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diff --git a/28013-h/28013-h.htm b/28013-h/28013-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..babd45a --- /dev/null +++ b/28013-h/28013-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7944 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Old New England Traits, by Edited By George Lunt. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + @media screen { + hr.ppg-pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.ppg-pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.2em;} + td.bol {vertical-align:top; font-size:70%; line-height:90%; border-collapse:collapse;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .dropcap {float:left; font-size:250%; line-height:90%; padding-bottom:1px;} + sup {font-size:90%; line-height:45%; vertical-align:105%; letter-spacing:0.03em;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + .fnanchor {font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + td.col1 {padding-right:1em; line-height:80%; vertical-align:bottom;} + .bracket {font-size:650%;} + hr.mini {width: 2em; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + .caption {font-size:.8em;} + td.r {text-align:right;} + ins.trnote {text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1.5px dotted #FF0000;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + hr.silver {width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.4em;} + .pts {margin: 0 auto; font-size: 0.9em;} + +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old New England Traits, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Old New England Traits + +Author: Anonymous + +Editor: George Lunt + +Release Date: February 6, 2009 [EBook #28013] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD NEW ENGLAND TRAITS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank, Darleen Dove and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p style='text-align: center; font-size: 2em'> +OLD +</p> +<p style='text-align: center; font-size: 2em; margin-bottom:2em'> +NEW ENGLAND TRAITS +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +</p> +<p style='text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em; margin-bottom:2em'> +EDITED BY +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +</p> +<p style='text-align: center; font-size: 1.6em; margin-bottom:2em'> +GEORGE LUNT +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +</p> + +<table summary="" style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='font.size: 0.8em;'>... this story’s actually true.<br /> +If any person doubt it, I appeal<br /> +To history, tradition, and to facts,<br /> +To newspapers, whose truth all know and feel.</p> +<p style='text-align:right; font-variant: small-caps'>Byron</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/traits-emb.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<p style='text-align: center; font-size: 1.2em; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:0.2em'> +NEW YORK +</p> +<p style='text-align: center; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom:0.2em'> +PUBLISHED BY HURD AND HOUGHTON +</p> +<p style='text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: 0.9em; margin-bottom:0.2em'> +Cambridge: the Riverside Press +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +1873 +</p> +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<p style='text-align: center'> +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>George Lunt</span>, +</p> +<p style='text-align: center; margin-bottom:5em'> +in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: +</p> +<p style='text-align: center; letter-spacing:.2em'> +STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +<i>H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY</i>. +</p> +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<table summary="transcriber notes" style='margin:3em auto 0 auto; width:30em; border:1px solid lime; padding:15px;'> + +<tr><td> +<p style='font-size:small; color:#006400; text-align:left;'>Transcriber’s Notes: <br /><br /> + +Archaic, variable, and misspelled words and punctuation inconsistancies have been preserved as printed in all of the quoted material with one exception. This includes all poetry, quotations, letters, and documents.<br /><br /> + +The one exception is in the poem Childe Harold, a section of which is quoted in the Appendix, Section IX. The word <span style='font-weight:bold;'>scimeter</span> was changed to <span style='font-weight:bold;'>scimitar</span> because it is spelled correctly in the original poem by Lord Byron located at PG, EText-No. 5131. See Canto IV, Stanza XVI.<br /><br /> + +All corrections are indicated by a dotted line under the correction. Hover the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins class="trnote" title="like this">appear</ins>. A list of these corrections can be found <a href="#ATN">here.</a> +<br /><br /> + +The following word was found in both hyphenated and unhyphenated forms in the original text: road-side (roadside). +The hyphenation has been retained.<br /><br /> + +Footnotes have been numbered consecutively and have been placed at the end of each chapter.</p> +</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 0em'> +<a name='INTRODUCTION' id='INTRODUCTION'></a> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> +</div> + +<hr class='mini' /> + +<p> +The Editor of this little volume does not +deem it incumbent upon him to explain +in what way the author’s manuscript came +into his possession. He hopes it may be +enough for him to say, that the writer believed +himself to be the only person whose +memory retained most of the incidents and +anecdotes herein recorded; and a long +and familiar acquaintance with his character +enables the Editor to state, that entire +credence is due to his narrative of facts, +written down as occurring within his own +knowledge and to his relation of whatever +he alleges himself to have derived +from others. A slight veil of mystery +seems to have been originally thrown over +the story; especially in regard to the +names of persons; but, as all who are +familiar<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_iv' name='page_iv'></a>iv</span> with the locality will at once recognize +its general features, the Editor has +thought it best, for the benefit of others +not so well informed, to make all proper +explanations on this point in the Index. +</p> +<p> +Sometimes, New England has been +spoken of as devoid of the elements of +romance; but perhaps this idea may be +owing to the fact, that the means of presenting +a different aspect of the case have +not been sufficiently investigated. A similar +impression has prevailed in respect to +Roman history and literature, whether fabulous +or otherwise; and the fathers of New +England, at least, have been thought to +have exhibited some of the traits, especially +the simplicity and severity of character, +which distinguished those more ancient +worthies, whose names and deeds have been +so long famous. But without making other +citations, I may remark, that I am scarcely +acquainted with a poem more thoroughly +romantic in conception and sentiment, than +“Gallus,”<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_v' name='page_v'></a>v</span> the tenth eclogue of Virgil; and +Macaulay, in his “Lays of Ancient Rome,” +has turned some of its legends to fine poetical +account. Where can be found, for instance, +a prettier, or more suggestive picture, +than the passage in his “Virginia,” +which some inspired painter might make +immortal upon canvas, as it is in verse:— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p> +“With her small tablets in her hand, and her satchel on her arm,<br /> + Home she went bounding from the school, nor dreamed of shame or harm.” +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +Perhaps, the solemnities of the colonial +history of New England may have overshadowed +much of whatever poetical interest +might be discovered in its private annals. +It depends upon the reader, whether +the present narrative may be thought in +some measure to qualify the imputation in +question. +</p> +<p style='text-align: right'> +G. L. +</p> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span> +</p> +<p style='text-align: center; font-size: 1.4em'> +OLD NEW ENGLAND TRAITS. +</p> +<hr class='mini' /> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I' id='CHAPTER_I'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +It was the winter of 18—, between fifty +and sixty years ago. Certainly the winters +of New England began earlier and were +more severe than they have seemed at a +later period. After the fervid heat of summer +has become subdued by the progressive +changes of the season, no atmosphere +could be clearer, purer, more exhilarating +than the prevailing tone of our October +days, and this kindly influence, as if by +way of preparing the human frame for the +gradual approach of winter, generally extends, +with occasional stormy intermissions, +through November, and often very far into +the frosty domain of December itself. And +such snow-storms as we once endured! It +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span> +may be alleged, that distance of time forbids +accuracy of comparison, and that +masses of snow, which appeared vast to a +child, would not seem so immense to a full-grown +man, and were really no more huge +than some of those with which winter nowadays +envelopes the ground. But facts +within my memory do not admit of such +an explanation, for I distinctly recollect the +driving storm which continued for days and +piled its accumulating heaps against the +front of our dwelling-place, so as entirely +to cover the windows of the lower story of +the house, and to rise above the main door +which was of ordinary height, and that at +length we were released from this imprisonment +by means of an archway to that entrance, +dug through the drift by the friendly +efforts of an opposite neighbor.<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span> +</p> +<p> +Our deliverer was a superannuated seaman; +inspired partly, no doubt, by the good-heartedness +formerly, at least, thought to +be characteristic of that class of men, and, +partly, by respect for the memory of my +father, who had been dead for some years, +in the early prime of life, leaving behind +him the best of reputations as a shipmaster +and a man. Perhaps Tom Trudge had, +at some time, sailed under him. I well remember +the triumphant air with which this +ancient mariner introduced himself into the +kitchen, where all the family was assembled, +doffing his tarpaulin, flourishing his shovel, +and cutting one or two capers, in token of +his hilarity at the accomplishment of his +somewhat arduous job. Of course, there +were profuse thanks and congratulations +on the occasion; but I recollect only, that, +after the second glass of grog furnished by +my mother,—a refreshment to which Tom +was only too partial,—he executed another +spring from the floor, snapped his fingers +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span> +and cried, “Tired, ma’am!—not a bit of +it! For all I’ve done to-day, by the blessed +binnacle I should think nothing at all of +jumping over a meetin-us,—yes, a meetin-us, +ma’am!” to the amazement, at the idea +of such a feat, of certainly all the younger +fry who were present at the ceremony. +</p> +<p> +The town in which we lived was one of +the very oldest of the New England settlements. +Its situation is uncommonly beautiful, +upon a slope descending from a moderately +elevated ridge towards the bank of +a noble river, which of late years has furnished +more motive power to various manufacturing +establishments in the towns and +villages, which have sprung up on its borders, +than any other stream in the world. +At the time of which I write, there was not +a mill throughout its whole extent. It is +told, that Louis Philippe, when a fugitive +in this country, in his youth, passing up the +road which leads mostly along the margin +of the river to a point where the first falls +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span> +interrupt the navigation, pronounced the +scenery the most beautiful he had ever +seen. The river was then chiefly famous +for the rafts of admirable timber which it +sent down from the primeval forests above, +for the construction of the unsurpassed +ships built near the town, and for the commerce +flourishing upon its bosom and extending +to every quarter of the globe. It +was idle enough, in comparison, at a later +period. +</p> +<p> +Early in the present century, and for a +long series of years in the past, no town on +the American coast surpassed it in commercial +enterprise and activity. The habits +and traditions of the place were well calculated +to nurse a hardy race of seamen, and +their reputation for skill and courage was +well known throughout the maritime world. +Persons are very apt to look at some direct +circumstance, nearest at hand, for the cause +of events, which may after all result from +much more remote contingencies. So, at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span> +first, in the days of the declining trade of +the town, they said the obstruction to its +commerce was owing to the sand-bar at +the mouth of the river. But the bar had +been there from time immemorial; and +though it is true that modern-built vessels, +with their cargoes, could not pass that barrier, +as ships of lesser tonnage were formerly +accustomed to do, yet the main +cause for this decay of business was to be +found in the growth of the capital of the +State, and the greater facilities for the +transaction of business which exist in +larger than in smaller places. +</p> +<p> +But the bar itself was always of very dangerous +passage in boisterous weather, and +often the daring pilots of the station, than +whom none upon the coast were more competent +and courageous, were exposed to extreme +peril, in their small craft, in returning +to the river, when they had been on the +look-out for inward-bound vessels in the +bay. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span> +</p> +<p> +It so happened that a schooner in which +I was a passenger, when a youngster, was +detained outside the bar, and was likely to +be detained for several hours, waiting for +the tide to make. A young pilot, accompanied +by his still younger brother, came +alongside in their whale-boat, and having +some acquaintance with me invited me to +sail with them to town; and, having been +some time absent from home, I gladly accepted +their offer. Their boat was under a +single low sail. The breeze was fresh and +the day fair, though I could not but be +aware, as we bowled along towards the bar, +that a retreating storm had left some indications +of its past presence in the tossing +foam that sprang upwards as the waves +dashed upon that treacherous heap of shifting +sand. The pilot sat in the stern-sheets +of the dancing boat, steering steadily with +an oar. His brother tended the sail, and +I was crouched amidships. As we approached +nearer the scene of commotion, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +our younger companion assumed a station +in the bow of the boat and began to sound +with an oar. This looked a little formidable +to a landsman; and soon turning his head +in the interval of hastily pushing his implement +into the water, the bowsman called +out to his brother, “Joe, are you going to +try it?” Joe made no sign, but steered +steadily on. Again and again the sounding +oar went rapidly down, and I suppose +at last to the bottom, and again the young +man cried out with renewed energy, “Joe, +are you going to try it?” Joe uttered no +word, but chewing his quid, looked steadfastly +forward. In a moment a heavy wave +struck the boat, drenching us plentifully, +but not filling her, and bounding up, staggering +a little, she dashed on, and with +another like slap or two, we were over and +in fairly smooth water. Had the boat +struck bottom, she would have been instantly +dashed to pieces and we should +have met the sad fate of others who, before +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span> +and since, have been drowned and lost to +sight forever in that seething tide. +</p> +<p> +In a conversation with a very eminent +English novelist, of profounder skill and +more permanent fame, in my opinion, than +any other since Scott, he expressed his surprise +at the solid aspect of the city of Boston, +in which we had met, on the day after +his arrival in this country, upon his first lecturing +tour. He had enjoyed the best opportunities +of viewing “men and cities,” +not only in Europe, but in various parts of +the farther East. I took the liberty of replying +that Boston had been growing nearly +two centuries and a half, and inquired if +he expected to see wigwams, or even those +slighter fabrics which betoken the earlier +stages of advancing colonization. He said, +“No, of course not; but it had quite as +substantial an appearance as an English +city.” But it is to be remembered that the +persons who came to this country, at first, +and from time to time, afterwards, were already +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +civilized, and brought with them and +transmitted to their descendants much of +the knowledge and many of the habits, +peculiarities, and even the traditions of +their ancestors “at home.” Our town, too, +looked old; though far from being so substantially +built as Boston. +</p> +<p> +In fact, while reading the fragment of +Scott’s autobiography of his earlier days, +and Dean Ramsay’s “Reminiscences,” one +might almost think that their descriptions +of character and manners, in so ancient a +city as Edinburgh, were in many respects +but a recapitulation of popular ways and +even of personal oddities in our own respectable +American town. Especially, the +great novelist’s vivid narrative of the desperate +street conflicts between the lads of +the several quarters of the “auld town,” +revives many boyish recollections. In my +youth, the division was into Northenders +and Southenders; but as our own residence +was in the central part of the town, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +we stood, as it were, between two fires. +The conflicts usually took place in the winter, +when the snow was on the ground, and +though heartily engaged in, and sometimes +quite too rough for play, were generally +good-natured enough to avoid any very +serious danger to life or limb. In the +higher schools, the lads were drawn from +every quarter of the town; but upon dismissal +for the day, or upon the afternoons +of Wednesday and Saturday, when no +school was kept, the partisans of the several +sections offered combat which was seldom +refused. The usual weapons were +snow-balls, which were sometimes, I regret +to say, dipped in water and frozen over +night, and kept in some secure place to await +the expected battle, and occasionally a pebble, +the missile commonly used by the Scottish +combatants, was inserted,—a practice +which was almost universally condemned. +Very seldom did we come to a hand-fight, +for a spirited “rush,” when either party felt +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +strong enough for it, was almost always +followed by a rapid retreat on the other +side. But woe to the luckless stripling +whose headlong courage carried him far in +advance of his companions; for upon a +sudden turn of affairs he was a captive, +and down in an instant, and mercilessly +“scrubbed” with snow by a dozen ready +hands, until the rallying host of his compatriots +advanced vigorously to the rescue. +The normal alliance of us middle-men was +with the Southenders, though a good deal +rougher than ourselves; and in times of +truce a solitary boy would walk a little gingerly +through their quarter, as errands or +family occasions led him that way. But +the principal commercial interests centered +in those parts of the town, and if, upon the +breaking out of determined warfare, we +could secure, in the capacity of leader, the +services of some lubberly boy who had +made a voyage, even a mere coasting trip, +to sea, though I remember that these were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +sometimes far less adventurous in the field +than those who had no experience of the +perilous deep, the issue of the contest was +not for a moment doubtful. The forces of +our adversaries melted away, like the snow +with which they fought, at the very presence +of a champion supposed to be of such +redoubted prowess. The dependence of +those adverse combatants was rather upon +some of the younger hangers-on at the +ship-yards, in their territory, for such a casual +auxiliary. Sometimes, the elements of +military skill would be displayed. While +the two forces were closely engaged, a +flanking party would make a sudden rush +up some short by-street, and then the complete +demoralization and panic-flight of the +warriors thus newly assailed was something +truly disastrous to behold. +</p> +<p> +Of course, we enjoyed the ordinary boyish +sports of boating, swimming, and skating +in the season for it; or, of a pleasant +afternoon, would roam away “over the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +hills,” as the phrase ran, huckleberrying, +perhaps, or gathering penny-royal and other +wild herbs for the old folks at home; to +be dried and reserved for future occasions. +For, in those days, a garret would hardly +be considered complete, without bunches +of these simples hanging from the beams +by strings, or stored away in paper-bags. +In the fall of the year, we had another resource, +long since interdicted by the owners +of farms in the neighborhood of populous +towns. This was the pleasure of nutting; +for the urchins of those days regarded +these kinds of fruit, growing on trees in +the fields, as a sort of <i>ferę natura</i> and free +to every passer-by; though the more surly +proprietors, even then, took much pains to +circumvent and capture the lads, as they +returned with their poles for beating the +branches and with their loaded bags, borne +by two or three of them, hanging by the +middle across those implements. Sometimes, +predatory bands proceeded in force +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +and defied the farmer on his own ground. +The story was told of one luckless individual +who went nutting alone and was caught +and imprisoned, for a time, in the cellar of +the farm-house, but mischievously contrived +to set all the taps of the cider-barrels running, +before he was released. These excursions +led us often to the Devil’s Den, an +excavation in an abandoned ledge of limestone, +in a solitary situation at some distance +from the town, and guarded, now as +then, by three rather spectral-looking Lombardy +poplars, which to us boys had a sort +of mystic and undefined significance. Here +we procured bits of serpentine, interspersed +with veins of <i>rag-stone</i>, as we denominated +asbestos, which, strangely enough, we used +to chew. I suppose that no boy ever went +to that place alone, and a sort of solemn +ceremony attended his first visit with his +older playmates, to a scene bearing an appellation +ominous enough to call up every +vague dread of his youthful heart. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +approach on these occasions was rather +circuitous, through the pastures, until an +elevated mass of stone, standing quite solitary, +was reached, designated as “Pulpit +Rock.” To the summit of this, the neophyte +was required to climb, and there to +repeat some accustomed formula, I fear not +very reverent, by way of initiation, and supposed +to be of power to avert any malign +influences to which the unprepared intruder +upon the premises of the nominal +lord of the domain might otherwise be subjected. +For these youngsters the ordinary +means of education were abundantly supplied, +and the girls, too, had their Academy +for those who aspired to something beyond +the common range; and when, at a later +period, I became conversant with their circle, +I must say that I have never known +young ladies of better manners or more +cultivated minds. As an evidence of more +expansive benevolence than usual, and of +profounder interest in the affairs of the great +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +world abroad, I remember that when the +<a id='LN_hysterical_girl' name='LN_hysterical_girl'></a> +class of students in Goldsmith’s Ancient +History came to recitation, one young lady +burst into a torrent of tears. The astonished +teacher anxiously inquired into the +cause of her emotion. In the midst of +her sobs she ejaculated, “Oh, that good +man, Socrates! To think they should have +treated him so!” She was finally soothed; +but considering that the incident in question +was of a rather remote date, this ebullition +of feeling evinced a generous sympathy +with a victim of past injustice, truly +worthy of a philanthropic mind. +</p> +<p> +It is still a town of stately mansions upon +its principal street, and one more beautiful +can scarcely be imagined. The magnificent +elms, of the graceful American kind, +which line its borders, have always been +reckoned a feature of extraordinary beauty. +Of late years, special means for supplying +and preserving this elegant and useful kind +of embellishment of the streets have been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +provided by the liberal bequest, for this +purpose, of Mr. John Bromfield, a native of +the town, but long a respected merchant at +the capital of the State. A conspicuous +house standing upon a gentle elevation, at +some distance from the street, with pleasant +grounds in its front and rear, was +appropriately named by its original proprietor +“Mount Rural,” though not, perhaps, +with the most exact observance of the +requirements of grammatical construction. +Still, it has some authority for being considered +idiomatic, for does not “Pilgrim’s +Progress” tell us of the “Palace Beautiful?” +And doubtless many other instances might +be cited of the substitution of an adjective +for a noun. At all events, the worthy +owner, who built his house in the most +approved style of former New England architecture, +spacious, square, and with projecting +windows in the roof, made some +pretensions to classical allusion; for cultivating +extensive gardens in the rear of his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +dwelling, he placed for an inscription on his +front wall,— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>“Miraturque novas frondes, et non sua poma,”— +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +a citation which, it is to be feared, would +be taken rather as encouragement to mischievous +urchins, if any of them understood +it, rather than as a warning to abstain from +the fruit. +</p> +<p> +Near the extremity of the opposite quarter +of the town still stands an ancient edifice +of solid stone, with a couple of stories +of porch of the same material, approached +by a lane, bordered with trees, leading +some distance from the highway, and constituting, +with some modern additions, the +dwelling-place of a considerable farm. It +boasts an age of more than two centuries, as +appears by the figures above its entrance, +and was apparently built for defence, when +precautions against Indian incursions were +thought necessary, though afterwards used +as a powder-house; and tradition has it +that, on one occasion, an explosion took +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +place by night, which blew away a part of +the side wall, lifted the bed on which a negro +woman, the slave of the occupant, was +asleep, bore her safely across the road, and +planted her, bed and all, upon the spreading +branches of an apple-tree, without injury. +An early owner of the place was the +ancestor of one of the recent Presidents of +the United States, and it was known, until +quite a modern period, as the <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Pierce</span> Farm. +</p> +<p> +Not many years ago, there still remained +at the corner of a street, between the points +just designated, one of those ancient houses +not common in this country, the second story +resting on heavy beams, which showed themselves +in the outside walls, and the walls of +the long, low dwelling filled in with a coat of +dark plaster braced by wooden cross-pieces, +like those of Shakespeare’s birthplace at +Stratford. The handsome houses before alluded +to were the residences chiefly of merchants, +or sea-captains, who had retired from +their maritime or commercial occupations +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +with a competence, or of prosperous professional +persons.<a name="FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> But a competence in those +frugal days was an insignificant sum in comparison +with the fortunes of our own time, +scarcely approaching the annual income of +the shoddy-masters, who now regulate the +avenues of social and so-called aristocratic +life. Indeed, I was once informed by an +old inhabitant, that the richest person in +the town, near the close of the last century, +was assessed upon only ten thousand dollars’ +worth of personal property. But I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +think there must be some mistake in this +statement, unless the rate of taxation was +exceedingly low; for this same prosperous +merchant devoted twenty times as much +as that reputed capital to certain pious +uses, during his protracted life-time, and +still left forty times as much at his decease. +Doubtless in those better days, the inevitable +“rates” (“death and rates,” they used +to say, “were certain”) were so small as to +press but lightly upon the incomes of individuals +in moderate circumstances, and the +means of getting at the exact measure of a +man’s worldly “worth,” had not reached +their present degree of perfection. Indeed +I may state, upon unquestionable authority, +that, late in the first quarter of the present +century, a highly respected trader of the +town, who lived genteelly and was taxed +upon a supposed capital of eighteen thousand +dollars, waited upon the assessors and +blandly told them, “Gentlemen, I have +been more than usually prosperous the last +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +year, and am willing you should tax me +upon an additional thousand.” Such combined +integrity and disinterestedness was +the theme of universal commendation; but +when the old gentleman went to another +reckoning a few years afterwards, his heirs +had the benefit of an estate nearer one hundred +thousand dollars in value, than the +limited capital which had contributed its +quota to the public burdens. In a word, +I have heard my Aunt Judith say, that in +her youth it was usual for respectable young +women to take service with more thriving +neighbors or friends, for the annual allowance +of their board and a single calico gown, +at four and sixpence a yard,—as the price +was before mills were established on our +own ground. +</p> +<p> +I cannot help referring more particularly +to some of the families of the town, who +imparted to it a well-founded reputation, +not surpassed, if equaled, by that of any +town or city in the land; for instance, there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +were the Lowells, who gave name, afterwards, +to that wonderful city of spindles, +which enjoys as world-wide a standing in +the annals of manufacturing enterprise as +the old-world Manchester of a long-anterior +date, and one of whom, amid the desolate +ruins of Luxor, struck by the hand of +fatal disease, conceived the idea of establishing +that noble Institute which bears his +name, and will convey it to future grateful +generations; a name, too, which has so resounded +in the popular literature of the day. +Then, there were the Jacksons, famous in +mechanics and in two of the learned professions; +Charles Jackson, the erudite and +upright judge, and James Jackson, one of +those skillful and truly benevolent physicians, +whose memory is still in the hearts +of many surviving patients. The Tyngs, +too, resided there, long honorably connected +with colonial history and still represented by +descendants of national repute. Amongst +other remarkable individuals was Jacob +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +Perkins, the famous inventor, who at an advanced +age ended his useful career with no +little foreign celebrity in the great city of +the world. I have read lately of his successful +exhibition of his wonderful steam-gun, +in the presence of the Duke of Wellington +and other competent judges of the experiment, +and know not what national prejudice, +perhaps, or other casual reason, prevented +its adoption.<a name="FNanchor_3" id="FNanchor_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> In science, too, we had Master +Nicholas Pike, an ancient magistrate, +whose arithmetic held its ground throughout +the country, until it was superseded by +that of Master Michael Walsh, which received +the high commendation of so capital +a judge, in matters of calculation, as the +old land-surveyor and finally head of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +nation, Washington. Master Walsh was an +Irishman by birth, though “caught young,” +as Dr. Johnson remarked, to account for +any distinction acquired by natives of Scotland; +and he displayed much of that impulsive +temperament imputed to the people +of Erin’s Green Isle. He dressed in the +old style, his gray hair gathered into a +queue, and wearing top-boots to the last. +He was an excellent classical scholar, as +well as mathematician. The pupils he prepared +for college did justice to his instructions, +and some have acquired great eminence +in the several professions and in the +conduct of important national affairs. As +an instance of his patriotic attachment to +his adopted country, upon casually meeting, +late in life, a certain writer of the town, +after a cordial salutation, he added with a +slight dash of the brogue, “I thank ye for +the Red and the Blue!” The young person +was a little taken aback, not remembering +the allusion, for a moment, when the old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +gentleman repeated emphatically,—“The +Red and the Blue, ye know—Tom Campbell.” +It was in reference to a couple of +stanzas, addressed to the United States by +that great lyric poet, scarcely equaled in his +day, namely:— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>“United States! your banner wears<br /> + Two emblems: one of fame;<br /> + Alas! the other that it bears<br /> + Reminds us of your shame!</p> +<p>“The white man’s liberty in types<br /> + Stands blazoned by your stars:<br /> + But what’s the meaning of your stripes?<br /> + They mean your negroes’ scars.”</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p> +To this the American had retorted:— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr> +<td> +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:smaller'>“TO THE ENGLISH FLAG.</p> +<p>“England! whence came each glowing hue,<br /> + That tints yon flag of ‘meteor’ light,<a name="FNanchor_4" id="FNanchor_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a>—<br /> + The streaming red, the deeper blue,<br /> + Crossed with the moonbeam’s pearly white?</p> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +“The blood and bruise,—the <i>blue</i> and <i>red</i>,—<br /> + Let Asia’s groaning millions speak!<br /> + The <i>white</i>,—it tells the color fled<br /> + From starving Erin’s pallid cheek!”