USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > Bi-centennial celebration at Sudbury, Mass., April 18, 1876. Full report of exercises, including the oration by Prof. Edward J. Young > Part 3
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The Indian wars in which our fathers were trained prepared them for the struggles of the Revolu- tion. . Let us never forget what we owe to their valor and self-sacrifice by whom our fair inheritance was purchased. Especially let us gratefully remember those who, when the very existence of the colony hung trembling in the balance, and it seemed as if the entire community would be swept away, took their lives in their hands and nobly shed their blood on the high places of the field.
*It was the belief of the Iroquois that no white man was ever admitted to the Indian heaven, except Washington, because of his justice and kindness to their race. He is regarded as being in a state of perfect felicity, enjoying the celestial residence prepared for him by the Great Spirit, and the faithful Indian, as he enters heaven, passes the enclosure where he is, and sees and recognizes him as he walks to and fro in quiet meditation.
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" We sit here in the Promised Land That flows with Freedom's honey and milk; But 'twas they won it, sword in hand, Making the nettle danger soft for us as silk."
Let the story of the men whom we commemorate this day, who at such fearful odds bravely withstood ten- fold their own number and gave themselves as martyrs to their country, be told to each successive generation, that all may emulate their heroism, and that their names may be kept in honor to the end of time.
THE CELEBRATION.
The eighteenth of April, 1876, was the two hundredth anniver- sary of the battle of Green Hill, in King Philip's war. The site of the engagement is about one mile south of the centre of the town of Sudbury. The manner of the observance of this " Bi- Centennial Anniversary " was agitated for some months previous to its occurrence, and in the warrant calling a town meeting in March, an article was inserted, as follows : " To see what action the town will take in reference to the observance of the cighiteenth day of March, 1876, as the bi-centennial anniversary of the sacrifice of Captain Wadsworth and his men in King Philip's war."
The town voted to observe the day, and chose J. P. Fairbank, T. P. Hurlbut and T. J. Sanderson as committee to make the necessary arrangements. Subsequently this committee reported to the town their plan and programme, which was accepted, and an appropriation sufficient to carry out the same was made.
On the arrival of the day, the exercises were commenced by the forming of a procession on the Common, in the centre of the town, composed of citizens in carriages, the scholars of the public schools, and others on foot, headed by the Sudbury Cornet Band. Under the direction of Homer Rogers, Chief Marshal, the procession moved to the monument, where a brief history of its erection was given by T. P. Hurlbut, in response to the following sentiment, offered by Jonas S. Hunt :
WADSWORTH MONUMENT - The joint tribute of the State of Massachu- setts and the town of Sudbury.
MR. HURLBUT'S ADDRESS.
This is the great Centennial year. All over our land the Fourth of July, 1876, will be hailed as the onc-hundredth anniver- sary of the birthday of the nation as a free and independent people. The older portion of this company have in their youth been acquainted with some who were upon the stage of action one hun- dred years ago, and have heard from their lips thrilling accounts of
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the scenes and sufferings of those times, and even those who are comparatively young are able to reeall to mind the venerable form of the respeeted eentennarian of Sudbury, John Goodnow, who was among the last of the Revolutionary pensioners, and who died at the advanced age of nearly 102 years.
But the event which we now commemorate preceded the inde- pendence of the United States by another hundred years, and none now living have ever seen any of those who were active participants in the struggles and snfferings of that day ; and we are dependent, for onr knowledge of them, upon evidence other than the verbal testi- mony of those who were then living witnesses. Various methods have been adopted to perpetuate the memory of distinguished men and important events. Prominent among these is the erection of monuments. This enstom is of ancient origin. More than three thousand years ago, in the journeyings of the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land, when under the leadership of Joshua they were eomne to the river Jordan, the waters were divided and the Israelites passed over on dry ground. By direction of God, Joshua chose twelve men of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man, and they took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, and Joshua pitehed them in Gilgal. And he gave further direction to the people, saying : " When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, What imean ye by these stones? then ye shall let your children know, saying : Israel eame over this Jordan on dry land ; and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever."
