USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 15
USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 15
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Now let my readers imagine, as I have witnessed, a class of juveniles between the ages of six and eight years undergoing instructions in mental arithmetic. The teacher with a view of impressing them with a knowledge of subtraction says, " If a flock of seventeen birds alight on a tree and a man with a gun shoots nine of them, how many will be left?" With a shout ', an answer comes, "Why eight!" Another immedi- ately replies, "I know how many, nine are left for dead, the rest being flyed away." The teacher after this had reason to be more careful in his method of propounding questions.
On a cold winter's day when the school-room had been kept more than ordinarily close, one of the boys unintentionally placed several pages of paper that had been written upon in the small door of a large wood stove, which taking fire burnt its way outwards, the smoke of which created offensive odor. Snuffing the air the teacher excitedly exclaimed, "Who burnt the
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paper? I want to know who burnt the paper!" One of the smaller pupils replied, "Mr. Robinson, I put the paper in the stove but the fire burnt it."
A portion of a pane of glass having been broken out of the window, a piece of paper had been pasted over it by some one to keep out the cold. Through a rain it became partly loosened, which by being acted upon by a fitful breeze would every now and then make an unusual noise. This attracted at once the attention of the teacher, and after looking sternly and scrutinizing the pupils, indignantly asked who it was that could have the audacity to thus defy his au- thority? Being under the impression that it was in- tentionally done by some one of the larger scholars, and for which purpose he made the most searching inquiries, especially among the smaller ones, but none appeared to know. Perhaps never have I witnessed a teacher more ridiculously situated, and he was thus kept in agony for a full half hour to ascertain the au- thor of this annoyance. However, at length by the noise continuing too long he fortunately discovered the true cause at the window, when his pupils broke out in a hearty laugh at his expense. I am confident that it must have been a hard thing for his wounded feelings to bear after having acted so authoritatively.
A teacher for several mornings found fault with the advanced geography class for not knowing their les- sons as they should. After having sent them out twice, and being considerably out of humor, he asked whether any of them professed to know it now. One
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replied that he could say it. "How much then do you know of it?" He answered, "Considerably more than you have required from us this morning." Tak- ing his book and atlas he proceeded to question him on including what was to be said the ensuing week, which he actually readily answered, showing the pos- session of an uncommon memory. I do not wonder at that lad having since become a distinguished man.
On a warm day in August the school had been called but a few minutes and we had fairly settled down to our books, one of the big boys, as we re- garded him, for he was about fourteen years of age, entered the room and proceeded directly to his desk. After he had put his hat and dinner basket away he commenced diligently to con over his lesson, when to our amazement and his great mortification the general silence was interrupted by the loud singing of a locust. At so unusual an occurrence we looked around and ', at one another, and observed his face become exceed- ingly red. The teacher seized his rod and taking him by the arm pulled him off the bench, loudly exclaim- ing, "I will let you know for disturbing the school!" While he was scolding and beating the boy was yell- ing and the locust kept on singing within his pocket, together forming perhaps one of the most extraordinary concerts enacted in a school-room. When the teacher ceased he said, "Now put your locust out." As he returned to his seat he whispered to his companions that he would carry no more locusts to school, for they were tell-tales.
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On another occasion beside me in school sat two boys who had entered into a trade for a harmonica, providing it was in order. However, to satisfy him- self on this point, one of the party went out to try it, and as he continued there playing the door opened, and lo! it was the teacher with his sceptre in his hand, who sent him to his seat on a double quick, amidst considerable laughter at this change in the tune.
During a rainy noon spell the question arose among the larger pupils as to the possibility of Sunday and Monday coming together. For a bit of sport one was persuaded to ask the teacher on the subject. As may be well supposed when it was broached to the latter its novelty greatly surprised him. "I know about it," shouted a little fellow, after some silence; "John Mon- day is going to get married to Sarah Sunday and that will bring 'em together."
