USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Reminiscences of a nonagenarian > Part 8
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gondola laid at the foot of Whetstone lane ; if the weather proved auspicious the freight was usually at the landing in thirty-six hours. The neighbors turned out with their teams, and the hay was carted home, a distance of two miles, in a triumphant procession. The mow laid, the supper, a most jovial enter- tainment, was disposed of, and the weary men separated with the declara- tion that a "good job, well over," had been completed. Though this hay sea- son gave additional toil to the women of the household, it also brought long leisure days ; after the men were finally off in the early morning and the work done, the rest of the day was often de- voted to visiting.
Father had been boating Grandsir Lit- tle's hay. I was there to assist, when we received an afternoon visit from two neighbors-the Misses Hill-elder- ly young ladies, very genteel and pre- cise. The conversation turned upon the universal topic, the haying. The visitors expressed much disgust at the whole business. "The toil of cooking iu such hot weather was so undesira- ble, and so much food must be provid- ed, it was not possible to prevent some from being uneaten, but they always threw that away; they never could stomach. anything after it had been packed for the meadows." As the family were not noted for an overabun- dance in their larder at any time, and the " short commons" given to their hired help was proverbial, we were rather diverted at their remarks. It so chanced that when the provision chest had been unloaded the previous evening, a mince pie, a loaf of cake and a plate of doughnuts had been ta- ken out. These with many sly glances to her mother, sister and myself, Aunt
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Hannah placed upon the tea table. The visitors enjoyed their supper ex- ceedingly, helped themselves twice to the plum cake-" Mrs. Little's raised cake was always so nice, so much bet- ter than they could make ; she had the ' knack' for this ;" the other edibles were equally eulogized. At early dusk, in time for milking, our visitors left us, without the least idea that they had been feasting on " horrid meadow vict- uals."
In October Aunt Sukey was mar- ried. She had a very quiet wedding, and as the new house was completed, the young couple took immediate pos- session. The new home was only a few rods from the old one ; though so near, still, the bride's absence from the paternal hearth caused a serious vacu- um in the household. Uncle Bill mar- ried the year after Aunt Betsy ; now only Hannah, Ben and Joe remained. Though Sukey was the most retiring and reticent of the family, she had been exceedingly efficient, and she was missed every hour of the day in a mul- tiplicity of matters. Some question respecting the weather had been moot- ed ; it was referred to grandsir : " I do not know, Robert carried away our al- manac," was his reply. Much sur- prised, I cast my eyes to the nail by the fireplace where the family calender always hung. It was in its place. Grandsir caught my look of wonder, and the twinkle of his eyes gave me the hint. Sure enough ! Robert had not only carried away the almanac, but a whole treatise of wisdom and pru- dence beside.
CHAPTER XVI.
April brought the annual "Fast."
To overtasked or parsimonious house- keepers this might be a welcome holi- day, on which they could sympathize with old Mrs. Tom Pike of Byfield, who declared "she'd ruther have two Fasts than one Thanksgivin'," but to the young folks and children, the day was somewhat of a bug-bear. In some families of the "stricter sort," the children were wont to surreptitious- ly store a quantity of food against the hungry day. The Perley boys of By- field always contrived to lay by salt fish and crackers in the hay mow, and other young people of my acquaintance managed to obtain a luncheon between the meetings. The late Deacon Jo- seph Hale of Byfield, often related an incident of a Fast day of his boyhood. Having accompanied the sons of the Rev. Moses Parsons to the parsonage to spend the noon intermission, some- what to his surprise, if not horror, those young gentleman stealthily enter- tained him and supplied themselves with a hearty meal. Having become fairly gorged with good cheer, they seated themselves quietly in the kitch- en. As the hour for the afternoon ser- vice approached, the good parson, with a kindly regard for youthful stomachs, came into the room and told the boys, "that if they were very hungry he would permit a slight lunch." This the young scamps piously declined, " not wishing to make any infringement on the religious observance of the day," and their clerical papa entered upon the afternoon duties, in the full satisfaction of possessing sons worthy of a sire's confidence and approbation. In most households, the breakfast over, a pot of beans and an Indian pudding were put in the oven ; the morning chores done, a sabbatical silence settled over
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the household. At eleven o'clock ev- ery one repaired to the meeting-house ; as there was but an hour's intermission between the services, few left the sanc- tuary. The men gathered round the door steps, discussing local topics or national affairs, the women congre- gated in the pews, to talk over house- hold matters and the gossip of the neighborhood. If it was a warm day, the girls gathered on the sunny side of the meetinghouse, where many sly glan- ces were exchanged with the group of young men by the horse block. If it chanced to be cold they also sought the pews, and in groups discussed fashion and the beaux, but with a demure air, and in low tones as befitted the occa- sion.