The first monument crected on this spot was placed here by President Wadsworth, of Harvard College, son of Captain Samuel Wadsworth. This monument was falling to deeay, and inany indi- viduals felt that something should be done to preserve it. The attention of the town was first called to it by an article in the war- rant, as follows: "To see if the town will take any measures to rebuild the monument over the remains of Captain Wadsworth and his men who were killed by the Indians near Green Hill." The meeting at which action was taken on this article was holden on the tenth day of November, 1851, and a committee of twenty-five, of which Colonel Drury Fairbank was chairman, was chosen to inves- tigate-the subject and report at a future meeting. On the twenty- sixth of January, 1852, the committee made a partial report, and were instrneted to petition the Legislature for aid in the ereetion of a monument. In accordance with these instructions, the committee of the town presented their petition, and were heard by the Commit- tee on Military Affairs, to whom the petition was referred. A resolve was reported appropriating five hundred dollars towards defraying the expense of repairing or rebuilding in a substantial manner the monument in the town of Sudbury, ereeted by Presi- dent Wadsworth, of Harvard College, about the year 1730, to the memory of Captain Samuel Wadsworth, and a large number of
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other officers and soldiers in the service of the colony, who were slain upon the spot marked by the monument, on the eighteenth of April, 1676, in the defenee of that town against the Indians. The committee say in their report, by way of urging the passage of the resolve, " It would be an indelible stain upon the escuteheon of Massachusetts and a source of the deepest mortification to her sons, if a single spark of patriotic feeling remained in their bosoms, if these sacred memorials of her past history were permitted to go to destruction merely because their preservation would involve .the expenditure of a few paltry dollars from the public treasury."
The resolve was passed by the Legislature, and the money expended under the direction of His Excellency the Governor, in connection with a committee of the town of Sudbury. The monu- ment, together with a road leading to the spot, was completed at an expense of nearly two thousand dollars. The amount above the gift of the State was appropriated by the town. On the twenty- third of November, 1852, the monument was dedicated. The remains of the ancient dead were taken from their former grave and placed in boxes. Portions of twenty-nine skeletons, corresponding to the number recorded as buried there, were found. The bones were in a remarkable state of preservation, some of thein bearing marks of blows that were given two hundred years ago. A histori- cal address was delivered by His Excellency George S. Boutwell, then Governor of the Commonwealth. The boxes containing the remains were placed in the vault beneath the monument, the aperture was closed and the ancient slab erected by President Wadsworth placed in front. This is a brief historic outline of the erection of the monument, of the disinterrment of the fallen heroes, and their reburial beneath their memorial stone. The monnment stands before you in its strength and symmetry of proportions, and there is now no need, and there will be in the time to come no need, that the children shall ask their fathers, saying : " What mean ye by these stones?" since through the art of printing and by the lettering upon it, thie monument is made to tell its own story.
But why do we observe this anniversary day? and what are the lessons which this occasion brings? In answer to these inquiries I will say but a single word, and this I can best do in the language of a former muchi-respected and beloved eitizen of Sudbury, Nahum Thompson, Esq., since deceased, who was chairman of the com- mittee, on the part of the town, that superintended the erection of the monument, and was also president of the day at its dedieation. In introducing the exercises at that time he said, " We have assembled upon this interesting occasion, to recall to our minds thie services and sufferings of our forefathers, those devoted men who sacrificed their lives that they might become, as it were, stepping- stones to the attainment of those innumerable and inestimable blessings and privileges, both civil and religions, which we, their descendants, are permitted to enjoy, and to dedicate to their
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memory yonder monument, that granite pillar, durable as the names of Wadsworth, Brocklebank and Sharp are imperishable.