In a bit of wanton sport one of the scholars placed his pencil in a hole at the point of his shoe and thus brought up his slate with several sums thereon for the teacher's inspection, who after looking at them said, "Charles, this one is not right-here with your pencil." He was so unexpectedly taken by the question that he lifted up his foot and pulled it from out his shoe. "Is it there where you keep your pencil?" The boy innocently replied, "Sometimes," as a general smile prevailed over the school-room.
Round Meadow.
Should now almost any other in its vicinity than an antiquarian be asked as to the locality of this place, I think it possible that it would cause some perplexity. This then it should be known was the original name given by the early settlers to a small stream flowing through the present Willow Grove, and also to an adjacent swamp in which it had its origin. It rises from a number of springs in Abington township, and after a course of about two and a half miles in a north - easterly direction, empties into the Pennepack. The only power it at present affords is in propelling the grist mill of Benjamin Morgan, which is situated half a mile from its mouth, and which was originally built by Thomas Parry, in 1731. As a further resuscitation and preservation of the name, I have duly mentioned the circumstance in several of my histories, and had Mr. Scott to so place it on the map of Moreland town- ship in his invaluable County Atlas, published in 1877.
The swamp must have once contained, I should suppose, about one hundred and fifty acres, but by the continued progress of more than a century and a half in the settlement, improvement and cultivation of the soil, its area has been now reduced to less than twenty
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acres. This remaining portion has still growing on it huge bunches of tussock, calamus, several kinds of coarse sedge and carex grasses, besides a number of alder bushes and a few stunted red maples and sour gums. A considerable part consists of a black peat bog of from six inches to four feet in depth, lying on a substratum of white clay. The peat is formed by a species of moss which grows only on the surface of the water, and as it decays beneath is slowly but con- stantly accumulating. Its rich black appearance often arrests the attention of observing individuals, especi- ally farmers in going to market over the Plank road. On its southern edge cranberries are still found grow- ing wild, and our oldest citizens have it from tradition that they are indigenous to the locality.
In the fall, from the abundance and variety of beau- tiful wild flowers found growing here, young ladies collect them for bouquets and ornaments; and often too have they been known to grace the magnificent parlor vases of the city. Not only are attractions here lavished for the botanist, but also the zoologist, for to my knowledge several species of that somewhat rare animal, the star-nosed mole, have been captured. Muskrats abound, and nearly forty years ago built themselves neat and highly ingenious cabins. The sportsman shoots occasionally snipe and woodcock. And alas blackbirds still abound from spring to au- tumn, no doubt the veritable descendants of those whose ancestors lured several of the young men of this vicinity in the phantom pursuit of pleasure and
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gain, as will be related hereafter, till they suddenly found themselves immersed in "a sea of troubles." From these casual glimpses it will be thus seen that Round Meadow is not devoid of interest to the natu- ralist, but that is not our particular object, for it is also invested with the charms of historical and tradi- tionary associations.
William Penn, first proprietary and governor of Pennsylvania, purchased June 7, 1684, of the Indian chief Metamicont all his title to the lands lying on both sides of the Pennepack, and which also comprised within its limits this section of country. With this conveyance probably passed away all aboriginal claims. Nicholas More, a physician of London, in 1682 pur- chased an extensive grant, which was by the Surveyor General's order laid out August 1, 1684, in one tract of 9,815 acres, called the "Manor of Moreland," and which forms the greater portion of the township of that name. The southwestern boundary line of this tract runs directly across Round Meadow and divides it nearly in two equal portions, the most southern part being situated in Abington township. The title to this latter section was purchased in 1696 of Captain Thomas Holme by John Hallowell, from Darby, be- low Philadelphia, who built a house or cave thereon about that time a mile to the southwest of the present Willow Grove. His purchase comprised six hundred acres, and he now has numerous descendants living in the neighborhood.
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ROUND MEADOW.