The clergymen generally embraced this opportunity for some particular theme, some peculiar shortcoming eith- er of a local or political nature. Dr. Elijah Parish was famed for his " Fast " sermons. People used to flock to By- field meeting-house to hear the doctor's diatribes against Jacobin misrule and French infidelity. The afternoon ser- vice over, the hungry multitude hast- ened home to the beans and pudding which were nicely smoking in the oven. How the gravel stones of the rough road would fly as the impatient steeds sped down the precipitous descent to the peril of life and limb. Supper and milking through, the evening was spent in reading and conversation. I should not have dared to have taken a needle in hand on Fast day. To the horror of the community, one Fast evening, "Bartlett's boys" and some other young men went over to "Gunket," and played ball after supper. One of the number, Enoch Hale, had the mis- fortune to sprain his arm, and was una-
ble to work for some months. This was regarded as a special mark of Di- vine displeasure, a signal judgment for a heinous crime.
That spring brought a new fashion in head gear. Straw bonnets came in- to vogue. Peabody, Waterman & Co. received an invoice from England, and Mrs. Peabody presented one to her sis- ter Hannah. I greatly admired this bonnet, but mother said she could not afford to buy me one that season. Aunt Sarah, noticing my discontented visage, inquired the cause, at which she signified her readiness to teach me to braid straw, and make myself a bon- net. Much surprised, I asked how she had learned. "As I have most things, I taught myself," was the reply. "Dur- ing the Revolutionary war two British cruisers for two days lay off the mouth of the Merrimac. The inhabitants of the "Port" were greatly alarmed, mo- mentarily expecting a bombardınent. Your great-aunt Mollie Noyes packed her effects, and, with her children, came here. Though the men-of-war with- drew without any demonstration, as the news immediately came that Captain Noyes's vessel had been captured, and himself and crew were prisoners at Dartmoor, Mrs. Noyes remained some time. Your father was troubled with headache, and often complained of the heat of his wool hat. One day during haying, Aunt Noyes brought him a straw hat, which she said Captain Noyes had brought from for- eign parts. After it was worn out your father missed it so much that the idea struck me of braiding one. We had a field of oats. I cut some straw, took the old hat, and, after patiently unbraiding and braiding for a time, at length succeeded in obtaining the se-
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cret. I braided and sewed a hat, which, though not as handsome as the foreign one, did very well. I braided several, and can teach you. When the oats are large enough to cut you can make a pretty bonnet."
Mother tried to dissuade me from this project. She didn't believe I could "make anything decent." I was strong in faith, and my aunt upheld this de- termination. As soon as the straw was ripe I began to plait, and soon had sufficient for a bonnet. The straw was finer than Aunt Hannah's, but, as no knowledge of bleaching had been obtained, it was not as white; still, it looked very well. Aunt Sarah fash- ioned it in the prevailing mode, but a difficulty arose respecting pressing. The front was easily managed, but how could the crown be shaped? Aunt Sa- rah was a person of expedients ; I nev- er knew her frustrated in anything she set about. A mortar 'was turned bot- tom upward, paper fitted over it, and the crown shaped to the requisite form. I was jubilaut over this bonnet, and my aunt Peabody sent a white ribbon to trim it, like Aunt Hannah's. Neith- er before nor after do I think I was ever so proud of an article of dress as I was of that bonnet. After this we cut a quantity of straw, and I braided father a hat.
