees. He had arranged a "drove" of 
 trees, so that by starting one, they would all go 
 down. He did not see his boy approaching, un- 
 til the trees had started. In an instant he cried 
 out. ''Eun Moses!" but Moses had no time to 
 run. He was close to a large hemlock, when 
 he saw his danger, and he dropping between 
 two large roots that had grown in such a way 
 as to leave a cavity just large enough to receive 
 him. The thick limbs fell all round about and 
 over him. His father shrieked. ''I have killed 
 my boy! I've killed my boy," but Moses was not 
 hurt. His father cut away the limbs and took 
 him out, and was so much affected, "he went 
 home, related the story to the family and went 
 to bed. 
 
56 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 Once in the absence of a legitimate goverment 
 in Pownal, a committee of 'Tublic Safety" was 
 appointed, whose duty it was to adjust points 
 of differences as might from time to time arise 
 among the people, and also to superintend the 
 police of town. This committee, although o- 
 riginally calculated to meet present exigency, 
 but soon became an indispensible branch of the 
 town goverment. Its members, three in num- 
 ber, possessed almost absolute power, their de- 
 cisions, although generally just and impartial, yet 
 they were occasionally tinctured with caprice 
 and favoritism. 
 
 A complaint was then whispered about that 
 they always decided in favor of the plantiff , and 
 unless they improved their style of deciding, a 
 new board should be appointed. It is said that 
 embarrassed by such slanderous reports, and in- 
 timidated by these threats, a consultation was 
 lield and a new method of proceedure adopted. 
 
 It was determined that future decisons should 
 be rendered in favor of the defendent. 
 
 Stimulated by these deliberations the first 
 application of this new rule incurred a novel dif- 
 ficulty. The case was this. A man was arrang- 
 ed for stealing a harrow. The day of trial came; 
 witnesses were present ; the court opened when 
 
AND DAEINa DEEDS. 57 
 
 the defendent unexpectedly plead guilty to the 
 offence, with the explanation that his intention 
 was only to use the harrow, and to return it be- 
 fore the owner had occasion to use it. Here 
 appeared a perplexing question. 
 
 How could they favor the defendent? He had 
 admitted the theft without compulsion. How- 
 ever, after some deliberation they agreed upon 
 a decision remarkable for its ingenuity and jus- 
 tice. It was decided that the defendent should 
 return the harrow and pay for the use of it, 
 while the plaintiff should pay the court because 
 
 he had neglected to prove his charge. 
 • — ^ — • 
 
 Now in those days certain parts of the town 
 were famous for rattlesnakes. Among the high 
 and frowning cliffs, which skirt the river near 
 the manufacturing village of North Pownal, 
 -were the chosen reudervous of these dangerous 
 pests. Here they wintered and at early spring 
 slipping forth from their dens, scatterd themsel- 
 ves about the neighboring fields. A capacious 
 ^ 'SNAKE story" survived the final extermination 
 of these reptiles. Benona Hudson, upon one au- 
 tumn morning, seeing a large rattlesnake cross 
 the river from its western banks, roll itself in the 
 sand, and hasten toward the rocks ; Hudson f ol- 
 
58 THEILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 lowed close after and watched him as he entered 
 his den. He at once proceeded to cut a short 
 walnut cudgel and a short pole, with which he 
 quickly invaded the sturing retreat of the snake. 
 Forthwith there was a hissing and promiscous 
 crawling forth. Rapidly the blows decended 
 and all were dispatched, as fast as they would 
 come out. Upon counting he found eighty 
 seven. Thus much says tradition; but it does 
 not add, as did the Mississippian, who told of 
 killing four cords and a half of black snakes be- 
 tween sunrise and sunset, and it was not called 
 then a good snake day either. For it did not 
 involve any question of law. 
 
 A WARNING. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 I was drinking one night as I sat in the den. 
 
 With some friends that I'd long wished to see: 
 We drank to the good health of each other then^ 
 
 'Till I found myself drunk as could be. 
 My mind soon left me, my strength too was gone, 
 
 And in darkness I naught then could see; 
 And I tumbled around till at length I fell down^ 
 
 Then and there did I have my last spree. 
 
A WAENING CON., 59 
 
 I was thinking would any one care now to know, 
 
 How I spent that last night in the dive; 
 A friend picked me up then, and out did we go, 
 
 Or I might not now still be alive; 
 And when my drunken spree fully was o'er. 
 
 Through distress I was bent like a bow; 
 I found that my watch and my wallet were gone, 
 
 And 'twas lucky my life didn't go. 
 
 I've drank my last glass, and my mind is clear. 
 
 No more shameful rum drinking for me; 
 My chains are all brok'n and I've naught to fear. 
 
 For the Lord hast in love set me free. 
 At home now they all dwell in safety and peace, 
 
 I'm not crazed with strong drink anymore; 
 And as friends call to see me, need not to cease. 
 
 Singing praises to God we adore. 
 
 Keep out. Keep out of the rum shop, young man. 
 
 Keep out of the rum drinkers room. 
 Keep the honor you have, and earn all you can, 
 
 And thus joy bring to parents and home. 
 Now you have encountered some duties in hfe, 
 
 With prospects so bright full in view; 
 Your lot will be blessed in your dutiful strife. 
 
 So long as you are sober and true. 
 
60 A WARNING CON., 
 
 The greatest wretchedness, which human na- 
 ture in this world is called to indure is connected 
 with the use of inebriating drinks. 
 
 There is nothing else that degrades and debas- 
 es man like it- nothing so mean that a drunkard 
 will not stoop to it- nothing too base for him to 
 do to obtain his favorite drink. Nothing else 
 sinks the whole man-so completely, and destroys 
 not only all moral principles, but all self-respect, 
 all regard to character, all shame, all human feel- 
 ing. The drunkard can break out from every 
 kind of restraint so completely extinct is human 
 feelings, that he can be drunk at the funeral of 
 his dearest relative, and call for drinks in the 
 last accents of expiring nature. 
 
 Now look at a hunan being, whom God has 
 made for noble purposes and endowed with no- 
 ble faculties- degraded disgraced, polluted, unfit 
 for heaven, and a nuisance on earth. He is the 
 centre of a circle- count up his influence in his 
 family and his neighborhood- the wretchedness 
 he endures, and the wretchedness he causes — 
 count up the tears of a mother, or of a wi'etched 
 wife who curses the day of her espousal, and of 
 wretched children who curse the day of their 
 birth . To all this positive evil which intoxicat- 
 ing liquor has caused; add the happiness which 
 
A WAENING CON., 61 
 
 l3ut for it his family might have enjoyed, and 
 
 communicated . Go through a neighborhood or 
 
 a town in this way, count up all the misery 
 
 which follows in the train of intoxicating liquor, 
 
 and you will be ready to ask, can the regions of 
 
 eternal death send forth any thing more deadly? 
 
 Wherever he goes the same cry may be 
 
 heard- lamentation — mourning, and woe; and 
 
 whatever things are pure, or venerable, or oi 
 
 good report, fall before it, while it can justly be 
 
 said, if there ever was any business in this world 
 
 which the Devil has the right to call his own 
 
 it is the rum business. 
 
 * * * * 
 More rum, more rum, 'tis Satan's cry, 
 
 His pathway is darkness and shame; 
 
 He never loves virtue, he lives on vice, 
 
 And would gladly ruin your name. 
 
 :fc :jc HJ sfJ 
 
 A sober man is the best man, 
 
 For rum he will not drink; 
 And in the busy time of life 
 
 He stops in love to think. 
 His home is blest with plenty, 
 
 No rum can make him fall; 
 His fam'ly's taught to hate that, 
 
 Which ruins mind and soul. 
 
62 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 Gen. WHITNEY of whom it was said, soon 
 after he moved to Addison, had what was then 
 called the lake fever, it was while he lived on 
 the Kellogg farm. He was taken very sick — 
 pulse bounding, eyes bloodshot and staring from 
 their sockets, the blood coursing thro' his vein& 
 like liquid fire. The doctor was sent for — on 
 arriving, ordered every window and door closed, 
 although it was in the hottest of dog days- cold 
 water was forbidden, Tvarm drinks ordered. 
 
 Thus days and nights of intolerable suffering, 
 went by, and when he begged for just one drop 
 of water, it was denied. One night two neigh- 
 bors, weary and tired from harvest field, came in 
 to watch through the night. One of them soon 
 dropped off to sleep; the other, more enduring, 
 still kept watch. At midnight, after giving the 
 General his medicine, he brought in a pail of wa- 
 ter, fresh from the well. How quick the rich 
 man would have given the wealth of the Indies 
 for one draught of that sparkling water. Could 
 he not by stratagem secure it? He feigned sleep; 
 and the tired man fixing himself as comfortable 
 as possible, was soon in sound sleep. Whitney 
 now crawled from the bed and made his way to 
 the pail. With what eagerness he clutched the 
 cup and drained it, draught after draught. He 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 63 
 
 then wished he could breath a little fresh air, it 
 was so stifling where he was. The watchers 
 still a sleep; he opened the door. How still and 
 quiet every thing in the moonlight. The dew 
 on the grass sparkling like diamonds — the chirp 
 of the cricket alone broke the silence. 
 
 How delicious was the night- wind, as it fan- 
 ned his fevered cheek and burning brow. The 
 idea of escape from his prison, as he regarded it, 
 presented itself, and quietly he started crossing 
 the road into the meadow, and there plunging 
 down amid the tall wet grass he clapped his 
 hands for joy, as he rolled from side to side, 
 
 But now the fever is upon him; the fire is 
 quenched, and his strength is gone . He cannot 
 rise. The watchers have missed him. They 
 shout his name. He tries to answer, but is too 
 weak. They find and carry him to the house, 
 and in alarm run for the doctor. He does not 
 get there until morning. A quiet, refreshing 
 sleep has removed all symptoms of fever. 
 
 The doctor would give him pills, but the Gen- 
 eral would none of it, and told him that he had 
 got a new doctor, old Dame Nature, who seem- 
 ed to understand the case altogether the best, 
 and he should trust to her. And returning to 
 health showed his judgement in choosing. 
 
64 THE 30th OF MAY. 
 
 Lov'd comrades, we who linger still, 
 
 Mid scenes of toil and care; 
 Will now bring forth from field and hill 
 
 Fresh flowers so sweet and fair. 
 The time has come when 'neath the sod, 
 
 Full many a heart reposes. 
 We'll honor them and serve our God! 
 
 And deck their graves with roses. 
 
 Each year we will still come to meet 
 
 With them in true communion. 
 And all those present proudly greet 
 
 These heroes of our Union. 
 Our ranks grow less as day by day 
 
 Each deed receives new luster. 
 Ere long each man who met the gray 
 
 Will pass his final muster. 
 
 Now every loyal freeman true 
 
 Will love your valor ever. 
 And write the names that honor you 
 
 Where time can blot them never. 
 Our flag to Heaven e'er shall wave. 
 
 With love in song and story, 
 Until we leave each earthly grave, 
 
 When the roll is called in glory. 
 
THE 30th OF MAY CON., 65 
 
 Our brave and gallant Soldier Boys 
 
 Who now have passed away! 
 In love we cover o'er their graves 
 
 With the choicest flowers of May. 
 Their crowns are made of shining light, 
 
 Their homes are built up on high, 
 Immortal is their glorious fight, 
 
 And we'll join them bye and bye. 
 
 DARING DEEDS 
 
 One time Gens. Strong and Smalley were 
 crossing the lake in a canoe, when near Sandy 
 Point, they saw something swimming in the wa- 
 ter, which they at once supposed to be a deer, 
 and gave chase . As they drew near, they found 
 instead of a deer, it was an enormous black bear 
 that they were pursuing. This was a different 
 affair, and a consultation was held. They had 
 nothing but an ax with them, but they had too 
 much pluck to back out, so it was planned that 
 Smalley was to get in the wake of the bear, 
 run the canoe bow on, while Strong, standing in 
 the bow with the ax, would then knock Bruin 
 on the head. Smalley brought the boat up in 
 good style, and Strong, with all the force of a 
 man used to felling the giant trees of the forest 
 
66 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 struck the bear full on the head. The bear 
 minded it no more than if it had been a walking 
 stick instead of an axe, he then instantly turned, 
 and placed both fore paws on the side of the 
 boat and upset it, turning both into the lake. 
 
 The bear then crawled up on to the bottom of 
 the boat, and took possession, and quietly seating 
 himself, looking on with great gravity, whilst 
 the men were floundering in the water. 
 
 Smalley, who was not a very good swimmer, 
 seeing the bear so quiet, thought he might hold 
 on to one end of the boat, until it should float 
 ashore: but no. Bruin would have none of their 
 company, and they were obliged, each with an 
 oar under his arm to sustain him, to make the 
 best of their way to Sandy Point, the nearest 
 shore. From here they had to go around the 
 head of BuUwaggy Bay, and north as far as 
 Point Henry, where they found their boat, min- 
 us their ax and other baggage, and were very 
 glad to come off so well. 
 
 One more bear story, and that will do. One 
 fall the bears were making distructive work in 
 the General's corn field; he found where they 
 came in, and placed his trap in their road. 
 
 The second morning he found his trap gone, 
 and plenty of signs that a large bear had taken 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 6T 
 
 it; he got two of his neighbors, Kellogg and Pan- 
 born, to go with him. They had two guns, an 
 axe, and three dogs. 
 
 After following the track for some two miles 
 they heard the dogs, and as they came up they 
 found the bear with her back against a large 
 stub, cuffing the dogs whenever they came with- 
 in reach. The trap was on one of her hind legs. 
 Kellogg proposed to shoot the bear, but Strong 
 said he could kill her with the ax as well as to 
 waste a charge of ammunition, which was scarce 
 and difficult to obtain. So taking the axe, and 
 remembering his encounter on the lake, he turn- 
 ed the bit, or blade of the ax, intending to split 
 her head open. 
 
 He approached cautiously, and when near e- 
 nough, gave the blow with tremendous force, 
 but the bear with all the skill of a practised box- 
 er, caught the ax as it was descending, with 
 one of her paws knocking it out of his hands, at 
 the same time catching him with the other, she 
 drew him up for the death-hug; as she did so en- 
 deavoring to grab his throat in her mouth. One 
 moment more, and he would have been a man- 
 gled corpse. The first effort he avoided by ben- 
 ding his head close upon his breast; the second, 
 by thrusting his left hand into her open mouth 
 
68 THRILLING AD VENTURES 
 
 and down her throat, until he could hook the 
 ends of his fingers into the roots of her tongue. 
 
 This hold he kept until the end, although ev- 
 ery time the bear closed her mouth his thumb 
 was crushed and ground between her grinders, 
 her mouth being so narrow that it was impossi- 
 ble to keep it out of the way. 
 
 He now called on Kellogg for God's sake to 
 shoot the bear, but this he dared not do, for fear 
 of shooting Strong, for as soon as he got the 
 bear by the tongue, she endeavored to get rid of 
 him by plunging and rolling about, so that one 
 moment the bear was on top, and next Strong. 
 
 In these struggles they came to where the ax 
 had been thrown at first. 
 
 Strong seized the ax with his right hand, and 
 striking the bear in the small of the back sever- 
 ed it at a blow. This so paralyzed her that she 
 loosened her hug, then he snatched his hand 
 from her mouth, and soon cleared himself from 
 her reach. The men then dispatched her with 
 their guns. His mutilated thumb he carried as 
 a memento of the fight, to his dying day. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 In the faU of 1775 Mr. Strong was captured by 
 the British: they took him to Ticonderoga, where 
 he remained three weeks. Mrs. Strong, expect • 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 69 
 
 ing he would be sent to Quebec, that she might 
 again see her husband before his departure, shut 
 up her two little children alone in their cabin. 
 
 Bidding the elder, who was but four years old, 
 to take good care of the baby till mother came 
 back, who was going to take poor papa his 
 clothes, she went in a canoe to carry them, a dis- 
 tance of 12 miles, accompanied only by her 
 brother a lad of ten years. After she arrived in 
 order to gain admittance to her husband, she 
 must remain over night. 
 
 The mother sadly thought of her babes alone 
 in the cottage in the woods through all the long 
 night ; but could she turn from the door of her 
 husband's prison, and perhaps see him no more. 
 
 No ! her babes the tender mother committed, in 
 her heart, to the God Father, and tarried till the 
 morning; and upon her return found her little 
 children safe, the elder having understood e- 
 nough of her directions to feed and take care of 
 
 the younger. 
 
 * * * * 
 On one occasion during the Revolutionary War 
 
 when soldiers were drafted in Barnet, the lot fell 
 on George Gibson, a man of small stature who 
 said he would join the army, adding. ''Who 
 knows but I may be the means of establishing 
 
ro THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 the independence of the United States? CoL 
 Harvey observed that he never knew a means so 
 SMALL to produce an effect so great. 
 
 A member of the Legislator, vrho was a great 
 hero and patriot boasting of his mother and six 
 brothers, triumphantly asked the company if 
 ever they heard of such a mother having seven 
 such sons. Col. Harvey replied he read of a wo- 
 man who had seven such sons, and what was 
 very remarkable they were all born at one birth! 
 ''Who was she?" asked the hero. Mary Mag- 
 dalene, " replied the Col. ''who was delivered of 
 seven devils all at one time!" 
 
 MY CHILDHOOD'S PICTURE. 
 
 _ ♦ » ♦ ♦ » 
 
 How my childhood fancy lingers, 
 
 Over scenes I once did view. 
 When I sought the fields for pleasure, 
 
 With my playmates kind and true. 
 Fond mem'ry now carries me back, 
 
 O'er pleasures my heart did thrill; 
 From all those happy days we part, 
 
 But I love them truly still. 
 
MY CHILDHOOD'S PICTURE. Yl 
 
 On the hills oft times I'd wander, 
 
 And upon the rocks would climb, 
 For to view the verdant valley 
 
 Where the flowers bright would shine; 
 And then I'd chase the butterfly 
 
 Way over the hills to play, 
 Where the birds in all their beauty. 
 
 There did sing so pleasantly. 
 
 In the summer sunshine glitter, 
 
 Near the water I would play, 
 On the bank of that lone river, 
 
 Pleasant hours soon passed away; 
 All those scenes inspire my nature, 
 
 And thy '11 thrill my heart for aye; 
 This song is my Childhood's picture 
 
 And through joy can truly say. 
 refrain". 
 . Often now I look o'er the landscape 
 
 Where the flowers in Autumn droop, 
 And listen to hear the little birds sing 
 
 In the valley down by the brook: 
 It's there my thought's revive anew 
 
 It's there the clouds pass away, 
 In rai)ture then, for hours I view, 
 
 In the Autumn sunshine day. 
 
72 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 In 1792 Peter Page built a rude log shanty in 
 Hardwick, about three-quarters of a mile south 
 of the present village of East Hardwick. 
 
 His shanty was full half mile from the Hazen 
 road, and the snow was very deep when he mov- 
 ed his family, and when near as he could go by 
 the road he put on his snow-shoes, and with a 
 sled made for that purpose, conveyed his wife, 
 and three children to their new home, and then 
 returned for his goods. 
 
 They lived some time in this rude hovel without 
 floor or chimney, building their fire at one side 
 with a hole made in the roof for the smoke to es- 
 cape. Mr. Page's wardrobe during that winter, 
 is said to have consisted of one pair of tow pant- 
 aloons, one tow frock, two shirts, woolen socks 
 and a woolen vest . 
 
 He brought all the provisions for himself and 
 family on his back, either from Peacham 20 
 miles distant, or from Cabot, 8 miles. His fam- 
 ily suffered much the first few years in their 
 new home. Their only cow strayed away, and 
 when Mr . P- found her she was ten miles from 
 home. She had been away so long she gave no 
 milk. The man who kept her awhile demanded 
 pay, and the only woolen garment, the vest, was 
 all he could give to redeem her. 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 73 
 
 Water gruel was substituted for milk, and was 
 sometimes their only sustenance. Other set- 
 tlers had a hard time, as well as they. In the 
 spring of the following year, Mark and David, 
 Norris, who were cousins, supplied themselves 
 with provisions sufficient, as they supposed, to 
 last them through the spring's work. Then 
 they were to return back to Peacham, which 
 was several miles away. 
 
 They had no such thing as a team or even a 
 hoe to work with; but with their axes they 
 hewed out wooden hoe-blades from maple blocks, 
 hardened them in the fire, and took saplings for 
 handles. With these they hoed in two acres of 
 wheat; when Saturday night came, they had 
 one acre hoed in and provisions enough to last 
 but one day longer. 
 
 What should they do? Neither of them were 
 professors of religion, but they had been trained 
 to keep the Sabbath day; however they con- 
 cluded that it was a work of necessity, and hoed 
 in the second acre on the Sabbath. ^'We shall 
 see, said Mark to David," whether this acre will 
 not yeald as well as the other. David was some- 
 what troubled in conscience. Reaping time 
 came ; the proceeds of the two acres were stack- 
 ed separately, and the time for comparing drew 
 
74 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 near. But the comparison was never made. 
 The stack which came of the Sabbath day^s work 
 took fire while clearing up some land near by, 
 and every straw and kernel was burned. 
 
 In closing this account which plainly shows 
 how things will sometime happen, I may men- 
 tion the wisdom of Mrs. Whipple, wife of the late 
 Francis Whipple. She was a woman of superior 
 mind, and a mother in Israel, beloved by all, 
 young and old. 
 
 She possessed a great fund of cheerfulness, 
 and was often very shrewd. A fanatical minis- 
 ter once called and said. '^You sometimes en- 
 tertain ministers." ^'Yes, if they have a recom- 
 mendation." ^'And what would you say at one 
 from Heaven?"-^ 'Go straight back, 'tis a poor 
 country here for such a man!" 
 
 An aged man once asked her to become his 
 wife. In answer- ''Why, Mr.B- we are noth- 
 ing but old children. You have one foot in the 
 grave, the other wiU be there soon. You had 
 better go home, read your Bible, and prepare to 
 die, than to be here on such an errand!" 
 
 She was very industrious; and some of her last 
 work was spinning lining for a web. ' 'Grandma 
 is coming, "has been echoed from many a child's 
 glad heart. 
 
AND DAEING DEEDS. 75 
 
 At Monkton, during the Kevolution, John 
 Bishop, with several sons, and Mr. Eben Stearns 
 were captured by Tories and Indians and taken 
 to Canada; and the settlement was broken up till 
 after the war. Tradition says Bishop had some 
 wheat stacks to which the Indians were about 
 to set fire, when Mrs. Bishop, knowing them to 
 be her main dependance, appeared with hot wa- 
 ter, which she threw so vigorously that the Ind- 
 ians, admiring her courage, spared the stacks. 
 
 Bishop was noted for his eccentricity, for in- 
 stance: when any one came to the marsh near 
 where he lived to pick cranberries, he always 
 demanded some portion, for the reason that 
 he brought the seed with him from — New 
 Medford. He also demanded a share of all the 
 fish in an adjacent pond, as he had brought the 
 original stock from the same place, in a leather 
 bag, supplying fresh water from time to time. 
 This story used to make his neighbors smile — 
 
 A short distance south of Monkton Borough 
 are some rocks, called the Tory rocks, where a 
 small party of Tories were captured during the 
 Eevolution,by a less number of early settlers by 
 stratagem. The early settlers of Monkton were 
 men more noted for their physical strength and 
 endurance than for mental culture or refine- 
 
76 THKILLING ADVENTUEES 
 
 ment. Yet they were not without those who 
 sometime tried their luck and skill at writing 
 compositions. The following poetical specimen 
 is from the pen of one of those primative and 
 untaught bards, Ebenezer Finney. 
 
 When men rejoiced in days of yore 
 That stamp-act should appear no more, 
 
 They fired their pump instead of cannon 
 And shook the very earth we stand on, 
 
 But later years, more full of glory. 
 Since Whigs has fairly conquered Tory. 
 
 Pump guns are thrown by in disgrace, 
 And iron stationed in their place. 
 
 The great heroes of a certain town, 
 To please themselves and gain renown; 
 A cannon made, without a blunder, 
 To send forth home made peals of thunder. 
 