Returning to the centre of the town, the people assembled in the Unitarian Church, and were called to order by J. P. Fairbank, president of the day. Prayer was offered by Rev. George A. Oviatt, pastor of the Congregational Church. An oration was. given by Prof. E. J. Young, of Harvard College, after which short addresses were made in response to sentiments offered by J. S. Hunt, Esq., toastmaster of the occasion.
THE NAME OF WADSWORTH -Cherished in honor and affection by the people of Sudbury for services upon the battle-field, and by the people of Massa- chusetts for services in the halls of learning.
CAPT. E. D. WADSWORTH,
Of Milton, a descendant of Captain Wadsworth, of Green Hill battle, gave the following account of the Wadsworth family :
Captain Samuel Wadsworth, of Milton, was the third son of Christopher and Grace Wadsworth, of Duxbury. Christopher Wadsworth is said to be the first of the name that came to New England. The date of his landing is unknown. He was one of the first settlers of Duxbury, a contemporary of Miles Standish. He was Assistant Governor of Plymouth Colony in 1636. A part of his estate is now, or was a few years since, in possession of his descendants of the same name of the sixth generation. Christopher lived to old age, and died in 1680. Captain Samuel Wadsworth was born in Duxbury in 1630, and moved to Milton, then a part of Dorchester, about 1656. He took the freeman's oath in 1668. The first time that his name appears in the records of Dorchester is in 1661, when he was appointed with others to view the fence in the cominon cornfield. He took an active part in the formation of the new town. of Milton, which was incorporated in 1662; also an active part in church and town affairs, his name appearing oftener on the town records the last few years of his life than any other as selectman and as attorney for the town in collecting debts due the town and in defending the town in suits brought against it before the courts.
In deeds of lands to him he is spoken of first as a carpenter, later as a yeoman, and last as captain. One deed, dated September 9th, 1680, to heirs of Captain S. Wadsworth, reads as follows : " Capt. Roger Clap of Castle Island in the Massachusetts Bay in New England and Joane his wife in consideration of a valuable sume of lawful inoney of New England to them in hand formerly paid by Capt. Samuel Wadsworth of Milton in the aforesª Colony of Massachusetts Bay, in New England Deced in his lifetime, the
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receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge, and themselves fully satisfied and contented, have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, enfeoffed, and confirmed unto Abigail Wadsworth Relic, widow of s'd Sam'l Wadsworth and to the heirs of s'd Saml Wads- worth a certain parcel of Land &c."
Captain Samuel Wadsworth was the father of seven children - six sons and a daughter, as follows: Ebenezer, born in 1660, died in 1734; was deacon of the church in Milton ; had four children - three sons and a daughter. George, the youngest, grandson of Captain Samuel, born in 1699, was an ensign in Captain Goffe's company of colonial troops, at the siege of Havana, in 1740.
Christopher, second son of Captain Wadsworth, born in 1661, unmarried, died in 1687.
Timothy, third son, born in 1662, was a carpenter and gun- maker ; had four children - two sons and two daughters. Recom- pense, the younger son, was educated at Cambridge, and was master of the Grammar school in Boston. Timothy inoved to Newport, R. I., and died there.
Hon. Joseph, the fourth son, was born in 1667, and died in 1750. He was much in public life, and Treasurer of Boston for many years. He had four children - one son and three danghters.
Rev. Benjamin was the fifth son, born in 1670; graduated at Harvard College in 1690; was ordained minister of the First Church, in Boston, September cighth, 1696; was made President of Harvard College, July seventh, 1725, and died March sixteenth, 1737. He married Ruth Curwin, of Salem, but left no children.
The sixth child was Abigail, who was born in 1672, and mar- ried Andrew Boardman of Cambridge.
The sixth son, and youngest child, was Deacon John, of Mil- ton, born in 1674; was Representative to the General Court in 1732, and died in 1734. He married Elizabeth Vose, and had twelve children. It is from him that the branch of the family at present occupying the old homestead is descended. Deacon Jolin was associated with Samuel Miller and Moses Beleher, in 1711, in the purchase of three thousand acres of land, situated one-half in the south part of Milton, the rest in Quincy, a portion of which is still owned by his descendants by the name of Tucker.
