Neighbor News
The Barkers of Branford---Part V---A Filthy Story Won't Float
Llewellyn Barker's diaries span 1865-1937. "The Barkers of Branford: Life in America Through a Local Lens" is based upon these diaries.
The following is an excerpt from Ted Braun’s book. It is available for $30 at the Blackstone Library in Branford. Details at www.BarkersOfBranford.com
Llewellyn’s 1875 diary, written at age twenty-five, contains a number of quotations from the bible and literature. He continued to educate himself informally through reading and church activities mostly. His 1875 diary is filled with inspirational or cautionary messages, perhaps creating a guide for life.
“Oh, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains S”
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“Anjles (Angels) are bright still though the brightest fell S”
The “S” refers to Shakespeare. The first quote from “Othello” is a caution about use of alcohol. Alcohol's impact is among the themes that thread through his diaries. In the second quote from “Macbeth”, the bright angel was Lucifer cast out from heaven for his pride.
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“A filthy story wont float in clear water L”
“If you wouldn’t be eat by wolves, don’t be a sheep L”
The “L’s” above are unclear attributions but may refer to Llewellyn's own truths.
Llewellyn also reflected on how he might achieve a measure of happiness, no matter his “station” in life. This resonated with the time-honored Christian principles that he came to embrace.
“Happiness is the fragrance from the flower of duty; and if we don’t cultivate the flower, we cannot expect the fragrance”
“What thou Keepest thou loosest ...What thou givist thou hast”
His church involvement was much more than a duty.
“Hot as July Went to the house of worship all day... And went again in the evening... Must say that my zeal must be very great when I can come home from church a hot July day and say that I’ve enjoyed it.”
By age twenty-five in 1875, Llewellyn had found a way to make up for his lack of formal education, to enrich his life and firmly ground himself in the interwoven religious and social fabric of his time. He had set the stage for his remarkable journey to become, as his obituary stated, one of Branford’s “most highly respected citizens”.
Images courtesy of Branford Historical Society
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Ted Braun's book “The Barkers of Branford: Life in America Through a Local Lens” is available for $30 at the Blackstone Library in Branford. Details at www.BarkersOfBranford.com