 Never have such reports been given. 
 Since Satan cannonaded heaven: 
 This gun without dispute we know 
 Was fired from Monkton to North Hero. 
 How stiring are these sons of Mars; 
 They shout for joy, and bless their stars; 
 But oh, how transient is their fun! 
 They load too deep, and split their gun. 
 Earth, at the blast, turns shaking Quaker; 
 Boys cursed the cannon and its maker, 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 77 
 
 What havoc made 'mongst ducks and hens; 
 The pigs ran frightened round their pens; 
 
 Young puppies set up hideous yells, 
 While goslins perished in their shells; 
 
 Then all the hosts that could keep cool, 
 Wondered if there was another fool. 
 
 SUNLIGHT SETTING. 
 » » ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 When the sparkling sunlight setting 
 
 Brings on evening shadows dim, 
 Then we view the golden netting 
 
 While it twinkles o'er the glen. 
 Lovely shades of green and yellow 
 
 Will glide over on the hill, 
 Where the night birds from the hollow 
 
 Are saying, whip-por- will will will. 
 
 When our nature seeks for beauty 
 
 Thro' the work that is sublime. 
 Then we cherish faith with duty 
 
 And engraft the lovely time. 
 There is beauty in the sunset. 
 
 There is joy that always thrills, 
 Wind on water roUs the white caps 
 
 And the snow will cover the hiUs. 
 
78 THE EAVAGES OF TIME 
 
 It is only by recurring to the chronicles of the 
 past that we are able to arrive at any apprecia- 
 tion of the ravages of time. When we ascer- 
 tain that the many things which were, are not; 
 that they withered at the touch of time, and were 
 hurled into the dark chasm of forgetfulness. 
 
 History reverts to the scenes of other times. 
 We review the catalogue of many names per- 
 petuated in prose and song; we trace the lines 
 of those who bore them, from their youth up- 
 ward ;we mark the struggles through which they 
 passed, the numerous obstacles encountered, the 
 many trials undergone for the emancipation of 
 our country from hostile hands ; and as we muse 
 we wonder through the lapse of ages and hold 
 communion with those *gr eat and good patriots 
 of the past. 
 
 We stand upon the battle field; we see the 
 clashing steel; we hear the roar of the booming 
 cannon, the death groans of the victim fallen. 
 We pause. This is only the kindling of imagin- 
 ation over the records of the past; we can only 
 regret the great, the good, the noble should thus 
 have passed away. 
 
 The dilapidated walls of architecture, the rust- 
 ing sword on the cold floor of antiquity, the 
 mouldering bones of the ancient warrior, all e- 
 
THE RAVAGES OF TIME 79 
 
 vince an invisable power whose mission is to de- 
 stroy. Where are the champions who fought in 
 defence of the word of God, and caused its sacred 
 light to shine and penetrate the darkest recesses 
 of superstition? Where those noble martyrs 
 who suffered for the propagation of the truth — 
 who removed the mark that enveloped the face 
 of Christendom, and caused the true light to 
 shine forth mid the gloom of darkness? Where 
 those brave pioneers of the sixteenth century, 
 who caused the city of seven hills to totter upon 
 its foundation; and who removed the briers and 
 brambles from the path of Christianity, and 
 planted instead the seed of piety, purity, and 
 truth? 
 
 Their deeds are recorded on the tablets of his- 
 tory, their names have become emmortalized by 
 being linked with the greatest struggles in the 
 world. Yes, they are gone- gone to the charnel 
 house of time. Where is the wild uncultivated 
 race that once traversed our hills and vales un- 
 mindful of the rich soil beneath their feet? 
 
 The hand of civilization, and children of educa- 
 tion have usurped the abode of ignorance, and 
 inculcated the moral principles of civilized life. 
 Time, indeed has made sad havoc of that strong 
 ■and noble, unculivated race. 
 
80 THE OLD OLD HOME. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 I often think of the old, old home, 
 
 And the smiles that greeted me there; 
 And of all the friends I used to know 
 
 When I was young and life was fair . 
 Shall I ever enter the old, old home. 
 
 And lift the old latch of the door? 
 And look all thro' those dear old rooms,. 
 
 Where I played in the days of yore. 
 
 Shall I ever walk the green paths o'er, 
 Where mother's flowers did bloom? 
 
 And list to the happy birds that sing- 
 Where the roses have plenty of room.. 
 
 Those days so happy in childhood's life,. 
 Are ingrafted on memory's wall; 
 
 I will not try to make them bright, 
 For they can never fade at all. 
 
 Should I go back to the old, old home, 
 
 Would it bring any pleasure to me? 
 Would it inspire hope, or change my tho't. 
 
 Or cause me sorrowful to be? 
 Oh, I may go back to the old, old home. 
 
 But who could I expect to see? 
 My dearest friends have passed away. 
 
 And no one is there who loves me. 
 
THE OLD OLD HOME CON., 81 
 
 My childhood days at the old old home, 
 Will never more come back to me; 
 
 My faulty steps must feebler grow. 
 While I'm trav'ling to eternity. 
 
 Now fare-thee-well, to the long ago. 
 Those years have vanished away! 
 
 But the old old home, bright and fair, 
 
 Still is clinging to my mem'ry. 
 • — ^ — • 
 
 DAEING DEEDS. 
 
 Indians caused more fear than wild beasts 
 among the early settlers, especially after the 
 commencement of the Revolutionary struggle. 
 Although through the policy of some of the lead- 
 ing men of the Grants, the British had been in- 
 duced to treat the settlers on the east side of the 
 lake [Vermont] with mildness, and had forbidden 
 the Indians to molest them, yet their savageness 
 was ready to burst forth on the slightest provo- 
 cation. So much was this the case, that if a 
 party of Indians made their appearance when 
 the men were absent the women allowed them 
 to help themselves to whatever they liked . 
 
 At one time a party came in when Mrs. 
 Strong was alone. They first took the cream 
 from the milk and rubbed it on their faces; then 
 
82 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 rubbing soot on their hands, painted themselves 
 in all the hideousness of the war-paint, and sang 
 the war-songs with whoop and dance. 
 
 Just as they were leaving, one of them discov- 
 ered a showy colored short gown, that her hus- 
 band had just made her a birthday present of. 
 This he took, and putting it on, seemed greatly 
 delighted, and with yells and whoops they de- 
 parted. She had a place between the frame of 
 the house and the chimney where she used to 
 hide her babe when the Indians were seen about. 
 
 A barrel of sour milk was kept, where a set of 
 pewter dishes (a rare thing at the time) was, as 
 soon as used, put for security. 
 
 One day an Indian came in and saw a small 
 plate, which he took, and making a hole through 
 it, put it on a string and wore it off as an orna- 
 ment. They would sometimes, when hungry, 
 kill a hog or beef. 
 
 The following will show that their fears were 
 not groundless — One morning in June, just 
 when the sky takes on that peculiar hue that 
 gave it the name, ' 'gray of the morning. " Mrs. 
 Strong arose and went to the spring a few rods 
 from the house, near the bank of the lake. 
 
 The birds had just commenced their morning 
 matins making ' 'woodland and lea" vocal with 
 
AND DAKING DEEDS. 83 
 
 song. The air was laden with the perfume of 
 the wild flowers. Not a breath stirred a leaf or 
 ruffled the glass-like surface on the water of the 
 lake. She stopped a moment to enjoy it. And 
 as she stood listening to the songs of the birds, 
 she thought she heard the dip of a paddle in the 
 water, and looking through the trees that fring- 
 ed the bank, she saw a canoe filled with Indians. 
 
 In a moment more the boat passed the trees 
 in full view. A pole was fastened upright in 
 the bow, on the top of which was the scalp of a 
 little girl ten years old, her flaxen ringlets just 
 stirred in the morning air, while streams of clot- 
 ted blood all down the pole showed it was placed 
 there whilst yet warm and bleeding. 
 
 Wildest horror froze her to the spot, she tho't 
 she recognized it as the hair of a beautiful child 
 of a dear friend of hers, living on the other side 
 of the lake. She saw other scalps attached to 
 their waist-belt, whilst two other canoes, farther 
 out in the lake, each had the terrible signal at 
 their bows. The Indians on seeing her, gave 
 the war-whoop, and made signals as though they 
 would scalp her. She fled to the house. That 
 day brought tidings that their friends six in 
 number on the other side had aU been massacred 
 and scalped, and their houses burned. 
 
84 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 Among the many heroic and daring deeds wor- 
 thy of particular notice is that related of Mrs. 
 Mary Lamb. While residing in Granville with 
 her son William, at the age of 84. Mrs. Lamb 
 had charge of the domestic affairs and of the 
 children in the absence of their parents. 
 
 One morning she heard a terrific scream in 
 the dooryard, and on looking out saw a large 
 catamount making an onslaught upon the poult- 
 ry. On opening the door the dog rushed out, 
 and a fearful encounter followed. 
 
 The dog finding himself unable to grapple 
 successfully with his antagonist, fled into the 
 house, followed by the catamount. Fear for the 
 safety of the terrified children nerved the strong 
 arm of grandmother to desperation. She seiz- 
 ed the large iron poker, and then bravely gave a 
 heavy well-directed blow across the animals 
 back, which paralized him, a few more blows 
 killed him. The dog died soon after from the 
 effects of wounds received in the contest. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Capt. John Barney, one of the early pioneers 
 built the second public house of entertainment 
 on the plains of St. Johnsbury, Vt. 
 
 This house he kept for many years, and as 
 it was customary in those days, it had a bar 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 85 
 
 but when the temperance cause awoke, he came 
 forth hke the bannered hosts from the wilder- 
 ness, and was one of the first to enUst in the 
 great moral reform, and stood ever afterward 
 by the sacred standard. 
 
 Later years his daughter wrote. *'I well re- 
 member hearing my parents relate various in- 
 cidents connected with their early life, their hab- 
 its of living, social, moral and physical. 
 
 True, I find as I dwell upon them, none of the 
 superfluities and elegancies of life that consti- 
 tute the luxuries of the present, but 1 find in- 
 stead, a homely but hearty sufficiency with fru- 
 gality and cleanliness withal, and a home though 
 rude yet ever appreciated in love." A character- 
 istic picture of their sociability was the winter 
 evening visits. Some long and pleasant Decem- 
 ber or January evenings the noble yoke of oxen 
 were 'whoa'd' and ^gee'd' to the kitchen door, 
 hitched to the sled, and the first family started ; 
 calling for the next family, and the next on the 
 way, till the last family on the road joined the 
 happy party. 
 
 Arrived at their destination — as our old fash- 
 ioned surprise party came steadily up to the log 
 mansion, and shaking off their buffalo of hay, 
 the sleds were unloaded upon the great stone 
 
80 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 door steps- the welcoming and greetings were 
 sometimes so hearty as to be almost deafening. 
 
 The well-fatted turkey must be prepared for 
 the sit, and pies and pudding well flavored, were 
 soon in a baking- Meanwhile a mug of hot slip 
 came not amis, after a cold ride of 8 or 10 miles. 
 
 A good supper, joviality and sincere good will 
 crowned the hour. 
 
 I must in closing say a few words relative to 
 my father's christian profession and the family 
 alter, where prayer went up daily, from a heart 
 overflowing with joy. Even now I seem to hear 
 the kindness that lingered in his voice as he re- 
 proved our childish follies, or see the patient, 
 beaming smile, as he encouraged our feeble ef- 
 forts to do the right. 
 
 Thus a saintly father's influence still shines 
 out sweetly and clear upon the path of his child, 
 guiding on like a beacon star to right purposes. 
 It's an inestimable blessing to have such a father. 
 
 BEAUTIFUL HOME. 
 
 ♦ » ♦ ♦ » — 
 
 Beautiful home in Heaven for me, 
 
 Never a street where darkness can be; 
 There o'er the countless ages of time, 
 
 Kingdom of love, forever will shine. 
 
THANKS-GIVING EVE. 87 
 
 On a low couch lay a sick girl, 
 
 In a poor and humble home, 
 And by the restless sufferer 
 
 The lonely mother sat alone. 
 'Twas the day before Thanks giving. 
 
 The house was cold and drear; 
 "Without, the fall winds whistled, 
 
 Within was naught to cheer. 
 
 The sick girl moaned in anguish. 
 
 Then opened her lips and spoke, 
 It touched the heart of her mama 
 
 As though it was a saber's stroke. 
 ^'Mama, to-morrow's Thanks giving. 
 
 What can we be thankful for 
 While we suffer in sickness and sorrow, 
 
 And papa has gone to the war? 
 
 Our money's gone, we're friendless 
 
 In this great town all alone. 
 Oh, why did dear papa leave us?" 
 
 The sick girl then sadly moaned . 
 **Your papa thought best to leave us 
 
 To answer his country's call. 
 We hoped the war would be over 
 
 And he would be home this fall." 
 
88 THANKSGIVING EVE, CON. 
 
 ' 'I know we are destitute darling, 
 
 I know that our money is gone, 
 But I hope to have work to-morrow, 
 
 You know I am well and strong, 
 And soon we shall hear from papa. 
 
 He'll send us money no doubt, 
 We will then pay up the landlord 
 
 And he will not turn us out." 
 
 Thus cheerfully spoke the mother, 
 
 Although with a heavy heart, 
 She tried to soothe her daughter 
 
 And cheerfully do her part; 
 Hark, hark! the hall door opens, 
 
 ''Dear papa! "the daughter calls, 
 Then in the arms of a soldier brave 
 
 Fainting, the true mother falls. 
 
 Then his story told of capture, 
 
 And suffering in prison pen. 
 Of exchange, release and furlough, 
 
 And away to his loved ones then. 
 For bravery had come promotion, 
 
 As his uniform plainly told; 
 Then his wife and daughter lovely, 
 
 Smiled upon the soldier bold. 
 
THANKSGIVINa EVE. 89 
 
 Their sorrow turned to gladness, 
 
 The family was united again, 
 And the mother felt that her prayers 
 
 For help, had not been in vain. 
 Thanksgiving day was delightful, 
 
 The daughter felt well once more, 
 Each thought a better thanksgiving 
 
 They never had known before. 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 DARING DEEDS. 
 
 lu 1784 Capt. Charles Sias, moved his family 
 and effects from Peacham to Danville on a hand- 
 sled. His family consisted of 10 children, seven 
 sons and three daughters. The father with four 
 sons and three daughters made the first compa- 
 ny. Then with two men to assist, went forward 
 on snow-shoes, and drew the sled. They reached 
 their log cabin early in the afternoon, dug it out 
 from beneath the snow, which had nearly buri- 
 ed it. Here they left John and his sisters to take 
 care of themselves through the night, while the 
 others returned to Peacham. 
 
 John was but 11 years old, and was the first 
 male child that ever slept in Danville, and Mrs. 
 Sias, was the first white woman who dared to 
 brave the long and dreary winters in this wild 
 
90 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 unbroken wilderness. The next day came the 
 mother and the other children, on the hand-sled. 
 In three days more the effects were all removed 
 and the lone family began their hard labors up- 
 on the wilderness. 
 
 They commenced by tapping the maples, which 
 stood thick arround them. The most beautiful 
 groves, aff oading them sugar in abundance, and 
 supplied, in a great degree, the lack of some oth- 
 er food. Thus was settled the first family in the 
 town of Danville. 
 
 It will illustrate the hardships which were en- 
 countered by the early settlers if we here put on 
 record the narrative of an authentic tradition, 
 that at the birth of Israel Putman, his father 
 had to draw the midwife six miles over the hills 
 and through deep snow, on a hand-sled. 
 
 So exhausting was the labor that stopping to 
 rest a moment at the sugar-camp of his neigh- 
 bor, Abidah Smith, he sank down insensible and 
 Mr. S. went on with the doctoress; thus render- 
 ing an important service to his future son-in- 
 law; the child then born- who twenty four years 
 after became the husband of Sarah Smith. 
 
 For a number of years, the inhabitants lived in 
 cabins built of logs, and covered with bark peel- 
 ed from spruce and other trees, and were often 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 91 
 
 doomed especially for hardship thro' cold winter 
 seasons, being poor, they had not the requisite 
 means to procure comfortable clothing to screen 
 themselves properly from the raging of a north- 
 ern climate. Children frequently would be seen 
 in winter running barefooted in the snow, and 
 otherwise poorly clad, sleeping on straw beds at 
 night or the skins of animals. 
 
 Nathaniel Belknap, when 76 years old would 
 often say. *^The young folks now a-days could- 
 n't begin to stand it as we did. I moved in my 
 log house, here in the woods, when there was 
 but one board on it and that one I brought from 
 New Hampshire." And for weeks after said Mrs. 
 Belknap,^'! could lie abed and count the stars." 
 
 * 'Yes, said the old man I have been more than 
 a mile beyond Pittsford Village to buy a bushel 
 of corn, and when I paid for it, I had to take 5 
 pecks, because I could't make change. 
 
 I took it, and started for the mill; and got it 
 ground; and then carried it home." ''Yes, said 
 Mrs. Belknap, and he should have added he did- 
 n't get off the bed the next day." 
 
 He had travelled at least 26 miles that day 
 13 with 5 pecks of grain on his back. 
 
 So universal was the practice of working out 
 in haying; on one occasion they felt compelled 
 
92 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 to raise a barn on Sunday, being unable to obtain 
 sufficient help to do it on a week day. 
 
 The first settlers were generally obliged to buy 
 their grain from the farmers in adjoining towns, 
 and some of those were far away. The method 
 of transportation was to carry it on their backs. 
 And the manner of payment was almost uni- 
 versally by day's work, in which they were most 
 always rich, and possessed of but little else which 
 they could spare. 
 
 On one occasion a farmer was known to trav- 
 el three days before he could find a bushel of 
 grain that he could buy, while his family was 
 in need at home. It was often the case that the 
 women would go out to buy necessaries. 
 
 One time, Mrs. Joseph Carlisle, went to her 
 brother's and borrowed his horse, and went to the 
 village; but before she got home, night came on, 
 when neither she or the horse could follow the 
 road. She called for help with a will, but this 
 «o alarmed her child, she dared not continue to 
 call, lest the child cry itself into fits. 
 
 So she sat down on an old log, and held the 
 "hoTse by the bridle until morning. When she sat 
 down, she wished her father would come and 
 help her out of the woods in which she was lost; 
 she said, ' 'immediately a bright light stood out 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 93 
 
 before her, up a little from the ground." She 
 
 always thought if she had followed it, it would 
 
 have led her out into the right way. Her father 
 
 had been dead for some time. She had sat in 
 
 the woods not more than a half mile from home. 
 
 * * * * 
 It's well understood that Elihu Sabin,was the 
 
 first permanent settler in Goshen. A generous 
 
 hearted, worthy man, talented for his day and 
 
 opportunities, in so much that the history of his 
 
 town pictures him as one who had distinguished 
 
 himself for remarkable muscular power. 
 
 Once on a time well verified it is said Sabin 
 did face a foe in a single-handed struggle for 
 life. It appears that he had caught a cub, whose 
 cries brought forward the mother bear robbed 
 of her young. 
 
 Elihu unflinchingly smote her with the breech 
 of his gun ; the bear was dispatched, and so was 
 the breech of Elihu's gun. We have a more de- 
 liberate feat with which to crown our point- in 
 prodigious strength, a feat of plain practical test, 
 of monstrous muscular power. 
 
 A witness testified that he had seen Mr. Sabin 
 knock down with one blow of his fist, a two 
 year old bullock, striking him between the fore 
 shoulders, and breaking a rib. 
 
94 DON'T GO AWAY TO STAY. 
 
 Out in the cottage where the willows, 
 
 Shade the porch beside the way ; 
 An aged couple once were living, 
 
 With their son their only stay. 
 His deeds they always had been noble, 
 
 'Till he had planned to go away; 
 And leave these poor old feeble people, 
 
 Then I heard his father say — 
 
 Their joy and trials on life's journey. 
 
 All were nearly done and o'er; 
 And he knew his father and mother, 
 
 Must soon leave this earthly shore: 
 Now in this he may long remember, 
 
 How they in love did plead and pray! 
 Just before he kissed his mother. 
 
 At the time he went away. 
 
 Years have past and still he's wander'g 
 
 Far from friends he now doth roam; 
 The willow trees that still are shading. 
 
 Stand there weeping o'er that home. 
 And all the time thus spent in pleading* 
 
 Has onward pass'd to endless day. 
 And they are now beyond life's river, 
 
 Where no voice can ever say — 
 
DON'T GO AWAY TO STAY, 95 
 
 REFRAIN. 
 
 Don't go away my son, don't go away 
 
 to stay, 
 For I'm growing feeble, and soon must 
 
 pass away ; 
 Your mother's heart is breaking, 
 
 0! can't you hear her pray? 
 Don't go away my son, don't go away 
 
 to stay. 
 
 • — ^ — • 
 
 DARING DEEDS. 
 
 It may be interesting to some to know how 
 the people put out fires, many years ago . Most 
 all the families owned an instrument familiarly 
 called a ''squirt gun" of a large size, through 
 which a considerable quantity of water could be 
 emitted to any part of a building. 
 
 This was the only engine made use of for ex- 
 tinguishing fires in their dwellings ; and it rem- 
 inds the writer of a story which he heard related 
 a number of years ago. 
 
 At a certain time, Lemual Walter, the first in- 
 habitant of the town, was sitting at the table in 
 his log cabin, (which had a wooden chimney) at 
 noon time, taking his frugal meal, when a stran- 
 ger on horseback rode up to his door, and with 
 an earnest voice inquired. ''Sir, do you know 
 that your house is on fire?" 
 
96 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 *^Ah, said the owner, well, no matter, I'll see 
 to it soon as I finish my dinner." ^'But said the 
 stranger, your house will be all in flames before 
 that time." *'Be not alarmed sir, said Walter,. 
 I am used to fires and have no fear." '^Thank 
 you for your trouble." 
 
 <'If you are disposed to stay there and let your 
 house burn down over your head," rejoined the 
 stranger, *^It is no business of mine." He then 
 rode off leaving the owner sitting at the table. 
 
 Soon after Walter deliberately took down his 
 SQUIRT-GUN and quickly extinguished the fire. 
 
 The country north of this town for many 
 miles, at that time was an unbroken wilderness, 
 where moose and deer were found in great num- 
 bers. It is the nature of these animals through 
 the winter season to herd together in considerable 
 number-especially when the snow is very deep, 
 which circumstance often greatly facilitated the 
 means of taking them. The most hardy of the 
 veteran settlers would resort thither on snow- 
 shoes as soon as a sufficient depth of snow had 
 fallen and surprise and slay them, after dress- 
 ing they would select the best part of the flesh 
 for food; and carry it home on their backs a dis- 
 tance of 7 or 8 miles through the wilderness 
 
 Not unf requently a man would carry a burden 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 97 
 
 of 100 lbs. But they soon grew wise by experi- 
 ence and furnished themselves with hand sleds 
 made expressly for the purpose, the timber was 
 made very light, and the runners being 5 or 6 
 inches in width which prevented their sinking 
 in the snow. On one of these sleds a man would 
 draw more than double the quantity that could 
 be carried the old way; and the labor was not so 
 hard. The same kind of sleds are used by many 
 at the present time, and still retain the name of 
 MOOSE-SLEDS. Often for weeks the old hunters 
 would remain in the woods sleeping by night on 
 hemlock boughs for beds, and when in camp a 
 house would be made of poles and covered with 
 boughs. They subsisted mostly on the product 
 obtained, vdth perhaps a little bread and butter 
 carried from home. 
 
 The skins of the animals after being partially 
 tanned by a process of their own invention, were 
 afterwards frequently used for beds in their 
 cabins. Whole families of children would sleep 
 upon them with as much composure as they 
 would on a bed of down. 
 
 Various other means were resorted to at that 
 time to obtain the necessary supplies for their 
 families. One of these was in making salts 
 from wood ashes, which was then plenty. 
 
98 THE OLD DISTEICT SCHOOL, 
 
 The old District School I remember, 
 
 The brightest of days to review; 
 While all loving greetings are telling, 
 
 How friendship in childhood is true. 
 I remember the long cold winters, 
 
 Learning lessons in school by rule; 
 I know the children then all loved me, 
 
 Down in the old District School. 
 
 The teachers I can well remember, 
 
 Who maintained a whip in school; 
 They would occasionally use them, 
 
 In preventing our acting so cool. 
 The lessons came on in the morning. 
 