His eldest son, Rev. John, was born in 1703, graduated at Harvard in 1723, settled in Palmer, Mass., moved to Coos, N. H., and died there.
Deacon Benjamin Wadsworth, second son of Deacon John and grandson of Captain Samuel, was born in Milton in 1707; married Esther Tucker in 1735, and had ten children - three sons and seven daughters. He built a house about the time of his mar- riage, which is still standing, and occupied by one of his descend- ants. Only two of his sons lived to manhood.
Rev. Benjamin gradnated at Harvard in 1769, ordained in Danvers, Mass., in 1773, and died in 1826, aged seventy-five, in the fifty-fourth year of his ministry.
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John, eldest son of Deacon Benjamin, was born in 1739, married Katherine Bullard, and had five children. He was one of the minute men in 1775, and started with his company for the battle- field of Lexington, but was unable to proceed, being then in ill health, and died the same year, aged thirty-six, leaving a widow and four small children, none old enough to take part in the war which followed ; but his patriotic widow sent her team to transport material for the fortification of Dorchester Heights at the time the British troops were driven out of Boston. Three of Jolin's sons settled in Milton, and divided the old homestead between them. Joseph, the eldest, was a blacksmith. Benjamin, the second son, was a wheelwright and plough-maker - wooden ploughs only being in use in those days - and his make became famous, not only in Milton, but in all the adjoining towns. Deacon William, the third son, was a cabinet-maker ..
One son of Joseph is now living in Franklin, Mass., aged eighty-two. Mary, daughter of Benjamin, is now living in the house built by Deacon Benjamin, grandson of Captain Samnel Wadsworth, aged eighty. Thomas Thatcher, youngest son of Ben- jamin, is also living on the old homestead, aged seventy-seven.
These three are all that are now known to be living of the fifth generation from Captain Wadsworth. There are also two families of the sixth generation living in Milton, one on the old estate.
THE TOWN OF WAYLAND - One with Sudbury for the first century and a half, during the last century she has been making her own history.
Responded to by L. II. Sherman, chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Wayland.
MR. SHERMAN'S ADDRESS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :
I wish that the duty and pleasure of responding to this senti- ment had fallen to better hands ; but as it has fallen upon me, per- mit me to say in behalf of the citizens of Wayland that it was with sincere pleasure we accepted your invitation to ineet here to-day to celebrate an event which is memorable alike to us as to you ; an event in municipal history common to us all, shared by your ancestors and ours, and two hundred years ago to-day alike mourned in sorrow on either side of the river. The interest and significance of this event, with its thrilling details, have been fully and justly considered to-day, and whatever of glory or renown pertains to it we claim to share with you as a common heritage. For many long and pleasant years the towns of Sudbury and
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Wayland were one in name, and therefore have a common history and always one in interest.
The river, which forms a part of our division line, is not like some of the rivers of Europe, which impede communication, thereby creating differences in language, customs and manners, distinct nationalities, strangers and enemies ; but one presenting such slight obstacles to communication as to tempt rather than impede. Besides, your interests in seeking a market and procuring supplies, have led you across our borders, while your water power has ground our corn and sawed the lumber for our houses. Socially, the two sections have been closely connected, while possibly the river has lent a peculiar attraction. For I have heard it said by those of olden time that the maidens on our side the river were wont to feel a little resentment that our young men sought the maidens on your side ; but they had their compensation in the fact that your young men sought them. As an illustration of this, I think I may be pardoned for saying that as I trace my ancestry, for three genera- tions, I find them equally divided on cither side the river.
Quietly in yonder churchyard, side by side, sleep our dead with yours, while across the river sleep your dead with ours. Thus have the bonds between the two sections been growing stronger.
