Diary of Hiram Harvey Hurlburt Jr - Chapter 21

A part of the Diary of Hiram Harvey Hurlburt Jr

I think it was in September, the Virtue Company sent me to Middletown, N.Y. on the Erie Rail Road. As I was delivering and canvassing. I went into a house where two elderly ladies lived. They had been paying in numbers for Fletchers Devotions. They at once commenced to inquire of me. Which I thought was right? (I surmised at once that one was probably of one mind, while the other was opposite) in the Presbyterian Church, The Old School of the New School? It would be all Greek to me. I had been brought up to read the Bible, especially the New Testament. My father having the opinion that the New Testament was guide enough. Not it was best to be careful as no salesman or agent canvassing should have any belief either religion or politics. So I just mentioned, I was more acquainted with the Congregational Church and belief, living in Vermont, than Presbyterian. Then one of them commenced to ask questions, "What town I was from?" Answer, Ripton. "Did I know anything about the wild lands there?" Answer, Yes. For I had been an officer there, and at such a time, had a public sale of at non resident lands there. "Do you know anything about a lot. Original Right, Diadamia Sayers?" Answer. Yes. For I sold out my half of it to B. Henry Bacon. It was a two hundred acre lot in Goshen part of Ripton. "How long ago?" Two years ago. Bacon and myself paid a lawyer in Middlebury, Peter Star one payment of fifty dollars before I sold. Then one of the ladies spoke up. "I am Miss Diadamia Sayers". Mercy sakes aline! "I am Diadamia Sayers" And her sister echoed the words. "Mercy sakes alive!" And Mr. Star never let us know that the lot was sold. Miss Diadamia to explain that he father drew the number in her name. They at that time lived in Connecticut.

So I never committed myself on the question, about the old school and the New. And on inquiring to find out its true definition, the arguments are so fine and misty, that my memory which is good, fails to retain it.

I was at a preparatory service ay the Congregationalist Church in Ripton. A young man who had lately joined, "David Kenyon" arose and asked the question? "If we do all we can on our part, and God does all he can on his part. Then if we did and go to hell and be damned! Who be to blame, be we or be God?" Mattermen was the minister got up and tried to explain to David, but I could not follow his argument close enough. I suppose because I am not clear on foreordination.

In returning from Middletown on the Erie Rail Road. I stopped off at Coshen N.Y. as requested by Mr. Roberts. When most finished in looking at the chance for canvassing. I noticed a new barn like structure boards vertical, and a man near a counter or work bench at harness work. I stepped in then saw the family lived there. Curtains and bed quilts hung up to partitions, three or four children. I was showing him the numbers of the Life of Christ, O Halloran's history of Ireland and several other works. And he called his wife to look at them. Then he said, "You are a New York City man, I can tell pretty well, have live there, and know the way they talk?" No. says I, Am from Vermont. "Do you know anything about Addison County?" Yes. My native town is Weybriddge. Then he said. "He use to have an uncle there, when he was a boy. This Uncle was lame, and he had a son "Alonzo Cook". Then I remarked your name is Cook? "Yes" Well that lame uncle of your lives in Ripton, and is running the Smith Hotel there. His son Alonzo is main man there. Then went on and told him how Alonzo Cook married Columbus Smith sister of Salisbury, Vt., And Columbus Smith is a great lawyer now, and practices before the Queen's Bench in London, England., and they are about getting a legacy from the Cook estate in England.

Well he went for his wife, and told her, and he certainly kissed her six times. Then he told me; "he knew nothing of this; he had heard his father talk about it; the Cook estate, and his father said, there was more danger of being struck by lightning than getting any money from England!" I left after he took address, where Alonzo Cook lived, so he would know when the legacy would be received. About one year from that fall they were paid off. Alonzo told me that his cousin wrote him all about my coming there, and it was the first they knew. I asked. How much they received? Something over four thousand dollars. I always was sure I left one happy family at Goshen N.Y.