As the country became more and more settled north- ward of the city, on application the old York road was laid out in November, 1711, from John Reading's land- ing, now Centre Bridge, on the Delaware, by way of this swamp and the present Jenkintown to Fourth and Vine streets, Philadelphia. About this time a small wooden bridge was built over the stream here so as to permit an easier transit for wagons. No doubt as the stranger has traveled up or down this ancient high- way, he has wondered how it came to pass that it should have been laid out through Willow Grove almost as winding as the letter S. This was caused by the orig- inal miry nature of the place, so as to secure the most solid surface for traveling purposes. Hence from go- ing round the meadow to avoid the most treacherous places, originated the name.
In the Colonial Records of 1722 we read that at the recommendation of the Governor, Sir William Keith, who had made a settlement and built himself a man- sion in Horsham, a road was laid out from there that year by Nicholas Scull, by way of "the Meeting House, and from thence to a small bridge, commonly called Round Meadow Run, where it meets again the Abington or New York Road." The bridge here we find thus mentioned several times, and which must have been so called between the years 1711 and 1720. The road last laid out forms the lower portion of the present Doylestown and Willow Grove turnpike. We know that some time before 1733 James Dubree be- came the owner of two hundred acres of land in and
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around the present Willow Grove, on the Moreland side, and which comprised all that portion of the swamp. In 1746 he advertised this property, in which he mentions that it contained "a double house, a good barn, and a fine young orchard," with twenty acres of meadow, showing at this date the extent of the cleared low grounds. One of his sons shortly after the Revo- lution erected a dam across the stream about eighty yards above the Round Meadow bridge, and had a race from the same to propel the machinery of a scythe factory some distance below in the meadow, so long the property of the late George Rex. Though no traces of this establishment are now visible, the race still remains. The road leading from the Susquehanna street to Paul's tavern, afterwards known as the Red Lion, was laid out in 1768.
No doubt from nearly the earliest period of settle- ment, the people here have taken a laudable pride in planting willows in and about the borders of the swamp. Traces of this are discovered in the existence of a num- ber of these vegetable monstrosities, which are pro- tected and cherished by the owners. Several of these the writer has measured above a quarter of a century ago, and found to be thirteen and fourteen feet in cir- cumference and fully sixty feet high. Reading How- ell, who lived near Hartsville, while engaged in mak- ing surveys for his township map of Pennsylvania, pub- lished in 1792, was so struck with the willows then growing here, that at the suggestion of one of the in- habitants he called the place Willow Grove, as may be
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ROUND MEADOW.
seen thereon. Since that time the name has served as the progenitor of some eight or ten other places and. post offices in the United States.
In 1803 the Cheltenham and Willow Grove Turn- pike Company was chartered, as leading from the " Rising Sun to the Red Lion." It was made the fol- lowing year at an average cost of $8000 per mile, on the bed of the old York road. It is said that at the Round Meadow bridge, and for about three hundred yards towards the city, it took an immense quantity of stones before it acquired its present stability.
Some of the aged men of the vicinity stated nearly forty years ago that the stones here had penetrated . from their weight and from the repeated irruptions of the water and the action of frost, to a depth of from six to ten feet, and to which a considerable quantity has been added since. This bed of stones is from twenty- two to forty feet wide, and even within the last few years, as is known to the writer, the water has still forced itself several times through, especially towards the latter end of winter and beginning of spring. Tra- dition has it that before the turnpike was made the most miry and dangerous places were indicated by the ends of rails standing out, which had thus purposely been thrust in as a matter of precaution.
The Germantown and Willow Grove plank road and turnpike was chartered April 12, 1853, but was not laid out and completed until in 1856-57. It began on the old York road, a few yards above the Round Meadow bridge, and divides the swamp in two nearly
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equal parts, crossing the Moreland and Abington line at about right angles. This road passes through al- most half its length, or say about the distance of a full half mile in a southern direction. Along this route there is much to interest a student of natural sciences. In 1872 the North-East Pennsylvania railroad was laid out and completed across its eastern edge, and within a few years a public road has been opened on the township line. Newport's phosphate factory has also encroached somewhat into this domain, hitherto as- signed to the occupancy of muskrats, frogs, and its spring and summer sojourners, the blackbirds, who have so long fed, fattened, feasted and rioted on the products of the neighboring fields. For an account of these, however, the reader's attention is invited to the next number.