For more than fifty years, Wayland has sought its way alone under its present separate namc. And as the son who, on coming to his majority, leaves his father, thinking himself the wiser man, and having younger blood in his veins is inclined to be progressive, while the father, having greater experience, tends to the conserva- tive, so the relation of the two towns may not be widely dissimilar. Sudbury has possibly thought Wayland a little fast, while, perhaps, Wayland has thought Sudbury a little conservative. Either extreme would have its disadvantages, while one should balance the other. The son may be more progressive, while the counsels of the father may guide liis steps in wisdom.
We remember, with something of pride, that it was a citizen of Wayland who procured the passage of the act of the Legislature establishing free public libraries. Wayland was in advance of Sudbury. in establishing such a library, one-half of which was given by a resident of another place. Sudbury looked on and waited, and now enjoys a larger library, the whole of which was given by a resi- dent of another place. The educational advantages of several years were on one side, the peeuniary advantages on the other. Wayland, true to her progressive instincts, erected the first High school house, yet inclined to the modern and expensive style of architecture. Sudbury followed with hers, securing everything of real value in simple, inexpensive style. In these centennial times, when our thoughts go back to the plainer ways of our fathers, as they wrought heroic deeds, and with a burden of debt resting upon us, the needful and simple present greater claims to our regard.
Wayland has rapidly increased in industrial wealth. Shops
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and houses have sprung up, and with the hum of busy wheels make prosperous and happy homes. On the sure foundation of industry, churches and school-houses have risen to add the crowning'glory of educational, moral and religious privileges. Nor do we forget that the citizens of Sudbury have lent their capital, the advantages of which have been mutual.
Mr. Chairman, it would be pleasant to trace still further the happy relations existing between the two sections, but allow me to close with the following sentiment :
SUDBURY AND WAYLAND - Though divided by name, yet one in interest, and each the complement of the other.
The next sentiment was as follows :
THE TOWN OF MAYNARD - Our last offspring ; what is lacking in terri- tory is compensated in enterprise.
John Hillis, Esq., of Maynard, was introduced, and made an interesting and appropriate speech, after which the Hon. John A. Goodwin, of Lowell, was called upon as a son-in-law of Sudbury, having married oue of her danghters twenty-six years ago, and achieving much success in public life as a natural consequence.
ADDRESS OF MR. GOODWIN.
It is pleasant to have an opportunity of joining in this tribute to the memory of those who, two hundred years ago, here closed godly lives with heroic deathis, and made this soil "hallowed ground." It would be indeed presumptuous to try to shed new light on a subject which the orator of the day has just treated with such learning, eloquence and candor ; but we may join him in the expressions of gratitude to Wadsworth, Broeklebank, Sharp, and their brave comrades.
They saw the two young colonies overrun by a blood-thirsty foe, destitute of honor or good faith, and who knew nothing of mercy to a vanquished opponent. The inother and the infant in her arms, the blooming maiden, the messenger of mercy to the siek, and the white-haired elergyman at his devotions, were equally with the armed soldier the objects of their murderous rage. For- tunate were the victims, of whatever degree, if the savage bullet or tomahawk by sudden death spared them from preliminary tortures.
Poetry and romance have presented us with an ideal King Philip, putting into his mouth noble and heroic utterances, involving principles which the real Philip could not comprehend, and which, if made elear to him, would have been indignantly repudiated. His- tory shows that the colonies were highly regardful of the rights of
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the Indians, besides caring for them in sickness and famine, and making great efforts to teach them the arts of civilization and the truths of Christianity. Isolated cases of wrong on both sides will always occur where two such races are intermingled ; but it was not to such exceptional events that the war was duc. The innate blood-thirstiness of the savages, and their longing to plunder the dwellings and storehouses of the whites, were far more influential causes. We are not called upon to commemorate the heroes of Green Hill with half praise and qualified approval. "All that a man hath will he give for his life," but they gave life itself for the advancement of Christian civilization and for the welfare of their posterity.
