The Wellcome family of Freeman, Maine : Israel Riggs Bray, 1808-1890. Henry Solomon Wellcome, 1853-1936 / [George Burbank Sedgley].

  • Sedgley, George Burbank, 1872-
Date:
1939
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Wellcome family of Freeman, Maine : Israel Riggs Bray, 1808-1890. Henry Solomon Wellcome, 1853-1936 / [George Burbank Sedgley]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    noar-by villayo atUMniAcd to take advantaye of Bray’s drinldny habit. hdie>' learned that after he had shipixaf the clippiny of Wool lie still had tni hand one store-honse full of wool. They went t(^ his lunne, takiny alony some licpior, intendiny to yet him scanewhat intoxieated and thus buy the wool at a very low fiy- tire. Bray sotm sensed tlieir seheme and after a few drinks he siuklenl)' beeame very talkative, then these wise men made an offer tor the entii'e lot of wool, and after some holding'baek and tliekeriny on Bray’s part he sold them the wool. This wool was some Bra_\' Inul thrcnvn out diiriny a iKwiod of some years when he sent shipments to the mills, and it eonsisted of pulled wool, peltetl wtad and wool with dirt in it. These sharpers not know- ing' that there were several yrades (h'wool that varied yreatly in imiee and in their know-it-all omitted to ask Bray if it was yood wool. 'rhe_\' mcnRHl it to their home town and notified mill-ayents that thev had sam ' w 'xd for sale. Several agents called and look- eil at it, Init none v)f them wonld (')ffer as mneh for the wool as they had paid Bra>'. dhien it began to dawn on them that Bray was not very drtink when he S(dd them the wool. A tew years before his death he had a housekeeper who was vei\\' ecnnpetent, Init her dispcrsiticm was not of the kind to yet alony well with Biayv. Here’s the story; klr. Bray was sitting before the cyvni fire in his room making an axe handle. The housekeeper wished to sweep this room at that particnlar time. She went into the room and eommenced to sweep. Bray, busy with his wcn'k, did not seem to notiee her. She swept the dirt and shavings up around his chair. Then the following colloquy and the hcnisekeeper’s dei'jartnre: 1 hnisekeeper; ‘‘Bray, move.” Bray: “B\' mighty T shan’t.” 1 lonsekeeiR'r: “I sn]qx:)se I ean leave.” Bray: “I stipix')se I have got enough to pay yon.’’ A friend said to l\Ir. Biagv: “Do yon know what a narrow es- eape yoti have had?” Then eontinning said, “Why! IMiss S d(nvn at k''armington sa>'s that she might have married yon IF SllF WOULD HAVE HAD YOU.” Bray replied; “I shall never cease tc') thank Hod hn' my deliverance.” Bray and a Ccdlege Bo^v .A story told the writer by Air. William Barlin of Widd. dh'avelling bv train a smartlv dressed college
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