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The Blackbirds of Round Meadow.
In a former article I promised to give some account of the blackbirds that have so long fed, bred and rioted in the swamp of the above name at Willow Grove. I now proceed to the undertaking with pleasure. Though a great battle is related in which many were killed and wounded, to my great credit, as yet the only chroni- cler of the facts here set forth, I hope I shall not eulo- gize the generals any more than the men, having in mind the soldier's prayer before entering the combat that the enemy's shot might be distributed in the same proportion among the officers and privates as the pay and honors to follow. With this introduction I shall plunge into the subject as my heroes did into the mud and mire of Round Meadow for the renown or rewards to come.
Blackbirds, in the early days of the colony, were a sore grievance to the farmers, as they are even unto this day at some places. Wherever streams were found flowing through luxuriant. meadows, and abounding in numerous springs, these were sure to be made the favorite resorts of the purple grakle and the red-wing. In such localities, in March and April they would make their annual appearance from the southward in dark-
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ening flocks of thousands upon thousands, and from their well known social habits would build their nests and rear their young in close proximity, without any fear of rivalry from each other. Not so with most of the feathered tribe, as is well known, particularly dur- ing the breeding season, as by their petty animosities, jealousies and bickerings, each pair keeps aloof even from its own species. To man, therefore, the black- bird can impart lessons of conjugal fidelity, filial re- gard, and of mutual co-operation, as well as in alert- ness, affection and sympathy, qualities that are rarely found combined in any other birds. To these pecu- liar traits they are much indebted for their preserva- tion. For cunning and sagacity they come perhaps next to the crow, and in their general disposition ap- pear much the same.
What has helped to render these birds particularly injurious to the crops of the husbandman is that in those places where they take up their abode they abide from early spring till autumn, or as long as they can possibly commit depredations, when they are off only to return with the approach of the vernal season and to hail again with pleasure the croakings of innumer- able frogs in their favorite marshes. From the havoc that these birds make they have in turn but few re- deeming qualities to commend them to the mercy of mankind. True, early in the spring, before they can find anything to injure, they destroy a few pernicious grubs, caterpillars and worms; but, on the other hand, as birds they are most arrant thieves and poachers.
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THE BLACKBIRDS OF ROUND MEADOW.
Wo to the eggs in the nests of all robins, thrushes, cat- birds and turtle-doves they happen to find unprotected. The purple grakle or crow blackbird is also particu- larly fond of their tender young, and will snatch them- up without mercy whenever opportunities present.
While the superior cunning of the crow makes him only the more apprehensive of danger, it is found al- most impossible to frighten blackbirds by any devices whatever short of shooting them with a gun in the very act of pilfering. Scare-crows, whirligigs, poles and lines, etc., are made use of to alight on for the pur- pose of surveying the field of operations preparatory to making an attack. Therefore we need not be sur- prised at the detestation in which they were held by our ancestors on account of their prodigious numbers and the havoc they could in consequence commit. The owner, when he has gone in his field, has repeat- edly approached them within a few rods, to be vexed to ,see his tender corn, that had just sprouted, pulled up to get at the grain, which would be no sooner swal- lowed than they would turn up their heads and most provokingly rattle off by way of self satisfaction a few harsh notes in the very face of the enraged farmer, though at the risk of being shot.