</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p> +The verses were at first circulated as +above set down. Campbell afterwards altered +the two first lines of the second +stanza into:— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'><tr><td> +<p>“Your standard’s constellation types<br /> + White freedom by its stars,” etc.,— +</p></td></tr></table> + +<p> +impairing it, as some will think, both in +force and in whatever poetical expression +it may have originally had. Poets are apt +to make similar mistakes, frittering away +the first glow of thought and language, in +revision. Has not Tennyson thus injured +“The ride of the six hundred?” and did +not Campbell himself half spoil “Hohenlinden,” +by taming its phraseology down +into a supposed superfluous accuracy? For +example, he first wrote,— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>“’Tis morn, but scarce yon lurid sun<br /> + Can pierce the war-clouds, rolling dun,” etc. +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +</p> +<p> +It occurred to him, or some “stop-watch +critic” suggested, that the sun itself was +not actually “lurid,” on that celebrated occasion, +and he accordingly changed the expression +to “level,” thus signifying a mere +natural phenomenon; and, besides the sacrifice +of a fine poetical expression, forgetting +that the sun must have appeared actually +“lurid” through the interposition of +“the war-clouds, rolling dun.” Nor is this +the only instance of misapplied fastidiousness +in that splendid and stirring piece. +</p> +<p> +Then, there was the Rev. Dr. Spring, +father of that celebrated clergyman, Dr. +Gardiner Spring, of New York. He had +been a chaplain in the army of the Revolution; +and when I, as a boy, pulled off my +cap to him in the street, I fancied there +was something a little military in his polite +salute in return. The good Doctor held to +what were called Hopkinsian tenets, a special +form of strict orthodoxy; and it was alleged +that, differing from the ordinary practice +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +of religious people in the town, and +construing literally the record of the Creation, +“The evening and the morning were +the first day,”—the Saturday evening was +observed with primitive strictness in the +family, while on Sunday evening, after sunset, +the excellent matron assumed her knitting-work, +or attended to whatever secular +occupation she chose. I have often thought, +and it seems likely, that the name of Swett—that +of one of the most eminent and excellent +physicians of his day, in our community, +and who in fact fell a sacrifice to the +faithful discharge of his professional duty—was +the same as Schwedt, borne by the +Prince de Schwedt, well known at the court +of Frederick of Prussia (so called) the Great. +The good Doctor examined the throat of a +yellow fever patient, in a vessel lying at +quarantine ground in the river, and inhaling +his infectious breath, went home declaring +he had taken the disease, of which he +shortly died. The efforts and liberality of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +his son, the late Colonel Samuel Swett, in +promoting the establishment of the Public +Library of the town, though himself long a +resident in the capital of the State, will forever +endear his memory to the inhabitants. +The daughter of another distinguished physician, +Dr. Sawyer, was Mrs. George Lee, +who gained no little reputation by her +“Lives of the Ancient Painters,” and especially +by a book which attained great popularity +under the title of “Three Experiments +of Living.” I should do great injustice to a +list of noted personages—to some of whom +allusion is made elsewhere in these pages, +and which might be extended, if consistent +with the objects of this work, were I to omit +mention of a lady, Miss Hannah F. Gould, +whose poetical productions gained her well-deserved +applause and many friends, and +some of whose highly pleasing verses still +retain their hold upon public esteem. Reflectively, +too, we might claim some share in +the distinction of the most popular American +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +poet of our own day; for the direct ancestors +of Longfellow were natives of our +immediate vicinage. I had no intention, +certainly, of offering any tribute to the living +in these memorials of the past; but +one name inevitably suggests itself, better +known on ’Change, in London, than in +the place of his birth. I speak of William +Wheelwright, a lad, at the period to which +these sketches refer, long resident abroad, +though occasionally brought home by the +obligations and affections of family ties, +to whose enterprise, and arduous, untiring +pursuit of his object are owing steam navigation +and railway lines in the southern +part of this Continent, and to whose praise +the whole South American coast will respond. +</p> +<p> +There were others and many, of high +personal character and local reputation, +and not a few of strongly marked characteristics, +whose names, perhaps, would +scarcely sound familiar to modern ears; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +but I cannot pass over one wealthy merchant, +distinguished for his strong common +sense and decided individuality, as well as +for a success in business scarcely equaled in +this country, in his day,—the well-known +William Bartlett, to whose judicious bounty +the chief theological seminary of the State +and its principal Academy for the instruction +of youth owe so much toward the assurance +of their permanent foundation. +</p> +<p> +Nor should the memory of Oliver Putnam +fail of a record, who, long absent from +his native town, provided by his will for +a generous bequest, upon which a Free +School of the highest character has been +long established. Nor should due tribute +be forgotten in honor of George Peabody, +who, remembering those days of his youth +which were passed in acquiring habits of +business in the place, distinguished its Public +Library by a munificent gift. +</p> +<p> +There had been many other men of +marked character and great local influence: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +Tracys, Daltons, Greenleafs, Davenports, +Hoopers, Bradburys, Johnsons, Coffins, +Bromfields, Crosses; and many more, +doubtless, might be thought worthy of mention. +Among those named above, Nathaniel +Tracy was one of the wealthiest merchants +of his day, elsewhere referred to in this narrative +as suffering immense losses by his +advances to the government, when its needs +were great and its credit was low, and in +other ways. Tristram Dalton was a Senator +of the United States from Massachusetts, in +the First Congress under the Constitution; +and Theophilus Bradbury, afterwards appointed +to the bench of the supreme court +of the State, was a member of the Federal +House of Representatives during a part of +Washington’s administration. Indeed, from +some of the early inhabitants of the town +are descended not a few of the principal +families in the capital of the State; and its +representatives, by some tie of original or +later connection, are scattered throughout +the whole country. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +</p> +<p> +I linger somewhat longer and lovingly +upon this preliminary part of whatever +story I may have to tell, because I am +aware of nothing in the literature of New +England which furnishes precisely similar +reminiscences, and because pictures of past +manners, if truthfully portrayed, can hardly +fail to be both interesting and useful. We +heard plentiful stories, in our youth, of a +higher style of living in colonial days, of +coaches kept by the upper class of citizens; +of their slaves, whom we knew in their +emancipated condition as gardeners and +waiters in general; of the cocked hats, the +gold-embroidered garments, the laced ruffles +of the gentlemen, and the highly ornamented, +but rather stiff garniture in which +the ladies with their powdered heads saw +fit to array themselves, as they now present +themselves to us on the living canvas of +Copley. It was in the handsome residence +of Mr. Dalton, long after his decease, that I +saw hangings of gilded morocco leather on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +the walls of the principal room,—a substitute +for the wall-paper in common use, and +which I have never seen or heard of in any +other instance, in the United States. +</p> +<p> +Our collector of the customs was peculiarly +one of this class of gentlemen of the +old school. He was a person of very warm +temperament and of remarkable characteristics; +an ardent Democrat, who, upon the +accession of President Jefferson, had succeeded +Colonel W——, the first collector +of the port, appointed by Washington, under +whom he had served with distinction in the +Revolutionary War. The residence of the +latter, and the office of customs itself, in +those simpler days, were in the house which +was afterwards the birthplace of the writer +of these sketches. To that war the successor +of the old soldier principally owed a +large fortune, which he had accumulated as +the result of his privateering adventures; +and it is said that the prizes came in so +plentifully, that once he lifted up his hand +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +and declared, “O Lord, it is enough!” +However this may be, it is certain that not +long afterwards his riches gradually vanished, +and he was compelled to seek and obtained +the office upon which he supported +his declining days. Though “aristocratic” +enough in his own personal character and +demeanor, he was not naturally in much +favor with the grandees of the old Federal +town; but they stood in awe of him, nevertheless; +for he had been very rich, and in +his less prosperous days was still a person +of the most impulsive and resolute spirit. +His appearance in public was very marked. +His person was manly and his countenance +singularly striking. He dressed in black, +his small-clothes terminating in white cotton +stockings down to his gouty foot. On +his white head, decorated with a queue, was +his three-cornered hat. He seemed to take +a pride in walking up the principal business +street of the town, at the time of high +“’Change,” and paying attention to no one, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +to utter his not always very conciliatory +thoughts aloud, in regard to his contemporaries +and matters in general, as he threw +out sideways the gouty foot aforesaid, on +his way to the one o’clock dinner, which +was the fashion of the time. +</p> +<p> +But the Revolutionary War exhausted +the fortunes of many prosperous men of +the day; and the story is told of one very +rich merchant, who could drive in his own +carriage several days’ journey—when such +a journey over difficult roads was hardly so +much as could be accomplished by “the hollow, +pampered jades of Asia,”—and sleep +in his own house every night. He lent +immense sums, for the time, to the Revolutionary +government, received what he could +recover in depreciated currency, and failed. +At the period of my narrative, the country +was suffering from the consequences of +another war, and the once active commerce +of the old town was reduced to the lowest +ebb. It was then that active emigration +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +began from the sterile soil of New England—since +rendered so much more productive +by intelligent cultivation—to the fertile +region known as “The Ohio;” just as, not +much more than half a century ago, people +talked of “The Coos country” in New +Hampshire, and within a few years we +spoke of the “Far West,” brought at length +within the compass of ordinary travel and +civilization. +</p> +<p> +As a picture of the rigors and extremities, +I fear only too common, of early New +England life, among its hardy agricultural +population, I present extracts of a letter received +from a venerable friend, a few years +ago, who from the depths of poverty, having +emigrated in his youth to wild lands +not very far West, had risen to comparative +wealth, which he devoted to useful purposes. +In fact, the son of an extremely +poor Vermont farmer became, by his own +energy and integrity, the possessor of a +competent fortune, which enabled him, with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +views far surpassing the immediate claims +of this transitory world, to build a church +and to establish a flourishing educational +institution, destined long, I trust, to dispense +infinite blessings to future generations. +Thus, after some preliminary matter, +he proceeds to say, under date of +March 16, 1866:— +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +“My father was one of the poor men of Vermont. +When I was a small boy I have pealed +many a birch broom for a sixpence.<a name="FNanchor_5" id="FNanchor_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> My Father +could get one shilling for what he made, +take them on his back, carry them four or five +miles, sell them, bring home a little meal, or a +little bread, sometimes a half bushel Potatoes. +My mother would go two or three miles, and do +a washing, bring home at night a loaf of wry +bread, and a small peace was all we had for +supper and a smaller Piece in the morning. +Sometimes we was allowed one Potato roasted +in the ashes—no Hearth in the old log-House. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +My mother has stirred butter in a tea-cup with +the point of a knife, to keep her little children +from starving. My Father had about half acre +of oats—poor fence—the old cow got in the +oats and died. Then came the pinch—we as +little children had to flee to the woods to get +something to sustain life—no schools, no +meetings—nothing but hunger and despair. +I lived with my Father until I was twenty-one +years old. After I was sixteen my Father improved +a little in living. When I was a little +over twenty-one I got me a wife—we was both +Poor—three knifes, three forks, three teacups, +three chairs, a poor bed—hardly could we +keep house. But our courage was good—my +wife always standing by me, through all my +trouble and trials—shoulder to shoulder—heart +& hand, from the day of our marriage +until the day of her Death. No man never had +a better wife than I had—always kind to the +Poor and to all her relations. She is now in +the Grave Yard, and my judgment is, she is well +prepared for the next world—and for the good +feeling I have had for her for over fifty-six +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +years, I have Erected a monument over her +grave weighing 7 tons, and twenty-one feet +high—it is a splendid monument—cost me +over $600.00. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +“On the Eighth day of last July the Bishop +confirmed 28 in our Church at the —— everything +in good order—the singing was complete—my +Voice is still heard above all the +singers and I still stand at the head of the +choir—I am only 77.—On the 16th day of +last October, Previous notice being given, the +wardens and Vestry met at my house—one +minister was also present, a Lawyer being called +to do the business. At 2 o’clock, P. M. I commenced +handing over Deeds of land, Buildings, +Bonds, mortgages, money & furniture, to the +amount of nineteen thousand and five hundred +Dollars, the use and interest only to be used +for the Church and the —— Institute; but in +case there should be a failure of the Church +& school, for seven years, at any one time, +then the Property to go back to my Heirs. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +“I have been schooling from 7 to 11 Poor +children, yearly—I am now not schooling as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +many—my school is doing well—we have a +good minister and he is a good Preacher. The +Church is doing well. I am now commencing +one more building, 60 feet long, 30 feet wide, +and three stories high, for the convenience of +more room for Boarders in the —— Institute. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +“I wrung more Bells at the fall of Richmond +than any man in the United States, which they +was all purchased with one man’s money—7 +was the number, 4 large ones & 3 small ones—it +is true I was a little opposed to the +War—but no matter. The Brick Church and +the Buildings I built for the —— Institute now +with Interest cost me now over $43.000. They +are all Paid for and I am out of Debt. I have +furnished every stick of wood for the Church, +and have carried the most of it in since it was +built. I still wring the Bells on all occasions.” +etc. etc. +</p> +<p> +There is, perhaps, a touch of the garrulity +of age in this good man’s recital; but +I consider his record of his early life, slight +as it is, yet too strikingly suggestive to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +be left to chances which might await a +private letter. Indeed, the character thus +displayed is surely equal to that of the best +of the old Romans, in the middling class +of life, enlightened too by a living faith of +which they had no conception; and the +sketch gives fair warrant for the conclusion, +that, in point of manly simplicity and integrity, +the traits and the trials of those +elder worthies who helped to settle our +republican institutions have not been overdrawn. +</p> + +<hr style='width: 10%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both; margin: 2em auto 1em 0' /> + +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_1' id='Footnote_1'></a><a href='#FNanchor_1'><span class='label'>[1]</span></a> +<p> +As I set down these reminiscences I observe the following +paragraph in a Boston daily paper of November 27, 1872:— +</p> +<p> +“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>November Snow.</span> Fifty-two years ago to-day there +were twenty-eight inches of snow on a level in the vicinity +of Portsmouth, N. H.” +</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_2' id='Footnote_2'></a><a href='#FNanchor_2'><span class='label'>[2]</span></a> +<p> +The late Mr. George Wood, of Washington, a native +of our town, in some highly interesting <i>Memorabilia</i>, +formerly published, says: “The aristocracy were not +on High Street, as now, but on Water Street, and more +at the South than the North end, as the old houses give +evidence to this day. The Johnsons, Jacksons, Davenports, +Coffins, Greenleafs, Bartletts, Pierces, Hoopers, +Tappans, Todds, Carters, Lunts, Marquands, and others +of wealth, were on Water Street or near it. There +were their grand houses and fine gardens, and it was +not till they thought of retiring from business that they +removed to the West-end or up-town, as gradually as +they always do in all places.” +</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_3' id='Footnote_3'></a><a href='#FNanchor_3'><span class='label'>[3]</span></a> +<p> +After resigning his office of judge, which he had held +for only a few years, but administered with extraordinary +ability and integrity, Judge Jackson went abroad for relaxation, +and a letter from a gentleman in London to +a friend on this side the water says,—“Two of your +townsmen, Judge Jackson and Jacob Perkins, now fill the +public eye of England, and are the subjects of public and +private conversation.” +</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_4' id='Footnote_4'></a><a href='#FNanchor_4'><span class='label'>[4]</span></a> +<p> +“The meteor flag of England,” etc. Campbell. +“Ye mariners of England.” +</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_5' id='Footnote_5'></a><a href='#FNanchor_5'><span class='label'>[5]</span></a> +<p> +These brooms are made by peeling strips from the +stump, which are fastened below. +</p> +</div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_II' id='CHAPTER_II'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +I should scarcely deem it expedient to +enter at much detail into the eccentricities +of our good townspeople, though it seems +to me that in our own street I could recall +enough to make a pretty sizable volume. +</p> +<p> +But one feature of the times deserves a +passing notice. I refer to the inconsiderable +number of insane persons, compared +with the sad increase of that unfortunate +class in our own day, and the manner in +which they were treated. Of course, a +more widely extended population multiplies +the sum of every description of disease. +Besides, our ancestors were a hardier +race than their descendants, more inured +to the regular routine of physical toil, less +given than the men and women of the present +day to hurtful indulgence, and far less +exposed to the disturbing excitements of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +business and pleasure. So far as I know, +there were but two really insane persons in +our population of some seven or eight thousand, +though doubtless certain others were +more or less “light-headed.” One of those +two was sullenly crazy, and accounted dangerous, +and therefore subjected to physical +restraint; the other, generally harmless, +roamed through the town at his own will, +calling occasionally upon the acquaintance +of his better days, and making magnificent +promises of the benefits he intended to +bestow, “when his ship came in.” If I had +inherited only a moderate dividend of the +proceeds of the successive ships and their +cargoes, which he promised my mother, on +the above favorable contingency, usually +calling her out from dinner to whisper to +her these magnificent promises, more to +her alarm than satisfaction, though being a +woman of spirit she put a brave face upon +it—I should look down upon a Rothschild, +an Astor, or a Vanderbilt with natural +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +contempt. Sometimes, incarceration +was thought necessary, also, in his case; +and I have a vivid recollection of the place +of confinement allotted to each patient. +</p> +<p> +This was in the yard of the almshouse, +for state and county asylums had not then +been thought of, and the strong wooden +building in which they were placed consisted +of two apartments, perhaps twelve +feet square, one above and the other beneath +the surface of the ground; the latter, +in fact, a dungeon with one barred window +on a level with the yard. Here they passed +their gloomy hours as they might, in solitude +and darkness, scarcely relieved by +light from without, with nothing to alleviate +the horrors of their condition, and +probably considered in a state too hopeless +to admit of any remedy. The tenant of +the upper cell was comparatively lively, on +the occasion of resort to his window for +conversation, or out of curiosity, which was +freely permitted; but his neighbor in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +dungeon was dangerous; and I can never +forget the terror inspired by a sudden and +vicious attempt made by him to seize the +legs of us children through the bars, as we +stood conversing with the inmate of the +room above. Science and humanity have +done very much, in modern times, toward +the restoration of such unhappy beings, +who are in a majority of cases susceptible +of cure, or of improvement enough to warrant +their return to domestic life. But it +is to be feared we are yet far behind, in +this country, the more enlightened and +effectual methods pursued for this purpose +in some other civilized nations. +</p> +<p> +On one side of the street above alluded +to lived for a long time, in my boyhood, an +ancient shoemaker entirely alone; and as +he guarded his residence with great secrecy +and sold none of his wares, curious +people were puzzled to understand how he +supported existence. He was known to +be partially deranged. Mischievous boys, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +sometimes, gathered in numbers, would +often assail his door with stones, standing +ready for a start. But if they were on the +watch, so was Pettengill, from previous experience, +waiting behind his door with a +heavy wooden bar in his hand, and giving +instant chase to the flying urchins, would +send the bar rattling at their heels. One +day, after a season of unusual quiet, one of +our lads anxious to penetrate his mystery, +ventured to knock gently at the barred portal, +was admitted, and expressed his wish +to purchase a pair of shoes. The old man +opened several chests containing the articles +sought for, and finally selected a pair +which proved a fit; but upon his visitor’s +making known his readiness to buy, the +maker deliberately returned them to their +receptacle, locked it fast and gravely declared, +that he did “not like to part with +them, for fear of spoiling his assortment.” +</p> +<p> +The next building was occupied by a +respectable English couple as a dwelling-place, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +with a small grocer’s shop in front. +They had no children, except one strapping +son of the old lady by a former husband, +grown to man’s estate, and whose business +seemed to be to lounge about the premises +in drab small-clothes; for I never saw him +do anything. The old lady might be seen +of a morning, with iron pattens on her feet +and her clothes tucked up, mopping the +floor of the shop; but in the afternoon much +more genteelly attired in silks of an ancient +fashion. Mr. Brown was a very quiet, inoffensive +person, the wife a little high-strung. +It is certain that they had occasional domestic +bickerings, perhaps about the young +man in the knee-breeches; for on one occasion +it is alleged that the old matron was +overheard to address her spouse, with a +slightly Hibernian accentuation,—“Brune, +Brune, ye case-knife looking son of a gun! +I married ye neither for love, nor for +money, but the pure convanience of the +shop!” As these worthy people have long +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +ago passed away, there seems no scandal +in detailing this little family incident. +</p> +<p> +Directly opposite these premises was a +large old-fashioned house, still standing, +and, a century before, the residence of the +minister of the First Church. It was long +afterwards occupied by a noted magistrate +for the trial of small actions, who served +many years as town-clerk, and was an energetic +orator at town-meetings and in parish +affairs. A culprit was once brought +before him for stealing a gentleman’s set +of new shirts. The fact was stiffly denied. +“A pretty story,” said the accused party, +“that I should take his shirts!” An official +scrutiny, however, soon exhibited him +standing with the half dozen articles of +attire, one over another, upon his person. +“What a villain!” said the astonished justice. +“Why didn’t you tell me you was a +villain and save the time of the court, of the +witnesses, and the spectators, by owning up +you were a villain, in the first place?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +</p> +<p> +The citizens of the old town were pretty +thorough Puritans, by inheritance and inclination, +at the middle of the last century. +But the minister of the First Church was, +in his day, a gentleman noted for his liberal +tastes and accomplishments. He had +a picture painted on a broad panel over +the fire-place of his library, representing +himself and several others of the cloth sitting +around a table, in the full canonicals +of wig, gown, and band, before each a +foaming mug of ale, and each supplied with +a tobacco pipe from which rolled volumes +of narcotic fumes. At the top of the painting +was a legend in the Latin language, of +which the following is, I believe, a correct +copy,— +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +“In essentialibus unitas, in non-essentialibus libertas, in omnibus charitas.” +</p> +<p> +They appeared to be having a jolly time, +and evidently considered the slight indulgences +to which they were addicted among +the moral non-essentials, however necessary +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +to their physical comfort. In this picture, +which is still extant, the rules of +perspective were not rigorously obeyed. +In fact, the table is considerably tipped, +whether supposed to result from some sudden +hilarious movement on the part of the +reverend compotators or owing to want of +skill in the artist, I am not able to testify. +Indeed, the manners of the times had not +then attained their present professed strictness +in regard to the use of exhilarating +liquors, and I have inspected a tavern-bill +rendered to the principal citizens, for articles +of this sort consumed on some joyful +public occasion, at a much later period, the +amount of which in quantity, though not +in price, would astonish a modern city +council. +</p> +<p> +At the corner of the street stood an +ancient tavern, the principal establishment +of the kind in the place, at which in staging +times all the stage-coaches from Boston +and the eastward hauled up to change +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +horses. It was kept by the father of the +popular host of one of the best known of +the long-established New York hotels. I +well remember seeing a considerable body +of British sailors halted there for refreshment, +under guard, on their way to some +prison in the interior, during the War of +1812. They were true British tars of the +traditional type, with immense clubs of +hair, tied up with eel-skins and hanging +short and thick down their necks. They +seemed in no wise depressed by their condition +and in fact were treated extremely +well, for the general feeling of the town +was decidedly adverse to the war. I also +remember a gathering in front of the tavern, +when the evening coach was expected, +with the idea of mobbing an unpopular +general officer who was to pass through by +that conveyance. But a better sentiment +was inculcated by the more orderly portion +of the assembly, and the obnoxious warrior +was not molested, otherwise than by expressions +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +of dislike, either upon alighting, +or when taking his place to resume his +journey. Politics ran very high at the +time, almost to the entire suspension of +social relations between the differing parties,—the +Federalists, who opposed the +war, and were accused of unpatriotic sympathy +with the cause of the enemy, and +the Republicans, often stigmatized as Jacobins, +who were charged with the principles +and designs which had given impulse to +the great French Revolution. Doubtless +these parties shared, on the one side and +the other, in the hereditary enmity, long +since allayed if not altogether extinguished, +between England and France. But whatever +might be the general turn of political +sentiment, both sides felt a patriotic pride +in the success of the American arms. +Hence, it is probable, the temper of the +crowd assembled to do dishonor to the unlucky +general. While the Republicans were +indignant at a supposed needless national +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +disaster, the Federalists could scarcely rejoice +at it; and thus the moderation of the +latter tended to restrain the former from +the display of any actually violent demonstration. +At the same period, there was +formed, among the older administration +men of the day, a veteran military organization, +of those beyond the ordinary age +of military service, well-known locally under +the significant appellation of the “Silver +Greys.” The corps was composed of +elderly merchants and traders and retired +sea-captains, and their drills manifested at +least the ambition of military prowess. +Their opponents alleged that their company +was formed for merely political purposes, +and to overawe the town; but their +own doubtless more just solution of the +matter was, that their object was to aid in +repelling invasion, in the unlikely case that +the British troops should land upon their +own borders. They gave more promise, +certainly, of efficient service, should danger +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +arise, than could be expected of the superannuated +Trojans chief of Priam’s court, +as their catalogue is translated by Pope +from the living record of Homer:— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>“Here sat the seniors of the Trojan race,<br /> + Old Priam’s chiefs and most in Priam’s grace;<br /> + The king the first, Thymœtes at his side,<br /> + Lampus and Clitias, long in council tried,<br /> + Panthus and Hicetaon, once the strong,<br /> + And next, the wisest of the reverend throng,<br /> + Antenor grave and sage Ucalegon,<br /> + Leaned on the walls and basked before the sun;<br /> + Chiefs who no more in bloody fights engage,<br /> + But wise through time and narrative with age,<br /> + In summer days like grasshoppers rejoice,<br /> + A bloodless race, that send a feeble voice,” etc. +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +The town had suffered everything from +the war and the interdiction of commerce +in which it had been most actively engaged, +preceding the event. Multitudes +were absolutely ruined, and the gaunt wolf +stood grinning at almost every other threshold. +Among the memorials of that great +struggle, it may be as well to mention the +rusted cannon planted for posts at the corners +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +of certain of the streets, the breech +sunk in the ground and a bomb-shell fastened +in the muzzle. At such a time, it is +not strange that force occasionally took the +place of law. +</p> +<p> +I could recall not a few instances in +which, under the impulse of political resentment, +passion got the better of judgment. +One day, the marshal of the United +States, in his cocked hat and with other +official insignia, entered the tavern I have +mentioned, in quest of a fugitive from justice. +He inquired of a person whom he +met in the public apartment, if he had +lately seen one Captain E——, who, it +seems, on some supposed provocation, had +only thrown a custom-house officer into the +dock in one of our eastern harbors. The +person addressed by the marshal said that +Captain E—— had just passed down the +street, and when the marshal turned to +pursue the culprit, that individual, who +was no other than the one just addressed, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +slipped out of another door, ran by the +stable in the rear of the tavern and called +upon Jem Knox, the hostler, to harness a +chaise with all speed and to follow him +forthwith in his flight. It appears, that the +story of the captain’s adventure was already +pretty well known in the public places of +the town, and as a visit of the marshal from +Boston was a very extraordinary event in a +place usually so quiet, a prying character +who was upon the spot asked him if he was +not looking for Captain E——. Upon receiving +an affirmative reply,—“That’s the +man,” said he, “you have just spoken to.” +The marshal started in pursuit and the +captain had called out to such persons of +his acquaintance as saw him running, that +he was chased by a United States’ officer. +Half way through the street, one Clement +Starr, a stalwart Englishman, who lived at +the spot and whose sympathies, political +and otherwise, were with the weaker party, +seized the marshal by the collar and insisted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +upon knowing what was the cause +of the considerable tumult which the outcry—“Stop +him!” had raised. Escaping +this obstacle, the poor marshal was soon +afterwards clasped in the vigorous embrace +of a spirited matron, who stood on her +door-step as he passed, and, besides being +an acquaintance of the captain, was of the +same political proclivities as those of the +retreating mariner. +</p> +<p> +While tearing himself away from this +lively lady, Knox drove furiously by, pulled +up as he overtook the fugitive, who, as a +witness of the affair told me, tumbled into +the chaise, and was soon out of the reach +of the threatening danger. Whether he +was ever taken afterwards, or what became +of the prosecution, I have never heard. +</p> +<p> +Not far from us lived a worthy widow, +with a family of children, and on one occasion +she was heard to mingle rather curiously +an office of devotion with a somewhat +severe threat of domestic discipline. It +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +was a day in summer, and the windows +being open, a passer-by heard her objurgation. +It seems the family had assembled at +the dinner-table, and her oldest son began +by making premature demonstrations toward +the provisions, when his mother +emphatically addressed him: “You Bob +Barker, if you stick your fork into that +meat before I’ve asked a blessing, I’ll be +the death of ye!” +</p> +<p> +There was a worthy shipmaster, also, +who used to trade to Hayti, when that stalwart +colored person, Christophe, was the +Emperor, who used to say, “Put a bag of +coffee in the mouth of h——, and a Yankee +will be sure to go after it.” On one occasion, +so the story ran, Captain H—— complained +of some insult from one of Christophe’s +ragged soldiery. The fact reached +the ears of that potentate, who desired to +stand well with Americans, and our townsman +was summoned before him. He found +in the presence of the monarch the whole +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +body of the scanty force on duty in the +town. “Can you pick out the man who +insulted you?” asked the sable autocrat. +Captain H—— pointed him out; but beginning +to fear the infliction of some punishment +too severe, attempted to extenuate +the offence. “Stop!” cried Christophe, and +called the soldier near him. “Do you say +this was the man of whom you have told +me?” “Yes, sir, it is,” replied the alarmed +captain; “but”—In an instant Christophe +had drawn his sword, and with one blow +struck off the head of the unlucky culprit. +The terror of the accusing party, at such +a sudden and bloody consummation, may +be partly imagined. He procured his clearance +as soon as possible, and I believe +made his future voyages to waters under a +less summarily sanguinary domination. +</p> +<p> +We had also a <i>soi-disant</i> nobleman, of +really the humblest extraction, and ignorant +to a singular degree, but known by his eccentricities +far and wide, who, on the score +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +of a little money accidentally amassed, proclaimed +himself, by an inscription beneath +a wooden statue of himself, in front of his +residence,—“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Lord of the East, Lord +Of the West, and the Greatest Philosopher +in the Western World.