 Then reading and writing by rule, 
 I know the value now of learning. 
 
 Taught in the old District School. 
 
 I remember those kind and loving. 
 
 Who would always take my part. 
 Some have gone beyond life's river. 
 
 Still their deeds dwell in my heart. 
 I now prize those lessons of learning, 
 
 That were taught by the oldest rule; 
 I will always cherish my School days, 
 
 Spent in the old District School. 
 
THE OLD DISTRICT SCHOOL. 99 
 
 I remember the time when parting, 
 
 As in tears I bade them good-by ; 
 Never more to meet in the school room, 
 
 But will try to meet them on high. 
 I have pondered over hard trials, 
 
 That encountered the golden rule, 
 I shall never forget my school mates. 
 
 Once in the old district, school. 
 
 PRAISEWORTHY DOG. 
 
 A shepherd who once lived in the valley near 
 the Grampian mountains, in one of his excur- 
 sions to look after his flock, thought he would 
 take along with him one of his children, an in- 
 fant of three years. 
 
 After traversing his pasture for some time, 
 attended by his dog, the shepherd found it neces- 
 sary to ascend the summit at some distance to 
 have a better view of his range. As the ascent 
 would be too fatiguing for the child, he left him 
 on a small plain at the bottom with strict orders 
 not to stir from the place till his return . Scarce- 
 ly had he gained the summit when the horizon 
 darkened with almost impenetrable mist. 
 
 The anxious father hastened back to find his 
 child; but owing to the darkness he missed his 
 
 L.ofC. 
 
100 PRAISE WOKTY DOGS. 
 
 way in the descent. And after fruitless search 
 for hours, he discovered that he had reached 
 the bottom of the valley, and was near his own 
 cottage. To renew the search that night in such 
 darkness would be fruitless ;theref ore he felt com- 
 pelled as it were to go home, although he had 
 lost both his child and his dog, who had attended 
 him faithfully for many years. 
 
 Next morning at break of day with a band of 
 his neighbors he renewed the search for his child. 
 The day was sadly spent, in anxious searching — 
 Night came- from the high-land they descended. 
 
 On reaching home they found that the dog 
 which he had lost came home, and on receiving 
 a piece of cake he immediately disappeared. 
 
 The search was renewed the next day and on 
 returning at night, he found that the dog had 
 been home and on receiving his usual allowance 
 
 of cake had disappeared again. 
 
 Struck with this singular circumstance he 
 concluded to stay at home the next day and 
 watch the dog. As usual he came home got his 
 cake and seemed very glad to once more meet 
 his worthy master, who then had resolved to fol- 
 low him. The dog soon took the cake and start- 
 ed back leading the way toward a cataract at 
 some distance from the spot where the shepherd 
 
PRAISEWORTHY DOG. 101 
 
 had left the child. The banks of the cataract 
 almost joined at the top, yet separated by an 
 abyss of immense depth. Down one of these 
 rugged and almost perpendicular descents the 
 dog began to make his way and soon disappear- 
 ed. But the shepherd with difficulty followed. 
 On entering the cave his emotions swayed with 
 delight when he beheld his child eating cake 
 which the dog had just brought to him . 
 
 From the situation it appeared the child wan- 
 dered to the brink, and either fallen or scram- 
 bled down till he reached the cave. The dog it 
 appears had never left the child night or day ex- 
 cept when it was necessary to go for food. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 A number of years ago in the north east cor- 
 ner of Newark, lived Calvin Hudson, first settler 
 on the east road from Burke line to Brighton, 
 which was then only brushed out. 
 
 Here he bought some land and then built a log 
 house and moved his family, a wife and 7 chil- 
 dren, in the fall. In the winter he made shingles. 
 One morning his family being in want of neces- 
 saries, he took his knapsack and started for 
 Burke. Not being very well, he declined waiting 
 for breakfast, and started before the family had 
 risen. At Burke he made some purchases, and 
 
102 PKAISEWORTHY DOGS. 
 
 started for home. A storm came on, and the 
 snow fell fast; at Seymour Watson's, last house 
 in East Haven, still 5 miles distant he stopped 
 to warm again, not to be detained lojig he push- 
 ed on homeward. 
 
 Two days after within 40 rods of his home he 
 was found frozen by the wayside. Coiled up at 
 his feet (the snow melted beneath the devot- 
 ed animal), lay his own faithful little dog. 
 And after the funeral several days- the family 
 having been removed- a visitor who was ac- 
 quainted, called at the house and there found this 
 same affectionate little creature had stayed and 
 crawled beneath the blanket that wrapped the 
 body of his dead master before the burial, and it 
 was difficult to coax him from the sacred relic. 
 
 LOOKING BACK. 
 
 4 ♦ ♦ ♦ » 
 
 I am looking back to days long past 
 
 When by my mothers side, 
 I listened to her counsels then 
 
 I was her joy and pride. 
 There brightly was the home lit up, 
 
 And pleasantly she smiled; 
 As toil she mix't with pleasure then. 
 
 To guard and teach her child. 
 
LOOKING BACK, CON. 103 
 
 I cherish now the days long past, 
 
 When with such anxious care, 
 My mother knelt in prayer to heav'n, 
 
 Her hope and trust were there. 
 The sad time came and parting words, 
 
 When tears o'er-flowed the cheek 
 M)^ mother's farewell look told more. 
 
 Than words can ever speak. 
 
 I'm looking back to days long past. 
 
 With old friends I cannot be, 
 Who counsel'd me when I was young, 
 
 Their wisdom follows me. 
 I've wander'd far since mother's gone. 
 
 Her smiles in rapture,'^! see," 
 Her words inspire me ' ^on life's way, " 
 
 They still cling to mem'ry. 
 
 Oh, how I'd love to tell my friends. 
 
 Could I for one moment see. 
 That loving look and smiling face. 
 
 So vivid now in mem'ry. 
 I'm thinking still of mother's love, 
 
 That follows so kind and true 
 I'm looking back to childhood days, 
 
 My eyes no more wiU view. 
 
104 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 On July, 4:th 1609 Samuel Champlain entered 
 the lake that now bears his name, having left 
 Quebec the 18th of May previous. His party 
 consisted of sixty Huron and Algonquin Indians, 
 and two Frenchmen. Having had to leave his 
 shallop at the rapids above- his Indian allies fur- 
 nished him with twenty-one bark canoes. 
 
 In these he proceeded up the lake as far as 
 what is now known as Crown Point. Here on 
 the 20th of July, at 10 o'clock, P.M., he was met 
 by a party of Iroquois, who came out from a 
 cape projecting into the lake from the western 
 shore, [sandy point, opposite addison.] At the 
 first, Champlain and his party retreated into the 
 lake. The Iroquois returned to the shore and 
 landed, followed by the Hurons, who fastened 
 their boats to stakes driven in the mud, about an 
 arrow shot off. 
 
 Both parties agreed to wait until morning be- 
 fore the battle should begin, and the night was 
 spent in singing the war-songs and other Indian 
 rites preparatory to battle. 
 
 In the morning, at daybreak, the battle com- 
 menced. Champlain and his two men at first 
 were kept out of sight. On the landing of the 
 Hurons, the Iroquois came out from behind their 
 barricades, and more noble-looking men Cham- 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 105 
 
 plain says he had never seen, two of their chiefs 
 especially so. Champlain then walked in front 
 of his party, the two Frenchmen and some of the 
 Hurons were hidden in ambuscade. 
 
 Each of the white men was then armed with 
 a gun and two pistols. Champlain on landing 
 had put four balls into his gun. When he first 
 stood before the Hurons, the Iroquois gazed in 
 wonder on the first white man they had ever 
 seen. Their two prominent chiefs stood close 
 together, and about thirty paces distant. 
 
 Champlain fired at them, killing both, and 
 mortally wounding one other man. The Iroqu- 
 ois were paralyzed with fear at this new instru- 
 ment of death, breathing fire and smoke, from 
 which their chief's arrow-proof armor had no 
 protection. 
 
 The other Frenchmen poured in their fire, kill- 
 ing one. This completed the battle, and in the 
 panic the Iroquois fled in every direction, crying, 
 * 'The devil! the devil!" On examining the armor 
 of the chiefs, it was found to be woven with a 
 thread of cotton, (where did they get it?) and a 
 thread of bark. They were armed with toma- 
 hawks of METAL. After the battle they crossed 
 the lake to Chimney Point, in Addison. Cham- 
 plain here named the lake for himself, and in the 
 
106 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 after part of the day started on their return for 
 Canada. This battle was fought two months 
 before Hudson discovered the river that bears 
 his name, and four years before the Dutch set- 
 tlement at New York, and eleven years before 
 the landing at Plymouth. 
 
 Lake Champlain from its discovery to 1665 re- 
 mained the highway for the Iroquois & Hurons, 
 in their war excursions against each other. Its 
 earliest name was, '^irquoisia." 
 
 I'LL LIVE FOR YOU OR DIE. 
 
 I'll live for you or die, my love, 
 
 With you life's glories glow- 
 With you for guide our steps will glide 
 
 Down where the peaches grow; 
 Then in a cottage we will share. 
 
 The comforts of life true- 
 Where flowers in the summer bloom, 
 
 The birds will sing for you — 
 
 Then down the river we will sail, 
 
 How pleasant that will be; 
 While then in joyous fancy — 
 
 We'll look o'er land and sea; 
 My love will never prove in vain, 
 
 On this you can rely — 
 And from my word I'll not depart, 
 
 I'll live for you or die. 
 
I'll LIVE FOR YOU, CON., 107 
 
 I love to wander by the brook, 
 
 When night- winds gently sigh; 
 When shooting stars are twinkling 
 
 Down from the silent sky; 
 Sweet melody then cheers my heart, 
 
 When notes are tuneful high, 
 The very kind my love would sing, 
 
 When I was sitting by. 
 The pebbles shine out in the brook. 
 
 Where water ripples clear. 
 But down the future I must look. 
 
 With one I love so dear. 
 Now all is well with prospects fair, 
 
 And I must tell you why: 
 I own that friend who truly said 
 
 ^^I'll live for you or die." 
 
 REFRAIN. 
 
 In twilight shade, this promise was made. 
 
 Where the wild roses bloom on the hill, 
 And just beyond, by the old road-side. 
 
 The birds were singing, whip-po-will. 
 This was to my mind enchanting time, 
 
 While we slowly kept walking by, 
 'Twas then and there I smilingly said, 
 
 *^I'll live for you or die." 
 
108 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 ^*He is a good man."- *^Yes, sir; he is the hest 
 hand on my place. He is steady, honest and in- 
 dustrious. He has been my foreman for the last 
 ten years- a more trusty negro I never knew. " 
 
 *^Why do you wish to sell him?" Because he 
 disobeys my orders. As I said he is my foreman; 
 and that he might be available at any moment I 
 might want him, I built his hut within a hundred 
 yards of my own house, and I have never rung 
 the bell at any time in the night or morning that 
 his horn did not answer in five minutes after. 
 
 But two years ago he got religious, and com- 
 menced what he terms, or calls, family prayer, 
 that is, praying in his hut night and morning, 
 and when he begins his prayer, it is impossible 
 to tell when he would stop, especially if (as he 
 termed it) he got happy. 
 
 Then he would sing, and pray, and halloo for 
 an hour or two together, that you might hear a 
 mile off. And he would pray for me and my 
 wife and my children, and our whole family con- 
 nections to the third generation, and sometimes 
 when we would have visitors, Moses would in- 
 terrupt the conversation and destroy the enjoy- 
 ment of the whole company. The women would 
 cry and the children would cry, and it would 
 get me almost frantic, and even after I had 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 109 
 
 retired, it would sometimes be almost daylight 
 before I could go to sleep, for it appeared to me 
 that I could hear Moses pray for three hours 
 after he had finished. 
 
 I bore it as long as I could, and then forbid his 
 praying any more, and Moses promised obedi 
 ence, but he soon transgressed, and my rule is 
 never to whip, but, whenever a negro proves in- 
 corrigible, I sell him. 
 
 This keeps them in better subjection, and less 
 trouble than whipping. And 1 pardoned Moses 
 twice for disobedience in praying so loud, but the 
 third time I knew I must sell him, or every ne- 
 gro on the place would soon be perfectly regard- 
 less of all orders," ^'You spoke of Moses's hut. 
 I suppose from that he has a family" 
 
 * ^ Yes, he has a woman and three children, or 
 wife, I suppose he calls her now, for soon after 
 he got religion, he asked me if they might be 
 married, and I suppose they were." 
 
 * ^ What will you take for Moses and his fami- 
 ly?" '^If you want them for your own use I will 
 take $1,400; but I shall not sell Moses nor them 
 to go out of the state." 
 
 ^ ^I wish them for my own use, and will take 
 them at your price." Mr. B. and Colonel C. then 
 went to Mr. B's store, drew up the writings and 
 
110 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 closed the sale, after which they returned to the 
 vessel; and Mr. B. approached the negro, who sat 
 with his eyes fixed upon the deck, wrapped in 
 meditation of the most awful forebodings. 
 
 ''Well, Moses, I have bought you." Moses 
 made a low bow, and every muscle in his face 
 worked with emotion when he replied: 
 
 *'Is you, massa? Where is I gwine,massa? Is 
 I gwine to Georgia?" ''No," said Mr. B. "I am 
 a merchant here in this city. Yonder is my 
 store, and I have purchased also your wife and 
 children that you may not be separated." 
 
 "Bress God for dat, massa, kin I go to meetin' 
 sometimes?" "Yes, Moses, you can go to church 
 three times on Sabbath and every night in the 
 week, and you can pray as often as you choose; 
 and every time you pray, whither it be at home 
 or in church, I want you to pray for me, my 
 wife and all my children; for if you are a good 
 man your prayers will do us no harm, and we 
 need them very much; and if you wish to you 
 may pray for everybody of my name in the 
 State. It will not injure them." 
 
 When Mr. B. was dealing out these privileges 
 to Moses, the negro's eyes danced in their sock- 
 ets and his full heart laughed outright for glad- 
 ness, exposing two rows of even, clean ivory. 
 
AND DARING DEEDS 111 
 
 His heart's response was. ^^Bress God, brets 
 God all de time, and bress you, too,massa;Moses 
 neber tinks 'bout he gwin to hab all des commo- 
 dationers ; dis makes tink 'bout Joseph in Egypt. 
 And after Moses had poured a few blessings on 
 Colonel C. and bidden him a warm adieu, and re- 
 quested him to give his love and farewell to his 
 mistress, the children and all the servants- He 
 followed Mr. B . to the store to enter upon the 
 functions of his new office. 
 
 The return of the schooner brought to Moses 
 his wife and children. 
 
 Early the next spring as Mr. B . was standing 
 in his store door, he saw a man leap upon the 
 wharf from the deck of a vessel, and walk hurri- 
 edly toward the store. He soon recognized him 
 as Colonel C. They exchanged salutations, and 
 to the Colonel's inquiry after Mose Mr. B. replied 
 that he was up stairs measuring grain, and in- 
 vited him to walk up and see him. Soon Mr. 
 B.'s attention was arrested by a very confused 
 noise above. He listened and heard some one 
 sobbing violently and some one talking very hur- 
 riedly; and when he reflected upon Colonel C*'s 
 movements and the peculiar expression of his 
 countenance, he became alarmed and went up to 
 see what was transpiring. 
 
112 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 When he reached the head of the stairs he 
 was startled at seeing Moses in the middle of the 
 floor down upon one knee, with his arm around 
 the Colonel's waist, and talking most rapidly, 
 while the Colonel was weeping audibly. 
 
 Soon as the Colonel could sufficiently control 
 his feelings, he told Mr. B. that he had never 
 been able to free himself from the influence of 
 Moses's prayers, and that during the past year 
 he and his wife and children had been converted. 
 
 Moses responded: *'Bress God, Massa C, doe I 
 way up hea, I neber forgit you in my prayers; I 
 olles put de ole massa side de new one. 
 
 Bress God, dis makes Moses tink about Joseph 
 in de Egypt. (this was m Baltimore. ) 
 
 *^YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN." 
 
 __ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ — 
 
 Now when Jesus told the people, 
 
 *'Ye must be born again," 
 How they marveled at this saying 
 
 But soon He made it plain. 
 When Nicodemus questioned Him 
 
 His answer was the same; 
 **Marvel not that I said unto thee, 
 
 Ye must be born again." 
 
*^YE MUST BE BORN ANEW." 113 
 
 **The wind bloweth where it listeth, 
 
 Our Saviour meekly said;" 
 And then He told of many thing, 
 
 And brought to life the dead. 
 <<I am come in my Father's name, 
 
 The world must know its true! 
 Marvel not that I said unto thee 
 
 Ye must be born anew." 
 
 They which are born of the spirit, 
 
 Will praise God here below, 
 And they abiding in His love; 
 
 Shall triumph o'er the foe. 
 The Saviour now is lifted up, 
 
 His words remain the same! 
 < ^Marvel not that I said unto thee 
 
 Ye must be born again." 
 
 **The true light shineth in darkness, 
 
 We speak that we do know;" 
 The spirit of God gives wisdom. 
 
 And brings true joy for woe. 
 Listen now to words from heaven! 
 
 These words cannot be slain; 
 *<Marvel not that I said unto thee, 
 
 Ye must be born again." 
 
114 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 ^'When John Carver and his associates landed 
 at Plymouth, and afterwards John Winthrop 
 and his associates arrived at Charlestown, they 
 might have doubted, on some accounts, whether 
 their names would be known to posterity. 
 They labored, however for the good of mankind, 
 and laid foundations with a distinct and special 
 regard for the benefit of future times. 
 
 Their posterity remember them with inex- 
 pressible gratitude, and their names will receive 
 new tributes of admiration with every succeed- 
 ing age." 
 
 The men who love to labor contribute in ma- 
 terial degrees to build up, and purify, and enoble 
 the future greatness of America- and such were 
 they who came to help the Lord against the 
 mighty, armed with noble thoughts that com- 
 mand attention, making their way through the 
 channel to success. ('^OH for a closer walk 
 WITH GOD.") Treatise on practical religion, and 
 its value to mankind, should have a place in ev- 
 ery home. The moral enterprises at the present 
 day are novel; if not in their character, and prin- 
 ciple, they are i]i combination and effect. 
 
 God smiles upon all good persevering and unl- 
 it ed people, acknowledging such as His friends 
 and His servants by His love. 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 115 
 
 The summary of life is with the memories of 
 the past. We should all live, so far as man is 
 concerned, in love- the flower of life — 
 
 All sifted and treasured by the carefulness of 
 the winds, which indifference and neglect have 
 failed to bear away. 
 
 We must admire fame, and love- which is the 
 gateway to heaven, thro' which we attain com- 
 panionship with angels at the alter of mercy. 
 
 The greatest and grandest motive of hfe, looks 
 heaven-ward- purity and nobility in love, shine 
 thro' wisdom. A young man once said after he 
 felt called to preach ' 'I applied myself to the Bi- 
 ble, then God's word became my meat and drink; 
 I realy thought I loved God's law. I thought I 
 loved to pray. I thought I loved to praise Him. 
 I loved to speak, and I thought I loved to hear. 
 I thought I loved to mourn and to rejoice- in a 
 word, that I loved all that God loved, and hated 
 all He hated — 
 
 I attended all the meetings that I could, and 
 always had something given me to say. — At 
 length I began to repeat the following words: 
 *'Lord, open doors and provide places for me to 
 preach in- open ears to hear me, and give me 
 food and raiment convenient for myself and 
 family, and I am thy servant forever,-' 
 
116 THEILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 In the summer of 1776, a year so memorable 
 in the history of the United States, a message 
 was received that Saint Johns was taken by the 
 British, and that the Indians, who were a terror 
 to all the early settlers, would be sent to lay 
 waste the country. 
 
 They were greatly alarmed, and at their wits 
 end to know what to do. After some consulta- 
 tion, they concluded the only course was to re- 
 move to some place of greater safety. Accord- 
 ingly with such of their effects as they could 
 carry in their flight, they left for Newbury, 
 where a fort had been erected, and soldiers sta- 
 tioned, both to protect the settlers from the Ind- 
 ians and the Tories in the surrounding country, 
 and to check the incursions of the Indians and 
 British from Canada. 
 
 Before leaving, William Nelson filled a large 
 Scotch chest with sundry articles, and buried it, 
 and then to prevent the suspicions of the sons of 
 the wilderness, burnt brush upon the grave . 
 
 They soon found however, that if they remain- 
 ed long at Newbury, a greater calamity if possi- 
 ble, than war, would befall them. 
 
 They had commenced to clear and cultivate 
 the land; their crops were in the ground, and 
 they must secure them, or die of starvation- 
 
AND DAEING DEEDS 117 
 
 These brave men again held a council and all 
 agreed that there was no alternative but to re- 
 turn at the risk of their lives. 
 
 Tradition reports that William Nelson preced- 
 ed the rest. He bravely said. ^*It is better to 
 die by the sword than famine, and tearing him- 
 self away from his weeping wife and children, 
 went boldly back, trusting in Jehovah's arm for 
 safety. During the day he worked hard, and 
 slept at night with his door barricaded, and his 
 gun at his pillow. 
 
 The expected invasion however did not occur, 
 and consequently all in a few days returned to 
 their own habitations. 
 
 Beasts of prey proved a greater annoyance 
 than the Indians. The latter, by kind hospita- 
 ble treatment became the friends of the settler, 
 but the wolves and bears which were very num- 
 erous, and were not easy to subdue. For some 
 time John Henderson was the only person that 
 owned a cow in that part of the town. The cow 
 not returning home as usual one evening; Mrs. 
 Henderson, in the absence of her husband went 
 in search for her. Soon after Mr. Henderson 
 came home, and missing his wife asked the child- 
 ren where their mother was? They said, ^'Moth- 
 er has gone to find the cow." 
 
118 AND DAKINO DEEDS 
 
 It was then dark, at once it occurred to him 
 she was lost. "With a pine torch in one hand, 
 and a gun in the other, he sallied forth to find 
 her. He fired off his gun. But no reply came, 
 he proceeded farther into the woods, and dis- 
 charged his gun the second time. She answered. 
 
 Following the direction of her voice, he found 
 her lodged in a tree, where she had taken refuge 
 from wild beasts. Being greatly terrified she 
 screamed outright, and such a noise. Bruin was 
 not accustomed to hear- and ran away. 
 
 Bear's meat was much used by the early set- 
 tlers. The lean part of the bear being like beef 
 and the fat like pork, it was a good substitute 
 for both. When salted a little, call it corn beef. 
 
 Besides the perils from the Indians, and wild 
 beasts, there were other difficulties that the ear- 
 ly settlers had to surmount to put their descend- 
 ants into the possession of their present cherish- 
 ed inheritance. 
 
 There were no bridges and no roads, but spott- 
 ed trees . When they went to mill with a grist, 
 they carried it on their backs, often more than 
 ten miles ; this was also the mode of conveyance, 
 in carrying articles to and from the store, which 
 was far away — Men and women then would 
 go ten miles on foot to worship Grod. in church. 
 
THE DEVIL AT HIS BEST. 11^ 
 
 When the Devil sought the people, 
 
 To o'er-throw the plans of God: 
 He had no use for Holy work, 
 
 True, Infinite, and broad. 
 He read the Scriptures so to teach, 
 
 That none are free from sin- 
 Therefore the just and Holy ones 
 
 Are all controlled by him. 
 
 He taught the people how to cheat. 
 
 He taught them how to lie; 
 He lead them into bondage deep, 
 
 And prisons where they die. 
 He told them how the high and low 
 
 Would in a measure win- 
 And they would up to heaven go. 
 
 Regardless of all sin. 
 
 He favors strongest kind of drink. 
 
 And said it makes all wise ; 
 His subjects stagger on the streets 
 
 With stimulated lies. 
 He fires them up to make a fuss. 
 
 And for an office seek- 
 His wisdom now is guiding those 
 
 Who steal, and hide, and sneak. 
 
120 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 Captain Comstock appeared at the battle of 
 Bennington barefooted. On being asked why he 
 so appeared, he replied. ^^111 kill the first Hes- 
 sian that falls in my way, and then 111 have his 
 shoes. He soon found an opportunity; killed a 
 Hessian, but his shoes were too small; shortly 
 he succeded in killing another, and while in the 
 act of placing his feet in the shoes of his unfor- 
 tunate and fallen enemy, a ball struck him and 
 he fell to rise no more; upon which a soldier of 
 his company by the name of Benjamin Griff is, 
 remarked to Lieut. Brownson, that the Captain, 
 had lost his shoes. 
 