Fearful was the cost of the victory over heathenism, but glorious have been the results. On that fatal afternoon, two hundred years ago, how far were the most sanguine hopes of Wadsworth as to the future of New England, from the reality that we behold. Impossible, too, is it for us to foresee or understand all the material and moral progress that onr posterity shall develop.
May we be in our day as true to the duty before us as were the heroes whose grave to-day we meet to honor, and may we teach our children to train up their successors in the same path. Then, as the generations pass in long succession, they who stand here two hundred years hence, shall find that the devotion of the fathers and the faithfulness of the children continues to bear abundant and ever increasing fruit.
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THE PHYSION INY AND THE RED HORSE TALLEN IN SC. BURY.
Tl.ctwo names stand for the same thing. Genius and poetry bave made the first tamihier as a hon chola word, but there are few in this genera- lion who will recognize the second. Every reader of English verso has stopped at the Wayside Lou Tbe Red Horse Tavern is remomtired only by belated travelleis here aud there, and by them only as a dim traditiou. llere is Longfellow's portrait of the first -
Que antumo night, in Sudbury town, Across the meallows bare and brown,
Tbe windows of the Wayside inn
(Jeamed red with tire-light through the leaves
Ot woodbine, hanging from tue eaves Ibeir crimson curtains reut and thin.
As ancient le this bostelry
As any in rhe laud may he.
Built in the old Colonial day, When men lived in a grauder way,
With ampler hospitality;
A kind of old Hongoblin Hall,
Now somewhat falleu to deray,
With weather status upon the wall,
And stairways woru and crazy doors, And creaking and mueven tioore, And chimney huge, aud tiled and tall.
A region of repose it seems,
A place of slumber and of dreams,
Remote among the wooded billy! For rhere no noisy railway speeds, Its torch- race scattering smoke and elecds ; But noon aud plght, the painting teams Stop under the great oaks, that throw Tangles of light and shade below, Ou roofs and doors and window sills.
Across the road the barns display Their lines of stalls, their mows of bay, Through the wido doors tho broezes blow, "be wattled cocks strut to and fro, And, balt effaced by rain and sbinc, The Red Horse piances on the sign.
Mts. George Lont bas drawn a true and singu- larly Interesting sketch of the second in Harper's Monthly for September. This popular hostelry was loug kept by Mr. Howe, a prosperous farmer whose broad acres stretched through meanow and woodland for miles away. His household consisted of his good wife, with ample force of male and female accessories,-two sons, Lvman and Adam, a daughter Jerusha. and au ancient nurse, "Aunt Margev," whose proud title to dis- tinction was that she at one time off nated as puise to a young gentleman who afterwar l be- came famous under the name ot Dr. Jacob Rigre- lew. The members of this old time country bouse- boid, the appearance and atmosphere of the hospitable country inn are happily portrayed in Mrs. Luut's attractive narrative, which well de- serves a place as n companion picture to those which Longlellow long ago bung in the chambers of The Wayside Inu. Miss Jernsba Howe is de- scribed as baving great common sense, combioed with reflued tastes, musical accomplishmi .u s and rare domestic qualities. She bad been edu- cated at a fashionable boarding . chicol in a dis- rant city, and in many famtres of the merchants of the day she was always a welcome guest. With devoted parents and brothers who worshipped ber as if she were a creature almost
Too bright ami good For human nature's daily foodl,
She was indeed the very queen ut the mansion.
Lyman and Adam Howe wero helptul in the farm-work in a moderate degree, but not at all eiren to bard work of any description. Datlog the winters Lyman sometimes taugrut schoot, and there was notping ne enjoyed more than to orill a class of boys in arithmetic. They were both simple-hearted and extraately good-nature ., and pleasant and gouial in manner. Adam was nopretentious in tastes, and possessed no jong- inge beyond bis own home, which was to him tue only place on carth. Lyman, on the other han 1, bad aspirations, and was fond of the acquia- tancesbip of superior men, and those of higher caste than those with whom he was commonly thrown_ as the artdianre frenmantines at hie ferhas'
ronstring aztient los turth and bleed than the voice. 'These brothers were pas-unidade tand LI music, and to them queir goirle sister J.turba. wben sho sat at the off (Jementi toquo and warbled forth the air of " Birignal Banks" or " Bon- ble Door." was a fralt injured being ro wlliuth it uuebt not be thought idolatry 10 kneel.