This summer was memorable for the dismissal of our district school teacher. Joseph Adams, a young man of nine- teen, and nephew of Mrs. Oliver Dole, had been hired to teach the summer school. He professed great piety, and maintained a grave demeanor, which, in school, grew into an imperial stern- ness, a manner not calculated to win the scholars' affections. Many of the parents became dissatisfied after the
first few days. My father declared the teacher wholly unfit for his place ; but the summer school was short, and, from respect to Mr. and Mrs. Dole, nothing was said until I rebelled. There were about half a dozen girls in their teens in the school; and, about the third week of the term, Master Adams brought a book, from which he pro- posed that we should read selec- tions. This exercise was in addition to the regular course. I have forgot- ten the title of the book, but it was some religious treatise. Having ranged the class before his desk, he took the book, and, standing behind the pupil, he passed his arms around her neck, holding it before her, while he correct- ed the errors of pronunciation and enunciation. A sentence having been read, he passed to the second, and so down the class. Being the youngest, I was the last. The dresses were at that time cut low in the neck, and I immediately saw that the young man's gaze was not constantly fixed upon the book, and I determined that his arms should not go round me in that man- ner; I would either hold the book or not read. When my turn came I sig- nified this decision. The master turned as red, and bristled up like a turkey cock ; but my resolution could not be shaken, and a compromise was effected, he holding one side of the book and I the other. Father said that I had done right ; I might do as I pleased respect- ing the reading ; it was not a regular school exercise, and the master had no right to force me. Accordingly, the next afternoon, I declined to join the class. The master began to threaten, but soon saw he could not use coercion. Thenceforth I was permitted to pursue my own course, but I immediately per-
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ceived that I had become a special ob- ject of enmity ; a spite that was ex- tended to the other and younger mem- bers of my family. My brother James was menaced with a whipping for a slight misdemeanor, but the sturdy boy threatened his father's vengeance in such a manner that the master wisely desisted. Still, I could see the smoth- ered wrath, ready to seize the first op- portunity when it could find vent. The opportunity was at length taken. My uncle, Enoch Smith, had married, some years previous, Miss Hannah Woodman. Their two sons, Samuel and Moses, attended school. Moses was a poor, little, puny boy of five years, a delicate, sickly child from in- fancy, but of a quiet and amiable dis- position, and, having a wholesome dread of Master Adams, he was the ast one to have made a disturbance. Diah Dole, the great dunce, that Mas- ter Chase thumped and shook so un- mercifully, was fully double in age. He occupied a front desk ; Moses sat on the low form in front of that. One afternoon, soon after the school was called to order, Diah spat upon the floor, and with his toe (he was bare- foot) marked out a figure in the aisle, then, contrary to rules, leaned forward and whispered : "Mose, look at my cock; I've made a cock, a biddy." The little boy glanced from his primer, and, with a look of disdain, drew his shoe over the figure. Diah, with an angry push, said : "You have spoiled my cock !" Moses put up his hand and slapped Diah's face. The master flew from his desk, shook Moses un- mercifully, and told Diah to mind his book. At recess he directed Moses to bring him a rod from a bush by the roadside. The unsuspecting child
obeyed. I thought he was to be whipped then, but the punishment was held in reserve. I had hoped that my suspicions had been groundless, that Moses would not receive chastisement ; but I found, when school was dismissed, the little boy was retained. I hurried home to inform his mother. It was such a trivial thing Aunt Smith paid little heed, but I kept an outlook, and after a while I cspied Moses creeping up the lane ; dragging his little feet wearily along, he sank upon a log just inside the gate. I ran to him. He gazed stupidly into my face, and, with a piteous moan, sank fainting into my arms. My cries aroused the family ; the child was taken to the house, and the physician summoned. Conscious- ness was restored, but the poor little back was shockingly mangled, and vomiting continued at intervals through the night. Dr. Poore looked gruff and glum, and took so much snuff I thought he must choke. After a time he ex- pressed a hope of the little boy's recov- ery, but his maledictions on the cruel teacher were both loud and deep-" the infernal scoundrel; he would like to . seat him in the pillory and thrash him within an inch of his life!" This in- dignation was universal. There was not time to call a regular school mect- ing that evening, but the gentlemen of the neighborhood (they all had come in to see Moses) agreed to meet at the school-house the next morning and for- bid Master Adams entrance. Accord- ingly, when the young man opened the door, he found himself confronted by half a dozen of the influential men of the town, who informed him that his services were no longer required ; that his presence in that house would not be permitted. The discomfitted teacher
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for a time was terribly angry and defi- ant, but at length was obliged to yield. At a school meeting in the evening he was deposed by a unanimous vote. Uncle Enoch sued Mr. Adams, and the case was tried at the September term in Newburyport. The master was sen- tenced to pay the costs of court and sixty dollars. The money was put in the bank for Moses, and Mr. Adams, unable to procure a school, was obliged to lower his aspirations and obtain a livelihood on the seat of a shoemaker's bench.