 Upon another occasion, the battle still raging 
 and men falling. Griff is, (no doubt moved by self 
 interest, he having previously lost his wife. ) re- 
 marked to Lieut. Brownson that widows would 
 be plenty after the battle. 
 
 * * * * 
 Eldad Taylor, residing on a farm near the Roar- 
 ing Branch, had two daughters T and 4 years, 
 of age, who had wandered into the woods, on 
 the 31 of May, 1780. Not returning and night 
 coming on the parents were almost wild fearing 
 they had fallen a prey to the wild beasts that 
 were plenty in the forest. With the ade of a few 
 neighbors they commenced to search, which was 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 121 
 
 continued through the night, the next day they 
 were joined by a large number of people from 
 this and the adjoining towns. The search was 
 continued until mid-afternoon the third day; 
 when worn out by fatigue and despairing of 
 finding the lost wanderers alive, the men had 
 collected together with the view of returning to 
 their homes ; among them was Ethan Allen. 
 
 He mounted a stump and when all eyes were 
 fixed upon him, then in a manner peculiar to 
 himself, he pointed fii-st to the father and then 
 to the mother of the lost children, now petrified 
 with grief, he admonished each individual pres- 
 ant, and especially those who were parents, to 
 make the case of these parents his own, and then 
 say whether they could go contentedly to their 
 homes without making further effort to save 
 the dear little ones who probably are now alive, 
 perishing with hunger, and spending their last 
 strength in crying for father and mother to give 
 them some food. 
 
 As he spake, his giant frame was agitated, and 
 in the assembly of several hundred men, but few 
 eyes were dry; whereupon they all manifested a 
 willingness to return at once. The search was 
 again renewed, and before the sun-set that day, 
 the children were found and restored to parents. 
 
122 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 The town of Sunderland was for some time 
 the home of Gen. Ethan Allen, here he erected 
 a dwelling house on the north side of the Bat- 
 tenkill. This house remained upon its old site 
 as late as 1845. It was in this town where Ben- 
 jamin Huges, holding a Justice commission un- 
 der the colony of New York. Was brought be- 
 fore a Commitee of Safety and tried, convicted 
 and received the following sentence- 
 
 The prisoner to be taken from the bar of this 
 Committee and tied to a tree; receive full twenty 
 stripes; his back being dressed he shall depart 
 out of this district, and on return without spe- 
 cial leave of the Convention-suffer death. 
 
 This sentence was executed May 30th, 17Y5. 
 
 KEEP THE BANNER UP. 
 
 » » ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 Brightly the flag of freedom is waving, 
 Over our commerce, and schools so free; 
 
 And all the world can admire it friendly, 
 Wherever it floats o'er land or sea. 
 
 The flag of our union in glory shall wave- 
 Through wisdom and right prevailing; 
 
 When justice demands it answers the call! 
 No matter who are assailing. 
 
KEEP THE BANNEE UP. 123 
 
 We'll honor the union of this great nation, 
 
 Home of the Banner that waves so free; 
 And justly maintain the wise foundation! 
 
 Which liberty wrought for you and me. 
 In conflicts so far, the world may all know. 
 
 Our Banner revives the old story; 
 If ever in war we'll maintain the right, 
 
 We'U never give up ''old glory." 
 
 We all are in union with this great nation, 
 
 The birthplace of heroes, brave and true; 
 They pondered well, and lade the foundation, 
 
 And now their record, we can review. 
 The land they so loved the Banner waves o'er, 
 
 The star of the world, for rich or poor; 
 And in this relation we'll meekly adore, 
 
 This echoes now from shore to shore. 
 
 Keep the Banner up and waving, 
 
 Over land and sea; 
 It will never cease from glory, 
 
 True as true can be. 
 Keep the good old flag a waving 
 
 Then the world can see. 
 How we love the Starry Banner 
 
 The emblem of the free. 
 
124 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 In 1778 the settlers built the first log school 
 house in Middle bury, and in the fall of that year 
 there was a general distruction of property all 
 along the borders of the Champlain, which caus- 
 ed a complete desertion of that settlement till 
 after the war. 
 
 The settlers buried in the earth all of their ef- 
 fects they could not carry with them. 
 
 Olive Torrence, daughter of Robert Torrence, 
 who was but five years old at the time, gave the 
 following account, at the age of 84- They came 
 down Otter Creek on a raft, and built their cabin 
 where the family resided for years. 
 
 At the time of their flight Olive was 8 years 
 old. When the rumors of the depredations in 
 adjoining settlements came, the men left their 
 hoeing, and hauled out six canoes from among 
 the trees which they held in instant rediness. 
 
 In August the message came. The Tories and 
 Indians were approaching. They at once buried 
 their sugar, kettles, pewter, &c. under the floor 
 of their cabin. 
 
 Her mother went out once more to look upon 
 the promising garden she had taken so much 
 pains to cultivate, then they all proceeded down 
 to the creek, where a raft was constructed upon 
 which the women, children, and goods were plac- 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 125 
 
 ed and their journey commenced up the creek, 
 their only highway. ^'Mrs. Bently carried in 
 her arms the first child born in town, (Hannah 
 Bently) which attracted much attention, being 
 the only child." The fugitives landed at a mili- 
 tary station in Pittsf ord . 
 
 Mrs. Torence in a canoe, soon followed the oth- 
 er women, ' ^carrying in her arms a child about 
 two years old, in a sort of bundle gown brought 
 over her shoulder." Met a regiment of soldiers 
 drawn up in front of her. The Colonel recog- 
 nized her, and called out, ' ^My God, there's Sally 
 Peck! "(her maiden name.) *^It makes a man's 
 eyes run to see you brought to this!" At his 
 suggestion the soldiers gave up their quarters to 
 the women and children. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Judge Panter, though driven from his home, 
 did not leave the State till the British had gain- 
 ed a dangerous control over nearly all western 
 Vermont. He had been acquainted with Ethan 
 Allen before he came to Vermont, and was ' 'in- 
 timately associated with, Warner, and Baker, 
 in their movements. 
 
 He once visited the British post while they 
 held Crown Point, in order to spy, out their con- 
 dition and plans. He played the part of a half 
 
126 THKILLING ADVENTUKES 
 
 idiot, ' ^taking with him a basket in which he car- 
 ried a little butter, a few eggs, and some notions 
 to sell to the soldiers." The guard had been in- 
 structed to let no suspicious person pass, and 
 Painter, notwithstanding his appropriate dress 
 and foolish appearance, was too suspicious-look- 
 ing; hence, instead of being admitted into the 
 fort he was taken in a boat and rowed toward a 
 large boat in which were the superior officers, 
 before whom he was to be carried for examina- 
 tion. He knew he was in the power of the en- 
 emy who would soon be able to prove the fals- 
 ity of his character. 
 
 He saw the eyes of the officers were watching 
 every movement, but as though seeing not, sus- 
 pecting not, and casting himself down into the 
 boat, began to count over to himself the profits. 
 If he sold mother's butter for so much a pound, 
 and sister Susy's eggs for so much apiece- this 
 innocent unconcern and idiotic gibbering saved 
 him. The officers began to dread the ridicule it 
 might bring upon them to take so much pains 
 to capture a * 'perfect idiot," and upon consulta- 
 tion turned their boat about and allowed him to 
 enter the fort and trafic with the soldiers ; after 
 which he hurried his departure with a f ixt re- 
 solution never to enter in such disgrace again. 
 
I REMEMBER. 127 
 
 I remember past kindness shown, 
 
 And wish I'd loved them more; 
 For now I know that life has flown 
 
 Out through an open door. 
 In thought of true affection fled, 
 
 And a voice I hear no more! 
 Carries me back to when a lad, 
 
 I slammed the kitchen door. 
 
 My mother in the good old way, 
 
 With justice on her mind; 
 Gave me a dressing up that day. 
 
 She taught me to be kind; 
 In every act, look or thought. 
 
 My mother had control; 
 And now that lesson to me taught, 
 
 Brings blessings to my soul. 
 
 All mother's love may be the same. 
 
 My mother's love was true; 
 And I shall always prize that name, 
 
 That name has honored you. 
 A thousand prayers without a pause, 
 
 Could not restore the past! 
 And true to every worthy cause, 
 
 My mother's deeds will last. 
 
128 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 **When the ladies," said Mr. Powers, came to 
 Wells river (there being no canoes), they would 
 bare their feet, and trip it along as nimbly as a 
 deer, the men generally went barefooted, the la- 
 dies certainly, wore shoes. 
 
 Money was a scarce article in those days as 
 shown by the following incident: Gen. White- 
 law purchased a corn-broom, the first that was 
 used in the settlement. 
 
 His daughter being very much pleased with 
 it, remarked that she would never again be to 
 the trouble to make a broom of hemlock brush, 
 when one much superior can be bought for twen- 
 ty-five cents. **Marion" said her father. *^I 
 have seen the time when there was not twenty- 
 five cents in the neighborhood." 
 
 In digging to lay the foundation of a dam in 
 Woodford, for a forge, in removing a large pine 
 stump, the horns of an elk, weighing 60 lbs., 
 were found imbedded in the ground below the 
 roots of the stump. 
 
 Mr. Cutler, the first settler of Woodford City, 
 on one occasion lost himself in the woods, and 
 wandered around until sundown. 
 
 Seeing no prospect of getting out that night, 
 he began looking about for a place to lodge, and 
 stepping over an old log, found himself in a nest 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 129 
 
 of young cubs . The little bruins immediately 
 gave a loud alarm, which was answered by the 
 old bear, about 10 rods distant. 
 
 Mr. C, entirely without weapons, made for 
 the nearest tree with all possible dispatch. This 
 was a beech, its nearest branch nearly 20 feet 
 from the ground. 
 
 He sprang up, and barely got his feet out of 
 her reach when she struck at him with her paw. 
 
 Finding his chance was good for staying thro' 
 the night, he ascended into the branches and 
 there cut with a small knife a good stick for de- 
 fence, and cut off some small limbs and fastened 
 himself to the tree with them. 
 
 Mrs. Bruin kept near to the foot of the tree in 
 close watch until after daylight, then she took 
 her family and moved off to other quarters. 
 
 Mr. C, beholding at length the coast clear, com- 
 menced taking a view from his elevated position 
 of the surrounding country, hoping to obtain a 
 glimps once more of civilization or the abodes 
 of men. He then made up his mind as to the 
 best course to take, decended the tree and reach- 
 ed the habitation of human beings on the old 
 turnpike about noon. 
 
 From that part of the town the view of the 
 surrounding country was exceedingly grand. 
 
130 BEAUTIFUL DAYS. 
 
 ♦ » ♦ »♦ 
 
 Beautiful Days, inspiring thought, 
 
 New scenes enlighten the mind; 
 The landscape view where-e'er you go, 
 
 Some scenes are fading in kind. 
 The mountains, and rivers, and lakes, 
 
 What more can delight the mind; 
 The valley scenes, and meadows green, 
 
 All were made to bless mankind. 
 
 Years ago, the days were gliding, 
 
 Past my old home in Vermont, 
 And like a pleasant picture lying 
 
 I now view past scenes in thought. 
 The old cottage can now be seen, 
 
 Where mother's flowers did grow, 
 And the old fence by the way-side 
 
 That was built there years ago. 
 
 Sitting near the dear old homestead, 
 
 I could look o'er Lake Champlain, 
 And beyond its lovely borders 
 
 I viewed the Adirondacks plain. 
 Up and down the streets IVe wander'd, 
 
 In the Champlain Valley fair! 
 Then I viewed the ancient orchards 
 
 That were planted early there. 
 
BEAUTIFUL DAYS, CON., 13X 
 
 Beautiful scenes, now I remember, 
 
 Sitting by the hearth at night. 
 Where pleasant looks in tender love 
 
 Then did glow in candle-light. 
 Now in my fancy I seem to hear, 
 
 The dear children's voices ring; 
 While in reviewing year by year, 
 
 The old songs we used to sing. 
 
 Oft the frost would nip my fingers, 
 
 In the winter's stormy blast. 
 Then I sported making snow-paths 
 
 With my sled it was no task. 
 How Beautiful the days did seem 
 
 When the time was spent in play; 
 Then pleasure had a shining path 
 
 That has lingered to this day. 
 
 The Beautiful past is never a dream, 
 
 Although it has taken flight, 
 The future may unfold its leaves, 
 
 More Beautiful and bright. 
 I think of the time that is to come, 
 
 Far beyond this earthly shore. 
 Where I may clasp the hands I love. 
 
 And say good by no more. 
 
 ♦ ♦♦♦♦• 
 
132 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 As yet no established post roads had been con- 
 structed, and the arrangments for carrying the 
 mail were every way inadequate to the wants of 
 the settlers. All the southern mails were con- 
 veyed from Barnet to St. Johnsbury, over the 
 hill road through Peacham and Danville. 
 
 The post riders made their periodic circuits on 
 horse back, fuUy equipped with saddle bags and 
 a large tin horn. 
 
 Prominent among these public functionaries, 
 and well known for his daring deeds was the 
 man William Trescott. He had been endowed 
 by nature with a versatile genius. His attain- 
 ments in astronomy, and capacity for ardent 
 spirits were alike immense, and his genius was 
 especially exercised in the construction of alma- 
 nacs and the destruction of bears. 
 
 He it was, who encountered and vanquished 
 Bruin on the edge of the gravel bank south of 
 the Plain. It happened on this wise: Trescott 
 had been employed in clearing and burning over 
 the tract of hill land. The fires required-' ^tuck- 
 ing up" in the evening, and this had excited the 
 curiosity of a certain bear, who after dark, prow- 
 led out of the woods to investigate proceedings. 
 
 In the course of their wanderings over the hill- 
 side Trescott and Bruin most unadvisedly met. 
 
AND DABING DEEDS US 
 
 each being astonished at seeing in the darkness 
 an undefined phenomenon standing on two feet. 
 
 No very considerable space of time elapsed 
 before an acquaintance was effected, and warm- 
 ly embracing each other, the two rolled down the 
 hill-side, until cradled in the hollow of an up- 
 rooted stump. 
 
 Trescott was now underneath, uninjured and 
 unterrified. His right hand was free, with it he 
 straightway produced a knife from his pocket, 
 and after opening the blade of the same with his 
 teeth, applied it with fatal effect to the jugular 
 vain of the quadruped. 
 
 This ended the tragedy; but the bear mean- 
 time had suffered untold agonies from the inces- 
 sant worrying and yelping of Trescott's dog, and 
 it was said, that personal comfort of both com- 
 batants had been seriously endangered by the 
 showers of fire brands that came blazing down 
 the hill-side at the instigation of a certain terri- 
 fied youth above. 
 
 Now in giving the minor particulars of this 
 transaction, authorities somewhat differ, but as 
 to the ESSENTIAL FACTS, that Bill Trescott met, 
 and hugged and rolled down hill with a bear 
 there can be no question. Several years after 
 the above adventure a movement was made on 
 
134 THRILLING ADVENTUEES. 
 
 the part of citizens, to wage a war of extermin- 
 ation against the bears; in fact they had greatly 
 multipUed in that locality. Dr. Calvin Jewett 
 was commander-in-chief who mustered all the 
 effective forces, who took down their fowling- 
 pieces and went forth into the haunts of the of- 
 fenders. An ample range of the forest was se- 
 lected, taking in the steep bank of the Passump- 
 sic, opposite the bend in the river near Center- 
 ville. Scattered about were the hunters, but 
 after they went over the hill-top and returned 
 through the forest, nine black bear pelts were 
 spread out on the grass in front of Edson's tav- 
 ern. And suggestive is the fact that the nine 
 pelts were soon sold for the necessaries of life, 
 then so called, ^ 'rum, bread and butter." 
 
 THE RESCUE. 
 
 Carry out to them the life line, 
 
 Don't wait till the storm is o'er; 
 For you can mount the billows high 
 
 And row your boat from shore. 
 Your captain is true and ready 
 
 To direct you with the line; 
 So pull out for the shipwreck crew 
 
 Without any waste of time. 
 
THE KESCUE, CON., 135 
 
 Now hurry out with the life line, 
 
 Fear not if the waves are rough; 
 Just show your manly courage boys, 
 
 Your boat is strong enough- 
 Now take each stroke on together, 
 
 And row with all your might! 
 You'll soon reach the stranded ship 
 
 Then fasten the line on tight. 
 
 When you make fast the life line. 
 
 There's something more to do, 
 Pull in the line with all you might, 
 
 Then hurry and bring the crew. 
 Some may be dead or perishing 
 
 While the line is holding fast; 
 Bring them now safely to the shore. 
 
 Then your joy will come at last. 
 
 Rough and wild, the billows raging, 
 
 When the life boat came to shore. 
 With the crew of rescued sailors. 
 
 Numbering more than half a score. 
 Then from the ocean's raging water. 
 
 And the storm of rain and sleet, 
 Those brave men were soon rejoicing 
 
 For their rescue was complete. 
 
136 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 In Oct, 1759 Maj. Rogers and his company of 
 rangers came down the Passumpsic from Cana- 
 da, in his expedition to punish the St. Francis 
 tribe of Indians, and being disappointed in not 
 receiving provisions on the Connecticut River, a 
 number of them died of starvation. 
 
 From Thompson's Gazetteer of Vermont, edi- 
 tion 1824, says, ''Maj. Rogers, with one hundred 
 and fifty six men, came to the mouth of the Pa- 
 ssumpsic, discovered a fire on the round island, 
 made a raft and passed over to it- but to their 
 surprise no provisions had been left. 
 
 The men already reduced to a state of starva- 
 tion, were so disheartened that sixty-six of them 
 died before the next day. 
 
 An Indian was cut to pieces and divided am- 
 ong the survivors. David Woods, was one of 
 Rogers's sergeants, and stated the above to be 
 correct." This account is not correct in some im- 
 portant particulars. Rogers's journal and the 
 histories of the expedition show that the soldiers 
 and prisoners, all told did not amount to that 
 number, besides all of the survivors were not 
 then and there present, and that it is highly im- 
 probable that so great a number as sixty-six died 
 in eighteen hours. Peter Lervey, one of Rogers 
 men told about the soldiers dropping off before 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 137 
 
 they came to the Connecticut River, but made 
 no mention of the party eating human flesh. 
 
 David Woods, said that he was with Rogers, 
 and that they camped near the mouth of the 
 Passumpsic, and that night snow fell several 
 inches deep, and that a negro soldier died that 
 night and was cut up in the morning and divid- 
 ed among the soldiers, and he had one hand for 
 his share, on which with a small trout, after be- 
 ing well cooked, made a very good breakfast 
 
 After breakfast, in going down the river they 
 discovered fire on the round island opposite its 
 mouth, and that Rogers and one man passed 
 over to the island . 
 
 Rogers became satisfied that men had been 
 there with provisions but had left. 
 
 On his return to his men a consultation was 
 had each soldier was told to take care of himself. 
 
 Another person writes, ' 'Joseph Woods told 
 me, and I think his father told him, that about 
 the time the rangers expected to die of starva- 
 tion, the men cast lots to see who should be kill- 
 ed to furnish food so that they might not all die, 
 and that one was killed and eaten." 
 
 Another person told the writer that he heard 
 Hiram Woods say that he had ' 'eaten a piece of 
 an Indian," Now these stories can be reconciled 
 
138 THEILLING ADVENTUKES 
 
 upon the improbable supposition that Eogers's 
 party killed one man, a soldier; and ate three 
 dead men, one white man, a negro, and an Indi- 
 an. It is safe to assert that there is no proof 
 that Kogers and his men, as a party, killed or 
 ate any man, white, black, or red. 
 
 It is gratifying to know that an investigation 
 dispelled the cloud that had so long time obscur- 
 ed, in some degree, the glory of the heroic Rogers 
 and his brave men, who fearlessly went hund- 
 reds of miles through the enemy's country, per- 
 formed exploits, and endured the torture of fam- 
 ine and fatigue, to punish the horrid barbarities 
 long practised by the savages of Canada, and so 
 save the families of the frontier settlers. 
 
 LIFE'S TRIALS. 
 
 — ♦♦ ♦ ♦♦ 
 
 When life's trials come before thee, 
 
 With their fearful rolling swell, 
 Look to Heaven then for rescue 
 
 And you'll feel that all is well: 
 See you have the christian courage, 
 
 Firmly bound within your heart, 
 Then all bitter burning anguish. 
 
 Will forever more depart. 
 
LIFE'S TEIALS, CON., 139 
 
 Time is passing ^*God has promised," 
 
 Through all sorrows to attend, 
 He who's more than friend or brother 
 
 Will be with us to the end.- 
 There's no shading o'er the portals, 
 
 Leading to our Heav'nly home 
 **Jesus promised life eternal," 
 
 There in glory we'll be known. 
 
 When the hands and heart is weary, 
 
 And our strength shall be no more, 
 Then we'll dwell in glorious sunshine. 
 
 Far beyond this earthly shore .- 
 There will be no gloom or darkness, 
 
 In that place so free from care; 
 And the angels with God's glory. 
 
 Shine in splendor ever there. 
 
 Lift your voices, for the Master, 
 
 Say to sinners now be-ware; 
 That you know a sad condition, 
 
 For in sin you've had a share! 
 Tell them how the love of Jesus, 
 
 Lifts a heavy load of care; 
 And when trials come around thee, 
 
 He'll not leave thee in despair. 
 ♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
140 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 Reuben Parker was born in Westminster, 
 Mass., and settled in Peru Vt., sometime prior to 
 1800- he was one of the first 4 families in town, 
 and was active in every good work, and was a 
 prime mover in all town affairs. 
 
 He kept the first public house in town, and as 
 it was customary in those days he kept a bar of 
 liquors; but when the temperance wave rolled 
 up the mountain side he at once became its ad- 
 vocate, and would neither use or furnish others 
 the noxious beverage. 
 
 He had 12 children, and to say that they were 
 all true sons and daughters of such a parent 
 confers upon them an enviable, yet a rightful 
 dower. At one time Mr. Biglow received a dis- 
 cription of two thieves who were thought to be 
 in his vicinity . He immediately set off- having 
 arrived at the hotel in Londonberry, the inn- 
 keeper, Mr. Gray, told him he tho't the very men 
 he was in search of had taken dinner there and 
 were then not far away on the road to Weston. 
 
 Mr. Biglow, in reply said. ''I will have them," 
 went on alone, and coming up to them ordered 
 them to stop, but instead of- they started at full 
 speed on their stolen horses and he after them. 
 
 He captured them both, how we can not tell, 
 unless there was a fascination in his eye, a power 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 141 
 
 in his voice, and authority in his command that 
 could not be resisted. 
 
 Rev. M. Bingham whom he valued very high- 
 ly, was at one time stopping at his house, a very 
 earnestly devoted man, he arose early one morn- 
 ing, and going into the cornfield not far from the 
 house, knelt in prayer. 
 
 One of Biglow's daughters espyed some black 
 object in the corn, ran to her father telling him 
 that a bear was in the corn. 
 
 He caught his gun and aimed it- but just as 
 he was about to fire, Mr. Bingham slowly arose 
 from his knees. 
 
 In 1803 Mrs. Bard, went on horseback, in a 
 bridle-path most of the way to the north part of 
 the town, and on her return, when about half a 
 mile from any clearing she came up to three 
 bears directly in her path, they were digging for 
 roots. Her horse refused to go past them; she 
 hallooed, and threw at them her riding-stick. 
 They merely looked up and went on with their 
 digging. She turned her horse, and rode back 
 to an old tree and broke some branches from it, 
 Tvhich she threw at them, causing them to leave 
 the path, two on one side and one on the other, 
 then she rode on between them unmolested, but 
 not entirely free from fear. 
 
142 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 In 1811 she rode from Peru to Manchester for 
 meal; which was so very scarce at the time they 
 would not sell it to a man, hut could not refuse 
 a woman who pleads hard for herself, and her 
 dear children's need. She left a babe at home 
 but a few weeks old, and proceeded on the way, 
 amid the screams of wild beasts. 
 
