Myths and Legends of Our Own Land, vol 4 | Page 8

height of land, and the Indians trace the outline of the
creature in the uplift to this day. Little Kineo was a calf moose that he
slew at the same time, and Kettle Mountain is his camp-caldron that he
flung to the ground in the ardor of the chase.

THE OWL TREE
One day in October, 1827, Rev. Charles Sharply rode into Alfred,
Maine, and held service in the meeting-house. After the sermon he
announced that he was going to Waterborough to preach, and that on
his circuit he had collected two hundred and seventy dollars to help
build a church in that village. Would not his hearers add to that sum?
They would and did, and that evening the parson rode away with over
three hundred dollars in his saddlebags. He never appeared in
Waterborough. Some of the country people gave tongue to their fear
that the possession of the money had made him forget his sacred calling
and that he had fled the State.
On the morning after his disappearance, however, Deacon Dickerman
appeared in Alfred riding on a horse that was declared to be the
minister's, until the tavern hostler affirmed that the minister's horse had
a white star on forehead and breast, whereas this horse was all black.
The deacon said that he found the horse grazing in his yard at daybreak,
and that he would give it to whoever could prove it to be his property.
Nobody appeared to demand it, and people soon forgot that it was not
his. He extended his business at about that time and prospered; he
became a rich man for a little place; though, as his wealth increased, he
became morose and averse to company.
One day a rumor went around that a belated traveller had seen a misty
thing under "the owl tree" at a turn of a road where owls were hooting,
and that it took on a strange likeness to the missing clergyman.
Dickerman paled when he heard this story, but he shook his head and
muttered of the folly of listening to boy nonsense. Ten years had gone
by-during that time the boys had avoided the owl tree after dark--when
a clergyman of the neighborhood was hastily summoned to see Mr.
Dickerman, who was said to be suffering from overwork. He found the
deacon in his house alone, pacing the floor, his dress disordered, his
cheek hectic.
"I have not long to live," said he, "nor would I live longer if I could. I
am haunted day and night, and there is no peace, no rest for me on earth.
They say that Sharply's spirit has appeared at the owl tree. Well, his
body lies there. They accused me of taking his horse. It is true. A little
black dye on his head and breast was all that was needed to deceive

them. Pray for me, for I fear my soul is lost. I killed Sharply." The
clergyman recoiled. "I killed him," the wretched man went on, "for the
money that he had. The devil prospered me with it. In my will I leave
two thousand dollars to his widow and five thousand dollars to the
church he was collecting for. Will there be mercy for me there? I dare
not think it. Go and pray for me." The clergyman hastened away, but
was hardly outside the door when the report of a pistol brought him
back. Dickerman lay dead on the floor. Sharply's body was exhumed
from the shade of the owl tree, and the spot was never haunted after.

A CHESTNUT LOG
There is no doubt that farmer Lovel had read ancient history or he
would not have been so ready in the emergency that befell him one
time in the last century. He had settled among the New Hampshire hills
near the site that is now occupied by the village of Washington and had
a real good time there with bears and Indians. It was when he was
splitting rails on Lovel Mountain--they named it for him
afterward--that he found himself surrounded by six Indians, who told
him that he was their prisoner. He agreed that they had the advantage
over him and said that he would go quietly along if they would allow
him to finish the big chestnut log that he was at work on. As he was a
powerful fellow and was armed with an axe worth any two of their
tomahawks, and as he would be pretty sure to have the life of at least
one of them if they tried to drive him faster than he wanted to go, they
consented. He said that he would be ready all the sooner if they would
help him to pull the big log apart, and they agreed to help him.