I recall an incident that occurred during this trial. Father and Uncle Enoch returned one night from town, declaring that they had that day wit- nessed a sight that never had been seen before and never would be again. A vessel belonging to the then flourishing firm of Farris & Stocker had arrived from South America, and their super- cargo, Mr. Oliver Putnam (since the founder of the Putnam Free School), had brought by it a large sum of mon- ey. The Spanish government had pro- hibited the exportation of bullion, and Mr. Putnam had concealed the silver in the sides of the vessel. Carpenters were set to work to tear off the sheath- ing, and the Spanish dollars, turned as black as ink, were taken in bushel bas- kets and carried between two men, to be cleansed in a large cauldron, bor- rowed from a soap boiler's establish- ment, which was placed over a fire kin- dled for that purpose in Market square.
CHAPTER XVII.
Though years had elapsed, the mal- contents of the parish had not buried their discontent. Parson Woods had
failed to gain either their approval or regard. A printed sermon in which "bawdy French fashions" were se- verely denounced had given umbrage to a large number of the young people, who declared that the language used in this public reprimand was more inde- cent than any thing they had ever dis- played in dress or manner. The cler- gyman had become noted for a too large development of the organ of ac- quisitiveness ; he was accused of ef- forts to serve mammon as well as the Lord. In families where the pastor was held in high regard by the mistress of the mansion complaints were often made by the other members of an un- due generosity towards the household at the parsonage. I had a young friend whose residence was near, and she declared she could never have a fresh egg to make cake, and that her mother really denied herself necessa- ries to supply the minister with luxu- ries. A story flew like wildfire over the parish, to the effect that Parson Woods had made several calls one af- ternoon, and at each place asked for a small piece of cheese, as Mrs. Woods had company from out of town; that at each house he had been presented with a whole cheese, and that after the last visit, as he drove from the door, his sleigh tipped upon a drift, when lo ! nine cheeses rolled from beneath the checked coverlet which served as a sleigli robe. Another subject of ef- front was the sale of turkeys presented at Thanksgiving. This autumn the minister declared he could not afford to keep a horse ! At the announcement Mr. Josiah Bartlett, Mr. Joseph New- ell and Mr. Paul Bailey each sent him a ton of hay, but in a short time both the horse and the hay were sold. The
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next complaint was a lack of fuel. The usual quantities which had sup- plied his predecessors was said to be insufficient ; consequently two addi- tional loads were drawn. Lieut. Jo- seph Noyes, an old revolutionary offi- cer, was employed to saw and split the wood. The morning that he com- menced work Parson Woods went into the yard, and after looking over the pile he said, "Lieutenant, here are some nice logs, too good for fire-wood, it would be a pity to burn them ; here are three or four just right for trunnels, put them aside, they are too nice for fuel."
The lieutenant made no exact reply, but as soon as the minister's back was turned, he fell to work with might and main on those identical logs. After dinner the parson again came out. Gaz- ing hurriedly about, he excitedly ex- claimed, "Where are those logs, those nice trunnell logs that I told you to save?"
"Save?" queried the wily old officer, with an air of bewilderment.
"Yes, I told you to put them aside, that they were too good for fire-wood."
"Well, really now ! Sometimes I'm a little hard o' hearing, parson. I thought you told me to split them fine logs fust," innocently returned the un- truthful old sinner, with a deprecatory air.
" Well, well," said the pastor, "I am sorry, but it cannot be helped now. I was not aware that you were deaf, lieutenant, is that the cause of your ab- sence from divine worship?"
"Why yes, I used to go regerlarly when a youngster, but going into the army upsets people. War is a glorious thing when one is fighting for one's lib- erties, but it kind of onsettles a fellow.
I've had so many bullets whistling round my ears, that half the time it seems as if I couldn't hear anything else."
