OLD HOMESTEAD 



I find no other record of town meeting held at the old home, 

 and reference to the town records shows that town meetings and 

 elections for many years alternated between John Alger's and 

 Lem Hunt's places. The record of this town meeting of March, 

 1826, shows that Ozias Barton was chosen moderator. '* Elected 

 John Boyden, Esq., supervisor." Among the items of business 

 transacted at this meeting are, ''Resolved, that the owner of 

 every ram found running at large from the loth of September to 

 the loth of March shall pay a fine of five dollars, one-half to the 

 complainant and one-half to the support of the poor." Again, 

 ''Resolved, that if any horned cattle are allowed running at 

 large within twenty rods of any tavern, the owner shall pay a 

 fine of one dollar. Adjourned to Lemuel Hunt's house." 



These resolutions indicate that the electors of the town had 

 a proper appreciation of the rights of rams, and, with a com- 

 mendable solicitude for the welfare of horned cattle, did not pro- 

 pose to have them demoralized by loafing around taverns. 



Augustus Baker is credited with "two fat wethers, and boy 

 to take them home, four dollars fifty cents." 



Luther Stedman is credited with "one cock hen, thirty- 

 seven and one-half cents." This was probably a "crowing 

 hen." 



November 13, 1817, "Job Lamson, to tarring your wagon 

 before going to Rodman, twelve and one-half cents." 



Such specific memoranda left nothing to be explained or dis- 

 puted when the day of settlement came, which was generally 

 once a year on "running accounts." 



There was quite a trade in Bibles and Testaments, but their 

 effects and results were not so readily traced as those of the 

 spelling-book and the reader. 



In the account of one old father in Israel may be found a 



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