When the old people died the hou-e descended to Lyman. "the squire." He had served on the school committee and the board ot selecim -. and was a prominent man in the community. He was strangely interested in astropourv ; and when the chres of The hotel or conflicts with his house. keepers had rullea bis bachelor soul, be touk refuge with bis telescope to the open beaveus and scotbed bis sensibilities with a sight of "Androni- "edy's breast" aud the stately march of the stars. Mary entertaining stories are told of the trials ot the Red Horse uudet the squire's management. tie was vain of bls accomplishmen's, but bis housekeepers usually got the better of him. On one occasion preparatious were being made by a certain housekeeper, who was a widow with une daughter, to send rhe gul, who had attarueil the dignity ot sixteen years, to a oistart boarding- school. The fond mother was one day explaining to some ladies what ber daughter required, and expressed herself in this way :-
"She is a good girl, is Sophrony; there ain't a "better girl In the world 'n she is; bur ste doog "want morals."
A shadow of horror passou over the faces of the listeners, while the squire, in bis kindly way, ven tured to explain, for he was most anxious always that his domestics should appear to the best ad- vantage. "Ab, you don't mean that, you mean "she wants polisb ; she wants-" but it was of nu use.
"Lyman Howe," she broke in, "I ain't a fool. I "don't meau nothin'of rhe sort. I mean just what "I say. She wants morals, and she shall go where "she can git 'em."
One Maich morcing the squirs was found inden sible in his bed, and before the day closed the last of that family was lyour dead. they who are left ot that encle look back foruly and referentiy ncon these days which beid for them s.) much of :imple happiness. In the retrospect tho: passage of lite scems denver than anything since, and they tuin to it as to an old picture animated aod glow- ing with warm rich eclor. Among them all there was one left to tell the story. one who, forsaking the town, ventored 10 the test of a winter in the old place, and even then, without society, found a
Ju the the wood.cutlet's axe rung through woodtaud Ways, where silence, and lotty rives their wore piled with SDOWY aod
the ics lakes invited the shater's skill, and the baie free domu ot nature's existence became a fasci- Dation. Thins was it the fato ot Que to stay (:rough the trageny,-be tragedy that caine at- ter the con.etly. For what could be sauder than iba funeral ot the squire, and that last, drearier scene, the auction ! Ou, the pity of it, when the boors and the clowns, and ihre carpets and the curions, aud ibe malien and the mannerle-s, pad a right to walk through toe sacred corners of que old iup, aud make their petty hus and ghast'y jokes npon the dead man's chattels! Aud now it is added to the list of New England's show places, like many others, when there is nothing l-it ro show. The poet touched it with bis wand, and, like the Tabard of Chancer, has it blossomed into iminortality. Now people make visits to it, not for what they know of it, but for what bis ocen built upon ir. And the pilgrim wbo wanders there today will find some modern tofier of the sot >it- ting in the old bar-room, sborn of its character. smoking bis penby pipe alter his mid-ray mneal, and a young woman, stepping forward, will ask bim if he will be pleased to see the Latayette cbaml or, "where it is well known that the Freoch- wan !sy one night at least." .Shade of Cho, how does thy scroll onroll! I am told that there is much more ibat is curions and historic. Did not somebody ask ine the ofhor day if I had ever been to Longfellow's Wayside Inn, and recom. mended me to go there? Hehad been there, and bad scen the Washington chamber as well as that already mentioned. Have I ever been there? What a cbord was touched in that careless ones- tion! So through lite are tenderest memorie- breathed upon. i had almost rephed, "I was born
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