</span>” He +decorated his court-yard with an extraordinary +amount of lumber of this sort, in the +shape of human beings, and dumb creatures +of many sorts, each statue standing upon +its separate pillar, to the intense admiration +of the gaping rustics who visited the +town to inspect it; and he fairly beat the +Scottish Earl of Buchan, who was infected +with a similar mania. Upon an arch directly +opposite his front door, he had placed +Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. Adams, +on the right, was bareheaded, and upon an +inquiry by some one why this distinction +was made, since Jefferson’s chapeau was in +its place, the great “lord” replied: “Do +you suppose I would have anybody stand +at the right hand of Washington, with his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +hat on?” He was said, also, upon certain +hilarious occasions, celebrated in a tomb +which he had constructed under a summer-house +in his garden, to have indulged in +the mastication of bank-bills between slices +of bread and butter, doubtless to the envy +of his boon companions; not, as might be +inferred, of the better or richer classes, +though, considering all things, it is perhaps +needless to hope that these current symbols +of value were a little cleaner than +most of those of modern date. All this +statuary rubbish, however, was long ago +removed; and the house and grounds, by +the taste of the present owner, have since +ranked among the most pleasing objects +of inspection in the town. +</p> +<p> +This notably low and singularly eccentric +character, as I have remarked, fairly beat +that other oddity,—in a different class of +life and contemporary with him,—the Scottish +Earl of Buchan, elder half-brother of +Lord Chancellor Erskine. That nobleman +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +was possessed with a passion for the busts +of persons, eminent or otherwise, not dissimilar +to that of our New England “lord” for +wooden statuary, and perhaps was actuated +by equal vanity, though a person of real +literary accomplishment, and in no sense, +except as mentioned, to be put in comparison +with the other. He displayed to his +visitors a large and most incongruous collection +of these objects of art in a sort of +grotto excavated in his garden, thus reversing, +however, the more conspicuous procedure +of his brother connoisseur, who exhibited +his assemblage of rarities in his +front yard. The Scottish Earl, certainly, +had some literary pretensions, while the +“lord” Timothy, who could neither read +nor write with ordinary expertness, honored +the Muses, also, by affording countenance +to a poet. Whether this patronage +extended to much material sustenance may +be considered doubtful, since this son of +Apollo generally stood in the market-place, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +when not wandering away to other +parts, for the disposal of his wares, dressed +in semi-clerical habiliments, himself being +of a singularly grave aspect, and retailed +frightful ballads of his own composition, +and small wares of various kinds from a +basket on his arm. It is questionable +whether any of these literary productions +survive to the present day; and I fear that +not one of them had any spark of that vitality, +potent to influence popular sentiment, +which Fletcher of Saltoun attributed to the +songs of the people. +</p> +<p> +In the centre of this market-place—a +space inclosed on all sides by various +shops or stores, and for some unaccountable +reason styled “Market Square,” since +its irregular outline much more resembled a +truncated triangle—stood the town pump, +on the spot originally occupied by the +meeting-house of the First Church, already +mentioned. On two sides of the pump +were set the wonted hand-carts of two +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +superannuated individuals, whose gingerbread, +candies, and apples were the delight +of such urchins as were lucky enough to +have coppers to buy with; for those convenient +mediums of exchange were not too +plentiful among boys in 18—, and frequently +not with their parents either. These +old men were the undisturbed possessors +of the ground, wheeling their vehicles to +the spot at early morning, and standing +by them all day, though they never seemed +to me to be driving a very thriving business. +</p> +<p> +But the glory of the Square was during +the week before Thanksgiving,—then, as +now, appointed for a day late in November, +when it was often difficult to make one’s +way through the throng of teams, and especially +sleighs, loaded with poultry fattened +for the occasion, and sometimes venison +and abundance of other commodities +for domestic use. The mention of sleighs +leads me to recur to a former remark +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +upon the earlier approach of winter in +those times; for the employment of sleighs +implies the presence of snow upon the +ground; and the farmers had frequently +driven from a great distance, “up country,” +from parts of New Hampshire and Vermont, +even from the borders of Canada, +perhaps a hundred and fifty or two hundred +miles and more away, to attend the +market in our town; sometimes as many +as a hundred loaded country sleighs, or on +other occasions as many wagons, in a single +day. The construction of the Middlesex +Canal, connecting the waters of the Merrimack +with those of the Charles, diverted +the main part of this traffic to Boston; and +railways finally conveyed to the capital +most of the remainder which came from +any considerable distance. Wistful eyes, +in the presence of these heaping dainties, +were sometimes averted, no doubt, from a +consciousness of empty pockets; yet there +were always generous hearts and bounteous +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +hands to meet the exigencies of every +neighborhood; and we may be sure that no +householder of decent repute, however poor +or unlucky, and probably few others, even +if a little tarnished in the moral world’s +esteem, lacked some kind friend who saw +to it, that the accustomed turkey or chickens +smoked on the board before the eyes +of his hungry children on that day, at least, +of all the year. +</p> +<p> +But, unless respectable legends are to +be peremptorily discredited, an incident +once took place in this Market Square, of +which I doubt if any other New England +town can show the parallel. I am about +to relate a statement made to me, not +many years ago, by an elderly gentleman +of excellent character and standing, a justice +of the peace and of the quorum, and a +devout member of the Orthodox Church. +The story was told with all gravity and +implicit confidence in its truth; and some +may think it exhibits in a striking light +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +the extent of human credulity and the +imperfection of human testimony: “My +father,” said this worthy person, “has +often told me of being in Market Square +when a man, a woman, and a little dog +appeared, and soon collected quite a crowd +by the exhibition of feats of jugglery. At +length, after a due collection of tribute from +the standers-by, the man produced a ball +of cord from his pocket, threw it into the +air, and began to ascend it, hand over hand. +The woman followed, and after her the little +dog. While the crowd was gaping, in +expectation of the return of this mysterious +trio, some one drove into the market-place +and inquired the occasion of this unusual +congregation. Upon being informed, he +said, that he had just met such a party on +the road, about a mile from the town.” I +had read the most extraordinary accounts, +by British officers and others, of exhibitions +like this, which they alleged they had often +witnessed in India. I remembered one, in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +particular, where tigers and other unwelcome +guests, and even the somewhat unwieldy +bulk of an elephant, had seemingly +been brought down, before their eyes, +upon a cable fastened by some mysterious +agency far aloft; for I suppose it behooved +to be made fast in some inconceivable region +of the upper air. But that a similar +demonstration could have been made in +a sober New England town, at noonday, +could scarcely fail to “put me from my +faith.” It impressed me, however, as at least +an extraordinary relation, coming from such +a source; and happening to meet another +ancient and equally reputable friend on +the same day, one, too, who had been much +about the world in the capacity of a navigator +to foreign climes, I took occasion to +relate to him the strange narrative which +I had just heard. “Oh,” said he, “there is +no doubt about it; my mother has often +told me she was present and saw the whole +transaction.” “In the mouth of two or +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +three witnesses,” says the Scripture, “shall +every word be established.” In this case, +it will be observed, the witnesses were +two, but both at second-hand. I shall not +vouch, therefore, for anything except that, +as Scott says, “I tell the tale as ’twas told +to me,”—and it may be set down as one of +these veritable legends which all persons +are at liberty to reject or accept, as they +please. I expect to try the faith of the +reader still further before I have finished +this historical sketch. People often tell us, +nowadays, that vulgar superstitions are altogether +things of the past. This may be +so in public; but I imagine that in private +there is a lurking tinge of it in every human +bosom. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_III' id='CHAPTER_III'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +In maritime towns, at a season of the +year when there is no inducement for them +to wander into the fields, boys who have +nothing else to do, on play-days, are very +apt to lounge, more or less, on the wharves +and in the Market Place. When quite a +youngster, I witnessed a scene on the spot +last named, the incidents of which are as +vivid in my memory as at the moment +when they occurred, more than half a century +ago. Though the commerce of our +town had very materially declined from its +former condition of wonderful activity and +enterprise, it was still kept up with considerable +semblance of its former spirit, +and, besides our native vessels, a foreign +ship occasionally sailed up our beautiful +river. A few miles beyond the stream, in +the neighboring State, dwelt a population +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +chiefly agricultural, a portion of which, +pursuing the avocation of small farmers +and fishermen, alternately, for they were +directly on the borders of the sea and +somewhat isolated in their position, besides, +were certainly a little wild in character +and habits; though I am told that +great improvement among them, in these +respects, has taken place of later years. +We called them “Algerines,” from which +epithet, more opprobrious than probably +just, our estimate of their pretensions to +civilization may be inferred. It was the +practice of these people to bring their fish +in whale-boats to our market, which was +the nearest to their homes, and to dispose +of this fruit of their often perilous labors +either for money, or for such commodities +as they required. I was standing, one afternoon, +near a group of foreign sailors, +believed to be Spaniards, with the natural +curiosity of a boy, and rough-looking specimens +of humanity they certainly were. It +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +seemed that they had fallen into dispute +with the crew, some three or four men, of +an Algerine boat, and though the language +on one side and the other was altogether +unintelligible to the parties, the tones were +uncommonly high. Doubtless, the Spaniards +were resenting some insult offered by +the Algerines,—prompted by that sort of +jealousy and dislike with which the lower +classes of English blood have been in the +habit of regarding those of other nationalities. +The quarrel seemed especially at its +height between one of the Spanish crew +and a young man of remarkable stature +in coarse seaman’s dress, with a great bush +of long yellow locks hanging over the collar +of his jacket, whose name it appeared +was Souter. The Spanish champion had +drawn an ugly looking knife, from which +unfamiliar weapon, flourished so near his +person, the Algerine instinctively flinched. +At this critical moment, the patriarch of +the Yankee crew, a tall, gaunt old man, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +with grizzled hair, stepped into the arena, +and, seizing the foreigner by the collar, +cried out,—“Now I’ll bet Tom Souter” +(pronounced Saouter) “could take this ’ere +fellow right here by the collar and shake +every g—— right aout of him,”—using a +more vulgar phrase, and suiting the action +to the word so vigorously that the reeling +and astounded Spaniard was glad enough to +relinquish the field and to slink away crestfallen +with his companions. +</p> +<p> +As a further illustration of the ways of +our neighbors, I will give one more anecdote +of an affair which occurred years afterwards. +Not far from the hamlet of our +friends, the Algerines, but within the borders +of Massachusetts, was another settlement, +on the outskirts of a thriving village, +the male inhabitants of which also followed +the calling of small farmers and fishermen, +some of them diversifying these pursuits +by the occupation of shoemaking, at the +ungenial season of the year. They were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +industrious, and far less rude than their +compatriots, to whom reference has just +been made. At this point lived three +young men, hard by each other, and brothers, +of the name, I will say, of Lowe. One +day a tall and respectable looking old gentleman +called upon the writer of this history, +announcing himself as Colonel Lowe, +and the father of the three young men in +question. He had formerly commanded, it +seems, a regiment of militia, and had a sort +of semi-military bearing. He was now in +great agitation and distress, occasioned by +some trouble in which his sons were involved, +through forcible resistance to the +civil authorities of the Commonwealth, and +he required the professional services of +the writer for their defence. He justly +regarded it as a case likely to lead to +very serious consequences, and particularly +dreaded for the young men the disgraceful +punishment of the State Prison. It was a +case to elicit every degree of sympathy for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +the worthy Colonel, and to prompt every +effort for his relief. The facts, as they +appeared at the trial before the Court of +Common Pleas, were quite picturesque. A +constable had appeared with an execution +against one of the young Lowes, in the +matter of a claim which he disputed as unjust; +but without giving the peace-officer +opportunity to discharge his duty, he was +driven from the ground by the trio, in +mortal terror of his life. The execution +of the process was then undertaken by a +somewhat fantastic country deputy sheriff; +who was ordered off as he attempted to +approach the parties in defence, and between +them and the officer there was a +good deal of raillery, which had an important +bearing upon the final result of the +trial. At length, the elder brother Lowe +drew a line with a stick across the road +and defied the officer to pass it, which he +declined to do, but at once made good his +retreat, smothering his indignation at such +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +a rebuff, until he could give it vent in +more safety than the existing circumstances +warranted. Such reckless conduct +was not to be endured, and no doubt the +deputy was laughed at by his neighbors +for his failure to carry his purpose into +effect. The majesty of the Commonwealth +had been insulted in his official person, and +he determined to summon a <i>posse comitatus</i>, +to vindicate the power and dignity of the +law. Stories in the country, especially +those involving any extraordinary incidents, +sometimes fly faster than in town, and accordingly +these young rebels forewarned, +no doubt, of the peril in prospect, prepared +themselves, as well as they could, to resist +the more formidable invasion presently to +be expected. Before daylight, one morning, +the mustered force of some twenty men, +variously armed, led by the valiant sheriff’s +officer, cautiously drew near the premises, +in the hope of catching the culprits asleep. +The brothers were too quick for their visitors, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +however, and evidently having been +on the watch had retreated to a barn, securely +fastening the door, and awaited the +approach of the enemy. They had with +them certain weapons, which were exhibited +in the court, consisting of ancient rusty +halberds and spontoons, probably borne in +turn by their gallant father, in his several +gradations of military service. As they +were summoned to surrender, a musket was +discharged out of a window of the barn, +over the heads of the assailants, occasioning +considerable confusion in their line. Assuming +courage, at length, axes and crowbars +were brought into requisition, and the +door was forced. As the attacking party +entered, however, the Lowes let down the +stairs leading to the story above a heavy +broad cart-wheel, and as it bounded clattering +towards the floor below, the assailants +fled out of doors in a panic, and taking +advantage of their disorder, the Lowes, +disregarding the vast disproportion of numbers, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +rushed upon them, and a regular +mźleé began. It is thought, that the +smaller party would have been victorious, +but for an ugly blow on the head of the +youngest brother, which felled and disabled +him; whereupon his associates escaped +unmolested and he was taken helpless +into the house, where he remained +until the time of the trial. Of course, the +jury found him guilty, for the facts of the +case were patent; but it was taken up, by +exceptions to the ruling of the Judge, into +the Supreme Court, in which, though it +would be irreverent to intimate that the +justices entered at all into the humor of +such a Donnybrook Fair sort of scrimmage, +yet, after argument, and it is presumed +in consideration of some provocation +on the part of the sheriff’s deputy, +especially the needlessly warlike and really +ridiculous aspect he impressed on the affair, +leading the young men to look upon it +rather as an invitation to play their part, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +than as a serious purpose to violate the +law, the sentence imposed was only a few +months’ imprisonment in the common jail. +The prosecution was never enforced against +the brothers, and never was more lively +gratitude displayed, than at the escape of +the convicted culprit from sentence to the +ignominious seclusion of the State Prison. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV' id='CHAPTER_IV'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +A term of the Court of Common Pleas +was always held in the town in the month +of September, and “court week” was a +regular time of holiday for the pupils of +the higher schools. Some of us attended +upon these solemn proceedings with extraordinary +interest, especially when criminal +cases were before the court. I know +not how it is, but suppose it to be the expected +revelation of incidents, as in the plot +of a novel, which draws crowds together, in +most uncomfortable contiguity in a courtroom, +whenever a culprit, especially one of +more than usually notorious antecedents, is +put upon his trial. While most of the old-fashioned +lawyers of the Essex Bar were +more than respectable for professional acquisitions +and legal skill, there were persons +among them of distinguished ability +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +and character; and real eloquence seldom +fails to prove peculiarly fascinating to +youthful hearers. Who could forget, for +example, with what rapt attention he listened, +at a somewhat later date, to the +glowing language and was stirred by the +honest warmth of Saltonstall, incapable by +nature of attempting to make the worse +appear the better reason; or watched that +marvel, the matchless ingenuity of Choate, +whose faculties shone brightest, the more +apparently hopeless was the cause at stake; +or thrilled with profound admiration, under +the resistless influence of Webster’s force +and closeness of argument, rising, with due +occasion, to the highest point of eloquent +illustration, when some more than usually +important matter for adjudication by the +court called him from the ordinary sphere +of his great practice to the forum of a +comparatively inferior tribunal. +</p> +<p> +Years afterwards, when I had the honor +of a place at that Bar, I was much struck +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +with the testimony of a respectable witness, +a farmer named Sheldon, who lived near +Beverly Corner, upon an indictment of a +fellow for burglary, in entering Mr. Sheldon’s +house by night and taking the money +from his pockets in his sleeping chamber +without disturbing the occupants. One of +the earliest questions proposed to him was,—“How +did the robber gain entrance to +the house?” and, by the way, the man had +been previously employed as a laborer by +the farmer. “I suppose he came in by the +usual way,” was the answer. “He came +in by the door, do you mean?” “Yes.” +“How did he get it open?” “I suppose +he lifted the latch.” “Do you mean to +say, that the door was not fastened?” +“Yes I do; we never fasten it.” The culprit +was convicted upon various satisfactory +testimony; but the incident betokens a +state of security, at that period, and a +rarity of flagitious offences, which puts to +shame the demoralization of our own day. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +For the house in question stood on the +high road and was scarcely more than half +a mile distant from a populous neighborhood, +and within less than three miles of +a town with many thousands of inhabitants. +</p> +<p> +Strangely enough, considering the want +of precaution on the part of the farmer, +coming down, doubtless, from a still simpler +period of social life, not half a mile +from Mr. Sheldon’s house stood a solitary +habitation upon a desolate tract of land, +and also near the highway, which at a +time not long subsequent had acquired a +very evil reputation; and with this house +became connected circumstances which +some may think scarcely admit of the +solution of merely accidental occurrence. +At the autumnal term of the court just indicated, +when I had become a young practitioner +at the bar, a certain vixenish old +beldam was put upon trial for the offence +of maintaining this ill reputed establishment. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +Her demeanor was singularly exceptional; +for she did not scruple to interrupt +the proceedings with the most fluent +billingsgate, and upon receiving sentence +berated the presiding judge in language +betokening an extraordinary depth of desperate +hardihood. Inquiry revealed the +fact, that her solitary house, standing +upon an elevated plain of some extent, +the ground rising from the shores of Wenham +Lake, in front but little removed from +the road, and the space in its rear interspersed +with scattered groups of funereal +pines, had been the resort of various desperadoes, +several of whom had suffered +punishment for their crimes, and one of +them had not long before committed suicide +in jail, to escape public execution for +a most atrocious murder. +</p> +<p> +Late one day, in the beginning of the +following Spring, I happened to be called +upon to proceed to Boston, distant some +forty miles, upon the sudden requirement +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +of certain business to be transacted the +next morning in the city. It was before +the railway was in operation, and to accomplish +the object in view I was to drive +this considerable distance in a chaise, at +night and alone. I was accustomed to +this mode of locomotion, in my attendance +upon the several sessions of the courts in +the county, and the idea of fear never +entered my mind. Accordingly, starting +about dusk, at half past ten o’clock of a +starlit night, I had reached a point in the +journey where the road rises by a gentle +ascent to the plain, on which stood “the +house of evil counsel.” All at once, the +scene and the narrative of the previous +Fall flashed upon my mind. Before leaving +home, I had bethought myself of a +brace of pistols in my possession, which I +had loaded and placed in the pockets of my +overcoat. And now comes the remarkable +circumstance to which I have already referred. +These weapons had been borrowed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +of a friend, months before, when in the +midst of an unusually exciting election for +a member of congress, continuing some +two years, and stirring up extraordinary +rancor in the minds of some of the partisans +of the several candidates, I had +been threatened with violence, if I should +attend the polls. I had notified my opponents +that I should vote at a certain +hour, on the appointed day, and placed +these pistols in my pocket, by way of defence; +but nothing inconsistent with my +freedom of political action in fact occurred. +This was the only time in my life that I +had carried such implements, which were +then put aside in the drawer of a bureau, +and I have never thought it worth while +to take them since, except on the occasion +now referred to. I had thus provided +myself with them, on an entirely different +occasion, and took them with me, on a +sudden thought, as I was about to proceed +on my journey, more in the spirit of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +youthful bravado, than with any other motive; +for the roads, at that period, were +considered perfectly safe, by night as well +as by day. As I have remarked, the +thought of the shrewish and abandoned old +woman, of her house and its evil companions, +occurred to me, as my horse slowly +ascended the rising ground towards the +plain. In a few minutes I was in the +neighborhood of a habitation which I +looked upon rather with detestation than +any emotion of alarm; when what was my +astonishment to behold a man—the sound +of the wheels of the chaise being doubtless +audible at some distance in the clear, still +night—come out of the gate in front of the +house and station himself in the middle of +the somewhat narrow highway. In fact, +the stranger was within a rod of the vehicle, +and must either be driven over or move +out of the way. At this unexpected encounter, +I own that my heart, as the saying +is, jumped into my mouth; but I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +instantly drew and cocked my pistol, and +the click probably disturbing the nerves +of my proposed assailant, he turned aside +without offering further molestation. In +a few minutes, the lamps of the mail-stage, +as it turned Beverly Corner on its way +eastward, were a grateful spectacle, and +my onward journey was pursued without +other adventure. The driver of that stage +afterwards informed me, that the trunks +strapped to the rear of their coaches had +more than once been cut off in that very +neighborhood, and that on one occasion +beams had been placed in the road so that +the carriage would have been overturned, +unless they had been discovered in time, +and doubtless had been so placed for purposes +of robbery. I inquired, why investigation +did not take place on the spot; +but the reply was, that the passengers +were in haste to get on, were unarmed, +and perhaps timid, and preferred to remove +the obstacles and proceed upon their way. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +The contrast, however, is striking, between +the habit of a farmer to leave his +door unfastened at night and the machinations +of rogues not a quarter of a mile +distant, who could be guilty of such crimes. +I believe, however, that the existence of +such a nest of villains was quite exceptional +at that period, and unknown to the +farmer, and that his sense of safety, without +the most ordinary means of protection +to his premises, was at that time the rule. +The reader may draw what conclusions he +pleases from the facts of my own personal +narrative. +</p> +<p> +I have remarked that politics, never +stagnant in our ancient communities, at +the period of my story, oftentimes grew +extremely warm, and then every leading +citizen took his personal part. Nor is it +strange that the survivors of those who +had borne their share in the Revolutionary +War, who had the traditions, at least, of +their fathers who served with the New +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +England troops, and followed the gallant +and generous Wolfe up the formidable +heights of Abraham, and after the victorious +field which cost that true hero his life, +stood triumphant, under the Red Cross +banner, upon the subjugated ramparts of +Quebec, should exhibit marked peculiarities +of character; should hold fast to +strong opinions; and indeed should manifest +that individuality and originality of +thought and action which is scarcely witnessed +in the promiscuous crowd of our +own tamer times. Instead of that indifference, +the bane of a republic, among the +upper class, the result of accumulated +wealth and luxurious habits, the chief men +of both parties stood at the door of the +Town Hall, on days of election, distributing +votes, and encouraging the timid and +the doubtful, and their influence was effectively +felt in the direction of public affairs, +which now seem mostly to be left to the +management of the least competent, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +often the most ignorant, mercenary, and +corrupt. I firmly believe that the equal, +if not preėminent position long maintained +by Massachusetts, among rivals vastly superior +in territory and population, was owing +to the active interest formerly taken +by her leading men of all professions and +occupations in the politics of the day, and +that thus the sources of political well being +were kept comparatively pure. At +present, these men take their political +opinions from the newspaper they read, and +trouble themselves very little further about +a matter in which their own stake, one +would think, would rouse them to exertion, +from the promptings of enlightened self-interest, +if not from the more generous +emotions of public spirit. +</p> +<p> +On one occasion, when some eager dispute +had arisen, as to which of the two +parties actually preponderated, for the balance +sometimes wavered from one side to +the other, it was determined to poll the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +town; that is, to assemble all citizens entitled +to vote in the Town Hall, to divide +them personally according to their several +politics and by actual count to ascertain +which was the strongest in point of numbers. +I happened to be present, as a boy +who heard political questions discussed +with animation at home, and was curious +to witness the scene, which was one really +of the intensest interest. The selectmen +occupied their tribune, at the head of the +Hall, and the meeting was presided over +by their chairman, a man of imposing +height and general personal development, +with flowing white locks, who commanded +the respect of all parties. His father had +been a soldier of Wolfe, and he and his associates +were on the Federal side. When +the parties were arranged for the enumeration, +one worthy individual, who kept the +principal tavern of the town, stood hesitating, +at the end of the hall, between the +two files; for, in fact, both parties of necessity +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +made use of his house, by turns, in +commemoration of some public event, or +for festive purposes, which, to tell the +truth; were frequently coming round; for +the liquor was both better and cheaper +than in these degenerate days. I shall +never forget the start which the sonorous +voice of the chairman gave me, as he +bawled out,—“None of that, Jenkins; we +can’t have any shirking here; you must +take one side or the other,”—and he did, +amidst the tumultuous laughter with which +the Hall resounded. The contest was a +good-natured one, and I have no doubt +which party proved victorious, considering +that the prevailing sentiment of the town +was pretty well evidenced by the political +leanings of the <i>Board</i>; but at this late day +it is of little consequence to authenticate +the fact. +</p> +<p> +The father of the sturdy chairman had +set up the tavern, after returning from the +expedition to Quebec, which he called the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Wolfe House</span>, in memory of his commander, +General James Wolfe, who is presented +in such a pleasing light in Thackeray’s +“Virginians,” and, as a noble-minded +man and true hero, deserved all which could +be said in his praise. In after days, and I +believe it is still there, the sign was suspended +in front of the hotel, which took +the place of that destroyed by the “Great +Fire.” The brave general wore his red +coat and cocked hat, all through the War +of the Revolution and that of 1812-14, +without molestation from colonial rebels, +or Yankees fighting against the mother +country, by land and by sea. The tavern +was kept for a long time by a shrewd and +active host, who had a keen eye to the +main chance. Among his dinner guests +were farmers who attended market, and +others, content to take their meals at half +price, after the chief company had finished +that repast. Of these was one Major +Muncheon, somewhat celebrated for his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +remarkable powers of making away with +whatever the table furnished. One day, +Wilkins, the host, who was addicted to a +slightly nasal intonation, addressed him, +when he had just risen from his seat,—“Major, +I can’t dine you any more for +twenty-five cents.” “Why not?” asked +the well-satisfied trencherman. “I tell +you, Major,” said his host, “the very vegetables +you’ve eaten cost two and three +pence” (37½ cents), “saying nothing of the +meat and pies.” “Pho! Wilkins,” remonstrated +the farmer, “it’s only the second +table.” “Second table!” replied the host; +“why, Major, if you had sat down to the +first table, there wouldn’t have been no +second.” +</p> +<p> +But if parties in those times were often +hotly opposed, there was one occasion, +every year, when a broader sentiment of +patriotism warmed the hearts of all in the +fellowship of a common cause. The Anniversary +of Independence was duly commemorated +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +by appropriate exercises for +considerably more than half a century in +our spirited town, and with a general loosening +of party ties on the occasion, until +the War of 1812, when the parties conducted +separate celebrations, though the +orators were always only too apt to tighten +them again by untimely political allusions, +in the narrower sense of the phrase.