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BUCKLAND -- In this small Massachusetts town nestled in the foothills of the Berkshires people seldom talk about "Si" Spaulding. Perhaps there's no need to.

Si's been dead for nearly a hundred years, but even when he was alive the good people of Buckland didn't talk much the town poor farm in 1867, only the town poor farm in 1867 -sic-, only his fellow patients and the local minister went to his funeral.

They buried him in an unmarked grave in Spaulding Cemetery beside the Congregational Church, and forgot about him.

Oh, they felt sorry enough for Si, but, for more than 50 years he had been a vexing problem to his family and the town -- a constant reminder of what many felt were the consequences of a doting father, a mischievous nature, excessive studying and parental indulgences.

For Josiah Spaulding, Jr., the only son and namesake of Rev. Josiah Spaulding, founder of the First Congregational Church of Buckland, was a "raving maniac" and was confined to a small wooden cage for 57 years. Naked, except for a woolen blanket wrapped protectively around him, Si sat for decades on the cage floor, his knees drawn up to his breast, waiting to die. The townspeople waited with him.

Josiah was born in 1786 during the first years of his father's ministry, and the elder Spaulding expected the boy to follow in his footsteps and to take up the work of the Lord. The noble old man, called "priest" by his devoted congregation, lavished affection on his son, but, during his formative years, Si's love of mischief and his delight in teasing the family animals troubled the good, but stern, New England minister.

There's no doubt the boy was a student. Old timers recalled he had great proficiency in Latin at the old Buckland Center School. He sat by himself, in the one-room school, and used different books than the other children, treatment befitting his father's superior rank among the townspeople. But Si continually shocked his father, even at this early age. He was caught throwing spitballs at fellow students, and made faces at the teacher behind his school books -- behavior not looked for nor appreciated in a minister's son.

Young Si dutifully studied his lessons at his father's knee during the long winter nights, but stories made their way around the village about "low, offensive tricks" played on his family. Tacks were placed beneath his father's saddle to make the family horse jump; animals were secreted in the parsonage kitchen to frighten his harried mother, and once a dead snake was placed in his sister's bed.

Such actions sorely distressed his stern father, who found it difficult to practice Christian charity on his unruly son. The elder Spaulding dispaired -sic- of ever getting the youngster to "settle down to Christian living," and he bore his sadness with a heavy heart. He prayed to the Lord to speak to his son, and to help the family guide Josiah into His service.

Josiah especially didn't like family devotions, which added to his father's distress. The boy complained about evening prayers and annoyed his father about them every time he dared. Then an event occurred that convinced his parents that Josiah's "precious depravity and gracelessness" might never be overcome. It was Mr. Spaulding's practice to read prayers while standing, since kneeling smacked of Popery. One winter's night, young Josiah sat before the fireplace with his dog Tiger stretched out beside him as his father rambled through a particularly long chapter of the Bible. The minister stood behind an old-fashioned armchair and rested his foot on its lower rung for a bit more comfort, as he read. Everyone in the room, warmed by the roaring fire seemed half asleep as the "Priest" rambled on.

Young Josiah's eye caught a burning stick protruding from the fireplace, and he couldn't resist the opportunity. Silently he took the leash of the napping dog, and tied it to the armchair supporting his father. Taking the stick from the fire, Josiah stuck it near the dog's nose. Tiger awakened in a flash and, frightened by the nearness of the flame, jumped toward the door, jerking the chair from under the preoccupied minister. The Bible flew from his hands and Mr. Spaulding fell forward, striking a large tub of blue dye and knocking it over onto his wife. Fortunately no one was hurt, although the dye, described as "oderiferous and very precious," ruined Mrs. Spaulding's dress and left a great indelible stain on the parsonage floor. Mr. Spaulding flew into a rage, and prayed long and hard for his son that night.

As Josiah grew older, he seemed to lose his mischievousness, and became to his father's delight, quite stolid, although there were isolated instances that gave cause for concern. One night, finding his father's horse tethered in front of the house, the teen-aged Josiah threw the reins over the horse's head and rode the animal at breakneck speeds through the quiet village streets, hallowing loudly and causing the sober minded townspeople to shake their heads as they expressed sympathy for the scandalized minister.