 Mr. Bard's health was always delicate, conse- 
 quently the hardships of life in a new country, 
 pressed more heavily upon his wife; but she bore 
 them nobly: she was the mother of 9 children 8 
 daughters and one son. 
 
 A PRICELESS LOVER. 
 
 A priceless lover I have found, 
 
 He's rich among the rest. 
 He always smiles in pleasure, 
 
 And takes his time to rest- 
 He often called last summer, 
 
 To sing his songs of love; 
 And then walk out together. 
 
 To view the stars above. 
 How pleasant and enchanting, 
 
 When strolling in delight, 
 To smile upon your lover 
 
 Out in the sweet twilight. 
 
A PRICELESS LOVER, CON., 143 
 
 I have found a priceless lover, 
 
 He soon will cross the sea, 
 And spread the joyful tiding 
 
 Where ever '*we may be." 
 He looks high for relation, 
 
 And smiles if others frown; 
 My lover true *'I must tell you. 
 
 Is worth ten thousand pounds." 
 How lengthy are the moments, 
 
 In waiting for the time. 
 When we will be so happy 
 
 Out on the wedding line. 
 
 He never was dishonest, 
 I He wearies not in strife, 
 
 To love him is a pleasure 
 
 And soon he'U have a wife. 
 His ways are never falty. 
 
 In action he's a star; 
 In music he's a master, 
 
 And never at the bar. 
 
 Returned once more, to spend life's evening gray, 
 Where first had dawned the morning of his day. 
 
144 THEILLINQ ADVENTUKES 
 
 In ITTI, settlements were commenced on the 
 White Creek meadows by New Yorkers, who 
 had armed themselves in defiance of the New- 
 Hampshire grantees. 
 
 Soon after, the latter, well armed proceeded 
 to drive off the intruders, who fled, and the log 
 houses which they had erected were pulled 
 down in heaps and burned with fire. 
 
 In 1772, the Sheriff of Albany County, armed 
 with the Governor's proclamation came on for 
 the purpose of arresting the rioters — (as they 
 were called,)- but the inhabitants having found 
 out the Sheriff's intention turned out en masse, 
 headed by *^one Harmon near Indian river, "and 
 with guns and clubs drove them back, and they 
 were glad to escape with their lives. 
 
 The New Hampshire grantees were in the 
 habit of applying the ^^Beech Seal"to the naked 
 backs of the intruding ' 'Yorkers." 
 
 *> <* »i* '1* 
 
 To show the charcter of the Tories, and their 
 hostility to the cause of the Eevolution, the fol- 
 lowing story is told. Maj . Ormsby, then resid- 
 ing in Manchester, a leading and active Whig, 
 who had exposed himself to their especial hat- 
 red, and they were determined to capture him 
 for the British, then at Saratoga. 
 
AND DAEING DEEDS. 145 
 
 Accordingly, six or eight Tories left Rupert in 
 the night and proceeded to the Major's house. 
 Fortunately he was not at home; but they seized 
 his son Daniel, a young man about 21 years old, 
 then they returned in haste with their prisoner 
 to the wilds of Rupert. 
 
 In the morning an alarm was given, and the 
 friends of Ormsby, turned out for the purpose of 
 rescuing him . They were enabled to follow the 
 track of the Tories, in consequence of the pris- 
 oner having taken the precaution, unobserved, of 
 frequently breaking twigs off the low branches 
 of trees, while traveling in the woods. 
 
 The rescuers came across the party while at 
 lunch on the north side of the town, and part 
 way up the mountain. 
 
 The TORIES, had in the meantime dressed their 
 prisoner in a red coat, in imitation of a British 
 soldier, John Nelson, one of the rescuing party 
 drew up his gun and was in the act of firing up- 
 on the RED-COAT, when the latter made a sign 
 that he was a friend, then the former dropped 
 his gun. He was thus rescued from the grasp 
 of the TORIES and returned to Manchester. 
 
 Dr. Josiah Graves was the first physician that 
 settled in Rupert, he was a good man and well 
 schooled in his practice, and was opposed to Dr. 
 
146 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 QUACKS. The following anecdote is characteris- 
 tic, and shows the contempt he had for quack- 
 ery. A Dr. Drew settled in Rupert, whom Dr.G 
 considered a quack, and would not acknowledge 
 him as a physician. At a certain time a stran- 
 ger, passing along inquired of Dr. G. where Dr, 
 D. lived- Dr. G. replied. ^^I know no such 
 man." The stranger with surprise repeated the 
 question. The Doctor again replied, ^^I know 
 no such man." The stranger replied, that it was 
 singular- very singular, for there was certainly 
 such a man living somewhere in this town. 
 
 The Doctor finally made answer. ^'I know no 
 such man as doctor Drew, but there is a Jacob 
 K. Drew who lives about two miles below. 
 
 MESSAGE TO MOTHER. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 Take this Message to his brother, 
 
 Then he'll know the bitter part, 
 He will read it to his Mother, 
 
 So it may not break her heart. 
 She will fear there is some trouble. 
 
 And o'er this she must feel sad! 
 When she listens to the Message, 
 
 She will know he's injured bad. 
 
MESSAGE TO MOTHER, CON., 147 
 
 As their train was flying homeward, 
 
 All their pleasurers were delight, 
 'Till they met a train up-coming 
 
 With a load of freight that night: 
 The crash was loud no one can tell, 
 
 As cars smashed down each other! 
 But now we can remember well, 
 
 This Message to his Mother. 
 
 In this wreck lov'd ones were dying, 
 
 All could heard them plead and call! 
 While in timbers pil'd high o'er them, 
 
 Brave men wept, and work'd for all. 
 Now in homes there is deep sorrow. 
 
 Where they view the vacant chair! 
 And this Message will be cherish'd, 
 
 In true friendship ev'ry-where. 
 
 Dear Mother,! am injured now, 
 ^ We're nearly all smashed up; 
 
 jxj What love can I impart to you, 
 ^ In this sad and bitter cup! 
 
 1^ I know you must be watching, 
 Q And waiting for me at home; 
 
 H Oh! Mother, I'm disabled now 
 And cannot walk alone. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
148 TRUSTWORTHY DOG. 
 
 As Major C was retiring to his chamber one 
 night his dog silently followed him up into his 
 room, which he had never been known to do be- 
 fore, and to the master's astonishment, desired 
 to stay all night. 
 
 Being considered out of his place, he was told 
 to go down and stay in his own quarters- after 
 being put out he began scratching for admission. 
 
 The servant was sent to drive him away. Dis- 
 couragement could not check his intended la- 
 bor of love, or rather providential impulse; he 
 returned again, and was more importunate than 
 before, to be let in. 
 
 The Major, weary of opposition, bade the serv- 
 ant to open the door, that they might see what 
 he really wanted to do. 
 
 This done, the dog with a wag of his tail; and a 
 look of affection at his lord, deliberately walked 
 up and crawling under the bed, and there laid 
 himself down as if desirous to stay all night. 
 
 To save farther trouble, but not from any love 
 for his company, he was allowed to sleep under- 
 neath his masters bed* 
 
 About the solemn hour of midnight his cham- 
 ber door opened, and a person was heard step- 
 ping across the room. Mage sprang out from un- 
 der the bed, and seized the unwelcome disturber. 
 
TRUSTWORTHY DOG. 149 
 
 and held on to him, this awakened the Major, 
 who quickly sprang out of bed. All was dark, 
 but the Major soon obtained a light. 
 
 The person who was pinned to the floor by the 
 courageous dog, cried for assistance. 
 
 The prisoner was found to be the hired man, 
 who little expected such a reception. 
 
 He endeavored to apologize for his intrusion, 
 and to make the reasons plausible; but the im- 
 portunity of the dog, the time, the place, the 
 manner all raised suspicions in the Majors mind, 
 and he determined to bring the case before the 
 magistrate. 
 
 The Italian somewhat terrified by the dread of 
 punishment, and soothed with the hopes of par- 
 don, at length confessed that it was his inten- 
 tion to murder his master, and rob the house. 
 
 This design was frustrated only by the in- 
 stinctive attachment of the dog to his master, 
 which seemed to have been directed on this oc- 
 casion by the interference of Providence. 
 
 How else could the poor animal have known 
 the intended assassination? 
 
 How else could he have learned to submit to 
 injury and insult for his well-meant services; 
 and finally seize and detain a person, who it is 
 possible had shown him more kindness than his 
 
150 TKUSTWORTHY DOG. 
 
 owner ever had? Mage was of a surly unsocial 
 temper, disdaining all flattery, and refused to be 
 caressed; but his attention to his master's com- 
 mands and interests could not well be excelled. 
 
 He was scarcely then a year old, and was very 
 awkward at times. 
 
 But when-ever he discovered what was his du- 
 ty to do he was ever anxious to do it. 
 
 He would always deliberately try to find out 
 what his master desired of him. 
 
 As he grew older he often astonished his mas- 
 ter when hard pressed in accomplishing the task 
 that he was put to, he had expedients of the mo- 
 ment that bespoke a great share of his faculty. 
 
 OLD DOG PETE. 
 
 It's now a sad story, but true to relate, 
 
 Of a drunkard, and his Old Dog Pete: 
 When Pete was young, his master was kind, 
 
 And at that time he drank beer and wine. 
 Pete grew to be a large dog, kind and true, 
 
 And when the Col. was drunk, Pete knew, 
 And would follow, no matter what was said, 
 
 And then sleep beside his masters bed. 
 
OLD DOG PETE, CON., 151 
 
 One bitter cold night, when snow drifted fast, 
 
 The Colonel's, team went flying on past, 
 His neighbors saw this, and they well knew. 
 
 That he would perish if out in the snow. 
 His friends with lanterns went out to find, 
 
 The drunkard in that cold freezing time, 
 On the road they listened, and heard Pete cry, 
 
 He would'nt leave his master there to die. 
 
 The neighbors knew that Pete was ever true. 
 
 If they found one they would find two; 
 Listening while walking they kept the way. 
 
 For they could hear Pete cry, *^as to say!" 
 **Will some-one hear me? I feel most forlorn, 
 
 My master will freeze,! fear in this storm," 
 Soon a light was shining down the road- way. 
 
 Where Old Pete's master in the snow lay. 
 
 '^There's Pete! on the snow-drift just ahead. 
 
 He's listening to hear, all that is said. 
 Will he know us now so covered with snow? 
 
 If not, we must try to make him know! 
 We are friends Pete, what's the trouble now? 
 
 At first he growled, but then he knew," 
 They had come to carry his master home, 
 
 Who was freezing then out in the storm. 
 
152 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 Elder Amos Tuttle accepted a call to preach 
 in the town of Hardwick and vicinity in 1795 . 
 In October, that year he started with his family 
 from Litchfield for Hardwick. Such a journey 
 was in those days a great undertaking. 
 
 They were fifteen days on the way, and met 
 with no more serious accident than the breaking 
 of the wagon. They arrived at Gilman's in Wal- 
 den, October 31. At about dark that day, they 
 encountered a heavy rain-storm, their bedding 
 was soon taken from the wagon and placed on 
 the floor in a little bark-covered log house, and 
 there the tired immigrants lay down to rest. 
 
 There was not a pane of glass about the house, 
 therefore no sign of day appeared until the door 
 was opened in the morning. 
 
 The next morning to their great surprise the 
 ground was covered with snow to the depth of 
 15 inches. 
 
 A messenger was sent to Hardwick, request- 
 ing their friends to send teams to convey them 
 on their journey. Three sleds, with wild steers 
 ^were sent. Two of them were loaded with the 
 goods, and the third was fitted up with boxes 
 for seats, and with plenty of straw whereupon 
 to carry the sick, disheartened, mother and 
 weeping children. 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 153 
 
 David Tuttle, who was then a small boy, says, 
 *'As we reached the bottom of that awful hill at 
 the Lamoille River, the sleds stopped that the 
 bridge might be repaired . I saw my mother and 
 brother and little sister all in tears, and shall 
 never forget the expression of sadness when my 
 mother said, *^Dear husband, where are you tak- 
 ing me? I shall die, and what will become of the 
 children? It sobered me for the rest of that day, 
 and brings tears to my eyes now in my old age, 
 as I relate it.'' 
 
 They turned off from the Hazen road and fol- 
 lowed a narrow sled-path which wound through 
 the woods, across the Tuttle brook. 
 
 The journey thus far being a success, the next 
 care of our pioneer pastor, was to find a house 
 for his family. There was an empty log shanty 
 to be had but it was some out of repair. 
 
 Elder Tuttle however was strong and healthy, 
 and with the aid of his friends he succeeded by 
 the middle of November, in making it habitable. 
 There were to be sure, neither windows or cup- 
 boards, nor chimney, and the hut itself was only 
 12 by 15 on the inside. But he cut some holes 
 through the logs and pasted oiled paper over for 
 windows, and the smoke found its own way up- 
 ward without any chimney. 
 
154 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 A successful hunt on snow-shoes by his party 
 in the which three moose were killed, provided 
 the family with meat for a time. 
 
 After thus providing '^the food comfort," the 
 next question seems to have been how to get 
 about his parish. 
 
 He soon found a way. He hewed out a "Tom- 
 pung," as he called it, and put it together with 
 wooden pins. And with some pieces of rope 
 which had been used to bind on the loads while 
 moving, he made into a kind of harness. 
 
 This answered every purpose so far as to fast- 
 en the horse to the pung, and to guide him on 
 through the woods among his people who were 
 somewhat scattered in four towns. 
 
 CHRIST GAVE ME PEACE. 
 
 Christ gave me peace one dismal day, 
 While I was looking o'er His way, 
 
 His pardon then, I did receive. 
 And now I'm happy to believe. 
 
 Inspire dear Lord-engraft all ties, 
 And give us wisdom to be wise, 
 
 Shine in my heart and glory bring! 
 I love Thy name and love to sing. 
 
CHRIST GAVE ME PEACE. 155 
 
 All seeking souls upon this earth, 
 Can into glory have a birth: 
 
 And then to dwell with Christ above, 
 And sing with angels songs of love. 
 
 Sometime the cold, cold, wave of death, 
 Will enter in and take the breath; 
 
 For all must part from earthly ties 
 To meet the Saviour in the skies. 
 
 REFRAIN. 
 
 Oh, yes! I'm happy in sunshine Divine, 
 For now I can own the Saviour as mine, 
 He led me from darkness, and gave me 
 
 His peace; 
 Gave me His peace-gave me His peace, 
 He led me from darkness, and gave me 
 
 His peace; 
 And then from bondage, I found relief. 
 
 COME LET US SING. 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 Come I let us sing, in daytime or night. 
 
 Sing with a glad heart, hopeful and bright, 
 All join the chorus, singing songs we love. 
 Looking beyond to the bright home above. 
 
 Sing all ye people, through joyful strain; 
 
 Sing with the spirit Christ doth contain. 
 Glory give in song, for mercy and for love 
 Glory give in song, for the Kingdom above* 
 
156 THE BARBER'S GHOST. 
 
 A gentleman traveling some years since in one 
 of the southern states, called at an inn, and desir- 
 ed to stay all night. The host informed him it 
 was out of his power to accommodate him, as 
 his house was full, still he entreated him for lodg- 
 ing, as he was almost exhausted in traveling, as 
 well as his beast. 
 
 After much urging he consented, provided he 
 would sleep in the room that had long been un- 
 occupied, in consequence of a belief that it was 
 haunted by the ghost of a barber ,who was reput- 
 ed to have been murdered there. *'Very well," 
 ''I'm not afraid of ghosts." Then said the host, 
 those who lodged in the room last, stated that af- 
 ter retiring a voice was heard, saying, ' 'do you 
 WANT TO BE SHA-VED?" "Well, replied the guest, '' 
 "If he comes I'll let him shave me." 
 
 He then requested to be shown to the apart- 
 ment . He was conducted through a room where 
 were seated a number at a gaming table. 
 
 Feeling a curiosity which almost every one 
 possesses, after having heard 'ghost stories,' he 
 carefully searched every closet in his apartment 
 but could find nothing but a large basin. 
 
 He then retired, in a short time he imagined 
 he heard a voice. He arose and went to his win- 
 dow, the sound appeared to come from the out- 
 
THE BARBER'S GHOST. ISTi 
 
 side . After a few moments of suspense, he heard 
 the sound distinctly. On closer examination he 
 observed that a limb of the venerable oak project- 
 ed so near the house, as on every breath of wind 
 to grate the shingle, creating a sound like ''do 
 YOU WANT TO BE SHA-VED." Having satisfied 
 himself he went to bed again, and attempted to 
 sleep ;but was interrupted by peals of laughter in 
 the room below, where the gamblers were assem- 
 bled. Thinking he could turn his discovery to 
 his own advantage, he took the sheet from his 
 bed, and wrapped it around him. 
 
 Then taking a basin that was in the room de- 
 scended to the room of the gamblers, and sud- 
 denly opening the door, rushed in, exclaiming in 
 a tremulous voice. ''Do — you — want — to — be — 
 sha — ved?" Terrified at this sudden interrupt- 
 ion, they left the room in the greatest confusion; 
 some tumbling down stairs over the heads of 
 some others. 
 
 He then deliberately put his basin under the 
 table, and gathered an immense sum of money 
 into it, which had been left thereupon, and then 
 retired peaceably to his room to rest. 
 
 The next morning on going down below, he 
 found the utmost confusion. 
 
 They immediately asked him if he enjoyed a 
 
158 THE BARBER'S GHOST 
 
 good night's rest. He replied in the affirma- 
 tive. **Well, no wonder," for the ghost, instead 
 of going to his usual place he made a mistake, 
 and came into our room, and carried off every 
 cent of our money!" The guest, without being 
 the least suspected, quietly ate his breakfast, and 
 departed with his valuable treasure. 
 
 THE UPPER STORY. 
 
 — ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ » — 
 
 How is the upper story. 
 
 At morning noon or night? 
 How is the upper story. 
 
 The room above your sight. 
 Was the room ever vacant. 
 
 In trouble can you see? 
 It is the only store room, 
 
 That ever troubled me. 
 It is the highest occupant. 
 
 For knowledge is the test; 
 And it may be your fortune, 
 
 To have more than the rest. 
 
THE UPPER STORY. 169 
 
 How is the upper story, 
 
 When the taxes are due? 
 How is the upper story; 
 
 When your business is blue? 
 If the upper story's vacant, 
 
 You could'nt have an ache- 
 And when the time is lovely. 
 
 You'll never feel to hate. 
 The upper story is the best 
 
 For ev'ry kind of mind. 
 It holds a world of knowledge. 
 
 To make or mar mankind. 
 
 The upper story cultivate. 
 
 The room below your hat. 
 It's worthy of attention, 
 
 'Till grayer than a rat 
 Because it belongs to you. 
 
 And it belongs to Pat, 
 And each one can elevate. 
 
 And dwell within the flat. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ » ♦ 
 
 Wise men live in honor trusting, 
 Self denying work and pray; 
 
 By and by they'll be rewarded, 
 Where no time can pass away. 
 
160 THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 
 
 We had heard of the valley of the Champlain; 
 but it is one thing to read of Beulah, and anoth- 
 er to walk through her borders of beauty. 
 
 Passing down the lake road from Panton to 
 Addison, on the left of the smooth and excellent 
 highway, handsome rural residences held the 
 most charming sights, to almost every one of 
 which we gave the palm before passing by, now 
 to this cottage, with modest pretensions peeped 
 out from 'mid an orchard of red-ripe fruitage; 
 next to one that crowned a moderate elevation, 
 overlooking a little bend or cove in the lake. 
 
 There we saw the wreck of an old boat, half 
 sunken in the water; we were told that three 
 boats were wrecked there one stormy night. 
 
 On our left lay one panorama of charming 
 loveliness, while on the right, Champlain— lake 
 of bright waters — heaved and swelled gently in 
 toward the fair shore, now hidden from view by 
 skirting trees, or slight swells of land, which our 
 road came round and hugged more closely to 
 the pebbly shore. 
 
 This was one of the journeys that pay, where 
 earth and air and water give unmeasured recom- 
 pense; where one feels not the feather-weight of 
 care, but luxuriates in the calm rich gladness, 
 that stirs the boughs of the goodly trees, sings 
 
THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 161 
 
 in the low murmers of the lake-waves, looks 
 down from the soft Indian summer sky, and 
 maps the whole beautiful landscape. 
 
 It was the afternoon of a lifetime, when one 
 is satisfied with earth as it is-when the augury 
 of hope prophesises in the heart: *^Then human 
 mind takes color and tone by what it feeds upon. 
 Where loved of the beautiful thus predominated 
 and thus is cherished- where art skillfully joins 
 handiwork with nature-your mission will ever 
 be welcomed." Our first night in the Valley, we 
 slept in the old Strong mansion, where five gen- 
 erations of the Strong family have been born. 
 
 Well may they who now dwell there feel an 
 honest pride in the venerable mansion-substan- 
 tial still; built in the day when carpenters did 
 work upon honor. 
 
 On the morrow we surveyed, with reverential 
 admiration the spacious olden hall, with its 
 broad stairway of antique banisters, the massive 
 doors and ancient mouldings, and at the rear 
 window, gaze out upon one of the finest lake- 
 views in the country. 
 
 In the evening we went back and lived over 
 the early days of the settlement, the trials and 
 expedients of those hardy, honest pioneers, and 
 listened to the story of one church-going man, 
 
162 THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY. 
 
 who, the first winter of his residence in town, 
 having no sleigh or sled, fitted runners to the 
 trumdle-bed, in which he took his wife and chil- 
 dren to meeting every Sabbath day; when the 
 mountain squall threatened, covering over the 
 heads of the happy load with an old quilt or cov- 
 erlet, so that at the door where the meeting was 
 held the plump little troop were turned out from 
 the bunk where they nightly snugged down to 
 sleep, warm and rosy, as if fresh from their 
 slumbers. 
 
 There was godliness and beauty in the homely 
 story. Who can but heartily admire the man 
 and woman, who, in every circumstance, '^puts 
 the best foot forward? "Such were our forefath- 
 ers and foremothers. 
 
 MY MOTHEK TOLD ME SO. 
 
 Just kindly sing this good old song, 
 
 When you go round about, 
 It would not take you very long 
 
 To learn it there's no doubt. 
 Of all the songs the world can sing, 
 
 None can like this contain; 
 The melody, the life and twang, 
 
 Of this good old refrain. 
 
MY MOTHER TOLD ME SO. 163 
 
 This charming song I used to sing 
 
 When out to sport and play, 
 Real joy to me would always bring 
 
 At either night or day. 
 It's the same song my playmates sang, 
 
 Out by the cottage lane, 
 There under the tree we would swing, 
 
 And murmer this refrain. 
 
 It was my mother's good old song. 
 
 That first I learnt to sing. 
 And still it cheers me all along 
 
 Thus joy it always brings. 
 One lovely sweet and greatful tho't, 
 
 And you shall hear the same. 
 The only song my mother sought 
 
 Had this same old refrain. 
 
 REFRAIN. 
 
 Oh! where, oh where is perfect rest, 
 
 In this great world of sinfulness? 
 For storms are raging on life's track, 
 
 And thro' them we must go- 
 We cannot always keep them back, 
 
 **My mother told me so:" 
 We cannot always keep them back, 
 
 **My mother told me so." . 
 
164 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 Rev. Thomas Clark, of Salem, N.Y., Rev. Rob- 
 ert Annan, of Boston, John Galbraith, and some 
 others, most of whom were Scotchmen, obtained 
 a very large grant from New York, which lay on 
 the Passumpsic, including Burk, being about 9 
 miles long and 6 wide-which they called bamf. 
 John Galbraith received $99,81 as his share of 
 the $30,000 paid to the State of New York. 
 
 He then went to Canada to return to Scotland, 
 and was there seized as a spy and shipped with 
 Jonathan Elkins of Peacham and others to Eng- 
 land, where he was acquitted and set free, hav- 
 ing a free passage home, he very soon arrived 
 in Scotland. 
 
 William Stevenson and James Gross, settled 
 in the town of Barnet, in 1T76 and bought land 
 in the Harvey tract, on the Stevens River. 
 