<a name="FNanchor_6" id="FNanchor_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +</p> +<p> +On one of these anniversaries, the orator +expectant we will call Mr. Moses, a member +of the Bar, who had already acquired distinction +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +and was afterwards a leader in his +profession, well known in the county of +Essex. It was in reference to this gentleman, +that an ambitious colored person of +that day instructed the shoemaker he employed, +that he wanted “his boots to have +as much creak in them as Squire Moses’s.” +On the day before the services were to take +place, the orator repaired to the meeting-house +appointed for the purpose, in order +to rehearse his performance, and having +mounted the stairs to the pulpit by a back-entrance, +and probably wearing boots, at +this time, of less distinctive resonance, did +not attract the attention of an old woman +who was on her knees scrubbing the +broad aisle. The speaker had a melodious +and ringing voice, and began, I suppose,—“Friends +and fellow-countrymen!” “Oh, +lud-a-mercy!” cried the ancient female on +the floor, starting to her feet, with uplifted +hands. The occupant of the pulpit was +a very polite person. “Oh, don’t be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +alarmed, madam,” cried he; “it’s only +Moses.” “Moses!” screamed the woman—“Moses +is come! Moses is come!” and +not much to the credit of a piety which +ought to have felt so highly favored by a +vision of the great prophet, rushed from +the church into the street in an agony +of terror, spreading consternation in the +neighborhood by her outcries, until the +mystery was speedily cleared up. +</p> + +<hr style='width: 10%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both; margin: 2em auto 1em 0' /> + +<div class='footnote'> + <a name='Footnote_6' id='Footnote_6'></a> + <a href='#FNanchor_6'><span class='label'>[6]</span></a> + <p>Of all these productions I have seldom seen one + equal to the printed sermon preached by Rev. Mr. Murray, + of our Old South Church, upon the Proclamation + of Peace;<a name="FNanchor_A" id="FNanchor_A"></a><a href="#Footnote_A" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> for + its array of various interesting information + upon the condition and prospects of the country, + and for soundly patriotic views, enforced with fervid + and striking eloquence. In one respect, it could + scarcely be surpassed. We have heard of the protracted + discourses of the old Puritan divines, in both countries + with which most of us claim origin, and like them Mr. + Murray’s sermon must have consumed at least two hours + and a half in the delivery. He was educated at Edinburgh + and was no doubt a native of Scotland.</p> + + <div style='margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;'> + <a name='Footnote_A' id='Footnote_A'></a> + <a href='#FNanchor_A'><span class='label'>[A]</span></a> + <p>1783</p> + </div> +</div> + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_V' id='CHAPTER_V'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +I know there are those who will kindly +regard these reminiscences of things, trifling, +it may be, in themselves, but affording +a glimpse of manners perhaps already +forgotten by most or all of those who were +formerly more or less conversant with +them, and which may prove of some interest +in the future. We had spent our +Thanksgiving at home, in the year 18—, +but went all together to the farm of our +uncle Richard, who was of the Episcopal +Church, for the celebration of Christmas; +for many of his persuasion, at that time, +regarded “Thanksgiving” pretty much as +the Highlander, in Scott’s novel, did “ta +little government Sunday, tat tey call ta +Fast.” He was a well-to-do farmer, at a +place within easy reach of the town in +which we lived, and where very few were at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +all rich, even according to the former moderate +standard of wealth, and most people +were poor, or at least depended on their +daily labor for their daily bread. Those +were very hard times following upon the +war; and that had followed fast upon the +Great Fire, which reduced to ruin almost +the entire central business part of the town. +Our family had suffered private losses, too, +by a swindling failure on an extensive +scale,—a rare incident in those days;<a name="FNanchor_7" id="FNanchor_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> +and again by the embargo and the war, +most of my mother’s limited means having +been invested in one vessel after another, +employed in the coasting trade, and this +source of income at length stopped altogether. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +Still, people bore up bravely +against these misfortunes, and showed quite +as much spirit and hardihood as in these +latter times, and got along decently, after +a fashion. To be sure, the proclamation +of Peace, a few years before, had revived +all hearts; though I heard of a washerwoman +engaged in her avocation, while +the bells were ringing, who, on learning +the cause of jubilation, peevishly exclaimed,—“Peace! +peace! what’s peace, when +there’s no water?”<a name="FNanchor_8" id="FNanchor_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> Our Thanksgiving +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +had been a cheerful one, though colored, as +such anniversaries are likely to be, with +recollections of the absent, or the dead; +for the memory of my father was always +present to my mother, then and during a +long widowhood of almost half a century, +and my older brothers were at sea. My +mother was an excellent housekeeper, and +we had plenty of the usual belongings of +the festival, so eagerly looked forward to +by the young, and something to bestow +upon others not so well supplied. It was +the practice of some of this class to knock +at the doors of those thought to be better +off, on the evening before, begging “something +for Thanksgiving;” and, by way of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +a joke, the children of comfortable neighbors +and friends would often array themselves +in cast-off bizarre habiliments, and +come in bands of three or four to the +houses of those whom they knew, preferring +the same request. Ordinarily, the +disguise was readily detected. Sometimes +the little mimics would come in, +and keep up the show and the fun for +a while; but for the most part their courage +failed them at the threshold, and they +<ins class="trnote" title="skurried">scurried</ins> away, shouting for glee, almost +before they got any answer to their mock +petitions. It was a queer fancy, thus to +simulate poverty; but kings have sometimes +done so. Did not James of Scotland +find amusement in roaming through a +portion of his domain, as a “gaberlunzie-man?” +Yes—and even composed a famous +ballad to celebrate his exploits in +this humble way. In the evening, we had +a lively company, regaled with nuts, apples, +and cider; and my grandmother, who indulged +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +in the old-fashioned practice, that +is for females, of smoking a pipe, sat in the +chimney-corner, where a genial wood-fire +was brightly blazing, for coal was then a +thing unknown in family consumption, +duly furnished with the implement, and +sometimes called out to us,—“A-done, +children, a-done,” when in anywise annoyed +by us, and occasionally would sing +us an old song, of which I remember +only “Robert Kid” and “A galliant ship, +launched off the stocks, from Old England +she came,” etc.; and, often when a storm +was raging without, repeating to us the +rhymes,— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'><tr><td> +<p>“How little do” (pronounced doe) “we think, or know,<br /> + What <i>the</i> poor sailors undergo.” +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +But we had a livelier time at Uncle +Richard’s; for there were more of us and +merrier. Of course, those of the household +who could be spared from domestic duties +had attended service in the morning, and +some of us from the town had also appeared +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +at church; for though our branch +of the family were now Presbyterians, we +remembered that our common ancestor +and the company who came over with him, +a couple of centuries and more before that +time, were of the Church of England, only +protesting against the abuses which had +crept into it; and Uncle Richard carefully +preserved, with the genealogy of the family +on this side the water, the Orders in +Council, prescribing for the passengers, by +the “Mary and John,” of which my ancestor +was one, then lying in the Thames, in +the year 1633, amongst other regulations, +the daily service to be observed on board, +according to the ordinances of the Prayer +Book. +</p> +<p> +No doubt the dinner was all which the +domestic celebration of the festival imports, +for the farm was well stocked with +every description of creature, and with +most other things needful for the purpose; +but I may be excused if I remember none +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +of the particulars, now that so many years +have intervened. I know that Uncle Richard +always prided himself upon his excellent +cider, and there is little question that +there was a due allowance of spirits, which +most persons of fair means kept, in those +days, in decanters openly ranged upon the +parlor sideboard. Indeed, about the same +period, while I was a student at a famous +Academy not many miles distant from our +own home, the English teacher, an orthodox +clergyman of high repute, who cultivated +a few acres of land at the place +where he lived on the outskirts of the town, +invited a few of the pupils, myself in the +number, to assist him in making hay, one +play-afternoon. The boys had a good +frolic, and, after work was ended, our master +treated us to milk-punch, a highly +agreeable, but rather exhilarating beverage. +Our uncle’s house was of the old-fashioned +New England description, pleasantly +facing the south, with a high-peaked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +roof, which descended, in the opposite +quarter, to not much more than a man’s +stature from the ground. In front was a +spacious green yard, leading on one side +to the garden for vegetables and trees of +the choicer kinds of fruit, and sprinkled +here and there with bunches of gay flowers; +and at the entrance gate by the road +two magnificent elms, of an age and height +which denoted that they must have given +shade to several past generations from the +summer heat, flung out drooping branches +which extended a very great distance from +the parent trunks. After dinner, our host +entertained us with a narrative of his recent +visit to the capital town of Boston, +to testify, in company with a former neighbor, +now resident there, in behalf of his +hired man, Jasper Towne, of English birth, +who having, duly and at a long term beforehand, +declared his intention, in proper +form, was at length, after a continuous +residence of fourteen years in the United +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +States, admitted by the Federal Court to +all the rights and privileges which free citizenship +could confer upon him. The scene +in court my uncle thought peculiarly solemn +and impressive. The candidate for +the franchise was strictly questioned by +the presiding justice, in open court, with +regard to his origin and his past life. The +witnesses were subjected to a similar scrutiny +as to his character and habits, and +their judgment of his fitness for the responsible +position and the new duties he +was about to assume. When this part of +the transaction was completed, the oaths +of renunciation of allegiance to every foreign +power, prince, or potentate whatsoever, +and the oath to support the Constitution +of the United States were administered +to him by the clerk in a manner to +fix it in his mind that it was a very serious +business, indeed, in which he had just been +engaged. Thereupon, the judge addressed +him in language of congratulation and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +counsel, and our newly-made fellow-countryman +respectfully departed from the tribunal, +conscious that he had attained no +mean privilege and had secured a safeguard, +like that, by the declaration of which +the Apostle of the Gentiles stayed the uplifted +hands of his persecutors, and caused +them to tremble at the thought of misuse +or degradation inflicted upon a Roman citizen. +Now, I believe, whatever is left of the +ceremony upon such occasions is slurred +over in a clerk’s office, or the part performed +in court scarcely attracts the attention +of the magistrate upon the bench. +The moral of this change of practice may +be left to the reflection of the judicious +reader. But it was something then to be, +or to be made an American citizen. +</p> +<p> +Not long before this, there had been an +earthquake, which, though of brief duration, +had caused no little alarm,—a terrific +sound always, however slight the shock,—and +in this instance making houses tremble +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +and shaking down various articles from +their places of deposit. In the early days +of the colony, these phenomena were not +uncommon, and are said to have been of no +little power in this part of New England. +Uncle Richard described the recent one +as rumbling under the frozen ground leading +to his barns, as if a line of heavily-loaded +wagons had rolled over it. Being +something of a philosopher, and better educated +than usual at the time, he explained +the cause of such physical occurrences to +us young ones. +</p> +<p> +“The fact is,” he said, “the water in +certain parts of the earth becomes intensely +heated and lets off a quantity of +steam of amazing expansive power. It is +like a tea-kettle, which if you shut the nozzle +tight, may either throw off the lid with +great force, or the kettle itself bursts with +the strain upon it. So the steam, under +the earth, heated by central fires, and gaining +immense volume and power, seeks the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +hollows in its neighborhood, and rushes +into them with a force which produces the +concussion and the rumbling sound; and +the shaking of the surface which we perceive +is really like the commotion in the +tea-kettle and the trembling of the vessel +when the steam has no vent. It is an +awful thought that we thus live over the +action of these subterranean fires; but they +are in the control of the Almighty, and all +we have to do is to submit to God’s will +and merciful providence.” +</p> +<p> +St. Paul’s Church, of which Uncle Richard +was a vestryman, owed its origin to +the separation of certain persons from the +Congregational mode of worship, and the +formation of a society for the resumption +of the Protestant Episcopal pattern, as long +ago as the year 1712. Their place of worship +they named Queen Anne’s Chapel,<a name="FNanchor_9" id="FNanchor_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +in honor of the sovereign “at home,” the +last of the direct Stuart line, whose royal +person, it is said, having grown too unwieldy +to permit horseback exercise, she +was in the habit of following the hunt, +of which she was passionately fond, driving +herself, helter-skelter, in a one-horse +chaise. She has the credit of having bestowed +some endowment upon the Chapel, +and the Bishop of London presented it +with a bell; which, if all accounts be true, +still hangs in the steeple of a congregational +meeting-house within the precinct +of the “Plains,” where the Chapel once +stood. For that edifice, probably not having +been very substantially built, and being +situated on a barren tract of land, afterwards +known as “Grasshopper Plains,” +and, for the convenience of the scattered +parishioners, placed at a distance from every +one of them, and hence subject to various +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +causes of dilapidation, especially when St. +Paul’s, within the town, was in process of +construction, at length fell to ruin; and the +bell was carried privately away—so runs +the tale—and was long buried in the +ground, but has now for many years summoned +the people to a style of worship +which would have appealed in vain to the +good Bishop of London for any such donation. +It may be supposed that it could +not be identified, after its interment, and +perhaps the obliteration, naturally or otherwise, +of its peculiar marks; or the successors +of Queen Anne’s at St. Paul’s, built +about thirty years after the former, would +have reclaimed their property. +</p> +<p> +The motives of those who thus revived +the relation of their ancestors with the +Established Church were not altogether +pious; but the fact <ins class="trnote" title="incontestibly">incontestably</ins> proves, +that after nearly a century of separation +from that establishment, the objections to +it, in the minds of many of the children +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +of the colonists, were by no means insurmountable. +Indeed, it was about a question +of parish taxation that they differed +with their co-religionists. The place selected +for the meeting-house was so far +distant from the homes of many of the +parish, that they could not attend without +great inconvenience, and yet they were +required to pay the parish rates for the +support of the minister. They remonstrated +and appealed in vain to the civil +authorities in the colony and to those in +England, for relief; for the law was clearly +against them, unless they chose to conform +to the doctrines and discipline of the Established +Church. Finding nothing in the +Thirty-nine Articles inconsistent with the +faith they professed, they easily reconciled +themselves to the ceremonies, and thus +succeeded in their object of removing from +their shoulders an involuntary burden. +</p> +<p> +As may be imagined, at first and for +years afterwards, they remained but “a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +feeble folk,” regarded with suspicion and +dislike by the more narrow-minded of their +contemporaries, though the days were long +gone by, when an Episcopalian, especially +if suspected of a leaning towards Popery, +was set in the pillory or the stocks. The +Church, however, had been long flourishing, +in my youth, and I was always particularly +impressed when I attended service +there, as I always did on Christmas Day, +with the organ, an instrument utterly unknown +in our other places of public worship, +and with the comfort diffused by the +large Russian stove which projected from a +corner of the building; while we, for long +years afterwards, shivered in our meeting-houses +of a cold Sunday. To be sure, the +younger children carried their mothers’ +hand-stoves, constructed of tin in a frame +of wood and pierced with holes in the top, +to let out such heat as could be communicated +by a small pan of coals covered with +ashes. But for the male part of the congregation, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +who despised such a luxury, it +was almost impossible to avoid occasionally +striking the benumbed feet together, and +sometimes the clatter was almost as considerable, +as in letting down the seats after +the long prayer, especially if that proved +to be a very protracted exercise. But I +have known young ladies so indifferent to +the severity of the weather, as to attend +meeting, on very cold days of winter, with +bare arms. What would delicate ladies, +who, wrapped in warm furs, listen to service +in a heated church, think of such exposure +now? On one particular occasion, +however, our minister announced the text,—“Who +can stand before His cold?” and +closed the services with the usual blessing, +a little to the dissatisfaction, I think, of the +more staid members of the congregation, +who having come through cold and snow, +or a furious wintry storm, it might be, to +hear a sermon, were not altogether contented +to miss the expected edification, or +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +perhaps the opportunity of criticising the +discourse. Indeed, I know not what my +respected great grandsire, an elder of the +church in his day, would have said to such +defection from spiritual needs towards indulgence +in carnal comfort. For it is said, +that when some less searching and thorough-going +preacher of the word exchanged +with our minister, or casually officiated for +him, the old gentleman tottered out of the +meeting-house, leaning on his staff, and +with elevated eyebrows muttered pretty +audibly to those near him,—“Peas in a +bladder—thorns under a pot—no food +to-day!” And however it might be with +many of his neighbors, not the minutest +particle of the quality of original Puritanism +had been shaken out of his system by the +changes of the times. The family tradition +is, that before the sunset of Saturday everything +necessary for the support of nature +upon the Sabbath was cooked and in readiness. +Whether he allowed the accustomed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +beans and rye and Indian bread to remain +in the oven subject to the working heat, +over Saturday night, I am not able to certify. +But in the intervals of public worship +on Sunday,—a term, by the way, which he +would have scorned to employ,—the family +was assembled and ranged around the +walls of the room, and the reading of Scripture, +or of some well-worn book of devotion, +was proceeded with, while the head of +the family sat in the centre, with a stick in +his hand long enough to reach the head +and shoulders of any inattentive or unquiet +child. +</p> + +<hr style='width: 10%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both; margin: 2em auto 1em 0' /> + +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_7' id='Footnote_7'></a><a href='#FNanchor_7'><span class='label'>[7]</span></a> +<p> +When a trader failed, as was rarely the case at that +primitive period, his sign was taken down at night, to +the wonder of the public in the morning, and he remained +fast locked from the sheriff, or too inquisitive +callers, in his house, until the disposition of his creditors +became known,—dependent upon their confidence in his +good intentions, or their sympathy with his unexpected +misfortunes. +</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_8' id='Footnote_8'></a><a href='#FNanchor_8'><span class='label'>[8]</span></a> +<p> +An anecdote quite parallel to this is to be found in +the now late lamented Dean Ramsay’s “Reminiscences.” +He relates, as a specimen of the cool Scottish matter-of-fact +view of things, the following communication of a correspondent:— +</p> +<p> +“The back windows of the house where he was brought +up looked upon the Greyfriars’ Church that was burned +down. On the Sunday morning in which that event took +place, as they were all preparing to go to church, the +flames began to burst forth; the young people screamed +from the back part of the house, ‘A fire! a fire!’ and all +was in a state of confusion and alarm. The housemaid +was not at home, it being her turn for the Sunday ‘out.’ +Kitty, the cook, was taking her place, and performing +her duties. The old woman was always very particular +on the subject of her responsibility on such occasions, +and came panting and hobbling upstairs from the lower +regions, and exclaimed, ‘Oh what is’t, what is’t?’ ‘O, +Kitty, look here, the Greyfriars’ Church is on fire!’ ‘Is +that a’, Miss? What a fright ye geed me! I thought ye +said the parlor fire was out.’” +</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_9' id='Footnote_9'></a><a href='#FNanchor_9'><span class='label'>[9]</span></a> +<p> +It was, I believe, the oldest Episcopal Church in +Massachusetts, with the exception of King’s Chapel, +in Boston, a small wooden structure, which stood upon +the place where the stone edifice of that name is now +situated. +</p> +</div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI' id='CHAPTER_VI'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +An aged friend, years ago deceased, who +had seen much of the world, once observed +to me, that he had never seen a more +“scrupulous people,” to use his expression, +than our Presbyterian congregation. The +clergy of the town were always distinguished, +at a period when to be a clergyman +was to be much more an object of +reverence than in these latter days, and +when a boy in the street would scarcely +venture to pass one, on the opposite sidewalk, +without pulling off his cap. But +they set their people an excellent example, +though they did not always escape the +censure of the over “scrupulous.” For +instance, Mr. Murray, the accomplished +scholar and divine to whom reference has +already been made, was known to take no +dinner in the interval of public worship, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +substituting for that repast a slice or two +of bread and a few glasses of wine. Why +such a fact, when everybody drank more or +less wine, or something stronger, every day +of the week, should have alarmed the conscience +of Miss Betty Timmins, a maiden +lady of a certain age, it seems difficult to +conjecture. Nevertheless, she made a solemn +call, one day, upon her pastor, and +with such apology as she could muster for +impertinence—at length out with it: “I +must tell you, reverend sir, they do say you +drink.” “Drink! Miss Timmins,” said Mr. +Murray; “to be sure I do, don’t you? How +can anybody live without drinking?” and +the discomfited spinster retreated. Mr. +Murray had a fund of humor. The parsonage +was close by the house of his parishioner, +the sheriff, and the adjoining jail and +whipping-post in the charge of that officer, +and in the last illness of the minister the +official was in the habit of taking him to a +drive. Once, as he was getting into the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +chaise, a friend passed by and he called +out, “If you see any one inquiring for me, +tell him the last you saw of me I was in +the hands of the sheriff.” But after his +time, and at the period of which I am writing, +we had no less than three English +ministers settled in the town, all educated +upon the foundation of the celebrated +Countess of Huntington. I recall, with +vivid recollection, the figure of one of these +worthies who called himself an “Independent,” +as he proceeded to meeting on a +Sunday: his high cocked hat, his flowing, +black curled locks,—more in the cavalier +than the Puritan fashion; his long blue +cloak over his clerical gown, his bands, his +knee-breeches,—objected to by a fastidious +young lady, as “short pantaloons,”—his +square shoe-buckles, and his ponderous +cane. His person was somewhat short +and thick, whence “lewd fellows of the +baser sort” sometimes irreverently called +him the “The Jack of Clubs.” But he was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +a really good man, with the most powerful +voice I remember to have heard, and +he preached, always an unwritten sermon, +but with heads set down, anything but +smooth things to his numerous congregation. +Towards the close of his life he used +to remark, that when he first came to this +country, the topic of sermons was “Jesus +Christ and Him crucified; now it was +nothing but niggers and rum.” He was +good at retort. Early one Monday morning +he was going home from the market, +with some mackerel which he had just purchased +strung upon his cane. “Mr. Milton,” +said some passer-by, “them mackerel +was caught Sunday.” “Well,” was the reply, +“that ain’t the fishes’ fault.” +</p> +<p> +One burden of this worthy minister’s +Sunday prayer, during the sessions of Congress +and of the State legislature, was, +“Counsel our councillors, and teach our +senators wisdom.” By many of the stronger +faith of an elder day, his fervent supplications +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +were believed to exercise a specific +influence upon the atmosphere, particularly +in bringing needed rain at a dry time. I +have often heard it said, after the drought +had continued a good while,—“Well, Milton +has prayed for rain and now we shall +have it.” This reminds me of an anecdote +appropriate to the topic, in that very entertaining +book, Dean Ramsay’s “Reminiscences +of Scottish Life and Character.” +At one time when the crops were much +laid by continuous rains, and wind was +earnestly desired in order to restore them +to a condition fit for the sickle,—“A minister,” +he says, “in his Sabbath services +expressed their wants in prayer, as follows: +‘O Lord, we pray thee to send us wind, no +a rantin’ tantin,’ tearin’ wind, but a noohin’, +(noughin?) soughin’, winnin’ wind.’” In +like manner, I have heard of a prayer +preferred by a somewhat simple New Englander, +who was overheard offering his petition +behind a clump of bushes in a field: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +“O Lord, I want a new coat—good cloth—none +of your coarse, flimsy, slimsy, +sleazy kind of stuff, but a good piece of +thick, warm, comfortable broadcloth—such +as Bill Hale wears.” +</p> +<p> +It must be admitted that the reverend +person was rather rough in manner; but +he had a truly kind heart. Like John +Wesley, he was unfortunate in his domestic +relations; a circumstance which doubtless +tended somewhat to lessen the amiability +of an originally good disposition. But, notwithstanding +his various trials and we fear +conflicts at home, no one questioned his +piety. Indeed, one well acquainted with his +character and experiences, when his death +was announced, at once exclaimed,—“What +a change! From pitching skillets, to handling +harps!” There could be no greater +contrast than in the person and character +of our long and well-beloved Presbyterian +minister, graceful in person, courteous and +affable in demeanor, accomplished in ancient +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +learning and in that portion of English +literature which is styled classical; a +devoted and affectionate pastor, a most able +and persuasive preacher; of whom President +Dwight, of Yale, is reported to have +said, that there had been scarcely such +a writer of pure English since Addison. +With the exception of some failure of physical +powers, towards the close of his life, he +retained these admirable characteristics and +accomplishments to the end of his more +than ninety years. He always preached in +gown and bands, with black gloves upon +his hands, his nether limbs encased in +small-clothes and silk stockings, until in +later life he adopted the prevailing mode. +We always knew when he intended to +preach, because through several intervening +yards and gardens we could see from +our house the light in his study, at a distance, +of a Saturday night. His morning +discourses were usually admirable expositions +of Scripture delivered without notes; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +his afternoon sermons were written exercises, +and we so depended upon both, that +it was a disappointment when we discovered +that he was to exchange, by the absence +of the usual light. He would descend +from the contemplation of the highest +themes, which address themselves to human +reason and imagination, and from the relaxation +of reading “Tully,” or Horace, or +Pope, who was a special favorite with him, +to the preparation of his fire-wood for domestic +use, and doubtless this accustomed +saw-horse practice tended very much to the +promotion and continuance both of his bodily +and mental health. In my childhood, he +taught me and other, I fear, reluctant pupils +all we were capable of learning of the Westminster +Assembly’s Shorter Catechism, +contained, at that time, in a small but miscellaneous +volume called the Primer. He +was a great lover of the writings of Cowper, +which name, in the English manner, +he always pronounced Cooper, and of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +Psalms and Hymns and the lyrical productions, +in general, of Dr. Watts; and long +after I had grown up, he pointed out to me +a verse in one of those Hymns, remarking +upon a point which I do not remember to +have seen noticed elsewhere, that it presented +the finest specimen of alliteration +in the language, as follows:— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>“How vain are all things here below,<br /> + How false and yet how fair!<br /> + Each pleasure hath its poison too,<br /> + And every sweet a snare.” +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +The eventual condition and standing of +our Episcopal Church may be inferred from +the fact, that its Rector, in early times, was +chosen Bishop of the diocese, a dignity +which he long piously and humbly enjoyed. +Along the beautiful street on which St. +Paul’s stood, and in its immediate neighborhood, +were some of the more elegant +residences of the town, and an air of superior +gentility seemed to pervade the precinct, +so that some caviller saw fit to call +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +it St. James’s, in allusion to the Christian +name of the excellent Rector who succeeded +the venerable Bishop. He was, indeed, +a most devoted churchman, looking +upon all persons outside of his communion +as sheep wandering from the fold, and used +to say, that he considered the whole town +as really belonging to his parish. He was +a person very highly esteemed for his piety +and sincerity, and as evidence of this repute, +and of liberality on both sides, he +preached, by invitation, and read the service +in the Presbyterian meeting-house, on +one occasion, at least, when our minister +was absent and his own pulpit was supplied. +We were then under another pastor; +but some years before this manifestation +of truly Christian toleration a +controversy arose between the Rector and +our Presbyterian clergyman, in regard to +the obligatory observance of Christmas. +It was conducted in the newspaper of the +town, then published only on two days of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +the week, and to the multitude of readers +appeared more spirited than edifying, as +is the case with most polemical disputes. +The worthy Episcopal Doctor had asserted +on Christmas Day, that the observance of +that festival was of universal Christian obligation. +The Presbyterian Doctor took up +the cudgels to demonstrate, that, although +it was proper and reasonable enough to +keep the day, as a matter of religious edification, +like a lecture-day, for example, by +those who saw fit to do so, yet there was +no authority, in this respect, binding upon +the consciences of those who chose to +disregard it. Both of the disputants were +acknowledged gentlemen and scholars; but +after much argument and learning wasted +upon the subject, it is to be feared that the +controversy, through the medium of a public +journal, between two such highly respected +controversialists, on a topic of +religious practice, only gave too much occasion +to the scoffer. Indeed, Johnnie Favor, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +the Episcopal sexton’s helper, one of +those persons, reputed half-witted, who +sometimes make very apposite remarks, +observed,—“Well—Christmas here, or +Christmas there, I’m not so narrer-contracted +as to like to see the surplices of +two such good men as your Doctor and +my Doctor draggled in the dirt.” +</p> +<p> +Certainly, a tone of unusual refinement +pervaded the better educated class of the +community in the old town, at the period +of this relation, and not a little stateliness +of manner was kept up by some of the +older families. Indeed, I think they would +compare very favorably in point of intelligence +and manners, with persons of a +similar class, as described by the great +authorities heretofore referred to, and +others, who have given us vivid pictures +of social life in the Scottish capital. To be +sure, the colonial days of distinct social +rank had long gone by. But, half a generation +before, the town had been one of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +most flourishing and wealthy in New England, +and to the counting-houses of its principal +merchants young men resorted, even +from the capital of the State, to learn the +art and practice of business. Those who +filled the several learned professions were +persons of the highest eminence in their +several callings,—drawing pupils around +them who afterwards, and on wider fields +of action, attained great names and some +of whom occupied the loftiest civil positions +in the land. +</p> +<p> +Among the students, for example, in the +office of that great lawyer and judge, Chief +Justice Parsons, while he practised at the +Bar, and who subsequently attained eminence, +were John Quincy Adams, afterwards +President of the United States, and Rufus +King, afterwards Senator in Congress from +the State of New York, and twice Minister +Plenipotentiary to Great Britain; and Robert +Treat Paine, so celebrated in his day, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +an orator and poet.