RIDLONS OF HOLLIS, MAINE.
709
Scotland, and Shetland, to visit his kindred and view the lands and home
of his ancestors.
Mr. Ridlon's life has been a singularly changeable and adventuresome
one from his early years. Being possessed of a daring, impulsive temper-
ament, he has moved in many dangerous ways, and accidents have fre-
quently befallen him that came near terminating his life. When only a
lad he fell from the great beams of the barn and was taken up unconscious,
but without broken limbs. A few years subsequently he accidentally cut
an artery in his head, and before a physician could reach him, nearly died
from loss of blood. He once fell from a bridge on Saco River, eighteen
feet into the falls, and sustained injuries from which he was slow to re-
cover, but managed to swim to the shore, where he lay till men carried
him to his home. At the age of fourteen he was thrown from a horse,
and had his right arm badly fractured and dislocated; and in the win-
ter of 1881 he was carried down through an iron bridge, in a train of cars
on the Boston & Maine Railroad, and seriously injured, barely escaping
with his life. In all these experiences a wonderful protective power has
seemed to attend him, and he has good grounds to believe that God has
preserved him for a wise end.
The subject of this notice is tall and erect, has dark brown, curly hair,
hazel eyes, clean-cut features, nervous temperament, and great adhesive-
ness of will. He delivers his public speeches extemporaneously and
fluently, in a clear, distinct voice.
The following verses were composed soon after Mr. Ridlon commenced
to preach, and are expressive of his feelings at the time.
"WAYMARKS IN EXPERIENCE.
66 Among New England's noble hills,
Where flow the cool, refreshing rills,
My Christian mother gave me birth,
And reared me at the fireside hearth.
"While dwelling in that peaceful home,
Before my feet had learned to roam,
My parents read the Scriptures there,
And daily joined in humble prayer.
"From early dawn to close of day,
I through the woodlands loved to stray,
Breathing the fragrant mountain air,
Guarded with kind, parental care;
"But soon the leadings of my mind
Caused me to leave these scenes behind,
And tread, the remnant of my days,
Life's rugged steeps and thorny ways.
"The counsels of those early years
Oft caused mine eyes to flow with tears;
The memory of the good-night kiss
Still moves my heart to tenderness.
"In later years the tempter's hand
Would bind me with its iron band;
Yet thoughts of home and mother's prayer,
Oft kept me from his fatal snare.
"When on Virginia's tented field,
God proved my guide and guardian shield,
He strengthened me to live, and bear
The hardships I must there endure.