 They lived alone in a house for a number of 
 years. Coming home one time when the night 
 was somewhat dark, from the mill at Newbury, 
 with a, grist on their backs, and when about one 
 mile from their home they found a bear sitting 
 in theiy path^ 
 
 Mr. Stevenson who was considerably ahead, 
 and while his hound dog engaged the bear, Stev- 
 enson had an opportunity and struck the beast 
 across the eyes with the cudgel that he carried 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 165 
 
 with him. This upset the bear in some meas- 
 ure; still Bruin gave fight to him and his dog; 
 but Stevenson, watching for a good opportunity, 
 struck him across the small of the back and con- 
 tinued the blows till the bear was dead. 
 
 He was a strong and courageous man, and of- 
 ten said he did not know the nature of the beast 
 he killed, and never thought he was in any dan- 
 ger till he examined the bear's great paws. 
 
 He carried it home, with the help of Mr. Cross, 
 who caught up during the fight. 
 
 James Gilchrist, Esq., a Scotchman, about the 
 year 177T, settled on the plain at Mclndoe's Falls. 
 At an early period he was elected to important 
 offices in town, in which his influence was long 
 felt. His wife had a very vigorous mind, good 
 judgement ,and memory. 
 
 She was then noted for her extensive religious 
 knowledge and piety. She was a member of the 
 Associate Congregation of Barnet for 40 years. 
 She rode on horseback to Mr.Goodwille's church, 
 and so regular and constant was her attendance, 
 that one day, when too feeble to attend church, 
 her trusty old horse, (she long used,) jumped out 
 of the pasture one Sabbath morning, went with 
 the neighbors to meeting, and stood at the old 
 place until the rest went home. 
 
166 SLIDING DOWN THE HILL. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦■♦ ♦ 
 
 The stars are coming out to night, 
 
 And would you like to know, 
 How the young can play on the hill 
 
 While sliding o'er the snow? 
 Come and go with me to night, 
 
 Let the stars shine as they will; 
 For pleasure now, we must not fail 
 
 To join in sliding down the hill. 
 
 Come see them now in true delight, 
 
 And hear the bells a ringing! 
 As down the hill they slide in style 
 
 While to their sleds a clinging. 
 Then may Sue, and her good Joe, 
 
 Join hands — up the hill they go; 
 With happy hearts and right good will, 
 
 FiUs the bill, sliding on the snow. 
 
 The moon and stars are shining out 
 
 Just beautiful and bright, 
 The snow is sparkling all around 
 
 Like diamonds in the night. 
 Hear the young, and old as well. 
 
 Some will toot and ring the bell! 
 There's music health and lots of fun 
 
 When out a sliding down the hill. 
 
SLIDING DOWN THE HILL. 167 
 
 Then they go over the snow, sitting on a sled, 
 Down the hill bump-e-ty-bump, leader on ahead, 
 Many voices shout, pull up the sleds, turn about, 
 Ring the bells — blow the horn — 
 
 Sliding down the hill:- 
 Eing the bells — blow the horn — 
 Sliding down the hill. 
 
 , Beautiful stars, how bright they are, 
 j Shining on the hiU up there. 
 
 Evening star, none can compare 
 
 In all the rays of splendor. 
 Sliding, riding, o'er the snow, 
 Down the hill how fast they go, 
 J Ring up the bells-toot the horn 
 ' While sliding down the hill. 
 
 • 4 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 NONE so little enjoy life, and are such bur- 
 dens to themselves, as those who have nothing 
 to do. The active only have the true relish of 
 life. He who knows not what it is to labor, 
 knows not what it is to enjoy. Recreation is 
 only valuable as it unbends us; the idle know 
 nothing of it. It is exertion that renders rest 
 delightful, and sleep sweet and undisturbed. 
 
 The true happiness of life depends on the regu- 
 lar prosecution of some laudable industry. 
 
168 APPLE-SAUCE OF LIFE. : 
 
 The apple-sauce of life is composed measura- 
 bly out of nonsense; many a life is wrecked on 
 the waves of sadness. If people in life do not 
 love their home the reason may be they have 
 never had any use for the apple-sauce of life. 
 
 To tell it out plain, I have but a poor opinion 
 of homes where laughter, merriment, nonsense, 
 and jokes are unknown. 
 
 Measure the gayety of any old graveyard and 
 you have about the size of those who do not en- 
 joy the apple-sauce of life, they never smile or 
 laugh, for fear it would cause dyspepsia. 
 
 I am quite aware that there is a forced gayety, 
 and forced laughter, there is nothing naore sad 
 when it becomes chronic. 
 
 Solomon tells us that the ^'wisdom of man 
 maketh his face to shine, and his countenance is 
 no more sad." A hearty laugh is one of the best 
 and rarest of things, and one of the surest symp- 
 toms of moral health, though of course, this is 
 as a rule by no means without exceptions. 
 
 The apple-sauce of life is refreshing. I have 
 known homes where there was a perpetual sigh- 
 ing over the evils of humanity-past, present and 
 to come;after the evils comes the faults, and after 
 faults the errors, till the melancholy catalogue 
 is all gone through, but that does not prevent it 
 
APPLE-SAUCE OF LIFE. 169 
 
 from being renewed on the morrow. We all in 
 some measure create our own happiness, which 
 is not half so much dependent upon scenes and 
 circumstances as most people are apt to imagine. 
 The affections which bind a man to the place of 
 his youth are essential in his nature; they are 
 implanted in his breast, and cling to life from the 
 beginning to the end . 
 
 Take the cup of goodness in a saucer of grace 
 and with some jolly cake you can soon have an 
 inexpensive luxury, the apple-sauce of life. 
 
 Thousands of men move, live, and pass off the 
 stage of life and are heard of no more. Why? 
 None were blest by them; none could point to 
 them as the means of their redemption; not a 
 line they wrote, not a word they spoke could be 
 recalled. Will you thus live and die? 
 
 Do good and leave behind you a monument of 
 virtue that the storms of time cannot efface. 
 
 Make home '^the dearest spot on earth, "by 
 smiles of goodness; '^a little nonsense now and 
 then is pleasing to the best of men." 
 
 If you look into the early life of helpful men, 
 those who made life easier and nobler to those 
 who come after them, you will almost invaria- 
 bly find they live purely in the manner that 
 guided them in their youth. 
 
170 APPLE-SAUCE OF LIFE. 
 
 Many children go astray, not because there 
 is a want of prayer or virtue in the home, but 
 simply because home lacked sunshine, and the 
 apple-sauce of life. 
 
 A child needs smiles as much as flowers need 
 sunbeams. Children look but little beyond the 
 present moment. If a thing displeases they are 
 prone to avoid it. If home is the place where 
 faces and words are harsh and faultfinding, 
 is ever in the ascendant, the children will spend 
 as many hours as possible elsewhere. 
 
 Fathers and mothers make your home happy 
 in spirit, — use a little nonsense the apple-sauce 
 of life. Talk and play with the young in such a 
 way as to make them love you, and be happy. 
 
 FASHIONS TO ADMIRE. 
 
 if you now intend to follow the fashions, 
 
 Then let me tell you it will not be long, 
 Before you will have a kind invitation 
 
 To buy and sing my popular songs. 
 Then at your home, no doubt they'll listen, 
 
 For it would'nt take you very long, 
 To prove to any one loving good music, 
 
 That you have the best fashion in song. 
 
FASHIONS TO ADMIRE- 171 
 
 Old fashions are good, but newer are better, 
 
 Your clothing don't fit without a tailor, 
 For every day at least, you should take 
 
 To roast-beef mutton-chop, or pork-steak; 
 And then side dishes to make things better, 
 
 As onions, corn, beans and some pertater; 
 And these are but few you could mention, 
 
 To prove my song is not an invention. 
 
 The late fashions are one and number two, 
 
 For sale in all the great stores you know, 
 And if you should buy don't think to escape, 
 
 The observations some people will make. 
 For some will talk of your finance condition, 
 
 While others will mention your position. 
 So don't mind now all the people have to say 
 
 Keep up this fashion and sing ev'ry day. 
 
 Don't give up your smiling, 
 j Should anyone say. 
 
 This wonderful fashion 
 
 WiU ruin some day. 
 For they who are coming 
 
 In all the best style. 
 Are saying these songs 
 
 Eeplenish a smile. 
 
172 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 On a trial once held in Maryland, the princi- 
 pal witness grounded all his charges on the in- 
 formation of a ghost! The following narrative, 
 selected fron an old Magazine, may exhibit that 
 species of evidence in a correct point of view:- 
 
 A farmer, on his return from the market at 
 Southam, in the county of Warwick, was mur- 
 dered. A man went the next morning, called on 
 his wife and inquired if her husband came home 
 the evening bef ore-she replied no, and that she 
 was under the utmost anxiety and terror on that 
 account. Your terror, said he, '^cannot equal 
 mine, for last night as I lay in bed, quite awake, 
 the apparition of your husband appeared to me, 
 showed me several stabs in his body, told me he 
 had been murdered by such a person, and his car- 
 cass put into such a marble pit . 
 
 The alarm was given, the pit searched, the 
 body found, and the wounds answered the dis- 
 cription given. The man whom the ghost had 
 accused was apprehended and committed upon 
 suspicion of murder. 
 
 His trial came on at Warwick, before the Lord 
 Chief Justice Raymond. The jury would have 
 convicted as rashly as the justice who had com- 
 mitted him, had not the judge checked them. 
 
 He addressed himself to them in words to this 
 
AND DARING DEEDS. 173 
 
 purpose: — ^'I think, gentlemen; you seem inclin- 
 ed to lay more stress on the evidence of an ap- 
 parition, than it will bear. I cannot say that I 
 give much credit to these kind of stories; but be 
 as it will, we have no right to follow our own 
 private opinions here. 
 
 We are now in a court of law, and must de- 
 termine according to it. And I know not of any 
 law now in being which will admit of the testi- 
 mony of an apparition; and yet, if it did, doth 
 the ghost appear to give evidence. ' ^Crier, ''says 
 he, ^'call the ghost," which was thrice done, to 
 no manner of purpose. ^'Gentlemen of the ju- 
 ry, " continued the judge, '^the prisoner at the 
 bar, as you have heard by undeniable witnesses, 
 is a man of the most unblemished character, 
 nor hath it appeared in the course of the exam- 
 ination that there was any manner of quarrel or 
 grudge between him and the party deceased. I 
 do verily believe him perfectly innocent, and as 
 there is no evidence against him either positive 
 or circumstantial, he must be acquitted. 
 
 But from many circumstances which have 
 come up during the trial, I do strongly suspect 
 that the genteman who saw the apparition, was 
 himself the murderer, and in such a case he 
 might easily ascertain the pit, the stabs, &c. with- 
 
174 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 
 
 out any supernatural assistance; and on such 
 suspicion, I shall think myself justified in com- 
 mitting him to close custody till the matter can 
 be further inquired into." This was immediate- 
 ly done, and a warrant was granted for search- 
 ing his house, when such strong proof of guilt 
 appeared against him; he confessed the murder, 
 and was executed at the next assizes. 
 
 TRAIN SALVATION. 
 ♦ » » » ♦ 
 
 God's train is ever running, 
 
 On lif es track you must know, 
 With one station in heaven! 
 
 All others here below; 
 This train is often stopping, 
 
 But never in full view; 
 It has unnumber'd stations, 
 
 And one is kept by you. 
 
 God's train is now for safety, 
 
 And never carries sin, 
 The track is old and narrow; 
 
 But safe to enter in. 
 We must find the conductor, 
 
 Who'll banish ev'ry fear. 
 And fit us up for glory! 
 
 In our home atmosphere. 
 
TKAIN SALVATION. 175 
 
 Keep your light ever shining, 
 
 Don't squander time away, 
 And live in sin and darkness 
 
 For that will never pay. 
 We must look for a kingdom, 
 
 Prepar'd for all the blest I 
 Then on the train Salvation, 
 
 We'll enter into rest. 
 
 Oh, sacred Head I love Thee, 
 
 Yet trials weigh me down, 
 I'm working for Thy kingdom. 
 
 My cross is near the crown. 
 Oh, sacred Head my safety, 
 
 I shall from darkness flee; 
 And take the train Salvation, 
 
 For all eternity. 
 
 REFRAIN. 
 
 We can take the train Salvation, 
 
 That will purify the heart; 
 Then we'll journey on to Heaven, 
 
 Where it's never, never dark. 
 There we'll all sing hallelujah. 
 
 When we hear the Saviour say! 
 Behold the *^Light in Glory," 
 
 That will never pass away. 
 
 ♦ » ♦ ♦♦ 
 
176 THE CHILD'S DKEAM. 
 
 The sick child lay on her easy chair close to 
 the window. It was a bright Summer evening; 
 the rays of the setting sun fell first upon her lit- 
 tle geranium in the window and then upon her 
 own pale face. As she gazed and gazed into the 
 glowing sky, and thought of the land that is far 
 away, and wondered whether the glory of heav- 
 en was any thing like the glory that lay at the 
 gate. Then she sighed, as she thought how poor 
 she was, how weak she was, how many wrong 
 things she had done. Would she be forgiven? 
 could God care for her? was it likely He would 
 notice such a small child as she was? 
 
 At last she fell into a gentle sleep, and had a 
 pleasant dream; and the dream was like unto 
 this: She thought she had done with earth, and 
 that an angel was carrying her gently and ten- 
 derly to heaven. 
 
 And y^t he did not at once mount to the sky ; 
 instead of that, he made his way to a large town 
 near to where the child had lived; then he flew 
 down into one of the closest and dirtiest back 
 streets, and picked up a withered plant out of 
 the rubbish heap. 
 
 Nobody saw the beautiful angel. Then he be- 
 gan to rise and soar away from earth toward 
 heaven; and the child asked him why he wanted 
 
THE CHILD'S DREAM. 177 
 
 that poor faded flower. Then he told her this 
 story. ^^In a dull, dark cellar of the street we 
 have just left/ 'he said, "there lived not long ago 
 a poor crippled boy. Poor he was indeed, and 
 most afflicted; and a dreary life he led down in 
 that dirty room. At his best he managed to 
 drag himself with slow and painful effort across 
 the floor at other times he could not move from 
 his hard bed. He had never played like other 
 children, and had never seen the sweet wild flow- 
 ers growing, nor the fields and woods, nor heard 
 the birds sing in the Spring time. 
 
 The neighbor's children brought to him some 
 flowers; and one time a bright little girl, on a 
 bright Spring day brought him a primrose in a 
 plant dish. One or two flowers were in blossom 
 and there were plenty of buds. Oh, what a treas 
 ure this little plant was to his lonely heart. 
 
 The poor boy tended it, watered it, and put it 
 where a few rays of sunshine might best reach 
 it, and at night placed it near his bed that his 
 first waking gaze might rest upon it. 
 
 It was the treasure of that short and joyous 
 life then almost ended. The poor boy every day 
 grew weaker, but his eyes rested in love upon 
 his cherished flower, and his last gaze in death 
 was fixed upon the pale sweet blossom , 
 
1T8 THE CHILD'S DREAM 
 
 He died and then the primrose faded and died 
 and was thrown into the street as worthless. 
 
 Then the angel said — ^'do you know why I 
 have told you this? ^^You gave me the primrose 
 and I was the cripple hoy!" 
 
 In the excitement of the discovery the child 
 awoke from her dream. It was but a dream. 
 The sun was just sinking down below the hori- 
 zon, and there was her own beautiful geranium 
 which had perhaps helped to suggest the vision. 
 "It was only a dream,'' she said, half sighing, 
 *'only a dream, and yet I feel better for it." 
 
 Our Father in heaven is glorified with angels. 
 He gives them their work to do, and the little 
 joy which a flower may brings will always be 
 of His own sending, 
 
 I KNOW HIS NAME. 
 
 I know the name in whom to trust, 
 
 That name I now adore. 
 He gives me strength to daily bear 
 
 My trials on this shore. 
 He stays my hope and hears my cry, 
 
 He pardoned me from sin, 
 He'll never say to me "good by!" 
 
 While I belong to Him. 
 
I KNOW HIS NAME. 179 
 
 I know in whom to daily trust, 
 
 His name I now revere, 
 And when the bitter trials come, 
 
 He'll take away all fear. 
 He will now guide my weary steps, 
 
 Until life's march is o'er! 
 And never leave me in distress, 
 
 Upon this earthly shore. 
 
 I know He hears me when I pray, 
 
 There is no room for doubt, 
 I'll battle on and keep the way, 
 
 Though Satan lurks about; 
 He is the foe which creates sin. 
 
 His ways are all forbidd'n, 
 The purest way on earth I know. 
 
 Is that which leads to heav'n, 
 
 I know a name that casts out fear, 
 
 And dwells above the skies, 
 His love will cheer and ever save, 
 
 And strengthen christian ties. 
 He is our ^'Father's Beloved Son," 
 
 He's glorified by name! 
 ^^And He was born in Bethlehem, 
 
 And on the cross was slain. '■ 
 
180 LITTLE DIFFICULTIES. 
 
 There is no station in life in which difificulties 
 have not been encountered and over-come before 
 any decided measure of success can be achieved . 
 Little difficulties are often our best instructors, 
 as our mistakes often form our best experience. 
 We learn wisdom more from failure than from 
 our success; we often discover what will do, by 
 finding out what will not do, and he who never 
 made a mistake never made a discovery. 
 
 A humming-bird once met a butterfly and be- 
 ing pleased with the beauty of its person, and 
 the glory of its wings, made an offer of perpetu- 
 al friendship. 
 
 ^'I can not think of it," was the reply, "as you 
 once spurned me, and called me a drawling dolt. 
 * ^Impossible!" exclaimed the humming-bird. 
 
 '^I always entertained the highest respect for 
 such beautiful creatures as you." 
 
 'Terhaps you do now," said the other,*' but 
 when you insulted me I was a caterpiller." 
 
 So let me give you a piece of advice; never in- 
 sult the humble, as they may some day become 
 your superiors. 
 
 Little difficulties are not overcome by rank or 
 by the beautiful surroundings. If there were 
 no other proof, the face will often tell when we 
 do right and when we do well. 
 
LITTLE DIFFICULTIES. 181 
 
 a 
 
 'A man that hath any truth in him, "said the 
 Kev. Dr. Deems, important to be given to this 
 generation, need not much concern himself as to 
 where he shaU speak it. Some would twaddle 
 about unappreciated genius and their difficult- 
 ies. And then go whining among the butterfly 
 school misses about the cold world: then others 
 dream that if they had only such a position in 
 such a city, such an editor's place, such a pulpit, 
 such a theater of display, they would shake the 
 old world's foundation. 
 
 Many a young preacher in an obscure country 
 parish has this temptation. Many a young poet 
 who can not secure a publisher, goes into the 
 fog. It's a shrewd old world with difficulties 
 to overcome. But if the will-power is sufficient- 
 ly strong the difficulties will disappear. 
 
 It's hard work and good calculation that bring 
 success usually ; and that sort of life is relished by 
 those who are prosperous. They seldom have 
 time to talk of their disappointment and their 
 difficulties. 
 
 Walk through life as you may, and say your 
 say, and cry your cry, and just as sure as truth 
 is in it, -it will scatter difficulties, -for it is the 
 law of Nature and will never be repealed. Two 
 wrongs never makes one right. 
 
182 HUMANITY REWAEDED. 
 
 A surgeon in Florence, many years ago, saw 
 in the street a dog whose leg had just been brok- 
 en by a cart wheel. Compassion or curiosity in- 
 duced him to send the dog to his house where he 
 reduced the fracture, and confined the animal, 
 till the case was completed. The dog was then 
 discharged, not until many demonstrations had 
 been shown of gratitude and joy. 
 
 About one year afterwards the same little dog 
 came into his study, apparently in great agita- 
 tion, and extremly solicious to attract his atten- 
 tion to something. The importunities of the an- 
 imal did not cease until he had compelled the 
 surgeon to descend into the yard, where to his 
 surprise, he discovered slowly crawling by the 
 gate another dog with his back broken. 
 
 NEAE MY COTTAGE DOOE. 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ » — — — 
 
 Near my cottage I was sitting, 
 
 In the sunshine one June day, 
 And in rapture then was thinking 
 
 O'er scenes that happened far away; 
 Soon a breeze came gently wafting, 
 
 And some clouds had gathered o'er, 
 While I viewed the fields of nature 
 
 Sitting near my cottage door. 
 
NEAR MY COTTAGE DOOR. 183 
 
 Then I heard some bees a buzzing, 
 
 And at once they filled the air, 
 Flying all around my cottage, 
 
 Singing merrily ev'ry where. 
 Soon they settled down to lighting 
 
 On the tree just out before- 
 Then my heart was beating quickly, 
 
 Sitting near my cottage door. 
 
 Soon a hive I hastened after, 
 
 For their home and honey store. 
 But somehow then I did falter, 
 
 For on me I feared they'd pour. 
 Courage gained without protection. 
 
 Then with hive I'd found before, 
 Down with nervy hands I shook them 
 
 And then sought my cottage door. 
 
 You can think of lovely landscape, 
 
 And of pleasures o'er and o'er. 
 While I think of bees a buzzing 
 
 That once made my face all sore. 
 When that hiving task was over. 
 
 From my eyes the tears did pour! 
 And from stinging I was blinded, 
 
 Sitting near my cottage door. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
184 GOOD ADVICE. 
 
 Do not delude yourself with the idea that you 
 can please every body. Who ever knew any 
 body that was worth any thing that nobody 
 found fault with him? You would have to be 
 evil in many cases to please the evil; flatter some 
 to gratify their pride; indulge the selfish, submit 
 to the tyrannical, be a tool for the ambitious and 
 be careful not to have any thing as good as those 
 who desire to have every thing superior to their 
 neighbors. 
 
 If you are a public man, should you be diligent 
 you must expect to have many secretly to dis- 
 like and talk against you, and should you accom- 
 plish little, though many may show themselves 
 friendly, it often leaks out that some who ap- 
 pear pleasant to you do thus because they do not 
 fear your rivalry — they may smile on you out- 
 w^ardly, yet entertain contempt for your ineffi- 
 ciency. Always do that which is right, be dili- 
 gent, do the most you can, pay no regard to the 
 fault-finders and you will find as many friends 
 as any sensible man need desire. 
 
 Live for an object, and spend your time and 
 means in such a way as to be of some benefit 
 to others. The miser gathers his gold-^its pur- 
 suit stimulate his endeavors and it is an accu- 
 mulation which may bless the world after his 
 
GOOD ADVICE. 185 
 
 departure. But occasionally there are in the 
 community individuals and sometimes families 
 whose lives seem utterly objectless. By the ac- 
 cumulation of earlier days or by inheritance, 
 they have a competence to live in — well — a state 
 of nothingness. 
 
 As citizens they are well enough, orderly, civil, 
 social even, when brought by circumstances into 
 communication with others. But they are not 
 linked to any public enterprise. They seem to 
 have no enemies, no special friends. 
 
 Doing nothing to benefit the world-but like 
 the door on its hinges, turns with the current of 
 every-day life, leaving no impress upon society, 
 no track to show they have ever been. 
 
 The objectless way of living subverts all the 
 good purposes and ends our being. It should be 
 avoided and guarded against. 
 
 Two or three generations of such living would 
 result in a state of barbarism. Begin with the 
 children, educate and train them to a purpose in 
 life ;something outside of mere self, something be- 
 yond the little circle that radiates around self 
 and self's immediate kin, 
 
 When we work and are cheerful and content- 
 ed, all nature smiles with us; the air seems 
 more balmy, the sky more clear the ground has 
 
186 GOOD ADVICE. 
 
 a brighter green, the trees have a richer foliage, 
 the flowers a more fragrant smell, the birds sing 
 more sweetly, and the sun, moon and stars all 
 appear more beautiful. 
 
 We take our food with relish and whatever it 
 may be it pleases us. We feel better for it — 
 
 Now what happens to us if we are shiftless, 
 ill tempered and discontented? Why, there is 
 not any thing which can please us. We quarrel 
 with our food, with our dress, with our amuse- 
 ments, with our companions and with ourselves. 
 Nothing comes right for us ; the weather is too 
 hot or too cold, too dry or too damp . Neither sun 
 nor moon, nor stars have any beauty; the fields 
 are barren; the flowers luster less and the birds 
 are silent. These pictures do not fade. 
 