<a name="FNanchor_10" id="FNanchor_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> Of one of these eminent +persons I heard a story, formerly, from a +friend of very high character as a man and a +lawyer, the late Hon. William Baylies, of +West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. It seems +that while Mr. King, then a young man, was +in the practice of his profession in Boston +he was detained in attendance upon court +at Plymouth, until late on Saturday evening. +It was necessary for him to be at +home seasonably on Monday morning, and +accordingly he mounted his horse early on +Sunday, the ordinary mode of travel, in +those days, and proceeded leisurely on his +way. It was summer time; and in passing +through the township of Hanover, in Plymouth +County, he approached a plain wooden +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +structure by the roadside, in which, as he +could see by the assemblage within, the +door and windows being open, that it was +a time of religious service. Alighting, out +of deference to the character of the day, he +hitched his horse and quietly entered the +building. It proved to be a Quaker meeting, +and perfect silence prevailed. At +length tiring of this state of things, Mr. +King arose and began to address the assembly +upon topics suitable to the day. +He was an uncommonly handsome young +man, and then and ever afterwards distinguished +for extraordinary powers of eloquence. +The Quakers listened with mute +amazement and admiration to the discourse +of some twenty minutes’ duration, when +the speaker slipped out, remounted, and +proceeded on his journey. The incident +was the occasion of great and mysterious +interest, for a long time afterwards, in the +quiet country neighborhood. No imagination +could conceive who the wonderful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +speaker might be, and many insisted it +must have been, indeed, “an angel from +heaven.” Some years afterwards, at the +session of a Constitutional Convention in +Massachusetts, Mr. King rose to make a +motion. He had no sooner begun, than +a Quaker member started up from a back +seat, and, carried away by the first glimpse +at solution of the long-standing mystery, +cried out, “That’s the man that spoke in +our meetin’.” +</p> +<p> +Provision for the instruction of youth was +liberal, and not long previously the most +famous, and I believe the longest established +academy of the day, flourished in the +immediate neighborhood, in all its glory. +Of the school-books then in use, I cannot +but think that one in particular, Murray’s +English Reader, was a better manual than +any other which has since been produced. +For it was mainly made up of extracts from +the writings of the best authors, in the +best age of English literature, and I can +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +answer that its lessons were calculated to +make impressions on the youthful mind, +never to be forgotten. But the prevalent +idea, of late years, seems to have been to +nationalize school-books, so as to narrow +their teachings, and thus to make our future +fellow-citizens partisans instead of men. +But literature and learning are confined +to no age or nation; and meaning in no +sense to say a word which could abate the +ardor of manly patriotism in any bosom, it +is certain that much is to be learned from +the history of other people beside our own; +and I suppose there are standards of high +intellectual attainment in the past,—in +poetry and eloquence, and various ranges +of thought and expression,—which never +have been and are not likely to be surpassed. +The deluge of modern transitory +literature had not then begun to flow. But, +to say nothing of the “Scottish Chiefs,” +and “Thaddeus of Warsaw,” over the pages +of which, doubtless, millions of youthful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +eyes have formerly shed copious tears, we +had Miss Edgeworth’s writings, those of +Mrs. Grant, of Laggan, the novels of Charlotte +Smith, the Memoirs of Baron Trenck, +and, perused a little stealthily, Peregrine +Pickle and Roderick Random; and in +poetry Henry Kirke White and Montgomery +were favorites; nor am I ashamed to +say, that Cottle’s “Alfred” was read aloud +at our fireside of evenings, with an interest +due to the story, perhaps, as much as to its +poetical ability. Original American productions +were few; the importation of new +works from abroad was not large, and the +demand for reprints a good deal limited. +But we had the well-known books of sterling +value at command, and our publishers +occasionally favored us with new editions. +One of my early studies was Guthrie’s +Grammar of Geography, a ponderous volume +of English manufacture, which belonged +in our family; and I was fascinated +with Pope at almost as early an age as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +that in which he first “lisped in numbers.” +I see, by the way, that Forster, in his Life +of Dickens, quotes from a letter of Scott, in +which he refers to the scarcity of books at +Edinburgh in his time. +</p> +<p> +In connection with this reference to our +means of intellectual cultivation, I am reminded +of an incident illustrative of a faculty +commonly attributed to Yankees, that +is New Englanders, though there is reason +to believe that some other parts of the +country are quite as liberally gifted with +the qualities of “Yorkshire.” It affords a +striking instance of shrewdness on the one +side, and of lamentable deficiency of it on +the other. This was before the town had +exchanged its original simpler mode of regulating +its municipal affairs for the form +of a city government. On a certain occasion +the School Committee became dissatisfied +with the master of one of the higher +schools, after a brief trial of his qualities, +and, as delicately as the subject permitted, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +requested him to resign his place. The +master was not a native of the town, or of +the “region round about,” so that it was a +mere question of qualifications, real or +otherwise, between himself and his employers. +He demurred, unless his salary +were paid him for the unexpired considerable +part of the year for which he alleged +himself to have been engaged; but finally +consented, if the chairman of the committee +would only furnish him with a certificate +of honorable discharge. The chairman, +at this easy rate of saving the town’s +money, wrote it, without suspicion of its +effect. Thereupon, the master read it, put +it into his pocket, and by virtue of the +document, demanded payment of the sum +in question. It was paid; and the triumphant +master forthwith proceeded— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>“To fresh woods and pastures new.” +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +The state of things, in regard to our +reading resources, was before the modern +facilities for gadding about existed; and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +while those who find time lying heavy on +their hands can now steam it a hundred +miles to make a morning-call, journeying +was then both more tedious and more +expensive, seldom undertaken except as an +affair of business, or with the deliberate +purpose of a long-concerted visit; and a +good part of the day was consumed in +travelling half that distance by public conveyance. +The consequence was, that people’s +pleasures, with their duties, laid +mostly at home, or near at hand. Hence +family and friendly ties were more closely +drawn. The better feelings of our nature +were, I think, deeper, than when scattered +over a wide but thin social surface; +just as the water in a well is more concentrated, +than if diffused in the basin of +a pond. To some extent, therefore, wholesomely +isolated, besides the ordinary round +of not very formal visiting parties, there +were reading circles, for those who were +prompted by intellectual yearnings, frequented +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +by young ladies and gentlemen, +married or single, at which passages from +the better class of books were read aloud +by such of the male members as felt competent +to the exercise, by turns. In fact, +taking into view the intelligence, the inexpensive +accomplishments, and the unaffected +manners of the fairly educated among +us, it has not fallen to the lot of most persons +to meet with any society more really +agreeable. St. James’s, however, and the +congregation of the successors of those +who founded the First Church, who had at +length become what was called “liberal,” +in contrast with the orthodoxy of the rest +of the town, aspired to a higher degree +of gentility and accomplishment than the +commonalty; and, in evidence that we +were not bigoted, my mother would sometimes +allow me, when a boy, and desirous +of some change, to attend service of an +afternoon, at the latter place of public worship +with some friends of the family who +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +waited upon its ministrations. Of the diversions +of the common people I particularly +remember one under the curious name +of a “Joppa Jine” (join); to which I allude +from the oddity of its name, derived from +a part of the town so called by the river-side, +when several families of neighbors and +friends contributed their respective quota +of a common feast, and repaired to the +island at the mouth of the river to enjoy +a day of leisure and merriment. +</p> +<p> +<a id='LN_antiquated' name='LN_antiquated'></a> +In a certain class, the ancient pronunciation +of many English words was maintained, +doubtless brought by the ancestors +of New England families from “home,” and +transmitted to their descendants; such as +<i>airth</i> for earth, <i>fairm</i> for firm, <i>sartain</i> for +certain, <i>pint</i> for point, en<i>vy</i> for envy, <i>ax</i> +with the broad <i>ā</i> for ask, <i>housen</i> for houses, +<i>his’n</i> and <i>her’n</i> for his and hers, <i>rare</i> for +rear; as, for instance, the horse <i>rares</i> up; +and sounding the <i>l</i> in would. Common +enough names, too, were clipped or contracted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +in English fashion. Thus, the +names of Norwood and Harwood became +Norrod in sound and Harrod in spelling; +and the name of Currier, whether with any +reference or not to the French <i>Cuir</i>, for +leather, was not long since uniformly pronounced +<i>Kiah</i>, with the long <i>ī</i>; Thurlow +was strangely transformed into <i>Thurrill</i>; +and Pierpont, often formerly spelled Pierpoint, +with entire neglect of its derivation, +was pronounced <i>Pearpint</i>, by old-fashioned +people, the first syllable approximating to +the original formation of <i>pierre</i>. +</p> +<p> +In connection with this modification of +language, I observe in a daily paper how +much a worthy old lady puzzled her minister, +for a moment, by inquiring the meaning +of “silver shiners for Diana,” in the +Bible; but a good deacon, at an evening +meeting in the chapel of their house of +worship, in our town, sadly disturbed the +gravity of the religious assembly, by reading +it <i>silver shins for Dinah</i>! +</p> + +<hr style='width: 10%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both; margin: 2em auto 1em 0' /> + +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_10' id='Footnote_10'></a><a href='#FNanchor_10'><span class='label'>[10]</span></a> +<p> +The late Mr. Edward Everett is authority (with me) for +the story, that on the occasion of the visit of Washington +to New England, in 1789, Parsons was appointed to deliver +the address of welcome, on the part of the town, +and said to his students, “Well, boys, I am to make this +address. Now, go to work and write it, and I will deliver +the best.” He chose the one prepared by Adams. +</p> +</div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII' id='CHAPTER_VII'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +I trust it will not be thought inappropriate +to the allusion already made to our +reading circles, if I here insert a <i>jeu d’esprit</i>, +the production of one of the members, +indicating a certain forwardness in the +sphere of literary investigation, and affording +a plausible solution of a literary problem, +which had been so long shrouded in +mystery, namely, the true narrative of “Old +Grouse in the Gun-room.” +</p> +<p> +This is the name of the story to which +Goldsmith alludes in his comedy, “She +Stoops to Conquer.” Mr. Hardcastle, the +host of the occasion, in preparation for the +dinner he is about to give his guests, +charges his rustic servants that if he should +say a good thing at the table, they are not +to burst out laughing, as if they were a part +of the company to be entertained. Diggory, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +thereupon replies to his master,—“Then, +ecod, your worship must not tell +the story of ‘Ould Grouse in the Gun-room.’ +I can’t help laughing at that—he! he! he!—for +the soul of me. We have laughed at +that these twenty years—ha! ha! ha!” +Mr. Hardcastle admits, that this pet narrative +of his may properly be considered +an exceptional case. On the other hand, +it has uniformly foiled the researches of +critics and commentators to ascertain what +this story really was which “Squire Hardcastle,” +in the exuberance of his own enjoyment +of it, gave them the liberty to laugh +at, if they liked. It has been generally supposed, +indeed, that the story itself was, in +fact, non-existent, and that the ingenious +author of the play merely invented the title +in order to show off the uncouth peculiarities +which it was his object to display. +</p> +<p> +Now, it so happens, that the means are +not wanting for the solution of this mystery, +and in illustration of the life of a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +writer and a man so interesting as Goldsmith, +I am glad to be able to clear up +the critical embarrassment. Years ago, the +writer of this article fell by chance into +the company of Miss Goldsmith, grandniece +of Mrs. Johnson, who was housekeeper +of old Mr. Featherston, of County +Kerry, Ireland. She knew the story in +question very well, and it is gratifying to +be able to verify the authenticity of the +allusion of a great poet and writer in general, +of whom Dr. Johnson has said, in +those familiar words in his epitaph, that he +touched nothing which he did not adorn, +and whose character has been very much +misunderstood, chiefly by reason of the +misrepresentations of Boswell. This parasite +of Johnson, who has given us one of +the most entertaining books of biography +ever written, was jealous not only of Goldsmith’s +literary reputation, so far as it +might rival that of his special idol, but also +of the real hold which Goldsmith, because +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +of his simplicity as well as his genius, had +upon the affections of the great moralist. +While he was himself admitted to the high +literary society which he frequented, on +terms of sufferance chiefly, Boswell took +every pains to disparage poor Goldsmith. +The poet, whose writings possess a charm +so seldom paralleled, it must be allowed, +gave no little occasion for depreciation, by +his want of firmness of character; and Boswell +maliciously set forth all his singularities +and weaknesses in the most ludicrous +point of view. Whoever will take pains, +however, to read his delightful “Life” by +John Forster, will find the general impressions +on the subject very materially corrected, +and will see, that, if the hard-driven +bard had many faults, he had also many +virtues, which, as Lord Bacon remarks, is +“the posy of the best characters.” +</p> +<p> +But to the veritable story of “Old Grouse +in the Gun-room.” It seems, according to +the narrative of Mrs. Johnson, that the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +family of Mr. Featherston were seated at +the tea-table, at the close of a chilly day, +a bright fire blazing on the hearth, and the +servants, as usual, being in attendance. +On a sudden, a tremendous crash was +heard in a distant part of the ancient mansion, +followed by a succession of wails of +the most lugubrious and unearthly character, +which reverberated through the echoing +passage-ways of the house. Whatever +the cause of the sounds might be, there +was no doubt they were of the most horrifying +description. The family, consisting +of the ’Squire, a maiden sister, and one or +two younger persons, jumped from their +seats in the utmost consternation, while +Patrick and the rest of the domestics +rushed from the room in a state of terror +more easily to be conceived than described, +and huddled together in the kitchen, as +far as possible from the occasion of their +fright. +</p> +<p> +Imagine a lonely country-house, a quiet +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +and well-ordered family seated at their +evening meal, after dark, of a somewhat +gloomy day, the apartment imperfectly +lighted by the glowing fire, and according +to such conveniences for the purpose as +old times ordinarily afforded; the conversation, +perhaps, turning on such unexciting +topics as the weather, past, present, and +to come, or the thoughts reverting, it may +be, to such mundane topics as the expected +game of whist or backgammon,—and the +scene suddenly broken in upon by the +most startling and terrific sounds, which +seemed to result from no intelligible cause, +and for which it seemed impossible to account +by reference to any merely human +agency. The young folks, after their first +scream of terror, sat dumb, pale, and utterly +helpless. +</p> +<p> +“It’s the Banshee!” screamed Aunt +Nelly, sinking back, in a faint, into her +chair. +</p> +<p> +“It’s the devil, I believe,” cried the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +’Squire, who, notwithstanding age and infirmity, +retained a good deal of that original +pluck, which had formerly distinguished +him as an officer in his Majesty’s military +service. “Yes, it is the devil, I verily believe; +and there is no way but to send for +the priest, to get him out of a house that +never was troubled in this way before. +Where are those sneaking curs?” as Patrick +and the rest in a body peeped into the +room through the door they had forgotten +to shut in their flight, and too much frightened +to stay quietly anywhere. “Patrick,” +called out the ’Squire, “go at once for +Father O’Flaherty.” +</p> +<p> +At this moment, another preternatural +yell, long-toned and of the most mournful +cadence, burst upon their ears, and the dismayed +servants fairly tumbled over each +other and sprawled and scrambled through +the passage, in their haste to get away. +The ’Squire followed and ordered Patrick +forthwith to mount Sorrel and hasten for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +the priest, at the village, a mile or more +away. +</p> +<p> +“O Lord! your worship,” cried that +valiant man-of-all-work,—though aided in +the day-time by two or three assistants +from the village,—“O Lord! your worship! +only ask me anything but that”—as, +of course, on such occasions people are +ready to do all but the very thing which +the exigency demands,—“O Lord! your +worship’s honor! I couldn’t for the world +go round <i>that</i> corner of the house, to get +to the stable; but if Nancy here—now +Nancy, darlint, I know you will, honey—if +she’ll only go with me, I’ll run for his +reverence as fast as my poor legs, that’s +all of a tremble, will carry me”—shrewdly +reflecting, as did Nancy also, that the +farther they left the house behind, they +left the danger, too. This affair being +hastily arranged, as the two ready messengers +proceeded towards the door, a +quick step was heard upon the gravel, followed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +by an emphatic knock, and the embodied +household fell back with renewed +trepidation; when fortunately who should +it be but Father O’Flaherty himself, who +found the ’Squire, his family, and servants +all huddled together in the hall. +</p> +<p> +“Good-evening to you, ’Squire,” said he; +“and faix, what is the matter that you all +look so pale? The holy saints forbid that +any ill luck has come to this house!” +</p> +<p> +Again, rang echoing through the open +doors and empty rooms the same portentous +sound, rendered none the less terrific +that its tones were partly subdued by distance. +“Holy Father!” exclaimed the +priest, crossing himself—“what is that? +Has Satan dared to cross this blessed +threshold?” +</p> +<p> +Upon this, half a dozen tongues began +to relate the circumstances of terrors only +too manifest; but Mr. Featherston silenced +them, and proposed to Father O’Flaherty +to accompany him to the investigation of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +the mystery. Accordingly they solemnly +proceeded towards the scene of alarm, the +’Squire having provided himself with a long-disused +sword which hung over his mantel-piece, +and the priest, more spiritually, +brandishing his cross, and muttering “<i>Vade +retro, Satanas!</i>” and such other exorcisms +as occurred to him on the way. The whole +body of the inmates of the mansion followed, +closely though tremulously, upon the footsteps +of the advanced guard, and, indeed, +afraid to be left behind. As they reached +the neighborhood of the door, whence the +sounds appeared to come, there was a truly +awful noise of scampering round the room +and pattering, as it were, within. +</p> +<p> +“The saints defend us!” cried the priest, +falling back, as this new demonstration +was responded to by the screams of the +females, who sank to the floor, in the extremity +of their terror, when another horrible +yell sounded close at hand. +</p> +<p> +“It’s he, I verily believe,” said the priest; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +“the holy saints be about us! It’s he, I +wager. Lord, forgive us! for I heard the +sound of his hoofs. But where’s the dog?” +</p> +<p> +“The dog!” cried the ’Squire. “Why +didn’t I think of that before! Open the +door, I say, Pat, you cowardly vagabond!” +</p> +<p> +At this instant, there was a tremendous +bounce against the door, which forced the +latch, and out tumbled Old Grouse, capering +among the party, who still screamed +and scattered out of his way, not yet convinced +that the Evil One was not loosed +and bodily among them. +</p> +<p> +The relieved household at length returned +to their interrupted avocations, and +Pat declared to the folks in the kitchen, +that all the while he knew it was the dog, +only he kept up the fright for the sake of +the joke. It seemed that the ’Squire had +been out with his gun that day, and had +shut the big dog which accompanied him +into the gun-room, upon his return. The +dog, no doubt fatigued with his excursion, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +had stretched himself out in a corner of +the room, where various articles tending to +his comfort lay disposed. He had remained, +until tired of his confinement he had risen, +and fumbling about had thrown down an +ancient heavy shield, which produced the +first cause of alarm, no less to himself than +to the household. The moon shining +through the window had attracted his attention, +and he began to bay, as dogs +sometimes will. The sudden fright, and +the distance of the gun-room from the +family apartment, served to modify the intonation, +and in his confusion of mind Mr. +Featherston failed to recognize his voice. +“Indeed,” said he, “I never knew the +whelp to bay before.” +</p> +<p> +As time wore on, and the story had +often been told by him, it lost none of its +original features, except, perhaps, the remembrance +of his own agitation. But the +fright of the family and his domestics, the +assent of the priest to their superstitious +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +fears, and the mortal terror which overwhelmed +them, when out bounded the +shaggy black monster of a dog and in an +instant was pawing them all round, in his +ecstasy of escape, and whatever else was +ludicrous in the adventure, was oftentimes +related by the ’Squire, with all the aid it +could derive from a somewhat lively imagination +and considerable power of native +eloquence. +</p> +<p> +And now, if I have only invented this +story of “Old Grouse in the Gun-room,” +for the entertainment of my readers, I +have at least attached a tale, which may +be thought to have some plausibility, to a +famous title, which has run through the +world, for so many years, without any tale +at all. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII' id='CHAPTER_VIII'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +In a note at the end of Chapter V. of +“Waverley,” Sir Walter Scott remarks:—“These +introductory chapters have been +a good deal censured as tedious and unnecessary. +Yet there are circumstances +recorded in them which the author has +not been able to persuade himself to retract +or cancel.” So if, in giving certain loose +hints rather than sketches of characters +and manners in a very interesting town, +ardently beloved by all who have ever +had any near connection with it, during +a former generation of its inhabitants, I +should be thought to have set down too +many “unconsidered trifles,” I can only +shelter myself under the shadow of his +great name, and plead that I had not the +heart to leave them out, as they occurred +to my memory while writing; and however +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +they may lack, as they necessarily +must, the storied value of Sir Walter’s fascinating +fictions, they have at least this +merit,—that every narrative and anecdote +in these pages is a veritable fact. +</p> +<p> +I should not wonder, however, if a couple +of stories or so, which I am about to relate, +were looked upon as purely fictitious by +the philosophical reader. I do not pretend +that the facts stated were within my own +experience, only that I positively heard +them related by persons of the strictest +veracity, who were actual observers or +actors in the transactions of which they +professed to give an account. People ridicule, +nowadays, when in company, the superstitions +of earlier times; though it is +not unlikely that the nerves of some of the +boldest contemners of marvellous manifestations, +once universally accepted as true, +might still tremble, if alone and under circumstances +calculated to awaken apprehension +and to puzzle the understanding. Notwithstanding +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +the accepted theory, that the +very pretence of witchcraft, for example, +was exploded a hundred and fifty years +ago, and the idea of an apparition, in spite +of Dr. Johnson’s belief, and that of others +as wise and stout as he, would be scouted +as preposterous in cultivated circles, I believe +that there are many places in New +England where undoubting faith in both +superstitions still prevails, and I know that +within a third part of the period above +mentioned, very many creditable persons in +a certain place in New England accepted +the strangest occurrences of both kinds, +upon the supposed evidence of their sober +senses. +</p> +<p> +We will imagine, then, that we are sitting +in a circle around the fire-place in Uncle +Richard’s spacious kitchen, on the evening +of Christmas-day, the room lighted only by +the blazing logs upon the hearth, the glow +of which glanced along the walls and +drew brilliant reflections from the brightly-scoured +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +dishes and other utensils of metal, +which stood ranged upon the shelves. We +were quite a party, and had made merry, +according to our fashion, during the day. +Uncle Richard was himself the most conspicuous +of the group. I have said that +he was well-to-do, and he was certainly +a gentleman in spirit and bearing. The +black dress which he assumed on Sundays, +and other occasions of public importance, +set off his figure well, and his white hair +gathered into a pig-tail behind and tied up +with a ribbon by some one of his daughters, +of a morning, gave him a venerable appearance, +at least in the eyes of us youngsters, +beyond what the actual number of his +years warranted. For I have observed that +those who may have seemed to us approaching +the verge of old age, in our +youth, begin to look almost like coevals +again, as we ourselves have advanced in +the stage of manhood. Aunt Judith, on +the other hand, who was a maiden lady +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +of a certain age, was dressed with all the +care and neatness which somewhat scanty +means enabled her to apply, and, as I am +about to produce her as a witness, I feel +it incumbent upon me to asseverate, that, +being a devoutly religious woman, I have +never met in my life with a more conscientious +and scrupulously truth-telling person. +After tea, my uncle had requested the +young people present to sing a new Christmas +Hymn, not to be found in the Prayer +Book, but the production of a devout poetical +acquaintance, in the performance of +which he joined with a bass voice of singular +compass and melody. +</p> + + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> + +<tr><td style='text-align:center'>THE CHRISTMAS HYMN.</td></tr> + +<tr><td><p> How hallowed grew the night,<br /> + When the auspicious light<br /> +Of heaven descending shone along the plain;<br /> + And wondering shepherds heard<br /> + The soul-inspiring word,<br /> +That swelled exultant the celestial strain! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span></p> + +<p> “Peace and good-will to earth,<br /> + For, lo, a Saviour’s birth!”<br /> +So the high song addressed the simple swains;<br /> + “The gates of life again<br /> + Open to guilty men,<br /> +For God, the God of love, eternal reigns!”</p> + +<p> What though all earth was still,<br /> + And no ecstatic thrill<br /> +In wakening lands the gracious message hailed;<br /> + Yet through heaven’s highest cope<br /> + Echoed immortal hope,<br /> +And hell’s dark caves beneath trembled and wailed.</p> + +<p> Let then creation sing,—<br /> + Hail, sovereign priest and king!<br /> +Blest be thy holy name and holy Word!<br /> + Hail, Son of God Most High,<br /> + Helper forever nigh,—<br /> +Hail, Prince of Peace and universal Lord! +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +The conversation, at such times, is very +apt to run into story-telling, among those +who have any stores of memory, or are +possessed of inventive faculties, and often +turns upon such inexplicable incidents as +might well bewilder the imaginations of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +simple country folks. My uncle gave us +an account of a lad not long before in his +employ, who laughed at the idea of supernatural +appearances, and was indeed afraid +of nothing. “The young scamp,” said he, +“though I don’t know why I should call +him so, for he was as honest as he was +bold,—appeared so thoroughly fearless, that +it sometimes looked like mere bravado (I +am afraid he pronounced it <i>brave-ardor</i>); +and a companion who also lived with us +resolved to put his courage to the test. +Accordingly, at dusk one evening, when +Jack was about to lead the horse to the +pasture, he provided himself with a sheet, +and placed himself on one end of the crossbeam +which rested on the rather high posts +of the gate. Jack came whistling along, +leading the horse, and, opening the gate, +slipping off the halter, gave the animal a +slap with it; and as he shut the gate cocked +up his eye at the elevated figure. “And +as for you, Mr. Devil,” says he, “you may +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +sit there just as long as you please.” A +decent respect for the proprieties of his +position kept the scarecrow quiet until +Jack was well on his way to the house +which was not far distant. Pretty soon +the door was burst open, and, to our alarm, +some one tumbled in upon the floor in an +agony of terror, as we soon discovered, pale +as a ghost and scarcely able to speak. As +soon as he recovered some degree of self-possession, +he could barely stutter out,—“When +Jack got out of sight—I turned to +get down—and there sat another one, on +the other post—looking just like me!”<a name="FNanchor_11" id="FNanchor_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> +</p> +<p> +A great deal was thereupon said about +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +the power of the imagination and the effect +it was likely to have upon one who had +placed himself in such an equivocal situation, +and the terrors which, under its influence, +might naturally revert to him, who +in an excited state of his own nerves had +endeavored to inflict such terrors upon +another. Hereupon there was a general +call upon Aunt Judith, from the youngsters +present, to tell us something about reputed +witches in her younger days,—a subject +in regard to which she was said to be +able to make some remarkable statements, +though as yet we had never obtained from +her any satisfactory information about it. +She seemed a little reluctant to indulge our +curiosity. +</p> +<p> +“As to witches,” said my uncle Richard, +gravely, “I don’t know. Whether the denunciations +of them in Holy Writ are intended +to apply to any actually supernatural +power possessed by them, or only to the +pretence of it,—and both are mischievous +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +in their effect on the popular mind,—I shall +not undertake to say. It is certain that +the poor old women who are thus stigmatized +seem to have little power to help themselves +in this world, or, if real tamperers +with the powers of darkness, any enjoyable +expectations from the other. But +this I do know, that I was riding, not many +days since, with my lawyer, a man of considerable +acuteness, though a little eccentric +at times, coming from K—’s Island, +where we had been on some business; and +as we neared the turn of the causeway to +the main road, he pulled up the chaise, +jumped out, and placing himself on a broad +flat rock by the road-side, began violently +to dance up and down and to shake his +clothes. ‘Good Heavens!’ cried I, ‘are +you mad?’ ‘Oh, no,’ said he, resuming +his seat, ‘but my mother always told me, +that whenever I was coming away from +K—’s Island, I must stand upon that rock +and shake the witches off!’” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +</p> +<p> +“But your story, Aunt Judith! your +story,” we all cried out, and after a little +more hesitation the good woman <i>prit la +parole</i>, as Madame de Stäel so often phrases +it in “Corinne.” +</p> +<p> +“When I was a grown-up girl,” said +she, “I and my older sister, who had lost +her husband at sea, lived with my mother, +who was also a widow. We had few of +this world’s goods, but health and energy +enough to take care of ourselves. At one +time, we moved into half a house, in a decent +quarter of the town, the other part of +which was occupied by an old woman called +by the neighbors ‘Granny Holt.’ Coming +from a street of the town at some distance, +we had heard nothing that I remember +about her; but the day had not gone by, +before it was made fully known to us by +such acquaintances as we saw, that we +had taken up our abode in the same house +with a person of a very crabbed disposition, +whom all the neighborhood looked upon as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +a witch. This was not very agreeable +news, but we tried to make the best of it. +Our house was near the river-side, and we +were surrounded by the families of those +who followed the sea, and we endeavored +to flatter ourselves with the idea, that idle +tales of marvelous things are very common +among that class of population; and that +the stories we heard were mere gossip, as +we whispered to ourselves, for fear of being +overheard through the thin partition +which divided us from the other tenant. +But, ‘No!’ said one of our callers in a +low voice—one of the Pearse girls (a young +lady, by the way, about seventy, but Aunt +Judith was of a certain age); ‘I tell you +it’s as true as a sermon in the meetin’-house. +You’ll soon find out what she can +do. Why, there’s young Stout, as fine a +lad as ever walked the streets, or stood by +the helm of his vessel in a gale o’ wind; and +look at him now, pale and cadaverous, and +walking round people’s gardens, on the edge +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +of narrow fences where nobody but a rope-dancer, +with a pole in his hands, could +keep his balance, and a hundred more +such antics; everybody knows she bewitched +him.’ +</p> +<p> +“‘But what for?’ we asked. +</p> +<p> +“‘Oh, they had a quarrel, and pretty soon +he began to cut these capers.’ +</p> +<p> +“My sister Ann, the widow, however, +who had always a brave spirit, declared +that she did not care a fig for all the +witches in Christendom; but I must own +that I was very much alarmed. You may +be sure, we none of us much liked this sort +of greeting, on the first day of our entering +into our new habitation, and we prepared +to retire early, my mother, who was a truly +pious person, trusting to the only sure +defence. Upon going to my chamber, I +found there was no fastening to the door; +in fact the handle itself was quite out of +kilter, and it could not be shut tight. I +moved up to it, therefore, a chest of drawers, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +putting some things on top, and thus +brought the door close. I was just about +to blow out the candle to get into bed, +when I heard a scrambling in the chimney, +and you may believe it or not, but it’s the +solemn truth—a black cat jumped from +the fire-place, ran and leaped a-top of the +things I had placed against the door, put +her paw upon the handle of it, gave me one +sidelong glance, opened the door itself and +passed out. I was too frightened for anything +but to wrap myself thoroughly in the +bedclothes, and trembling with terror, at +last fell into a troubled sleep.” +</p> +<p> +“Are you sure, Aunt Judith,” said my +uncle Richard, “that the cat did not go +under the bed?” +</p> +<p> +“I tell you, as plainly as I see you now, +I saw her open the door, look round at me +with that malicious kind of expression, go +out and shut the door behind her; and in +the morning everything I had piled up +against it was unmoved.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +</p> +<p> +“It must have been the ghost of a cat, +then,” said my uncle; “but did anything +else happen, afterwards?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, in a few days we had got a baking +ready and the oven heated, when the old +woman came in with an armful of wood, +threw it down on the hearth, and said she +wanted to bake. The oven was for the use +of both parts of the house; but we told her +as soon as we had got through she should +have it. She went off muttering, and when +we thought our batch was done and went +to take it out, it was burned just as black +as a coal.” +</p> +<p> +“I am afraid,” said my uncle, “you let it +stay in too long, or the oven was too hot.” +</p> +<p> +“You may laugh as much as you please,” +replied Aunt Judith, with spirit, “but I tell +you what I actually saw with my own eyes. +We did not stay longer in that house than +we could find another place; but before +we left something took place which perhaps +you’ll not find it so easy to explain. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +Young William Stout’s folks had been so +troubled about him, and the doctors said +they could do nothing, that they determined +to try a ‘project.’” +</p> +<p> +I may as well explain what Aunt Judith’s +modesty prevented her from doing; that a +“project” was to inclose a certain liquid +emanation of the afflicted person in a phial +tightly stopped, and to put it over the fire +in a pot to boil. Of course, as in the case +of the sympathetic remedies described by +Sir Kenelm Digby and practised by him, +as the contents of the phial boil, the witch +burns, and she is inevitably detected by +the scorching she gets and the scars it +leaves behind. It is from this circumstance, +undoubtedly, that the nursery rhyme derives +its authority,— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>“Hinx minx, the old witch winks,<br /> + The fat begins to fry,” etc. +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +This is precisely the operation of the +process in question. +</p> +<p> +“Accordingly,” continued Aunt Judith, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +“the Stout folks made all their preparations, +in company with some trusty neighbors; +the doors were fastened, and exactly +at twelve o’clock the ‘project’ was begun. +Everything went on well; but, as often +happens in such cases, something was forgotten, +or the witches’ master interferes; +for it seemed, after a while, that more water +was wanted, and one of the company took +the pail to go to the well for it. As he +cautiously opened the door, there to their +horror stood Granny Holt, in the darkness +of midnight! She came in grinning +and complimenting, and without expressing +surprise at finding so many persons together, +at such an unusual hour, or making +any inquiry as to the reason, she said, ‘one +of their folks was taken sick and seeing a +light there, she had come over to beg some +herbs.’ There was the end of the <i>project</i>, +and I don’t know as it was ever tried +again.” +</p> +<p> +“Were you there, yourself?” asked Uncle +Richard. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +</p> +<p> +“No, I can only swear to the black cat +and the burnt pies; but everybody in our +neighborhood knew all about the project +and Granny Holt’s breaking it up.” +</p> +<p> +We had become pretty well stirred up +by this time, but as is likely to be the case +under such circumstances, were eager for +whatever other marvel might be forthcoming; +for no matter how intelligent or incredulous +the circle of hearers may be, there is +something strangely fascinating in these +weird stories. People may affect indifference +“amidst the blazing light of the nineteenth +century;” but I think that of a dark +night, in a lonely spot, the starting up of so +familiar a creature as a white horse, for instance, +would set the strongest nerves into +perturbation, at the idea of something +ghostly. Indeed, Addison declared in his +day, that there “was not a village in England +that had not a ghost in it; the churchyards +were haunted; nor was there a peasant +who had not seen a spirit.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, Aunt Judith,” said Uncle Richard, +“these wonderful things seem to have +very much gone by, in our day, or else +people, for some reason, take less notice +of them than formerly. Witches, nowadays, +are characters entirely unknown, except,” +he gallantly remarked, “for the +sometimes really inexplicable fascinations +of members of your own sex; and, except +in one singular instance, I have known of +no appearances which could not be rationally +accounted for. I have heard my father, +however, tell of one which, according +to the tradition, manifested itself, one hundred +years ago or more, upon a bridge, over +the Ipswich River, in our Essex County +town of Topsfield, and was the terror of +all the country round. He appeared in +the shape of a monstrous hog, taking his +station, at night, in the very centre of the +bridge; and those who had occasion to +cross it, on horseback or on foot, were +either fain to turn back, as he encountered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +them, bristling and snarling, or rushed by, +if their occasion demanded it, in a state of +extraordinary trepidation. At length, Parson +Capen, the worthy minister of the +town, riding up to the bridge one evening, +saw the spectre in his usual position. +Nothing daunted, in virtue of his holy office, +the good man thus accosted him: +‘You that were once an angel of light, ain’t +you ashamed to appear in the shape of a +dirty swine?’ This expostulation was too +much for the foul fiend, who at once jumped +over the railing of the bridge into the river, +and was no more seen.” +</p> +<p> +Amongst others of the few guests of the +evening was a young gentleman, a member +of one of the learned professions, who was +accounted an intellectual person and was +of rather grave demeanor. Though known +to have been the author of occasional +verses which gained applause, he would +not have been thought likely to be the +subject of any extraordinary hallucination. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +He was an intimate friend of our family, +and on certain occasions of unusual excitement, +if not danger, in the midst of the +various adventures of young people, had +shown a singular firmness of nerve and +presence of mind, and was thought to be +in fact insensible to fear. He had listened +to the story of the bold lad who saw the +supposed apparition on the gate-post, and +to that of the Topsfield spectre, with +much the same interest as that which +Marmion exhibited at Sir David Lindesay’s +narrative of the appearance of the +beloved Apostle to King James in Linlithgow. +Apparently induced by a similar +irresistible impulse to that which drew +from the redoubted warrior of Scott’s fascinating +poem the rehearsal of his nocturnal +adventure, our guest volunteered a relation +quite as remarkable. +</p> +<p> +“I will tell you a story,” said he, “of +something unaccountable which once happened +to me, though the circumstances +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +are still so vivid in my memory, that I look +back upon it with a sort of superstitious +dread, and feel a decided reluctance in appealing +to the sympathy of others, in regard +to an incident which seemed exclusively +addressed to myself and was confined +to my own sole experience. +</p> +<p> +“In my senior year at College, now as +you know, not many years since, I was +appointed by my class to prepare for delivery, +on what is called Class Day, a literary +exercise,—in fact a poem, in anticipation +of the usual Commencement performances, +and was at home, during the preceding +long vacation, making ready for this +event. The writing of poetry for public +recitation before a critical audience is a +rather exacting occupation, and my ambition +was naturally excited to do the best +in my power. Indeed, the work absorbed +all my faculties; but I preferred to write +during the still hours of the night, rather +than amidst the ordinary distractions of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +day, spending that period, usually, wandering +in the neighboring fields and woods, or +in other diversions. The season was summer, +and I was sitting one night at an open +window, committing to paper such thoughts +as occurred to me, by the light of a single +candle,—for lamps were then not very +common and gas was entirely unknown. +Outside, there was not a sound, for the +whole town was buried in profound sleep, +and our own household was in the same +state of repose. It was just on the stroke of +twelve. Our house was a very ancient one, +though I never heard that there was anything +peculiarly remarkable in its history. +Sitting thus, and thus engaged in serious, +solitary contemplation, the sudden fall of +something heavy in the garret overhead +gave me a momentary start. I could compare +it to nothing but to the effect likely to +be produced by something as solid as a +smaller description of cannon-ball, though +it afterwards appeared to have attracted the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +attention of no one else in the family. Supposing +that some article of furniture had accidentally +fallen, the noise of which had +been rendered more noticeable by the perfect +stillness of the night, I pursued my occupation, +until I felt disposed for sleep. On +the following night, while engaged in the +same way, and at the same midnight hour, +came the same heavy, sharp, distinct thud +upon the floor directly above my head. I +was disposed to philosophize on the subject, +and, though the coincidence was certainly +peculiar, I still conceived that this unusual +sound, at such an unusual hour, might be +attributed to some natural cause. Perhaps, +a heavy cat might have jumped down from +beams above, on both occasions, and the +noise was magnified by the otherwise unbroken +stillness, though so far as I remember +we kept no such cat of our own. I am +sure that the idea of anything supernatural +scarcely occurred to me, or was dismissed +with derision. Nevertheless, the circumstances +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +were peculiar enough to induce +me to make a thorough examination of +the garret on the following morning, and I +was struck by the fact, that it was perfectly +bare of any article of furniture above my +chamber, or in the neighborhood of that +part of the attic, which could have fallen. +I was naturally a good deal perplexed at +an occurrence for which there seemed no +rational means of accounting, but I kept +my own counsel. On the third night, at +the same hour, when the clear bell from +the steeple of a meeting-house not far distant +had just tolled twelve, came the same +sudden, single, distinct sound of a fall on +the floor, directly over my head. I will not +say as Marmion did, on the occasion above +referred to,— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>“‘I care not though the truth I show,—<br /> + I trembled with affright.’ +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +“On the contrary, though not a little disturbed +by incidents so unaccountable, and +rendered by the interruption quite unfit to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +pursue my occupation further, I deliberately +undressed, said my prayers, put out my +candle, and went to bed. It was a bright +starlight night, and the two windows of +my chamber made objects within indistinctly +visible. No sooner had I laid my +head upon the pillow, than through a door +at the foot of my bed appeared a slowly +moving figure, turning the corner of the +bed and approaching the side of it upon +which I lay. I could distinctly see its outlines, +and it seemed to me apparelled like a +monk, with a hood drawn over its features, +and long trailing garments. As Eliphaz +the Temanite, under similar circumstances, +has related,—‘the hair of my flesh stood +up.’ But I did not quite lose my self-possession. +As the figure came nearer, I +instantly threw off the bedclothes and +jumped towards it into the middle of the +room,—and it was gone! Though startled +enough at so strange an occurrence, I reflected +that it must be an illusion produced +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +by some casual disorder of the natural +faculties, and returned to bed and slept as +usual until morning. But the next day I +was much more disturbed in recalling the +several circumstances of this extraordinary +visitation. The repeated previous heavy +blows upon the floor, and their apparent +consummation in the vision I supposed +myself to have seen, made me, as Othello +says, ‘perplexed in the extreme.’ On that +day I told my mother the story; she laughed +at the idea of supernatural appearances, +perhaps to quiet her son’s emotion; but +she said she was afraid of no ghosts, proposed +an exchange of chambers, and this +accommodation at once took place. But +though I finished and delivered the poem +in question, I continued to muse by myself +upon what had occurred, unwilling to speak +to any one about it. It was many months +before I recovered from the shock to my +nervous system. Reflecting upon it at +the time, again I summoned whatever philosophy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +I had at command, as well as I +could. I conceived that possibly in the excitement +of verse-writing, in the silence of +the night, some tenseness had affected the +drum of my ear; that hearing, or imagining +that I heard some unusual sound, amid +the perfect stillness around me, a continuous +disordered state of physical functions +had produced a similar effect at a correspondent +hour; and that this experience +not unnaturally culminated in the spectral +visitation.” +</p> +<p> +We heard the story in terror, and put +little faith in the theory of explanation. +</p> +<p> +“But,” said my uncle Richard, himself a +good deal amazed at the narrative, “did +anything happen afterwards, to account for +what you have told us?” +</p> +<p> +“Nothing whatever,” replied our friend. +</p> +<p> +“Did you ever sleep in that chamber +again?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, some years afterwards. It so happened +that during several weeks in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +summer, our whole family except myself, +was away. My mother was in close attendance +upon sick members of my sister’s +family<ins class="trnote" title="?">.</ins> My brothers were at sea, and even +our ordinary servant was dismissed for the +occasion. When the time for rest arrived, +it was my habit to let myself into the house, +to proceed to the same chamber, usually +without a light, and go to bed. One night, +putting my hand upon the pillow, I felt +something soft and started back, but again +reaching forward, the object proved to be a +dove that had flown into the open window, +and securing it without difficulty I gave +that symbol of innocence immediate release. +Perhaps, it was my former visitant +in a less forbidding form. But this, as well +as the other, passed into the course of +ordinary events.” +</p> +<p> +I need not say, that we had listened to +this extraordinary narrative with rapt attention +and in breathless silence. Our +friend had told his story with emotion, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +certainly, but still with serious deliberation, +and exhibiting no undue signs of excitement. +No one seemed disposed to make +any observation upon it, and indeed most of +the company were utterly incapable of the +effort of speech. In a few moments, he remarked +that he would quote to us a brief +passage from Dante’s great poem which +was applicable to the subject, and did so +as follows:— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>... “Now, O reader! mark,<br /> + And if my tale thou slowly shalt receive,<br /> +Thy doubt will cause in me no great surprise,<br /> + For I, who saw it, scarcely can believe.”<a name="FNanchor_12" id="FNanchor_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +“But, Uncle Richard,” was now the cry, +“you said you had once seen an apparition, +or something like one; please tell us +all about it.” +</p> +<p> +“I certainly saw something strange,” +said he, “on more than one occasion, which +has never yet been accounted for; and I +suppose it is now too late to expect it. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +If it was really a matter of concert and +collusion, the motive for it has never +been discovered. You remember the open +space in town, in front of the Reverend +Mr. ——’s meeting-house. Your house, as +you know, Jemmie,” addressing me, “looks +directly up the street towards this square, +and to the somewhat old-fashioned mansion +opposite the meeting-house. On one +side of the square was a small dwelling, +occupied by several distant relatives of +ours; Aunt Midkiff (Metcalf), Aunt Foggison +(Ferguson, so called), and her sister, +Miss Samples (Mrs. Semple), with the +daughter of our Aunt Foggison, Mrs. Lane, +and her only child. You remember, sister,” +addressing my mother, “that you have +told me, that one night, after you had gone +to bed, your lamented husband stood at the +window looking up the street towards the +old house above, of which he had a complete +view. Upon your asking what detained +him, he called you up, and it was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +evident to you both that one chamber of +the house was in a light blaze. Persons +appeared to be moving rapidly around it, +and, as it were, pulling down the curtains +of the bed, which looked as if on fire. +After a little time the appearance gradually +ceased, and your husband remarking that +he would inquire in the morning of his +neighbor, a highly respectable lawyer, who +occupied the house, what was the cause of +the extraordinary spectacle of the night +before, he also retired. But upon putting +the question to his acquaintance on the +following morning, he seemed astonished, +and utterly denied that anything unusual +had taken place in the chamber, which was +the one occupied by himself and his wife, +or that they had been at all disturbed during +the night. +</p> +<p> +“Now all this,” continued my uncle, “is +quite consistent with the supposition, that +this gentleman may have had some secret +motive for concealing the fact of a threatened +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +conflagration, pretty sure, if known, +to become the town talk and perhaps to expose +him to inconvenient inquiries; and +though a strictly moral and religious man, +he may have thought that the circumstances +warranted a direct denial of the +matter, seeing it was, as it turned out, an +affair of purely domestic concern.” +</p> +<p> +My mother, I thought, looked at my +uncle a little anxiously, and seemed about +to make a movement for our departure; but +we urged him to tell us to what strange +thing he had referred, and why he had so +particularly described the situation and +characteristics of this square, as if there +were something more in relation to it which +it might interest us to know; for you may +be sure our mother had never mentioned +to us children anything likely to alarm us. +</p> +<p> +“I am afraid,” said he, at last “that something, +which really did happen in front of +the house I have spoken of, will startle +you young folks, and perhaps it is foolish +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +to relate it, as you seem already quite excited +enough; but I will premise by saying, +that I will only tell you what I saw myself, +or heard from those upon whose word +I could implicitly rely; and, moreover, that +I do not believe in ghosts, however singular +the facts in question may appear. Of +course, you know, sister,” addressing my +mother, “my calls at your house were +sometimes in the evening, after attending +the market or to other business during the +day. It was during one of your husband’s +absences at sea, that we were sitting around +the fire of a wintry night, when a lively +neighbor, a lady who took much interest in +whatever was going on, came in evidently +in a state of agitation, and taking her seat, +with very brief greeting, broke out with +the exclamation, ‘There he is again!’ I +did not understand what this meant, but +it was soon explained to us that, for a +week or ten days past, some person, or +figure, or whatever it might be, had been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +observed walking fore and aft, in front of the +house opposite the meeting-house, at a +certain hour of the evening, and though +many had passed, no one had recognized +him, nor did he take any notice whatever +of any one whom he met. He was said to +wear a pea-jacket buttoned to the chin, and +a glazed hat, as if prepared for any kind +of weather; or, as the gossips afterwards +said, indicating the fact that he was the +forerunner of the loss of not a few masters +of vessels residing in the neighborhood, +who perished at sea during the storms of +that season. I took my hat and went out +to see if I could discover anything uncommon. +It was a moonlight night, with a light +fall of snow upon the ground. As I passed +up the short street to the square, Aunt +Foggison’s chamber window was thrown +open, and her daughter’s voice was plainly +heard berating the supposed spectral night-walker. +‘What are you doing there, you +good-for-nothing scamp, you?’ cried she, in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +a voice that must have reached any mortal +ears; ‘why don’t you go home to your family, +if you’ve got any family, or wherever +else you belong, instead of stalking up and +down here, frightening honest folks out of +their senses?’ Overcome perhaps by the +vigor of her expostulation, the window was +shut down with a slam. As I advanced, +though I certainly had a full view of a +human-looking figure upon its round and +at no great distance either, and my senses +had been confirmed by the objurgations addressed +to it by our worthy relative, when +I actually reached the ground of his perambulations, +prepared to seize a single man +by the collar and learn what he was about, +it is certain that he was no longer visible. +I returned to the house and made report of +my unsuccessful doings, and unhitched my +horse and drove home. I learned, a few +days afterwards, that the figure regularly +appeared, giving one sign of vitality by a +regular tramp—tramp—tramp—upon the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +frozen ground, so far as any one was disposed +to listen, and spreading consternation +throughout the vicinity. The affair at +length became unendurable. Women were +afraid to go into the street, and, for that, +a good many men too, and it was really so +serious, that, as I learned, it was resolved to +form what is called, I believe, a cordon, and +gradually approaching the place simultaneously +from every avenue, so to inclose him +that escape would be impossible. Being +much acquainted with the people of +that part of the town, I was invited to join +the company, and accordingly drove in seasonably +for the purpose. Certainly, most +sober people believed the whole was but +some trick, which it only needed reasonable +pains to discover and defeat. The mysterious +figure, it seemed, continued to walk, +ignorant of or indifferent to our devices. +</p> +<p> +“There were three main avenues, by +streets, to the premises, together with a +narrow passage way leading from one of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +streets to another. At the appointed hour +we duly assembled on our several stations. +Our director was ‘a rude and boisterous +captain of the sea’”—(for Uncle Richard +could sometimes be poetical, at least in the +way of quoting Shakespeare). “It had been +arranged by him that, being on our posts, +at a fixed moment, we should move rapidly +up the several avenues and so join forces +as to form a circle inclosing the open +space, and gradually contracting our company, +if the rogue was then within our +compass we should have him sure. The +arrangement had been made in profound +secrecy, and if any there were traitors, I +was not aware of it. Sure enough there +was our guest on his usual stroll. As our +circle speedily drew in, and just as hands +were stretched out to seize him—presto, +as the jugglers say—he was gone!” +</p> +<p> +“By the jumping gingerbread!” exclaimed +Thurlow, our uncle’s hired man, +springing from his chair by the wall, outside +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +of our family party,—seeing this was +Christmas night. +</p> +<p> +“Oh dear sus!” cried Sally Bannocks, +our own particular help of many years, +from the like position. +</p> +<p> +“Our detective band,” resumed my uncle, +“looked at one another in amazement, +and after some hard swearing from a few of +the roughest, and the exchange of a hasty +‘good-night,’ dispersed, as far as convenient +in companies of two or three, and departed, +a good deal disconcerted, to their several +places of abode. The same experiment was +tried on two or three other occasions, as I +was informed by friends, with no better +success. Spectre or not, he always found +means to elude them; and there were always +those who, having no other means of +accounting for his evasion, insisted upon it +that he must have had confederates among +those who sought to arrest him.” +</p> +<p> +“Could he not have escaped slyly into +the house?” asked some incredulous inquirer. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +</p> +<p> +“That was hardly likely, with so many +eyes upon him. Besides there was nobody +there but women and children, excessively +alarmed themselves, the husband, Captain +Y——, being at sea, and one of those who +was afterwards known to have been lost +with all his crew, upon nearing our dangerous +coast.” +</p> +<p> +“But why did not the city government +make a piece of work of putting an end to +such a scandal?” inquired a doubter in +spectral visitations. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I suspect a whole body of police +could do little towards capturing an actual +ghost; and then, too, there was at that time +no city and no such force. Our town government +consisted of mostly ancient citizens, +and three or four constables, all of +whom, probably, preferred to remain quietly +and comfortably at home, instead of venturing +out into the wintry night air, to hunt up +ghosts.” +</p> +<p> +“Why didn’t somebody try the effect of +a bullet?” inquired another. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, shooting was a rather violent +remedy; and as for firing at a ghost, I believe +every one was afraid.” +</p> +<p> +“Wasn’t it strange, considering that he +must have had some particular object in +haunting that spot, and was likely, therefore, +to be found out by some of the neighborhood +by his face, or dress, or figure, or +gait, or in some way or other, if a real person, +that he never was recognized?” asked +another of our evening guests. +</p> +<p> +“It was strange enough,” said my uncle; +“but few, if any, got very near him, and +they perhaps, casual passers-by, who paid +no attention to the fact. As for him, he +only walked steadily backward and forward, +turning neither to the right nor to +the left, except at each end of his beat; replying +to no interrogatories, and appearing +utterly unconscious of any epithets or railings +which from a distance were hurled +at him. Only one man ever professed to +have seen his face.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +</p> +<p> +“Who was that, uncle?” we all eagerly +exclaimed. +</p> +<p> +“Late one stormy night, when the snow +was falling fast,” continued my uncle,—“and +one would suppose that any reasonable +creature of flesh and blood would wish +to be safely housed,—an hostler named +Dobbin, who had charge of a stable at +one end of the street, was trudging home, +swinging a lantern in his hand, to the small +house in which he lived, at a little distance +beyond the now pretty notorious ‘Ghost’s +Walk.’ As he approached the spot, there, +to be sure, was the object of terror, +taking his usual exercise. ‘Now,’ as +Dobbin told the story, ‘thinks I to myself, +I’ll play you a trick, mister, and find out +who you are, if I can. So, jest slyly unfastening +the door of the lantern, as I met +him, I flung the door wide open and held +it up to his face, and I says, says I, “A +stormy night, friend.” I thought I should +know him, and guess I should if ever I do +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +see him again, which I don’t want to, I tell +<i>you</i>; and may I hope to die, if ever I saw +that face before. He looked pale, and his +eyes, as he fixed ’em on me, had what I call +a sort of a stony glare. He never opened +his mouth, but just looked. It was only +a glance, as it were, for I never was so +frightened in my life, and jest dropped +lantern and scampered away home as fast +as my legs could carry me.’” +</p> +<p> +“Lud-a-massy!” screamed Sally Bannocks, +on the verge of hysterics,—and +some of the rest of us were not far from that +condition. We were mostly on our feet, +and as my mother insisted upon our bidding +“Good-night,” Uncle Richard proposed, +after a further trial of his capital +cider, to harness his horse and drive us +home in his covered wagon. But it was a +fine night and, though getting rather late, +we concluded that it would do us more +good to take the air, in the mile or two of +the walk to town. In the course of our +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +preparations for departure, and in answer to +a variety of questions, our uncle informed +us, that the mystery was never cleared up, +nor the trick, if trick it were, ever discovered. +As to the tale of such a person as +Dobbin, we might place what reliance upon +it we saw fit; and though the motive +seemed certainly difficult to see, it might +have been, after all, a well-contrived piece +of deception, to be sure, a very laborious +and unaccountable one, concealed by the +collusion of parties in the secret. How +long the ghost continued to walk he did +not know; but it finally disappeared, and +the house had been inhabited by respectable +people ever since, who had suffered no +disturbance. +</p> +<p> +We reached home after a brisk walk, crossing +rapidly—and with now and then a furtive +look—the very premises so haunted +in other days, and “Thanks be to Praise!” +ejaculated Sally Bannocks, as we entered +and closed the door. The house was cold, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +after having been shut up all day. We +quickly separated to our several chambers, +and as I laid my head upon the pillow and +was soon sound asleep, I too, murmured +to myself, “Thanks be to Praise!” +</p> + +<hr style='width: 10%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both; margin: 2em auto 1em 0' /> + +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_11' id='Footnote_11'></a><a href='#FNanchor_11'><span class='label'>[11]</span></a> +<p> +Jack’s composure has a parallel in that of an old-time +Scottish clergyman, as the story is told by Dean +Ramsay. On returning home late from a dinner abroad +his way led through the churchyard, and some mischievous +fellows thought to frighten him. One of them came +up to him dressed as a ghost, but the minister coolly +inquired, “Weel, maister Ghaist, is this a general rising, +or are ye juist taking a daunder frae yer grave by yersel?” +</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_12' id='Footnote_12'></a><a href='#FNanchor_12'><span class='label'>[12]</span></a> +<p> +<i>Inferno</i>, Canto xxv., Parsons’s translation. +</p> +</div> +<p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +</p> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 0em'> +<a name='APPENDIX' id='APPENDIX'></a> +<h2>APPENDIX.