"If you cannot hear, come and sit in the pulpit ; I should be most happy to have you," the parson replied in his most polite manner, as he turned to re- enter the house,
As the Lieutenant had said, the war did unsettle a great many. Good offi- cers made but poor civilians. Lieut. Noyes would not have deliberately per- formed a bad deed, but his moral sense had become somewhat stretched, and a good joke was the very breath in his nostrils. Though since the end of the war he had led somewhat of a desulto- ry life, he always managed to dress and appear like a gentleman. The. next Sunday, to the wonder and con- sternation of the congregation, just after Parson Woods had taken his place in the pulpit, the lieutenant, in his best suit, his hair elaborately frizz- ed, powdered and cued, marched up the broad aisle with his most imposing tread, and slowly ascended the pulpit stairs. With a profound military sa- lute he seated himself beside the par- son. "What could it mean?" The amazement increased, when, as the clergyman rose to begin the service, the lieutenant rose also; standing a little back with his head slightly in- clined forward, and his hand behind his ear, he continued to occupy his post beside the pastor through the long prayer and the longer ser- mon. As every one knew the old scamp was not the least deaf, they be- gan to surmise that some mischief was on foot, but " what was the mystery ?" After two or three Sabbaths, in which the pranky old officer, with the gravity
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of forty judges, occupied a place in the pulpit, the story of the trunnel logs became whispered about, and his presence there caused such a sensation that the tithing man was compelled to give him a seat on the long bench in front. Aunt Ruth Little and others declared some judgment must fall on the reprobate; but, notwithstanding these menaces, he went on his way re- joicing, getting more treats than ever at the tavern, and a more hearty wel- come to good cheer throughout the vi- cinity.
Parson Wood's friends were zealous in his defence. "A minister had wants of which the common people knew noth- ing ; he had more calls for money. He was a blessed man, a learned man ; his thoughts soared above those of the mul- titude,-they ought not to be lowered by petty cares and the many annoyan- ces of this sublunary existence."
Mrs. Woods' bridal cloak, of white satin, had become somewhat defaced, and a subscription paper was put in circulation the first of the winter to obtain a sum to purchase black satin for another. This gave cause for much remark. It was averred that many gave who could ill afford the outlay ; some from a naturally generous im- pulse, but more from a false pride that would not permit them to omit copying the example of their more wealthy neighbors. Right or wrong, the sub- scription was made, and a sufficient amount obtained to purchase the satin and a handsome sable muff and tippet. The cloak, an elegant one, trimmed with rich lace, was made by a commit- tee of ladies chosen for that purpose, at the residence of aunt Ruth Little, and on New Year the articles were pre- sented in due form.
A Baptist society had been estab- lished in New Rowley. Mrs. Mollie Little, uncle Enoch Little's wife, had been a communicant of this church previous to her marriage, and Mr. Lit- tle had accompanied his wife to this ministration. Finding so much divis- ion in our parish, the Baptists organ- ized a series of prayer and conference meetings, which were held at Mr. Lit- tle's house. My uncle Parker Smith's family also attended the Baptist meet- ings, and my two cousins, Hannah and Nabby Smith, girls a few years my se- nior, frequently came to attend the meetings ; I accompanied them a few times, but the odd phraseology of some of the speakers-illiterate persons but full of zeal, coupled with the still more singularly expressed experiences, which were nightly related, worked so strongly on my risibles, that it was difficult for me to maintain a proper decorum. Much to the horror of my cousins, that which sent the tears roll- ing down my cheeks, instead of bring- ing any sanctifying convictions, merely set me into hysterics from suppressed merriment, and mother declared "I was bad enough anyway, and that she would not have me made worse by at- tendance at these Baptist gatherings." During the previous summer, one hot afternoon, aunt Sarah ran down stairs with the somewhat startling announce- ment that " Brother Sam, in his best suit, with saddle-bags across the sad- dle, was coming on horse-back up the lane." We could scarcely believe she had seen aright. Looking out, we found it was no hallucination, but that Uncle Sam, in the flesh, was leading his horse into the stable. What could it mean? What could have called him from home just in the midst of the
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English hay season? To the eager in- quiries made on his entrance, he replied in his most imposing style, that he had been to Lynn to be ordained, that now he was a licensed preacher of the Meth- odist persuasion. Grandmam' groaned over her son's infatuation, and aunt Sarah worried about his grass. "To think of his leaving his farm then ! If he must be ordained, why couldn't he have waited for winter when he could be spared." Father laughed ; "he had always said Sam never would labor, and he should prove a true prophet." Lifted into a sphere above minor earth- ly affairs, the gentleman departed for his home on the morrow, wholly obliv- ious to the prognostications of evil from his course which burthened the minds of his family and friends.
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