 BE HAPPY AS YOU CAN, 
 
 This life is not all sunshine, 
 
 Nor is it yet all showers 
 But storms and calms alternate 
 
 As thorns among the flowers. 
 Now when we seek the roses 
 
 The thorns we always scan, 
 Still let us if they scratch us. 
 
 Be happy as we can. 
 
BE HAPPY AS YOU CAN. 187 
 
 This life has many crosses. 
 
 As well as joys to share, 
 They come in disappointments 
 
 Which we all have to bear. 
 But if old times obstruction, 
 
 Entomb our dearest plan 
 Let us with what is left us 
 
 Be happy as we can. 
 
 The sum of our enjoyment 
 
 Is made of little things, 
 As oft the purest water 
 
 Come from little springs. 
 By treasuring small waters 
 
 The rivers reach their span, 
 So we increase our pleasures 
 
 Enjoying what we can. 
 
 We may find some obstructiojis 
 
 On which we plan to go. 
 Still there are many places 
 
 Where kindness we can show. 
 But should we never follow 
 
 The way some others plan. 
 Yet let us make all around us 
 
 As happy as we can. 
 
188 ^'WHEN COMPANY COMES." 
 
 We often hear women say/ 'I was looking for 
 company and had every thing all fixed ;-"or'' 
 don't put on those white stockings, dear, wait 
 till we have company ;"or, ^'0, no, don't use those 
 dishes, they're for company." 
 
 And so the best of every thing is saved for 
 those who probably don't even respect the poor, 
 fastidious, craven tool, except to drink her best 
 tea, and then stuff down her cake and well-kept 
 viands! I was amused one time while in B., at 
 our landlady's visiting quite often a stylish fami- 
 ly, who were so coarse and vulgar as to be re- 
 pulsive. She was a very good woman, of a fine 
 intellectual organization. One day as we sat 
 alone I said to her, ''Mother, may I ask you a 
 question, and you will promise not to be angry 
 with me?" 
 
 ''You could not make me angry, child, what 
 isit?"and she laughed at my hesitancy. "Well, 
 do you visit the — a because you like them?" 
 
 Her face flushed crimson; it was her turn to 
 hesitate. "I will tell you; they are old neigh- 
 bors of mine and I get tired sometimes here at 
 home, and — and when they have company there 
 is not a better table set in the whole city. " 
 
 And here she leaned back, diverted with my 
 simplicity and her own honesty, and laughed so 
 
'^WHEN COMPANY COMES.'^ 189 
 
 freely and charmingly that I was coaxed into a 
 fit of real boy laughter, Mother — was a noble 
 woman, her appreciation of the beautiful and 
 good never was excelled. 
 
 I call it a bad state of affairs when every thing 
 that is best is kept for company; when the poor 
 father who earns all cannot enjoy the fruits of 
 his own labor . For my part the best the home 
 affords is for the toiling ones by whose sweat it 
 was brought. If I have any apologies to make 
 they are made to them, not to visitors. 
 
 The best bed in the house is nightly occupied 
 by two stout kicking boys, and unless the visitor 
 is a feeble old lady I don't allow them to give up 
 the spare bed at all. If we have corn cake and 
 milk for supper, I never apologize more than to 
 say, ''Perhaps you would prefer wheat bread 
 w^ith milk." 
 
 Then let the old folks stick to their old cus- 
 tom and old-fashioned clothes ; that is if you seek 
 their pleasure to that of visitors and callers who 
 care nothing for you or yours beyond respect. 
 
 We should not permit the cold fashionable 
 v^rays of the world to come between us and our 
 home hearth's affections. 
 
 ''We should close our ears to that freezing 
 phrase, "What will people say." 
 
190 MAMMA'S DIAMONDS. 
 
 I am going to keep all my pennies," said little 
 Kate to her sister. **I have fifteen in my bank 
 and by and by I can buy a diamond cross for 
 mamma. She will look so pretty with it on her 
 black dress." — *'0, mamma does not care for 
 such things," said Emma. 
 
 **But how do you know?" — * ^Because, the 
 other day, when I asked her if she would not 
 like to have a ring like that of Mrs. H., so beau- 
 tiful and shining, she kissed me many times, 
 and said- *'the only diamonds she wished for 
 were those she saw in our eyes when we are good 
 and happy. * *Well then I will buy her some oth- 
 er present, "added Kate, * 'for I love her so much,^ 
 
 I think," said Emma, ''that mamma does not 
 care for presents; but would rather see us good." 
 
 MOTHER'S SMILES. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 A mother's loving smiles, I once shared, 
 
 And still her smiles are dear to me; 
 I sadly have missed them a long while, 
 
 For now she's gone beyond life's sea: 
 But still I can think how pleasantly, 
 
 Her loving smiles upon me shown. 
 And her parting words, they stay by me, 
 
 I weep o'er them when all alone. 
 
MOTHER'S SMILES. 191 
 
 1 never shall forget, ''no never/' 
 
 My mother's tender loving smiles; 
 She kept me in childhood beside her, 
 
 And called me her dear little child. 
 How lovely she would rock me to sleep, 
 
 And then lay me down to repose; 
 And when I was full able to creep, 
 
 Her anxiety no one knows. 
 
 Years have flown and oft I ponder, 
 
 Over pleasures I once did prize; 
 I think of mother when I wander 
 
 And cherish her true loving ties. 
 All her words were so kindly spoken, 
 
 They bound my pleasure and my will, 
 As once my heart was almost broken, 
 
 But my pulse is quickened still. 
 
 Her greetings I love now to cherish. 
 
 Although her smiles I cannot see! 
 For she is with the angels sleeping. 
 
 Just beyond the bright crystal sea: 
 And sometime I shall go to see her. 
 
 When the dear Saviour calls for me, 
 Then from earth I'll cross life's river. 
 
 And with her in glory be. 
 
 -»♦»♦» 
 
192 OUR FOREMOTHERS. 
 
 We hear and read about our forefathers; they 
 were nice old fellows, no doubt. Perfect bricks 
 in their way. Good to work, eat, or fight. 
 
 Very well. But where are their companions 
 their * ^churns "-who, as their helpmates, urged 
 them along? Who worked for our forefathers^ 
 brushed up their old clothes, and patched their 
 breeches? Who unpetticoated themselves for 
 the cause of liberty? Who nursed our forefath- 
 ers when sick — sang Yankee Doodle to their 
 babes — who trained up their boys? Our fore- 
 mothers. Who landed at James River, and who 
 came over in the Mayflower, and established 
 other early settlements? Were there women 
 among them? One would think not. Our Yan- 
 kee neighbors especially make a great talk about 
 the Pilgrim Fathers who squatted on Plymouth 
 Rock. And there's a most wonderful ado made 
 over it every time they wish to get up a little 
 enthusiasm on liberty, and refresh themselves by 
 crowing over freedom ; and the chivalry of Vir- 
 ginia are not a whit behind them, when they 
 take a notion to vaunt themselves on the glory- 
 line. And our staid Pennsylvania Quakers, too 
 like to plume themselves slyly upon the merits 
 and doings of William Penn and his associates; 
 but with all their * 'blarney, "so plentifully given 
 
OUR FOREMOTHERS. 193 
 
 on all sides, what do we hear or gather about the 
 foremothers? Did'nt they land on the rock too? 
 Did'nt they encounter perils and hardships? 
 
 And after all, did'nt they with kind hearts and 
 warm armes, sustain the flagging spirits of their 
 male companions, and kept the stalwart chilly 
 old forefathers from freezing to death during 
 those horrible cold Winters which some of them 
 had to shiver through. 
 
 We have our monuments commemorating, 
 and our songs, our toasts, and our public dinners, 
 celebrating the wonderful deeds of our forefath- 
 ers; but where are those in honor of our fore- 
 mothers? We had better be getting them ready. 
 We talk ourselves hoarse, and write ourselves 
 round-shouldered, while boiling over with en- 
 thusiasm about the nice things our forefathers 
 did; and yet nothing is said about our foremoth- 
 ers, to whom many a virtuous act and brave 
 deeds may be ascribed, such as any hero would 
 be proud to own. 
 
 Besides we forget to remember that if it had 
 not been for our foremothers, we ourselves would 
 not be here to know, and be proud of what our 
 forefathers did. 
 
 We wish not to detract. All hail to the noble 
 old boys, our forefathers, say we. May the glory 
 
19^1: OUR FOREMOTHERS. 
 
 of their deeds never be less ! but the Good Book 
 tells us to ^'render unto Caesar, "etc, and as we 
 wish to speak a word in season for women gen- 
 erally, and especially for our noble and self-sac- 
 rificing foremothers, lest time and the one sided 
 page of history shall blot them forever from our 
 memories. — banner of the covenant. 
 
 GLORIOUS SUNSET. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 Oh, bright and glorious sunset, 
 
 In golden shades the West, 
 And soon night follows after 
 
 Thus giving time for rest. 
 Then again the morn will dawn, 
 
 And we our work persue, 
 Though it may be burdensome, 
 
 We can be kind and true. 
 
 Oh, bright and glorious sunset, 
 
 Thy shining realm above, 
 Makes up a beautious picture 
 
 Of blessed! blessed! love. 
 It tells of days now passing, 
 
 Before the night has come. 
 And thro' the light of morning, 
 
 To guide us to our home. 
 
GLORIOUS SUNSET. 195 
 
 Oh, bright and glorious sunset, 
 
 Of God's own rightfulness, 
 Which now can illuminate 
 
 In the home of the blest. 
 We must live for the mansions, 
 
 In that Kingdom of joy- 
 Where sin can never enter, 
 
 To harm or to annoy. 
 
 then the clouds of darkness. 
 
 Shall break away at last. 
 When all the bitter trials. 
 
 Are fully o'er and past. 
 EVen then that glorious sunset 
 
 We surely will behold, 
 While passing through to glory 
 
 And joys as yet untold. 
 
 Oh, bright and glorious sunset, 
 
 Our work will soon be done, 
 And then we'U all behold Him. 
 
 ^^The Holy! Holy! One." 
 So brilliantly He's shining, 
 
 And blessing all mankind! 
 Oh, bright and glorious sunset, 
 
 All glory shall be Thine. 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
196 DOING NOTHING. 
 
 * ^If I could only have a whole day to do nothing 
 I should be so happy, " said little Bessie. 
 * 'To-day shall be yours," said her mother. 
 
 *'You may play as much as you please, and I 
 will not give you any work, no matter how much 
 you may want it." 
 
 Bessie laughed at the idea of wishing for work 
 and ran out to play. She was swinging on the 
 gate when the children passed to school, and they 
 all envied her for having no lessons. 
 
 When they had gone she climbed up into the 
 cherry-tree and picked a lapful for pies, but when 
 she carried them in her mother said- ''That is 
 work, Bessie. Don't you remember you cried 
 yesterday because I wished you to pick cherries 
 for the pudding? You may take them away. 
 
 No work to-day, you know, " and the little girl 
 went away, rather out of humor. 
 
 She got her doll and played with it awhile. 
 She tried all her toys, but they didn't seem to 
 please her any better. She soon came back and 
 watched her mother, who was shelling peas. 
 
 "Mayn't I help you mamma?" she asked. 
 
 "No, Bessie, that is-n't play. 
 
 Bessie went out into the garden again and 
 leaned over the fence watching the ducks and 
 geese in the pond. Soon she heard mother sit- 
 
DOING NOTHING. 197 
 
 ting the table for dinner. Bessie longed to help. 
 Then her father came home from his work and 
 they all sat down to dinner. Bessie was quite 
 cheerful during the meal, but when it was over 
 and father away, she said wearily, ' 'Mamma, you 
 don't know how tired I am of doing nothing! 
 
 If you would only let me wind your cotton, or 
 put your work-box in order." 
 
 ' 'I can't my dear child, because I said I would 
 not give you work to-day. But you may find 
 some for yourself, if you can." 
 
 So Bessie hunted up some old stockings and 
 began to mend them. Her face grew brighter, 
 and presently she said, ''Mamma why do people 
 get tired of play?" "Because God did not mean 
 to have us idle. His command is, "Six days shalt 
 
 thou labor. He has given us all work to do. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Children are susceptible creatures, and circum- 
 stances, scenes and actions, will impress them. 
 As you influence them, not by arbitrary rules, 
 nor by stern example alone, but in a thousand 
 other way that speak through beautiful forms, 
 pretty pictures so they will grow. 
 
 Teach your children to love the beautiful, and 
 give them a corner in the garden for flowers, en- 
 courage them to put it in the shape of a hanging 
 
198 THE BEAUTIFUL. 
 
 basket. Allow them to have their favorite trees, 
 teach them to wander in the prettiest woodlets, 
 have them where they can best view the sunrise. 
 
 The boys are not all perfect, 
 This is evident you know. 
 
 Still they have tender hearts 
 And soon to manhood grow. 
 Arouse them in the morning, not with the stern 
 *'time to work, "but with the enthusiastic, ''see 
 the beautiful sunrise. " Buy for them beautiful 
 pictures, and encourage them to decorate their 
 rooms each in their own childish way. 
 
 You should praise them, and give them a 
 chance to play; if they are attending school; it 
 will do them more good than harm; unless they 
 are born a fool. Make your home beautiful. 
 
 THE LITTLE FLOWERS. 
 
 Behold the little blooming flowers, 
 
 Out in the evening air. 
 So divinely pure and beautiful 
 
 We love them everywhere. 
 They teach a lesson for the mind. 
 
 The faij-est must all fade; 
 Yet they can cheer the rich or poor 
 
 While blooming in the shade. 
 
THE LITTLE FLO WEES. 199 
 
 We view the little blooming flowers, 
 
 Standing in bright array, 
 To cheer and beautify the home 
 
 Before they pass away. 
 Their perfume is wafted everywhere. 
 
 Through balmy sunny air! 
 The emblem of love and purity 
 
 The fairest of the fair. 
 
 We view the little fading flower 
 
 With beauty almost gone. 
 The loveliest blossom of the year, 
 
 So sweet in its perfume. 
 All the little changing beauty spots, 
 
 ''You see, must soon decay," 
 The brightest colors of the flower 
 
 Will fade within a day. 
 
 We view the little fading flowers. 
 
 When life to them is cast. 
 We have viewed them many times, 
 
 With pleasure in the past. 
 But soon we'll say to flowery gem, 
 
 Fare-well! fare- well! adieu! 
 You are a gift from Nature given 
 
 We'll fade sometime like you. 
 
200 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 AND 
 
 DARING DEEDS. 
 
 Milo A.Everest, the designer of this book was 
 born in West Addison, Vermont, Mar. 14th 1843. 
 His early life was spent on the farm, and his 
 schooling was at the district school. 
 
 At the age of 18 he enlisted in Co. D-12th 
 U.S. Infantry. His father-grandfather and his 
 great-grandfather were military men. 
 
 After his discharge from the 12th, U. S. Infan- 
 try, he then entered Eastman's Business College 
 Poughkeepsie, N. Y. After spending one year at 
 home and in school, he re-enlisted for the third 
 Vermont-Battery of light artillery. 
 
 In 1875 he was appointed Postmaster at West 
 Addison, his native town-which office he held 
 14 years; although he never sought but few offi- 
 ces; yet he has held as many as 7 in one year, 
 over which he can look back without regret. 
 
 In the year 1900, he left his native State, Vt., 
 and moved his family to Everett, Mass. , where 
 he now intends to abide the remainder of his 
 life. He is the author of a number of songs, 
 and known as the Veteran Composer; his style 
 of poetry is simple, the language can be under- 
 stood by a child. His name'^EVEREST'^mounts 
 as high as any- Mountain in the world. 
 
OUR NATION'S FLAG. 201 
 
 — — — 4 ♦ ♦ ♦ » — 
 
 It's our Nation's Flag we'U honor, 
 
 It's the old'^Red White and Blue," 
 And our heroes in great number, 
 
 All deserve some portion too. 
 Keep the Union-Flag up-waving. 
 
 This remains for you to do, 
 While in all the years that's coming, 
 
 The old Banner will prove true. 
 
 Keep the good old Banner waving. 
 
 Read its history, thro' and thro'. 
 While it's wonderful in meaning. 
 
 You can know it's ever true. 
 Through the nation's early struggle. 
 
 Now it's pleasant to relate, 
 How they all sang ^'Yankee Doodle," 
 
 When the British met their fate. 
 
 Cheer the Nation's flag, ^'Old Glory," 
 
 True it waves in ev'ry land. 
 And in our own beloved country. 
 
 Children wave it with the hand. 
 O'er the schools it's daily waving. 
 
 Where the coming patriots stand, 
 Where they study books relating- 
 
 To the history of our land. 
 
202 IN THE TWILIGHT. 
 
 When twilight shades goldenly o'er me, 
 
 And touches each valley and hill; 
 Then I pause in the vision before me, 
 
 To behold one that's lovelier still. 
 Through the veil I gaze up to heaven, 
 * 'Where angels are white robed and free," 
 Where no sorrow can darken or riv'n. 
 There glory is shining for me. 
 
 There they weary not in adorning, 
 
 There they never say good bye, 
 There the night is bright as morning. 
 
 There nothing can wither or die. 
 The cherubims that sing up in heaven. 
 
 Sing not by the dim light of day; 
 But brilliant in songs of true glory. 
 
 They sing in the glorified way. 
 
 Oh! for a home in that bright glory, 
 
 That shines with its beautiful beams; 
 From the Kingdom that radiates o'er me. 
 
 The place I now cherish in dreams. 
 I'm glorified through God's salvation. 
 
 My being is blooming in love; 
 My Saviour who gave his life for me, 
 
 I'll praise in His Kingdom above. 
 
BANK OF THE RIVER. 203 
 
 I once stood upon the bank of the river, 
 
 And view'd the waters that flow'd rippling by, 
 And there in the sparkling sunlight of beauty, 
 
 Did I see there a picture of time on the fly? 
 While looking before me and over the river, 
 
 I saw the sunlight and shade on the shore; 
 And as the birds sang so sweetly that morning, 
 
 'Twas a picture of love I ne'er saw before. 
 
 I walked forth along the bank of the river. 
 
 In pleasure and joy that could never be told; 
 I paused and beheld the beauties of nature, 
 
 As the water roU'd by me so free and so bold. 
 This river runs winding its way to the sea. 
 
 And the sea it flows outward to ev'ry land; 
 And many a thought came in rapture to me. 
 
 Of the wisdom of God we scarce understand. 
 
 We are going down the course of life's river. 
 
 As millions of millions have journeyed before. 
 Where all the light and the glory of heaven, 
 
 Is shining for us on the golden shore; 
 The days of our journey are passing along. 
 
 Our joys and sorrows here soon will be o'er. 
 While river's of love, ' 'will flow on forever" 
 
 From the fountain o'er that beautiful shore. 
 
204 HE'S NO BETTER 
 
 THAN HE OUGHT TO BE. 
 
 He's no better than he ought to be, 
 When he holds a high position, 
 
 He's no better than he ought to be, 
 Through any line or station. 
 
 He must be honored by his friends 
 Who can picture him the best. 
 
 But when he builds upon life's way, 
 Then his motives tell the rest; 
 
 No matter if the people shout- 
 He's better than his brother, 
 
 Who notes the fashions ev'ry day 
 And writes about the weather. 
 
 He's no better than he ought to be, 
 
 If he's born from high relation, 
 He's no better than he ought to be 
 
 You'll hear in ev'ry station. 
 If on his neighbors you should call, 
 
 In gossip they will mention. 
 And tell about the one they know 
 
 Who's agent for promotion. 
 He would always do his level-best, 
 
 To win in State or Nation; 
 And now he's money to invest 
 
 In some great combination. 
 
HE'S NO BETTER- 205 
 
 He's no better than he ought to be, 
 
 In this world of speculation, 
 While noted men of high degree 
 
 Must live on elevation. 
 They are the men the people trust, 
 
 And give their kind attention, 
 Don't train yourself to be deceived 
 
 And bring on lamentation. 
 
 HOW TO BE MISERABLE. 
 
 Think about yourself, about what you want, 
 what you like, what respect people ought to pay 
 to you, what people think of you, and then to 
 you nothing will be pure. 
 
 You will spoil every thing you touch; you will 
 make misery for yourself out of every thing; 
 you will be as wretched as you choose on earth, 
 or in heaven either. For that proud, greedy, sel- 
 fish, self-seeking spirit would turn heaven into 
 hell. It did turn heaven into hell for the great 
 devil himself. It was by pride, by seeking his 
 own glory, that he fell from heaven to hell. 
 
 He was not content to give up his own will, 
 and to do Grod's will like the other angels. He 
 would-be a master himself and rejoice in his own 
 glory, and so when he wanted to make a private 
 heaven of his own, he found he had made a hell. 
 
206 HIS LOVE WAS FALSE. 
 
 His love was false and deceiving,. 
 
 And in action now he's shy, 
 I know for once I loved him, 
 
 But he never-more comes nigh. 
 His words have been misleading. 
 
 They caused my heart to thrill^ 
 I'll sometime try to meet him 
 
 And then lend him my good wilL 
 He can never-more deceive me 
 
 And in this he'll understand; 
 He has sever'd my love forever. 
 
 And he may go to the sand. 
 
 His love was false, as false could be^ 
 
 While my heart was ever true; 
 The letter last he wrote to me, 
 
 Made me feel most dreadful blue. 
 I knew not he was deceiving. 
 
 Till after that letter came. 
 It shattered my nerves to read it, 
 
 And wearied my slender frame; 
 Our plans were made for the future. 
 
 Then my heart was full of joy; 
 But soon after reading his letter, 
 
 No more faith could I employ. 
 
HIS LOVE WAS FALSE. 20T 
 
 His love was false"! know it," 
 
 And now I'll tell you why; 
 ( He sought the hand of another, 
 1 Who could dress so fine "oh- my!" 
 And then he planned to leave me, 
 
 And to falsify my name; 
 He wrote I was unfaithful. 
 
 And all that sort of thing; 
 Just because the other girl, 
 
 Could wear a diamond ring. 
 
 FASHIONABLE WOMEN. 
 
 Fashion kills more women than toil or sorrow. 
 Obedience to fashion is a greater transgression 
 of the laws of woman's nature, and a greater in- 
 jury to her physical and mental constitution, 
 than the hardship of poverty and neglect. 
 
 The slave-woman at her task will live and 
 grow old, and see two or three generations of her 
 mistresses fade and pass away. 
 
 The washer- woman; with scarce a ray of hope 
 to cheer her in her toil, will live to see her fash- 
 ionable sisters all extinct. The kitchen maid is 
 hearty and strong, when her lady has to be 
 nursed like a sick baby. It is a sad truth that 
 fashionably pampered women are almost worth- 
 less for all the good ends of life. 
 
208 THE GKOWING CHILD. 
 
 — 4 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 How quick the growing child will find, 
 That pleasure somehow cheer the mind; 
 And sadness when it takes it's rise 
 Is the great reminder of true ties. 
 
 Some selfish motives may beguile, 
 They come to every grown up child; 
 But we should take a higher view, 
 The life that's right, is always true. 
 
 The grown up child should master self. 
 And find the way to spirit wealth; 
 And love the songs, the birdies sing 
 That come to cheer us in the spring.. 
 
 The growing child will kindly see, 
 How self-conceit is one big-I-Be! 
 While praising others leads the way 
 To grander motives day by day. 
 
 How pure is love that never dies. 
 It's fountain dwells above the skies? 
 It is the way, when leaving earth, 
 It's always known in christian birth.. 
 
 There is one, who can well deceive. 
 And he can never the soul relieve; 
 His name is Satan, and he'll dwell 
 On ever line that leads to-Hades. 
 
THE CHURCH OF GOD. 209 
 
 The Church of God should ever be, 
 A place where sinners bow the knee; 
 Where they can find a helping hand, 
 To guide them to the promise land. 
 The Church must stand upon this line, 
 And teach the* 'Holy Word Divine:" 
 No place on earth is better known, 
 It is the christian's corner stone. 
 
 All gospel preachers in ev'ry land. 
 Should first seek the Saviour's hand; 
 Then through pardon find the way, 
 That will inspire them day by day; 
 Then in the power, thro' love Divine, 
 Proclaim the gospel to all mankind; 
 And tell the sinner ''how they know," 
 That God can save from sinful woe. 
 