</h2> +</div> + +<hr class='mini' /> + +<p> +The following papers, marked I., II., III. are +copies of those discovered among family documents +in the house of Mr. H. W. S. Cleveland, +of Salem, Massachusetts, several years ago. +They were communicated by him to the late Mr. +Henry Lunt, formerly a merchant of Boston, +father of the late highly distinguished Rev. Dr. +William Parsons Lunt, who died, much lamented, +while on his travels, at Akaba, in Arabia. How +these documents came to be deposited in Salem, +it is not easy to say. It is probable, however, +that copies were brought over by the “Mary and +John,” or the “Elizabeth and Dorcas,” which +appear to have wintered in Boston, after their +arrival, the passengers, or such of them as saw +fit and were permitted, proceeding to Ipswich, +the following year (1634) and thence to the plantation +which they called Newbury. It is likely, +therefore, that the papers which concerned the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +passengers of those vessels might be taken to +Salem, perhaps during Governor Endicott’s administration, +and placed in the hands of some +official person at that place, so as to be more accessible +to the home of the people in question, +instead of being retained at Boston, the journey +to which from Newbury was in those days a +long and tedious one, to be made on foot through +the wilderness. +</p> +<p> +To many persons the abstract of the Charter +of Charles I., which is a very liberal one, can +hardly fail to be interesting. The Orders in +Council, referred to in the text, are still more +so; while the list of passengers by the “Mary +and John” comprises many names still to be +found in Newbury. Many more familiar names +will be found among those of the company +which came by the “Elizabeth and Dorcas.” +It will be seen that in the list given are the +names of Thomas Parker, an eminent divine, +and of James Noyes, his nephew; the first the +long respected pastor of the church and the +other the “teacher” at Newbury. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='I' id='I'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +<h2>I.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +An Abstract of His Ma<sup>ty’s</sup> Charter for incorporating +the Company of the Mattachusetts Bay +in New England in America, Granted in the 4th +yeare of His Highness’ Reign of England, Scotland +France & Ireland, Anno. Domini 1628— +</p> +<p> +And we do further of our especial Grace, certain +Knowledge & mere mocion for us our Heirs +& Successors—Give and Grant to the said Governour +& Company & their Sucessors for ever by +these presents, That it shall be lawfull & free for +them & their Assigns at all & every Time & +Times hereafter out of any of our Realms or +Dominions whatsoev<sup>r</sup>, to take lade carry & transport +for in & into their voyages, & for & towards +the said Plantation in New England all such & +so many of our Loving Subjects or any other +Strangers that will become our Loving Subjects +& live under our Alleigeance as shall willingly +accompany them in the said Voyages & Plantations, +And also Shipping, Armour, Weapons, +Ordnance, Munition, Powder, Shott, Corn victuals +& all manner of Cloathing, Implements, Furniture, +Beasts, Cattle, Horses, Mares, Merchandizes +& all other things necessary for the said +Plantation and for their use & Defence & for +Trade with the People there & in passing & +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +returning to & fro, any Law or statute to the +Contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding—And +without paying or yielding any custom or +Subsidy either Inwards or Outwards, to us our +Heirs or Successors for the same, by the space +of seaven years from the Day of the Date of +these Presents—Provided that none of the +said Persons be such as shall hereafter by +Especial name be restrained by us, our Heirs +or Successors—— +</p> +<p> +And for their further Incouragem<sup>t</sup> of our +Especial Grace & favor—we Do by these presents +for us, our Heirs & successors yield & grant +to the said Governour & Company & their successors +& every of them their Factors & Assigns +that they & every of them shall be free & quit +from all Taxes Subsidys & Customs in New +England for the space of seaven years, and from +all Taxes & Impositions for the space of Twenty +one years upon all Goods & merchandizes at +any time or times hereafter Either upon Importation +there, or Exportation thence, into our +Realm of England or into any of our Dominions, +by the said Governour or Company & their successors, +their Deputys, Factors & Assigns or +any of them except only the Five Pounds p<sup>r</sup> Centum +due for Custom upon all such Goods & +Merchandizes as, after the said seaven years +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +shall be expired, shall be brought or imported +into our Realm of England or any other of our +Dominions according to the Ancient Trade of +Merchants, which Five Pounds p<sup>r</sup> centum only +being paid it shall be thenceforth lawfull & free +for the s<sup>d</sup> Adventurers the same Goods & Merchandizes +to export & carry out of our Dominions +into Foreign Parts without any Custom, +Tax or other Duty to be paid to us our Heirs +or Successors or to any other officer or officers +or ministers of us our Heirs or Successors,— +</p> +<p> +Provided that the said Goods & merchandize +be shipp’d out within thirteen months after +their first Landing within any part of the said +Dominions— +</p> +<p> +This is a true Copy of His Ma<sup>ties</sup> Letters +Patent aforesaid—Custom House London 30th +January 1633 Anno. R. Caroli Nono— +</p> +<p style='text-align: right'> +<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>John Wolstenholme</span>, <i>Collector</i>. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='II' id='II'></a> +<h2>II.</h2> +</div> + +<table style='width:26em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding:1em;' summary=""> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center' style='font-variant:small-caps'>Orders in Council.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center' style='font-style:italic'>New England,—At Whitehall the last of February, 1633.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>Present:</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lo. Arch. Bp. of Cant.</td><td>Earle of Kelley.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lo. Keep<sup>r</sup>.</td><td>Lo. Cottington.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lo. Privie Seal</td><td>M<sup>r</sup>. V. Chamb<sup>r</sup>line. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Lo. High Chamb<sup>r</sup>line.</td><td>M<sup>r</sup>. Compt<sup>r</sup>.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center;'>M<sup>r</sup>. Secretary Wyndibank.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +Whereas by a Warr<sup>t</sup>. bearing date 22nd of +this Present, the sev’all ships following bound +for New England, and now lying in the River +of Thames were made staye of untill further +order from their Lo’pps. viz., The Clement & +Job, The Reformation, The True Love, The +Elizabeth Bonadventure, The Sea Flower, The +Mary & John, The Planter, The Elizabeth +& Dorcas, The Hercules & The Neptune. +</p> +<p> +Forasmuch as the masters of the said ships +were this day called before the Board & +several Particulars given them in charge to be +performed in their said voyage, amongst which +the said masters were to enter into several +Bonds of One Hundred Pounds a piece to His +Maj<sup>s</sup>tys use before the Clarke of the Councell +attendant to observe & cause to be observed +and putt in Execucion these Articles following +viz: +</p> +<p> +1. That all and every Person aboard their +Ships now bound for New England as aforesaid, +that shall blaspheme or profane the Holy name +of God be severely punis’h’t. +</p> +<p> +2. That they cause the Prayers contained in +the Book of Common Prayers establisht in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +the Church of England, to be said daily at the +usual hours for Morning & Evening Prayers & +that they cause all Persons aboard their said +ships to be present at the same. +</p> +<p> +3. That they do not receive aboard or transport +any Person that hath not Certificate from +the Officers of the Port where he is to imbarke +that he hath taken both the Oathes of Alleigeance +& Supremacy. +</p> +<p> +4. That upon their return into this Kingdom +they Certify to the Board the names of all +such Persons as they shall transport together +with their Proceedings in the Execu’ion of the +aforesaid Articles—Whereunto the said M<sup>rs</sup>. +have conformed themselves—It was therefore +& for diverse other Reasons best known to +their Lo<sup>pps</sup>. thought fitt that for this time they +should be permitted to proceed on their Voyage, +and it was thereupon ordered that Gabriel Marsh +Esq<sup>r</sup>. Marshalle of the Admiralty, & all other +His Maj’ty’s Officers to whom their said Warr<sup>t</sup>. +was directed should be required upon sight +hereof to discharge all & every the said Ships, +& suffer them to depart on their intended +Voyage to New England—<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Ex. Jon. Meantys.</span> +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='III' id='III'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +<h2>III.</h2> +</div> + +<table style='width:26em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding:1em;' summary=""> +<tr><td colspan='2' style='font-style:italic;text-indent:-1em;'>The names of such Passengers as took the Oathes +of Supremacy, and Alleigeance to pass for New +England in the Mary & John of London +Robert Sayres Master,</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center' style='padding-top:10px'>24th Mar. 1633</td></tr> +<tr><td>William Trace (Tracy)</td><td>John Bartlett</td></tr> +<tr><td>John Marshe</td><td>Robert Coker</td></tr> +<tr><td>John Luff</td><td>William Savery</td></tr> +<tr><td>Henry Traske</td><td>John Anthoney (left behind)</td></tr> +<tr><td>William Moudey</td><td>Stephen Jurden</td></tr> +<tr><td>Robert Sever</td><td>John Godfrey</td></tr> +<tr><td>Thomas Avery</td><td>George Browne</td></tr> +<tr><td>Henry Travers</td><td>Nicholas Noyce</td></tr> +<tr><td>Thomas Sweete</td><td>Richard Browne</td></tr> +<tr><td>John Woodbridge</td><td>Richard Reynolds</td></tr> +<tr><td>Thomas West</td><td>Richard Littlehall</td></tr> +<tr><td>Thomas Savery</td><td>William White</td></tr> +<tr><td>Christopher Osgood</td><td>Matthew Hewlett (Hercules)</td></tr> +<tr><td>Phillip Fowler</td><td>John Whelyer</td></tr> +<tr><td>Richard Jacob</td><td>William Clarke</td></tr> +<tr><td>Daniel Ladd</td><td>Robert Newman</td></tr> +<tr><td>Robert Kingsman</td><td>Adrian Vincent.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center' style='padding-top:10px'>The 26th day of March.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Nicholas Easton</td><td>William Spencer</td></tr> +<tr><td>Richard Kent</td><td>Henry Shorte</td></tr> +<tr><td>Abraham Mussey</td><td>William Hibbens</td></tr> +<tr><td>William Ballard</td><td>Richard Kent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Matthew Gillett</td><td>Joseph Myles</td></tr> +<tr><td>William Franklin</td><td>John Newman</td></tr> +<tr><td>John Mussey</td><td>William Newbey</td></tr> +<tr><td>Thomas Cole</td><td>Henry Lunt</td></tr> +<tr><td>Thomas Parker</td><td>Joseph Pope</td></tr> +<tr><td>James Noyce</td><td>Thomas Newman</td></tr> +<tr><td>John Spencer</td><td>John Newman.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +For which we gave certificate, together with +five others, which are said to be left behind to +oversee the Chattle to pass in the Hercules +viz. +</p> +<p> +The names of the Passengers in the Hercules +of London, John Kiddey Ma<sup>r</sup>. for New England. +</p> +<p> +These six Passengers took their Oathes of +Supremacy & Alleigeance the 24th March +and were left behind the Mary & John, as +intended to pass in y<sup>e</sup> Hercules—viz: +</p> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary="big bracket" style="margin:1px auto 25px auto;"> + +<tr> +<td style="line-height:10%"> </td> +<td rowspan='7' align="right" valign="top"><span class="bracket">}</span></td> +<td style="line-height:10%"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class='col1'>John Anthony</td> +<td rowspan='6' align="left"> Cert. the six first<br /> to Mt'er Sayers as<br /> intended.<br /> Secondth to Mr.<br /> Kiddey to pass in the<br /> Hercules.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class='col1'>Robert Early</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class='col1'>William Satcome</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class='col1'>Thomas Foster</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class='col1'>William Foster</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class='col1'>Matthew Hewlett</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p style='text-align: center'> +16th April, 1634. +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +Nathaniel Davyes +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +George Kinge +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +Thomas Rider +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +William Elliot +</p> +<p style='text-align: center'> +William Fifeilde +</p> +<p style='text-align: center; margin-bottom:1.5em'> +Henry Phelps. +</p> +<p> +18. These proceedings were Copyed out of +an Olde Book of Orders belonging to the Port +of South’ton but now remaining at the Custom +house in Portsmouth the 6th Day of December +1735. +</p> +<p style='text-align: right'> +Per <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Thomas Whitehouse</span>. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IV' id='IV'></a> +<h2>IV.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +In regard to the costume which prevailed, +among persons of wealth and standing in New +England, within a century, I quote a descriptive +passage from a history of Newburyport, by +Mrs. E. V. Smith, published in 1854, as follows:— +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +“With the incoming of the nineteenth century, +garments more in conformity with present +fashions took precedence of three-cornered hats, +long coats with immense pocket-folds and cuffs, +but without collars, in which the men of the +eighteenth century prided themselves; with their +buttons of pure silver, or plated, of the size of +a half-dollar, presenting a great superfluity of +coat and waistcoat when contrasted with the +short nether garments, ycleped “breeches,” or +“small-clothes,” which reached only to the knee, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +being there fastened with large (?) silver buckles, +which ornament was also used in fastening the +straps of shoes. The gentlemen quite equalled +the ladies at this period in the amount of finery, +and the brilliancy of colors in which they indulged. +A light blue coat with large fancy buttons, +a white satin embroidered waistcoat, red +velvet breeches, silk stockings, and buckled +shoes, with a neckcloth, or scarf, of finely embroidered +cambric, or figured stuff, the ends +hanging loose, the better to show the work, and +liberal bosom and wrist ruffles (the latter usually +fastened with gold or silver buckles), were +usually considered a proper evening dress for +a gentleman of any pretension to fashion. The +clergy and many other gentlemen commonly +wore black silk stockings, and others contented +themselves with gray woollen. The boots had +a broad fold of white leather turned over the +top, with tassels dangling from either side. The +clergy frequently wore silk or stuff gowns and +powdered wigs. The ladies usually wore black +silk or satin bonnets, long-waisted and narrow-skirted +dresses for the street, with long tight +sleeves, and in the house, sleeves reaching to +the elbow, finished with an immensely broad +frill; high-heeled shoes, and always, when in full +dress, carried a profusely ornamented fan. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +excessively long waists, toward the close of this +period, were exchanged for extremely short ones; +so short, that the belt or waist was inhumanly +contrived to come at the broadest part of the +chest. But no fashion of dress was so permanent +as other customs clinging to particular +eras. Anciently, as now, fashions were changed +more or less extensively every ten years, though +certain broad characteristics remained long +enough to give specific character to the costuming +of the eighteenth century.” +</p> +<p> +The writer is accurate enough, no doubt, in +her general description; but what lady could +give an entirely correct account of a gentleman’s +attire? Knee-buckles, for instance, were +almost necessarily small, instead of “large”; +it may be questioned whether top-boots were +ever decorated with tassels, a single article of +that sort often hanging at the front of a different +kind of high boot, worn long after the beginning +of the present century; and as to the +silk gowns of clergymen, it is but a very few +years since they began to be disused in the +pulpit by Presbyterian and Congregational ministers. +About forty years before the present +period, many gentlemen wore dresses of the cut +described by Mrs. Smith, though of a more subdued +color,—black, blue, or drab. Not long +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +after the beginning of the present century, a +chief magistrate of Massachusetts, Gov. Gore, +made a sort of progress through the State, in +imposing style. His elegant, open carriage was +drawn by four handsome and spirited horses, +and he was attended by his aids and several +outriders. The governor was a gentleman of +fine personal appearance, and was attired in the +highest style of contemporary civil costume, +with his white hair gathered behind into a satin +bag, and his aids were in undress military +costume. He was a “Federalist,” and this +demonstration cost him his election the next +time; for, though a man of brilliant ability and +high personal character, he served but one +year. At a date fifteen years later, I saw the +“Democratic” governor of Massachusetts, Mr. +Eustis, in attendance upon the Commencement +exercises, at Harvard College, dressed much in +the fashion of half a century earlier; namely, +coat and waistcoat with broad flaps, small-clothes, +ruffles at his bosom and wrists, a cocked +hat of the old style, and a steel-hilted rapier at +his side. Ten years afterwards, one of the best +governors the Commonwealth has ever had, Mr. +Lincoln, who served the State in this capacity +for nine several terms, wore also a distinguishing +costume, but more conformable to modern fashions. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +About the ruffles to his shirt-bosom I am +sure, and feel much confidence, from memory, +in regard to black small-clothes and black silk +stockings, and his hat was always decorated +with a black cockade. Nowadays a governor’s +appearance scarcely distinguishes him from any +ordinary person in the crowd. +</p> +<p> +The cocked hats, however, and much of the +costume of the eighteenth century, continued +to be worn by the survivors of Revolutionary +officers and some others, during the first quarter +of the present century and afterwards. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='V' id='V'></a> +<h2>V.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +The subjoined interesting sketch of an ancient +dwelling-house and of a family which has +inhabited it for several generations, was furnished +by a distinguished friend, Thomas Coffin +Amory, Esq., of Boston, who traces his ancestry +on the maternal side to the family in question. +Nor, in producing this highly interesting sketch, +could I overlook Joshua Coffin, the historian of +Newbury and a resident of that town, from the +originally extensive territory of which various +adjacent towns were eventually formed. He +was possessed of many amiable qualities and +inspired by the true antiquarian spirit, and laboriously +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +pored among the not very carefully kept +early records of the original settlement, and +brought much out of chaos well calculated to +illustrate its former history. Mr. Amory has, +on various occasions, shown the spirit of a careful +historical student and of an intelligent and +zealous antiquary. His recent contributions to +that excellent periodical, “The New England +Historical and Genealogical Register,” which +has become of inestimable value, as a collection +of facts illustrative of early New England history +and biography, have given great pleasure to multitudes +of readers,—especially his vivid and +graphic descriptions of certain ancient and storied +mansions in Boston and Cambridge, and +of their former inhabitants. Let us hope that +researches of such abundant interest and value +will soon claim and gain a still larger share of +the public attention in a collected form. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>My dear Sir</span>,—In your reminiscences of +Newburyport you must not forget Joshua Coffin +its historian,—one of the best of men, whom +no one knew but to love. I see him now as +he came to visit me several years ago, when he +was representing his native town in the General +Court, a fresh, hale, cheery gentleman, full of +pleasant anecdotes relating to the past. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +owned and occupied the Coffin mansion, which +had been the abode of seven generations of his +family and name. Out of its portals had issued +numberless admirable men and women, and +from among the former, a large share of college +graduates, at Harvard and other New England +colleges, of lawyers, clergy, and soldiers, to do +good service in their day and generation. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +At his suggestion, I visited this ancient dwelling +which was erected about 1649, by Mr. Somerby, +the widow of whose progenitor Tristram +Coffin, Jr., married. This Tristram was the eldest +son of another Tristram, first of the race in +America, who not many years before, in 1642, +came over from Brixton, near Plymouth, in Devonshire, +bringing with him his mother, and two +sisters,—Eunice who married William Butler, +and Mary who became the wife of Alexander +Adams, of Boston. He brought with him also +several sons and daughters, to whom were added +others born to him on this side the ocean. His +family in the home country had shown the same +tenacity and steadfastness, exemplified by their +long continued residence at Newburyport; for +at Alwington and Portledge in Devon, they had +flourished, if not from the flood, from periods +very remote; for according to the historical statement, +the Normans when they came over in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +eleventh century found them there, and left +them unmolested; and there still dwell their descendants +in the female line, who have assumed +their appellation of Pine Coffin, one of the house +of Pine having married the heiress of the family +estates. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +Tristram the elder, and his sons James and +Stephen, were among the nine who purchased +the island of Nantucket from the Earl of Stirling +in 1659, and went there to dwell. Their +descendants have ever since been respectable +and greatly multiplied, and not only on that +island but all over the country, having since +been estimated by thousands if not tens of thousands. +Their usual average of children has +been half a score, and from their numerous +progeny and great longevity, we may judge +what vigor was in the race. One of them, William, +son of Nathaniel, son of James, cruised +over many seas, as commander of a merchantman, +and becoming interested in a Boston +maiden, Ann Holmes, settled about 1720 in the +provincial capital, where among other offices he +filled with credit to himself and his name was +that for many years of warden of Trinity Church. +He died before the Revolution, leaving many +children; most of his sons at that period becoming +refugee loyalists, they and their descendants +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +taking high rank in the British military and +naval service. John, son of Nathaniel, was a distinguished +officer in the Carolinas, and afterwards +became Major-general. His brother, Sir +Isaac, early became distinguished on the ocean, +was an Admiral, Member of Parliament, and +created a Baronet, which latter rank was also +bestowed on Thomas Astor, son of William, the +eldest son of the warden. Several others of +the name and blood then and since have filled +with distinction posts of honor and respectability +in the civil service of the mother country +at home, in Canada, and in India. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +But this is a digression. The only connection +of the Nantucket branch with Newbury is +that old Tristram lived there for a brief period, +before repairing to his island home, and his +son (the younger of the name of Tristram, the +family name of a grandmother) and his posterity +occupied the old mansion down through +seven or eight generations, and still dwell beneath +its roof. At the time of its erection the +edifice must have been among the most elegant, +as its good state of preservation proves it to +have been one of the most substantial of its +day, when the notion, prevailing in England, +that oak was the most suitable material of the +forest for dwellings, governed in their choice, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +with less reason, our American planters. It +was built in the mode common to the period, +round a vast brick chimney-stack, ten or twelve +feet square. The principal apartment, now divided +into two, possessed, as did also the kitchen, +one of those spacious fireplaces which are +the marvel and envy of these degenerate days, +when a hole in the carpet has superseded in +many households the family hearth. It is +pleasant to think of the groups that in the olden +time clustered around them; charming people, +whom we know by tradition, and who are remembered +by many associations. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +The house possesses various other apartments +of size and pretension, and has answered +well the needs of the successive generations +that have occupied it, not only as a spacious +and commodious abode, but one sufficiently +elegant to satisfy the advancing standards of +taste and refinement. Among the marked features +of the building are several small casements, +lighting closets and staircases, which give +variety to the monotonous symmetry of windows +all of a size, one on top of another, and where +all the openings for egress or light are in +straight lines and of equal dimensions. It is +many years since my visit, and I hope you will +see it, for much that was peculiar, and made a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +weird impression at the time, has passed out of +mind. If the trickles in my own veins do not +mislead, the present proprietors will be glad to +have pleasure afforded to the reading community, +even by this inadequate description of a +house which has such claims to be known, if, as +you intimate, you purpose to place this account +of it in your Appendix. They will not consider +it a liberty if I repeat what some one not long +since told me of an interesting relic of the past +discovered on its walls, a statement which might +be related almost in the same words of the +house of MacPhędrics at Portsmouth. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +Not many years since it was concluded to +repaper the hall, the walls of which were +covered with several thicknesses of paper which +had from generation to generation been pasted +one upon another. It was thought best to remove +them all, and when a large party of young +people, home for the holidays, were gathered +for a dull week of weather under its roof, they +determined to amuse themselves by stripping +off the various layers of previous decorations, +preparatory to the new one intended to take +their place. Underneath them all was discovered, +painted on the wall, artistic designs of +figures and foliage, such as were common in +the days of the Stuarts. All antiquarians are +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +familiar with the similar discoveries at Portsmouth, +to which allusion has been made. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +There are not many houses in America which +have been so long owned and occupied by the +same name. The old brick mansion near +Portsmouth, of the Weeks family, the Curtis +house at Boston Highlands, Fairbanks at Dedham, +Pickering at Salem, were contemporaries +in the period of the construction, and have descended +from sire to son as has this of the +Coffins. +</p> +<p style='font-size: 0.9em; margin-left:4em; margin-right:4%'> +The house is pleasantly placed, and commands +fine views from its windows. Even in +winter it must be, if not a cheerful, an interesting +abode to dwell in. In duller days, when +skies are leaden, and the more you see around +you the less you like it, its dreamy look of age +and strangeness within and without may have +a somewhat depressing influence. The aches +and agonies of so many generations may gain +an ascendancy over the exuberant joys that +made their life worth living. It would sometimes +seem that if fondness for the supernatural must +be indulged, an old edifice like this would prove +a haunt more attractive, and certainly more appropriate, +for ghost and apparition than any +school-room, however noted for its spells. Yet +notwithstanding some lugubrious associations +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +connected with the family patronymic, phantoms +would have to tread softly and whisper +low if they invaded its precincts; for the vigorous +vitality of its occupants and their cheery +tones, if up to the traditional standard of their +race, would exorcise the very king of spectres +himself, should he venture to stalk about at the +noonday, or revisit the glimpses of the moon +in its ancient chambers. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VI' id='VI'></a> +<h2>VI.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +I might have mentioned, as one of the amusements +of childhood, the throwing of a piece of +paper upon the embers of our wood-fire, for we +had no coal in those days, and watching the +gradual extinguishment of the sparks, likening +it to a congregation entering the meeting-house. +“There they go in,” we would say. “There’s +the minister;” and as the final spark disappeared,—“Now, +the sexton has gone in and +shut the door.” I speak of this only as a curious +illustration of English ways traditionally surviving +in New England. Thus Cowper tells us:— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>“So when a child, as playful children use,<br /> + Has burnt to tinder a stale last year’s news,<br /> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> + The flame extinct, he views the roving fire,—<br /> + There goes my lady, and there goes the squire;<br /> + There goes the parson, O illustrious spark!<br /> + And there, scarce less illustrious, goes the clerk!" +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VII' id='VII'></a> +<h2>VII.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +Several allusions having been made in the +text to the “Wolfe” Tavern, I am able to present +the following original bill of lading, constituting +an incident in relation to the famous expedition +to Quebec, and evincing at least a more formal +recognition of a superintending Providence, +than is the custom of more modern days:— +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +</p> +<table summary='frame'> +<tr> +<td style='vertical-align: top'> + <table width='140' border='0' cellpadding='1' cellspacing='1' summary="bill of lading left column"> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'> </td><td class='bol'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'> </td><td class='bol'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>12</td><td class='bol'>Oxen,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>6</td><td class='bol'>Horses,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>No. 29</td><td class='bol'>to 32. 4 Hogshd. Corn,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>10</td><td class='bol'>Baggs Corn,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>10</td><td class='bol'>Baggs Meal,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>2</td><td class='bol'>Carts with Furniture,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>500</td><td class='bol'>feet Boards,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>1</td><td class='bol'>pr. Smiths Bellows,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>1</td><td class='bol'>Box Smiths Tools,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>1</td><td class='bol'>Anvil,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>1</td><td class='bol'>Camp Kettle,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>10</td><td class='bol'>Ox Yokes,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>70</td><td class='bol'>Bundles of Hay,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>2</td><td class='bol'>Handpumps,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>18</td><td class='bol'>Pails,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>4</td><td class='bol'>Tubbs,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>2</td><td class='bol'>Shovells,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='bol r'>4</td><td class='bol'>Barr's Water, Settled.</td> + </tr> + </table> +</td> +<td style='vertical-align: top'> + <table border='0' cellpadding='1' cellspacing='1' summary="bill of lading right column"> + <tr> + <td style="font-size:90%; text-align:justify; padding-right:1em; padding-left:.5em; + vertical-align:top;"><span class="dropcap" style='text-indent:-.5em;'>S</span>hipped + by the Grace of God in good Order and well Condition'd by Thomas + Hancock, by order of His Excell'cy Major General Amherst, in and upon + the good sloop call'd the ``Endeavour,'' whereof is Master under <span + style='font-variant:small-caps'>God</span>, for this present Voyage, William Clift, + and now riding at Anchor in the Harbour of + Boston, and by God's Grace bound for The Expedition up the River St. Lawrence, + to say, Twelve Oxen, Six Horses, Four Hogshead and Ten Bags of Corn, + Ten Bags of Meal, two Carts with their Furniture, Five hundred feet of Boards, + One Pair Smiths Bellows, One Box Smiths Tools, One Anvill, One Camp + Kettle, Ten Ox Yokes, Seventy Bundles of Hay, Two handpumps, Eighteen + pails, Four Tubbs, Two Shovells, Four Barrells Water; being mark'd and number'd + as in the Margin, and to be delivered in the like good Order, and well + Condition'd, at the aforesaid Port of —— (the Danger of + the Seas only excepted) unto His Excell'cy Major General Wolfe, or to + his Assigns,——or they paying Freight for the said Goods—— +Nothing——with Primage + and Average accustom'd. In Witness whereof the Master or Purser of the said + sloop hath affirmed to Two Bills of Lading, all of this Tenor and date; the one + of which Two Bills being accomplished, the other one to stand void. And so + <span style='font-variant:small-caps'>God</span> send the good sloop + to her desired Port in Safety, <i>Amen</i>. Dated in<br /><br /> + <span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Boston</span>, <i>May 14, 1759</i>.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style='text-align:right;'> + <span style='font-size:90%; margin-right:5%;'>WILL<sup>M.</sup> CLIFT.</span> + </td> + </tr> + </table> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VIII' id='VIII'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +<h2>VIII.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +On my occasional visit to Boston, I usually +put up at the Eastern Stage House, perhaps +because it was there that the stage-coach by +which I arrived at the city discharged its passengers. +It was an old fashioned establishment, +which but for the absence of galleries, +might remind one of the famous Tabard Inn, +from which Chaucer’s pilgrims set out. For its +capacious yard, in which the passengers alighted, +and where they remounted for their homeward +journey, was approached through a narrow cross +street, and in its ample stables the stage-horses +took their rest and refreshment. The front entrance +to the tavern was under an archway on +Ann street, loyally named for the old queen; +for which title was not long ago senselessly substituted +the unsuggestive appellation of North +street. It has long since given place to more +modern edifices. It was a comfortable place +of temporary residence, and in illustration of +former manners I remember one practice which +I have never seen elsewhere. At the plate +of each guest, at dinner, was placed a small decanter +of brandy, holding I suppose half-a-pint +of that liquor, and for which no extra charge +appeared in the bill, which account itself was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +moderate enough compared with the inordinate +hotel reckonings of the present day. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IX' id='IX'></a> +<h2>IX.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +In small matters, as well as in great, history +repeats itself. Thus, the anachronic emotion +of Miss —— (on page <a href="#LN_hysterical_girl">17</a>) finds its parallel in +“Facetię Poggii,” written at Florence, in the +year 1450, of which the following story is +one:— +</p> +<p> +“Cyriac of Ancona, a wordy man and much +given to talk, was once deploring in our presence +the fall and ruin of the Roman empire, +and seemed to be vehemently grieved at it. +Then Anthony Lusco, a most learned man, who +also stood by, said, jeering at the silly grief of +the fellow, ‘He is very like a man of Milan, +who, hearing on a feast day one of the race +of minstrels, who are wont to sing the deeds +of departed heroes to the people, reciting +the death of Roland, who was slain about +seven hundred years before in battle, fell at +once a-weeping bitterly, and when he got home +to his wife, and she saw him sad and sighing, +and asked what was the matter, “Alas! alas! +wife,” he said, “we are as good as dead and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +gone.” “Why, man,” she answered, “what +dreadful thing has befallen you? Take comfort +and come to supper.” But he, when he +went on sobbing and sighing, and would take +no food, and his wife pressed him to tell the +cause of his woe, at last said, “Don’t you know +the bad news I have heard to-day?” “What?” +asked the wife. “Roland is dead, who alone +was the safeguard of Christendom.” On which +his wife tried to soothe the silly grief of her +husband, and yet, with all her tenderness, could +scarce get him to sit down to meat.’”<a name="FNanchor_13" id="FNanchor_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> +</p> +<p> +The effect of the ballad, however, upon the +worthy man of Milan reminds one of the historical +incident, recording the effect of song, +celebrated anew in one of the stanzas of Childe +Harold:— +</p> + +<table summary='poetry' class='pts'> +<tr><td><p>“When Athens’ armies fell at Syracuse,<br /> + And fettered thousands felt the yoke of war,<br /> +Redemption rose up in the Attic Muse,<br /> + Her voice their only ransom from afar;<br /> + See! as they chant the tragic hymn, the car<br /> +Of the o’ermastered victor stops: the reins<br /> + Fall from his hands—his idle <ins class="trnote" title="scimetar">scimitar</ins><br /> +Starts from its belt—he rends his captives’ chains,<br /> +And bids them thank the bard for freedom and his strains.” +</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='X' id='X'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +<h2>X.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +The ancestor of Colonel Edward Wigglesworth, +mentioned in the text, an officer of the +Revolution, highly esteemed by Washington, +was Rev. Michael Wigglesworth, author of “The +Day of Doom,” published in the last quarter of +the seventeenth century, and reprinted in London; +a dreadfully dismal, but edifying poem, +and not without a certain horrifying merit. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XI' id='XI'></a> +<h2>XI.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +Were it within the scope of this work, I +might furnish a catalogue, by no means meagre, +of inhabitants formerly distinguished in their +day and generation. For example, I have +heard it stated as a curious fact, that, not far +from the beginning of the present century, each +of the three Professors of Harvard College, +namely, Professors Webber, afterwards President; +Pearson, and Toppan, were natives of +Newbury. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XII' id='XII'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +<h2>XII.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +I could hardly dismiss this volume from my +hands without some reference to the means of +public information furnished by the newspapers +of the town. Of these, there have been, since +“The Essex Journal,” soon afterwards merged +in “The Impartial Herald,” and first published +in 1773, between thirty and forty attempts to +establish newspapers; but the “Herald,” the +successor of those before-named, for many +years conducted as a semi-weekly journal, and +since the year 1832 as a daily paper, has alone +steadily maintained its ground. It has always +been distinguished for the editorial ability displayed +in its columns, and for a care bestowed +upon its several departments, which gave it a +high reputation, scarcely surpassed by that of +leading journals in our larger cities. +</p> +<p> +“The Essex Journal” was begun by Isaiah +Thomas, who in the course of a year sold his +interest in it to Ezra Lunt; and he, after two +years, obeying another call to public service, +sold it to John Mycall. The first of these +began life in the humblest condition, without +schooling of any kind, it is alleged; taught +himself to read and write, and after a time removed +to Worcester, became connected with a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +noted paper there, the “Massachusetts Spy,” at +length accumulated a handsome fortune, for the +times, much of which, after a long life, he bequeathed +to the Antiquarian Society of Worcester, +and a portion to Harvard College, and other +literary institutions. He was the founder, also, +of the American Antiquarian Society. He became +a writer and educator of much repute. +</p> +<p> +Upon the breaking out of the Revolutionary +war, Mr. Ezra Lunt was the first man who volunteered, +in the meeting-house, when the minister, +Rev. Mr. Parsons, exhorted his parishioners +to military service; was chosen captain of +the company, with which he was present in +command at Bunker Hill, and afterwards was +raised to the rank of major. He took part in +the battle of Monmouth Court House, when +the British army, under Sir Henry Clinton, retired +with much difficulty and loss before Washington, +and used to relate the particulars of the +well-known rebuke administered by that great +chief to General Charles Lee for his hasty retreat +from the advanced post, which had been +assigned him. He declared himself to have +been close by at the moment, and to have +heard the energetic language used on the occasion. +After the war, he received his allotment +of land, and settled upon it, at Marietta, Ohio. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +</p> +<p> +Mr. Mycall was a person of much natural +capacity and shrewdness, with certain eccentricities +of character, and kept up a little politic +mystery about himself. He once engaged a +well-known carriage-maker of the day to build +him a chaise, which it was agreed should be +finished at a certain time. When the specified +period arrived, the vehicle was not forthcoming. +Enduring a similar disappointment several +times, and expressing himself strongly about it +to the offender, that individual promised it to +him positively at a certain date, <i>if he was alive</i>. +Even then, it was not delivered; but what was +the astonishment of the faulty party to read in +his newspaper the next morning, “Died, yesterday, +P. B., chaise-maker,” etc. In a state of +boiling indignation he rushed to the street, and +on the way to the office of publication called +the attention of various acquaintances to the +wrongful statement, which, it appeared, no one +had observed. Entering the office, he inquired, +with much feeling, how Mr. Mycall could have +published such a paragraph. “Did you not +promise me,” said the editor, “that my chaise +should be sent home, on such a day, if you +were alive?” “Well, supposing I did?” +“Why, then, of course, you must be dead!” +Taking up a copy of the paper from his desk, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +and examining the obituary notices, “But,” said +the editor, “there is no such statement here.” +The bewildered chaise-maker hastened home to +examine his paper anew; and it appeared, on +inquiry, that the account of his decease was +printed only in his own copy; a gloomy jest, +which was soon much relished by the community. +</p> +<p> +Indeed, the town became for a time a noted +place for the publication of standard works, and +books of various descriptions. It was here +that the well-known Mr. Edmund M. Blunt, +who subsequently removed to the city of New +York, published his valuable and famous +“American Coast Pilot,” and, afterwards, the +no less useful “Practical Navigator.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIII' id='XIII'></a> +<h2>XIII.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +In attestation of the remark, on page <a href="#LN_antiquated">144</a> of +the text, that an antiquated pronunciation of +many English words prevailed long in New +England, after it was disused in Old England, +and was brought by the colonists from the +Mother Country, see the criticism of “Holofernes” +upon innovations in pronunciation, in +Act V., Sc. 1, of “Love’s Labor Lost,” showing +the state of the case in Shakespeare’s time. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIV' id='XIV'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +<h2>XIV.</h2> +</div> + +<p> +In closing this Appendix, which might be +extended to almost any length, as recollections +which did not occur to me in writing the body +of the work come up, I cannot omit a remarkable +use of the American language, let us say, +since the Czar once so denominated the English +tongue. It was upon the part of a town constable, +perhaps as nearly of the Dogberry type +as could be imagined. I was standing in the +town hall, at a moment preliminary to a public +meeting. A knot of youngsters had been joking +one another, when this authoritative official +approached. All but one speedily retired before +the awful presence. “Master Constable” +addressed the lingerer: “<i>Disperge</i>,”—a difficult +operation for an individual,—“<i>disperge</i>, I +say; we can’t have no <i>burlash</i> here!” +</p> +<p> +Even Shakespeare might have been glad of +such an opportunity to enlarge the cacology, by +actual hearing, of some of his most amusing +characters. +</p> + +<hr style='width: 10%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both; margin: 2em auto 1em 0' /> + +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_13' id='Footnote_13'></a><a href='#FNanchor_13'><span class='label'>[13]</span></a> +<p> +Quoted in Dasent’s “Jest and Earnest.” London, 1873. +</p> +</div> +<p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +</p> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='INDEX' id='INDEX'></a> +<h2>INDEX</h2> +</div> + +<hr class='mini' /> + +<p style='margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Academy, of good standing, <a href='#page_137'>137</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Adams, J. Q., <a href='#page_134'>134</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Addison on English Superstition, <a href='#page_176'>176</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Adventure of American Sea-captain with Christophe, Emperor of Hayti, <a href='#page_61'>61</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Algerines;” their Quarrel with Foreign Sailors, <a href='#page_74'>74</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Ancient Elder, <a href='#page_120'>120</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Ancient Episcopal Church; its former Rector, Bishop of Massachusetts, <a href='#page_114'>114</a>, <a href='#page_130'>130</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Apparition, an, <a href='#page_184'>184</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Aristocracy, <a href='#page_21'>21</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Aunt Judith, <a href='#page_23'>23</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Aunt Judith’s Narrative of Witchcraft, <a href='#page_169'>169</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Balaklava Charge, <a href='#page_28'>28</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Bar, dangerous, <a href='#page_6'>6</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Bartlett, William, <a href='#page_33'>33</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Beggars, mimic, <a href='#page_106'>106</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Beverages, formerly, <a href='#page_96'>96</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Bishop Bass, <a href='#page_130'>130</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Bold Youngster, <a href='#page_165'>165</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Books, some that we read, <a href='#page_138'>138</a>, <a href='#page_139'>139</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Borderers, <a href='#page_74'>74</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Boyish Sports, <a href='#page_14'>14</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Bradbury, Judge, <a href='#page_34'>34</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +British Orders in Council, <a href='#page_108'>108</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Bromfield Legacy, <a href='#page_18'>18</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Buchan, Earl of, <a href='#page_63'>63</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Campbell, “Tom,” <a href='#page_27'>27</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Cannon for street posts, <a href='#page_58'>58</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Capen, Parson, <a href='#page_178'>178</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Characteristic Letter, <a href='#page_40'>40</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Christmas Evening, <a href='#page_161'>161</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Christmas Hymn, <a href='#page_163'>163</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Christophe of Hayti, <a href='#page_61'>61</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Clergy of the town, <a href='#page_122'>122</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Clergyman, Scottish, <a href='#page_166'>166</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Collector Marquand, <a href='#page_37'>37</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Collector Wigglesworth, <a href='#page_36'>36</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Comparative value of money, <a href='#page_21'>21</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Congregation, “Scrupulous,” <a href='#page_122'>122</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Consequences of war and embargo, <a href='#page_57'>57</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Court of Common Pleas, <a href='#page_83'>83</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Cunning expedient, <a href='#page_22'>22</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Dalton, Tristram, <a href='#page_34'>34</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Damage of war, <a href='#page_38'>38</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Dana, Rev. Dr., <a href='#page_128'>128</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Dangerous bar, <a href='#page_6'>6</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Devil’s den, <a href='#page_15'>15</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Dexter, “Lord,” <a href='#page_63'>63</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Dexter’s poet, <a href='#page_66'>66</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Dinah for Diana, <a href='#page_145'>145</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Discourse of Rev. Mr. Murray, <a href='#page_99'>99</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Dissatisfied washerwoman, <a href='#page_104'>104</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Dogberry and Verges, <a href='#page_198'>198</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Domestic, Scottish, <a href='#page_104'>104</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Earl of Buchan, <a href='#page_63'>63</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Earthquakes in former times, <a href='#page_113'>113</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Edinburgh, similar habits in, <a href='#page_10'>10</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Elder, an old-fashioned, <a href='#page_120'>120</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +Emperor of Hayti, <a href='#page_61'>61</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +English Clergymen, <a href='#page_124'>124</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +English Reader. Are modern text-books as useful?, <a href='#page_137'>137</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +English superstition, <a href='#page_176'>176</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Enterprise, Maritime and Commercial, <a href='#page_5'>5</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Extraordinary images, <a href='#page_63'>63</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Failure, swindling, <a href='#page_103'>103</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Favor, Johnny: his opinion of polemics, <a href='#page_133'>133</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Few insane persons, and the treatment of them formerly, <a href='#page_45'>45</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Fights of boys, <a href='#page_10'>10</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Fine trees, <a href='#page_17'>17</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Fire, strange, <a href='#page_190'>190</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Fire, the “great,” <a href='#page_103'>103</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Foot-warming process, <a href='#page_118'>118</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Former Rector of St. Paul’s a Bishop, <a href='#page_130'>130</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Former severe winters, <a href='#page_1'>1</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Former solemn proceedings in naturalization, <a href='#page_110'>110</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Fourth of July, <a href='#page_98'>98</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Fright of an old woman, <a href='#page_100'>100</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Fugitive Sea-captain and a lively chase, <a href='#page_58'>58</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Ghost, reputed, <a href='#page_180'>180</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Gould, Miss Hannah F., <a href='#page_31'>31</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Gourmand, a, <a href='#page_98'>98</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Great Fire, <a href='#page_103'>103</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Greys, Silver, <a href='#page_56'>56</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Grouse, Old, story of, <a href='#page_146'>146</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Growth of Episcopal Church, <a href='#page_130'>130</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Habits in Edinburgh, <a href='#page_10'>10</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Habits, jovial, of old times, <a href='#page_96'>96</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Hardships of early times, <a href='#page_40'>40</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +Hay-time treating, <a href='#page_109'>109</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Hinx-minx,” origin of, <a href='#page_174'>174</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Hohenlinden, <a href='#page_28'>28</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Holt, Granny, <a href='#page_169'>169</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Home, return to, <a href='#page_202'>202</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +How they used to “break,” <a href='#page_103'>103</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Huntington, Countess of, and her Seminary, <a href='#page_124'>124</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Hymn, Christmas, <a href='#page_163'>163</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Images, extraordinary, <a href='#page_63'>63</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Indifference to cold, <a href='#page_119'>119</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Inquisitive spinster, <a href='#page_123'>123</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Insane persons, few, <a href='#page_45'>45</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Internal trade, <a href='#page_67'>67</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Introductory chapters to Scott’s novels, <a href='#page_159'>159</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Jackson family, <a href='#page_24'>24</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +James, King of Scotland, <a href='#page_106'>106</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Johnson, Samuel, Dr., <a href='#page_26'>26</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Joppa Jine,” <a href='#page_144'>144</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Jovial habits of old times, <a href='#page_109'>109</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Judith, Aunt, <a href='#page_23'>23</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +July 4th, <a href='#page_98'>98</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +King James of Scotland, <a href='#page_106'>106</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +King Louis Philippe, <a href='#page_4'>4</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +King, Rufus, <a href='#page_135'>135</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Lee, Mrs. George, <a href='#page_31'>31</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Longfellow, <a href='#page_32'>32</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Lowells, The, <a href='#page_24'>24</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Magistrate and culprit, <a href='#page_51'>51</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Mansions, remarkable, <a href='#page_18'>18</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +Manufacturing establishments, <a href='#page_4'>4</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Maritime enterprise, <a href='#page_5'>5</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Market Square, triangular, <a href='#page_66'>66</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Marquand, Collector, <a href='#page_37'>37</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Massachusetts, Diocese of, <a href='#page_130'>130</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Meeting-houses—stoves and organs, <a href='#page_118'>118</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Merchant, rich, <a href='#page_34'>34</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Milton, Rev. Mr., <a href='#page_124'>124</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Mimic beggars, <a href='#page_106'>106</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Money, comparative value of, <a href='#page_21'>21</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Moses is come!,” <a href='#page_100'>100</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Murray, Rev. Mr., <a href='#page_99'>99</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Murray’s Reader, <a href='#page_137'>137</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Naturalization, etc., <a href='#page_110'>110</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +New England pronunciation, <a href='#page_144'>144</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +New England superstition, of old, <a href='#page_160'>160</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Novelist, English, his surprise, <a href='#page_9'>9</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Nutting, etc., <a href='#page_14'>14</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Old-fashioned hospitality in beverages, <a href='#page_109'>109</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Old Grouse,” story of, <a href='#page_146'>146</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Old Peddlers, <a href='#page_67'>67</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Old Woman, fright of, <a href='#page_100'>100</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Orders in Council, British, <a href='#page_108'>108</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Organ of St. Paul’s, <a href='#page_118'>118</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Origin of “Hinx-Minx,” <a href='#page_174'>174</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Our Town, <a href='#page_5'>5</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Paine, Robert Treat, <a href='#page_134'>134</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Parson, Capen, <a href='#page_178'>178</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Parsonage and its curious picture, <a href='#page_52'>52</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Parsons, Chief Justice, <a href='#page_134'>134</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Particular Shoemaker, <a href='#page_48'>48</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +Peabody, George, <a href='#page_33'>33</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Peace of 1783, <a href='#page_99'>99</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Peddlers, old, <a href='#page_67'>67</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +People of St. James’s, <a href='#page_131'>131</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Perkins, Jacob, <a href='#page_25'>25</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Personal part of leading citizens in politics, <a href='#page_94'>94</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Persons, distinguished, <a href='#page_34'>34</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Picture, curious, <a href='#page_52'>52</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Pike, Nicholas, <a href='#page_25'>25</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Polemics, <a href='#page_132'>132</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Political hostilities, <a href='#page_55'>55</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Poultry in profusion, <a href='#page_67'>67</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Practice, modern, of naturalization, <a href='#page_110'>110</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Professional persons, etc., <a href='#page_83'>83</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Project,” what it is, <a href='#page_174'>174</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Putnam, Oliver, <a href='#page_33'>33</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Quaker meeting, <a href='#page_136'>136</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Queer contrast of language, <a href='#page_61'>61</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Railways and their influence, <a href='#page_142'>142</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Ramsay, Dean, and others, Reminiscences of, <a href='#page_10'>10</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Reader, Murray’s English, <a href='#page_137'>137</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Reading parties, <a href='#page_142'>142</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Refinement of certain classes, <a href='#page_133'>133</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Reputed apparition, <a href='#page_192'>192</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Respect for the clergy, <a href='#page_29'>29</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Retort courteous,” <a href='#page_27'>27</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Rev. Dr. Dana, <a href='#page_128'>128</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Rev. Mr. Milton, <a href='#page_124'>124</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Rev. Dr. Morse, <a href='#page_131'>131</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Rev. Mr. Murray, <a href='#page_122'>122</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Rev. Dr. Spring, <a href='#page_29'>29</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Richard, Uncle, <a href='#page_162'>162</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Sabbath, how kept, <a href='#page_120'>120</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Sailing adventure, <a href='#page_7'>7</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Salt,” ancient, <a href='#page_3'>3</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Saturday and Sunday evenings, <a href='#page_30'>30</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Scenery on the river, <a href='#page_5'>5</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +School books, etc., <a href='#page_137'>137</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Schoolmaster, a shrewd, <a href='#page_140'>140</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Scott’s Autobiography, <a href='#page_10'>10</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Scott’s reply to certain critics, <a href='#page_159'>159</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Scottish domestic, cool and faithful, <a href='#page_104'>104</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Scrupulous” congregation, <a href='#page_122'>122</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Scrupulous shoemaker, <a href='#page_48'>48</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Severe winters, <a href='#page_1'>1</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Shipbuilding, etc., <a href='#page_5'>5</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Silver Greys, <a href='#page_56'>56</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Singular companion, <a href='#page_168'>168</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Singular night adventure, <a href='#page_87'>87</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Snow-storm in old times, <a href='#page_2'>2</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Social security, <a href='#page_85'>85</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Stage-house, <a href='#page_53'>53</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +St. James’s, <a href='#page_143'>143</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Story of an apparition, <a href='#page_179'>179</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Story of bold youngster, <a href='#page_165'>165</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Stove in Church, <a href='#page_118'>118</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Street fights of boys, <a href='#page_10'>10</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Striking adventure of Rufus King, <a href='#page_135'>135</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Surprise of Thackeray, <a href='#page_9'>9</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Swett and Schwedt, <a href='#page_30'>30</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Swindling failure, <a href='#page_103'>103</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Sympathetic young lady, <a href='#page_17'>17</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Tennyson’s “Charge at Balaklava,” <a href='#page_28'>28</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Text instead of sermon, <a href='#page_119'>119</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Thanks be to Praise!,” <a href='#page_202'>202</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +Thanksgiving, <a href='#page_105'>105</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Timber and shipbuilding, <a href='#page_5'>5</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +“Tom” Campbell, <a href='#page_27'>27</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Topsfield spectre, <a href='#page_177'>177</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Town-meeting and resolute chairman, <a href='#page_96'>96</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Trade, internal, of the town, <a href='#page_67'>67</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Traders, small, <a href='#page_67'>67</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Treating in hay-time, <a href='#page_109'>109</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Trees of great beauty, <a href='#page_17'>17</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Triangular Market Square, <a href='#page_66'>66</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Tyng Family, <a href='#page_24'>24</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Uncle Richard, <a href='#page_162'>162</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +United States after a runaway, <a href='#page_58'>58</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Unterrified clergyman, <a href='#page_166'>166</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Verges and Dogberry, <a href='#page_198'>198</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Vulgarian of the nouveaux riches, <a href='#page_62'>62</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Wages, low rate of, <a href='#page_23'>23</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Walsh, Michael, <a href='#page_25'>25</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +What a “project” is or was, <a href='#page_174'>174</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Wheelwright, William, <a href='#page_32'>32</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Whipping-post, <a href='#page_123'>123</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Wigglesworth, Colonel, <a href='#page_36'>36</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Winters, severe formerly, <a href='#page_1'>1</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Witchcraft, and Uncle Richard’s opinion of it, <a href='#page_167'>167</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Wood’s account of the aristocracy., <a href='#page_21'>21</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Yankee acuteness, <a href='#page_141'>141</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:0.0em; margin-bottom:0.0em'> +Young persons sent to the town for education, <a href='#page_134'>134</a> +</p> +<p style='margin-left:2em; margin-right:-2%; margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<p style='margin-top:1.0em; margin-bottom:1.0em'> +</p> +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<p><a name="ATN"></a></p> +<table summary="additional transcriber notes" style='margin:3em auto 0 auto; width:30em; border:1px solid lime; padding:15px;'> + +<tr><td> +<p style='font-size:small; color:#006400; text-align:left;'>Additional Transcriber’s Notes: <br /><br /> + +The following changes were made to the original text. The correction is enclosed in brackets:<br /><br /> + +Page 106: and they skurried away [scurried]<br /><br /> +Page 116: but the fact incontestibly proves, [incontestably]<br /><br /> +Page 187: My mother was in close attendance upon sick members of my sister’s family? [changed punctuation to a period]<br /><br /> +Page 230: Fall from his hands—his idle scimetar [scimitar]</p> +</td></tr> +</table> + +<!-- generated by ppgen.rb version: 2.71 --> +<!-- timestamp: Sun Jan 25 18:38:28 -0800 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old New England Traits, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD NEW ENGLAND TRAITS *** + +***** This file should be named 28013-h.htm or 28013-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/0/1/28013/ + +Produced by Roger Frank, Darleen Dove and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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