 The vile sinner to Church should go, 
 And plead for pardon from all woe; 
 When justified, by faith made clear, 
 The light of peace will then appear; 
 Then they will rightly understand. 
 That inspiration is not of man; 
 It's God within the soul and mind, 
 It is His way to save mankind. 
 
210 A MOTHER'S PRAYER. 
 
 A mother's prayer with tearful eyes, 
 
 Down beside the couch of pain; 
 Where her suffering daughter lies 
 
 And all human aid is vain. 
 There she implores the aid Divine, 
 
 And in earnest pleading cries- 
 '^Lord save-0! save in Jesus name, 
 
 Save my daughter, or she dies." 
 
 Better, -far better, her true desire 
 
 Should rise to God in prayer. 
 Than burn within the breast like fire 
 
 While her hope did linger there. 
 'Tis well to know that God can hear, 
 
 Our poor imperfect prayers; 
 And never should we doubt or fear. 
 
 To cast on Him all our cares. 
 
 An angel came to view the child, 
 
 And while looking o'er the nest, 
 The sick child embraced the angel, 
 
 And soon entered into rest. 
 Then quickly her life departed. 
 
 For the Kingdom of the blest. 
 The angel had the key to heaven 
 
 And the child upon his breast. 
 
A MOTHER'S PRAYER- 211 
 
 Soon the angel crossed the river, 
 
 With his little burden lent, 
 O'er the way to dwell forever- 
 
 In holy comfort and content. 
 Little children dwell in heaven. 
 
 Far above earth's dismal street 
 And the sultry air of summer, 
 
 Or the storms of winter's sleet. 
 
 Friends may see a solemn picture. 
 
 Through this comely story told. 
 Peace and plenty in the cottage, 
 
 They were wealthy, rich in gold; 
 Yet the house was full of sadness, 
 
 G-loom and sorrow entered there. 
 Friends looked in the little chamber 
 
 Where the darling slept up stair. 
 
 Curtains hung in golden splendor, 
 
 Carpets velvet, hushed their tread; 
 And many costly toys were lying 
 
 All unheeded near the bed. 
 Clouds of sorrow, soon came over. 
 
 And all were tearful in grief. 
 Moments then of lovely nature 
 
 Came from Him who gave relief. 
 
212 TRIALS EVERYWHERE. 
 
 . ♦ » ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 Life is never free from trials, 
 
 Trials come from everywhere; 
 Should we live in joy and gladness- 
 
 We will not be free from care. 
 Thro' the happy days of childhood, 
 
 And the pleasures then so fair, 
 They were jewels in life's trials 
 
 Now we carry everywhere. 
 
 We may find our greatest trials, 
 
 Coming on where we have sown, 
 We may seek to borrow trouble 
 
 And then try to hide our own. 
 We may all have bitter trials. 
 
 That will linger a long while; 
 For we live in human nature 
 
 But we never should be vile. 
 
 We all know that life in parting, 
 
 Leaves a dread and tearful tho't; 
 Still we can by faith and working, 
 
 Live here now just as we ought. 
 Grieving o'er the home-like trouble, 
 
 Brings on sadness dark as night! 
 It's no use to fret and grumble 
 
 It will never bring true light. 
 
TRIALS EVEEYWHEEE- 213 
 
 When trials o'er-flow in sorrow, 
 
 And the heart is throbbing sad ; 
 Then the teardrops and the sighing 
 
 Will cause others to feel bad. 
 Sadly then we think of dear ones, 
 
 Who have left us on this shore; 
 They never will return again 
 
 To live their sufferings o'er. 
 
 ■»»♦♦» 
 
 REFOEMS. 
 
 Some people are always much troubled about 
 excitement in prosecution of reformatory enter- 
 prises . They fear disastrous consequences from 
 the enforcement of a law against the traffic in 
 ardent spirits-or from the preaching of Christian 
 truth. They deprecate excitement. Evil, they 
 say, will result from it, to individuals, and the 
 cause. To all such timid ones we commend the 
 following language of D'Aubigne; spoken in re- 
 ference to the reformation of the fifteenth cen- 
 tury, but equally applicable to all time. 
 
 ^'Undoubtedly," he says, *'a thorough reform 
 could not be accomplished without violence. 
 
 But when has any thing good or great ever ap- 
 peared among men without causing agitation?" 
 
214 PERFECT PEACE. 
 
 Have Perfect Peace and joyful be, 
 
 True Peace upon earth's sod; 
 It is well known in righteousness 
 
 Among true saints of God. 
 It's Perfect Peace the Lord will give, 
 
 Now His spirit can restore; 
 It is His will, the world must know 
 
 To save the rich and poor. 
 
 It's Perfect Peace and holiness. 
 
 The way our Saviour taught. 
 The onl}^ happy way, ^ ^I know-" 
 
 To live as people ought. 
 The Lord will keep in Perfect Peace, 
 
 Those who are trusting Him- 
 With purpose true and definite, 
 
 No more to harbor sin. 
 
 Once Jesus heard my humble cry. 
 
 His spirit came and said- 
 * 'Behold My Peace I give to thee," 
 
 In shame I bowed my head; 
 The light of Perfect Peace came in. 
 
 My faith was born anew; 
 He pardoned me from all my sins 
 
 And now I'm saved, 'tis true. 
 
PERFECT PEACE. 215 
 
 My soul is joyous in the Lord, 
 His Peace abides with me, 
 
 He hath regard for my estate- 
 ^'His mercy made rae free;" 
 
 He took me out of bondage then, 
 ' When burdened down in sin ; 
 
 My soul is now in Perfect Peace, 
 The joy-bells ring within. 
 
 KING OF LOVELINESS. 
 
 If our love in its highest conception is not 
 divinely drawn it is because we have forgotten 
 to admire the fountain of beauty, and to culti- 
 vate that delicate intimacy with the ^ 'King of 
 Loveliness," who would rejoice to transmit His 
 secret to friends. Under the influence of this 
 mighty friendship every form of sin has been 
 conquered; — suffering and anguish have been 
 borne with courage and hope, insults with meek- 
 ness, — bereavement with a smile, care and toil 
 with a song, and sacrifice with open arms. 
 
 It has armed weekness with strength, despair 
 with hope, and indolence with energy. By it 
 the world becomes wiser, better and purer. 
 
216 BEAUTIFUL VISION. 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ » 
 
 Beautiful gleam of the far off shore, 
 Heaven I view as never before; 
 
 Pure and unspotted in rapture of love, 
 Jesus is there with the saints above. 
 
 REFRAIN. 
 
 Beautiful vision the crown of my tho't 
 Beautiful vision of heaven I've sought; 
 Beautiful-beautiful, ''angels of light," 
 Sinless in glory, they're robed in white. 
 
 Beautiful home in heaven for me, 
 Never a place where sorrow can be; 
 
 There in the sparkling glorified time 
 Angels of love forever will shine. 
 
 Beautiful tho't that reaches the skies, 
 Jesus is there to bless all the ties; 
 
 Meekly and lovely in heaven to meet, 
 Glory to God for the way complete. 
 
 Beautiful light o'er the crystal sea. 
 Oceans of love are flowing for thee; 
 
 Saved from sorrow we enter that shore, 
 Saved in glory to part nevermore. 
 
 Beautiful time, in love, peace and joy. 
 Brilliant in hope and free from alloy; 
 
 Visions of rapture, inspiring within, 
 Viewing a kingdom, free from all sin. 
 
HUSBAND AND WIFE. 217 
 
 Between husband and wife there should be no 
 strife for supremacy. According to nature the 
 husband is the heaven-ordained head ; but each 
 should study the other's follies as well as virtues ; 
 begin gentle toward the first-and give honor to 
 the last. Daily young people are accepting the 
 duties of the married state who are uneducated 
 for the life upon which they enter so thought- 
 lessly. The young wife has been tenderly shield- 
 ed from all the cares or hardship of real life. 
 
 The young husband may know more of the 
 ^'rough and tumble" of life, may have better 
 studied men and their ways; but, unless brought 
 up with sisters, he knows little of women. 
 
 If he has a natural, tender, kind and loving 
 heart, all will be well. He wiU ' 'f eed"his ' ^bears. " 
 The old saying, that ''no quarrel can stalk about 
 on one leg," contains a good deal of wisdom. 
 
 Would that husbands and wives would bear 
 in mind that "a soft answer turneth away 
 wrath." The greatest rivers have their sources 
 in small streams; and the bitterest domestic mis- 
 ery has often arisen from some trifling differ- 
 ence of opinion, when the ''soft answer" would 
 have smoothed all the ripples in the matrimoni- 
 al current. 
 
 When we see how large a proportion of the 
 
218 HUSBAND AND WIFE. 
 
 children of this age are entirely undisciplined 
 at home, can we wonder that strife and heart- 
 burnings in married life seem on the increase? 
 
 Unless children can be taught self-control and 
 unselfishness before they leave the home circle, 
 to become the light and life of another home, we 
 can not hope that their lives will be happy or 
 their dwellings the abode of peace. 
 
 Much unhappiness would be avoided if hus- 
 bands and wives could only be as well-bred and 
 polite to each other after marriage as they were 
 before. It would seem, often, as if their good 
 breeding was laid aside with the marriage dress. 
 As children grow up around them, they follow 
 in their parents' footsteps. 
 
 If the mother is heedless of the father's wishes 
 and wanting in proper deference to his judg- 
 ment, her sons and daughters will soon adopt 
 her ways. If the father is indifferent or care- 
 less of the mother, meeting her remarks with 
 ridicule or sneers, you may look for the fruits of 
 his example in the children. 
 
 Keep scraping and plowing and hoeing de rows, 
 And when de season over you pay all you owes; 
 But if you quit working when de sun-shine hot, 
 The sheriff may levy and take all dat you got. 
 
SCENES I LOVE. 219 
 
 I love a pleasant countinance, 
 
 A smile upon the face- 
 It denotes peace and happiness 
 
 That loves the human race. 
 I love the hero brave and true, 
 
 Who dares for right to stand 
 And carry out true principles, 
 
 That honor God and man. 
 
 I love the home where peace and joy 
 And light can enter in, 
 
 Where the songs of praise they raise- 
 To keep their hearts from sin. 
 
 I love to hear the song birds sing, 
 The children laugh and play; 
 
 While time is passing on the wing, 
 With blessings for each day. 
 
 I love to view the wild flowers. 
 And gather some at noon, 
 
 And carry them about in hand 
 And breathe their sweet perfume^ 
 
 I love to see the sun-shine bright, 
 And watch its setting ray. 
 
 And view the shadows on the hill- 
 Just o'er the other way. 
 
220 SCENES I LOVE. 
 
 I love to view the mountains high, 
 
 The valleys and the plains, 
 And many scenes I must pass by 
 
 That's charming all the same. 
 I love the rivers and the lakes. 
 
 The ocean, wide to view; 
 From shore to shore we can adore, 
 
 For God hath made them true. 
 
 OBEDIENCE. 
 
 Some children are ready to yield as soon as 
 they see by the mother's manner that she is a- 
 bout to punish them. In the case of the child 
 who at first refused to come when called, sup- 
 pose, when he saw you rise to punish him, he 
 yielded and came running, would it be best to 
 relent and omit the punishment? If your object 
 had been sinply to secure that one act of obedi- 
 ence, no punishment would be required; but if 
 your object is to secure a uniform habit of obedi- 
 ence, I answer he has been guilty of disobedi- 
 ence, and should be delt with accordingly. 
 
 I once knew a mother who had so trained her 
 child that he never thought it neccessary to obey 
 her, unless he saw her start to rise from her 
 chair to come to him, and then he darted away 
 to fulfill her command. I would not care for 
 such obedience as that. 
 
PROFIT AND LOSS. 221 
 
 Now conceruing this subject we too often for- 
 get the significance of our Master's question: 
 
 '*What shall it profit a man if he gain the 
 whole world and lose his own soul? 
 
 How often we see the covetous person directly 
 opposed to the obvious fact that all men are as 
 much under obligation to do business for the 
 glory of God as any are to go on a mission to 
 the heathen, or preach and pray for the same. 
 
 In each of these ways the Church, by the life 
 of many of its covetous members, indicate to the 
 world that business is their first object and re- 
 ligion the second; that money is the principle 
 thing and holiness subordinate . 
 
 Let us enter some of our wealthy Sabbath 
 congregations and see what disclosures are made. 
 Here sits a young man and respectable member 
 of the Church, entering on a prosperous busi- 
 ness. He owns a neat residence on Merchant's 
 Row. He does not consider himself penurious. 
 He gives to charitable objects on occasions ; but, 
 because he is just beginning his career, he feels 
 justified in giving sparingly. 
 
 He intends to do more when better able; but 
 he never comes to feel any better able. 
 
 As Providence smiles on his efforts, the ardor 
 of his love grows cool. 
 
222 PEOFIT AND LOSS. 
 
 Secret prayer grows irksome as his income 
 grows larger, and is finally abandoned, and fami- 
 ly prayer goes with it. 
 
 Eiches have increased, and he has set his heart 
 upon them. He is a covetous person, and yet is 
 in good and regular standing. 
 
 Had he in the beginning formed a plan for 
 doing good, and extended it as his wealth in- 
 creased, he would have been more than safe in 
 his Profit and Loss account. 
 
 But he had not such plans, and consequently 
 yielded more and more to the covetous spirit. 
 till he well-nigh made shipwreck of his faith . 
 
 This is the history of thousands who in early 
 life were promising members of the Church. 
 
 ^*When I had but little," said a man under 
 deep conviction of his error, *4t seems to me as 
 hardly worth saving-but when my fortune be- 
 came large, it then appeared very important 
 that it should be kept together and accumula- 
 ting." He is now able to take the advantage of 
 others- He shows the best part of an article as 
 a specimen, and then sells the worst. 
 
 His Christian consistancy is destroyed, and 
 his early religious influence is lost. He becomes. 
 a burden and a reproach to the Church, and 
 covetousness is the cause. 
 
PEAELY GATES. 223 
 
 When the Pearly Gates are open, 
 
 And Jesus shall appear; 
 Oh, how bright will be the dawning, 
 
 Through Heaven's atmosphere. 
 Angels then will pass before us, 
 
 In their robes white and clear; 
 What a greeting there together, 
 
 When we all shall appear. 
 
 Thro' the silvery mist that vails us. 
 
 In death loved ones have flown; 
 By and by we'll sometime meet them 
 
 With Jesus on His Throne. 
 Blessed name in love excelling, 
 
 He from earth went away. 
 He is coming back, ^^He's coming!" 
 
 Before the judgement day, 
 
 When a voice in tender sweetness, 
 
 From Heaven calls the blest. 
 Then we'll pass beyond earth's portals 
 
 And enter perfect rest. 
 Glory then will shine upon us. 
 
 No future need we dread. 
 For our King is King in glory 
 
 And King o'er all the dead. 
 
224 FOUNTAIN OF LIGHT. 
 
 It is our business in this world to secure an 
 interest in the next . They that spend their days 
 in faith and prayer shall end their days in per- 
 fect peace; who would not deny himself for a 
 time that he may enjoy himself forever? 
 
 The Devil promises comfort, and pays in sor- 
 row. If you follow Satan you will find the 
 tempter to be the torm enter. If you follow God 
 you will find the counseller to be a comforter. 
 
 It matters not who are our accusers if Christ 
 be our advocate; Christ made himself like us 
 that He might make us like Himself. 
 
 If we live to worship God here, He will take 
 us up to worship Him above; we will change 
 place but not the employment. 
 
 The Devil would as soon pluck Christ out of 
 heaven as out of a believers heart. Never use 
 the garb of Christianity in which to serve the 
 enemy of Christianity. If a man claims to have 
 been pardoned from all his sins, and he believes 
 still that he is a sinner, is he not virtually work- 
 ing in the interest of the Devil? Man that is 
 born of the spirit of God, hates sin, and will not 
 enter into that which he hates. 
 
 ** Verily, Verily, I say unto you whosoever 
 committeth sin is the servant of sin." **Give 
 unto the Lord the glory due unto His name. " 
 
TEUE HONOR. 225 
 
 In true honor we should labor, 
 
 Free from sin and paltry- pelf ; 
 And then keep this maxim ever, 
 
 *'Love thy neighbor as thyself," 
 Life is not a dream or vision, 
 
 It's of value more than earth: 
 And to forgive and be forgiv'n, 
 
 Is all golden full of worth. 
 
 If you see your brother stumble, 
 
 And then fall out by the way, 
 Help him up if you are able 
 
 Then a kind word have to say. 
 We should try to help each other, 
 
 With a motive true and right; 
 We must try to win God's favor 
 
 And have honor in His sight. 
 
 In this world there's nothing better, 
 
 Than God's grace full and free; 
 It will keep out sinful pleasure, 
 
 It will cause the blind to see. 
 Seek His love in truth and honor, 
 
 And thus cultivate the mind : 
 If you sow the seeds of discord- 
 
 You will reap that very kind. 
 
226 FOUNTAIN OF LIGHT. 
 
 Never say that you love Christ if you love sin, 
 which was an enemy to His life and spirit when 
 He was on earth, and is an enemy to His glory 
 now He is in heaven. 
 
 The mirth of the wicked is like the laughter 
 of a mad man, that knows not his own misery; 
 When God pours out His spirit upon man, then 
 he quickly discovers that all arguments against 
 His word are fallacies; all conceits against His 
 word is foUey; and all opposition against His 
 word is madness. 
 
 The soul that was made for God can find no 
 abiding happiness but in God, through His Son, 
 Jesus Christ . ' 'Let us therefore follow after the 
 things which make for peace, and that where- 
 with one may edify another, in the unity of the 
 spirit in the bonds of peace." 
 
 We should ever remember that we must give 
 an account to God how we spend our days, one 
 day spent in sin is too much-endeavour to be 
 truly and thoroughly religious, and be not dis- 
 couraged at the difficulties; **for as by one man's 
 disobedience many were made sinners, so by the 
 obedience of one shall many be made righteous. '^ 
 Do not contend for every trifle, whether it be a 
 matter of right or of opinion. It is but little of 
 the world that is gold or silver. 
 
SINFUL DEEDS. 227 
 
 Sinful deeds are all disgraceful, 
 
 They bring sadness to the home; 
 They at first may not seem hurtful, 
 
 But in time the work is known. 
 It is wisdom we should treasure, 
 
 Look to one who rules on high; 
 Be of value to your Saviour, 
 
 Bid all sinful work good bye. 
 
 One small lie may cause disaster, 
 For it often leads to more: 
 
 Thus old Satan through his spirit, 
 Ruins people by the score. 
 
 Life is never pure in meanness, 
 It's through evil sin will grow; 
 
 Read the Bible and be joyous- 
 It is Jesus you should know. 
 
 Little sins will lead to greater. 
 
 They are often seeds of woe; 
 Keep within the christ-like nature, 
 
 Sowing kindness where you go. 
 Let no motive have your favor, 
 
 If deceitful, *^that you know," 
 For the sinful deeds in pleasure, 
 
 Are the surest ones to grow. 
 
228 FOUNTAIN OF LIGHT. 
 
 Man is the greatest enemy to himself when he 
 allowes himself to be in bondage to sin. It is 
 not of God that men are condemned, but of them- 
 selves, even their own willfulness, they live to 
 sin because they will, -that is because they will 
 not seek salvation. 
 
 What is sin but wrong doing, it is sometimes 
 like a bee with honey in its mouth, but a sting 
 in its tail. Many a man shifts his sins as they 
 do their clothes ;they put off one to put on anoth- 
 er; this is but waiting upon the Devil in a new 
 livery. It is not a talking, but walking with God 
 that gives a man the denomination of christian. 
 In regard to natural life, we live in God: in re- 
 gard to spiritual life Christ lives in us. 
 
 Christ hath entreated God to be reconciled to 
 us, and now He entreats us to be reconciled to 
 God. If you forget Him when you are young 
 He may forget you when you are old. 
 
 There is no honor known to the world like the 
 relationship to Christ, no riches like the grace 
 of Christ, no learning like the knowledge of 
 Christ; and no person like the servants of Christy 
 If sin were better known, Christ would be better 
 thought of. We must all pass through the door 
 of eternity; man does not die because he came 
 from clay, but because he is infected with sin. 
 
IT'S NO DREAM. 229 
 
 It's no dream that life must sever, 
 
 There's no sham in plans Divine; 
 We will sometime cross life's river, 
 
 To where sin can never climb ; 
 Then with Christ we'll enter glory, 
 
 Then we'll hear the angels sing- 
 There in joy all pure and lasting, 
 
 Dwell forever with our King. 
 
 We can all have faith and courage, 
 
 While we journey day by day; 
 We can build on God's foundation, 
 
 'Till this life has passed away. 
 Then we'll hear the angels story, 
 
 As we meet the dear ones there: 
 Then we'll share each others glory. 
 
 In God's Kingdom ev'ry- where. 
 
 Up in mansions saints will gather, 
 
 All those worthy have a share. 
 They will always know each other 
 
 In that Realm bright and fair; 
 We must seek and find the Saviour, 
 
 Who will take our sins away. 
 Then He'll bless our ev'ry favor 
 
 While we sing or while we pray. 
 
230 FOUNTAIN OF LIGHT. 
 
 If heaven does not enter into us by way of 
 holiness, we shall never enter by way of happi- 
 ness. We speak to God in prayer, He speaks to 
 us in His word. The church cannot live with- 
 out the promise. 
 
 When entering the Church of God for wor- 
 ship, leave all worldly conversation outside; how 
 can we expect God to honor us, if we do not hon- 
 or Him. To prevent Satan from running the 
 Church, 'let the Saviour in." 
 
 Darkness may as well put on the nam e of light 
 as a wicked man the name of christian. 
 
 A desire for happiness is natural; a desire for 
 holiness is super-natural. There is no way from 
 sin to holiness, till we pass from sin to Christ. 
 
 If we have not confessed our sins and found 
 pardon, we still remain in rebellion to God. 
 
 All true christians should be like Noah's ark 
 that was pitched within and without, they must 
 have a holy inside and a holy outside, profession 
 and practice must agree together. 
 
 ''They who will not hear Christ say come to 
 Me in the day of grace, shall hear Him say de- 
 part from Me in the day of judgement." 
 
 A church may live for years without Christ, 
 ' 'having the form of godliness, but denying the 
 power thereof." 
 
PRAISE GOD. 231 
 
 ♦ » ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 Praise God in little bands and sing, 
 
 With voices tuned for heav'n, 
 Oh, sing His praise where e'er you can, 
 
 Rejoice when sins forgiv'n; 
 Oh, praise the Lord in daily toil, 
 
 Wheji burden blends with care- 
 Proclaim your Saviour's holy name 
 
 In pure and fervent prayer. 
 
 The noblest men e'er on this earth, 
 
 Have in God' love been blest. 
 They gave the homage of their heart 
 
 To Him who gave them rest. 
 Oh, praise the Lord and never fail. 
 
 While faith you can employ, 
 Keep true the covenant you make. 
 
 And sing true songs of joy. 
 
 Praise God ye earthly stars of light. 
 
 The world is watching you; 
 The craggy rocks, and mountains high 
 
 Have taken on their view; 
 And from each cliff and lofty peak, 
 
 Will peals of gladness come! 
 When all the people on the earth 
 
 Shall worship God's dear Son. 
 
IS IT NOT TRUE? 232 
 
 Is it not true that many are on their death- 
 beds before they think rightly of life? 
 
 They are going out of the world, while they 
 begin to know whereof they come in it. 
 
 We came into it for this great business, to 
 save our souls in the faith and obedience to God, 
 but when we have time to do it, we neglect or 
 forget that business, and then begin to think of 
 it when the time appointed is gone. 
 
 We spend time in doing nothing and more in 
 doing evil, but little or none in that great matter 
 whereof we were born. The soul must be in per- 
 plexity at the hour of death, that seeth the day 
 spent and the assigned business not begun. 
 
 A traveler that seeth the sun setting when he 
 is entering on the journey must be aghast !-the 
 evening of the day and the morning of the task 
 do not well agree together. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 - — ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦^ — - 
 
 Heaven's door will be open 
 When we come in view; 
 
 If, spotless and robed in white, 
 There none of this world- 
 Can ever pass through; 
 Without the Saviour's true light.