Like the locusts of Egypt at times by their num- bers, they darkened the landscape and desolation fol- lowed in their footsteps, but with this difference: while the latter passed on to be followed only by another grand army, the former kept always at hand and ever ready to renew assaults. The neighboring swamps
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and marshes of this new country were their strong- holds; here, in their castles, surrounded by almost impregnable moats, they lived and reared their young nearly undisturbed. Even when attacked by man in their fastnesses, their wings could soon bear them away to places of greater security. The alarm even of a sin- gle sentry from some neighboring tree-top would be enough to render the whole more active and vigilant. Regarding all these vexations and difficulties, no won- der then that our Provincial Assembly in 1701 passed an act for the destruction of blackbirds and offered a reward of threepence per dozen for the heads of all taken, to be paid by the County Treasurer out of the common stock by order of any justice of the peace.
As is well known, both the purple grakle and red- wing, though distinct species, the former being some- what the larger, have a general fondness for each other's society, probably arising from a congeniality in taste, habits and disposition. Both species down to this day have shown a great partiality for Round Meadow, and though the boys are often rewarded by the adjacent land owners for destroying their broods, they still abound only to evince the greater precaution in concealing their nests and rearing their young. A short time after the Revolution, in the village and on the northern border of Round Meadow, lived Samuel Gummere, a respectable man in humble circumstances. Here his two sons, John and Samuel R., were born, the same who afterwards became distinguished as teachers, mathematicians and authors. These bro-
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THE BLACKBIRDS OF ROUND MEADOW.
thers, it is said, in their youthful days, frequently pun- ished the vagrant blackbirds here for the corn they so wantonly stole and destroyed.
To show even down to a comparatively recent pe- riod the remarkable attachment that the blackbird par- ticularly exhibits for this locality, I will relate the fol- lowing observations entered at the time in my journal of natural history which I have kept for many years, and to which I am indebted for this information, or it certainly would have escaped me. I find recorded therein that during the months of spring and summer for several years after 1857, I had noticed every morn- ing about sunrise a flock of some two hundred red- wings fly from out of the woods and thickets of Mrs. Ellen Paul, adjoining the Moreland line, for the fields and meadows along the Pennepack, and invariably re- turn about sunset to the same, thus making it their favorite roost or lodging place whilst on their daily marauding expeditions. It has now occurred to me from what is related, that this roost may have been actually continued here for many centuries by these their descendants, and that they will be inclined to use it as such as long as they possibly can with any degree of security to themselves.
Prompted in part by the rewards offered for their heads, the love of sport, and, we might add, a spirit of revenge for the damages they had done, a party of young men . from the surrounding neighborhood agreed in the latter end of May, 1747, to invest Round Meadow; each to be regularly armed with a
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gun, and abundantly provided with powder and shot. On a fair day at 7 o'clock in the morning they had taken their respective positions so as to encircle the swamp, and at a given signal were all to press . for- ward to a tall gum tree standing near its centre, and to shoot on the march all the blackbirds they possibly could, as well as to show no mercy or quarters to their eggs and young.
The signal was duly given and the advance made in an orderly manner, when soon the sounds of mus- ketry announced the beginning of the conflict. Our gallant little army never slackened fire amid the inter- minable difficulties that confronted them, but boldly pushed on. The enemy in the greatest consternation fled hither and thither in terror and dismay at such an invasion, and while they would escape from one gallant soldier the next moment would come in range of another. Thus the war raged fiercer and fiercer, ', and the slaughter was becoming more and more ter- rible as a portion of the advance reached the foot of the tall gum tree-the very centre almost of the black- birds' stronghold. There they at last found terra firma, and after gasping for breath and surveying their personal appearance from their late encounters, the roll was called and to their surprise one-third of their force was missing. It was agreed, however, to wait awhile for the rear and stragglers to come up, and in the interval to renew the attack. Long and loud therefore was the roar of their triumphant artillery, and many a red-wing and grakle pitched headlong
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THE BLACKBIRDS OF ROUND MEADOW.
into the watery mire, where he had hitherto deigned to stoop, even for honest food.
But alas, for our forces, they came in slowly and stragglingly. Never before perhaps has the rear of a victorious body presented such a plight. Some came in minus their boots and shoes, some their hats, some their guns and some their game. But this was not the worst, for their very mothers would have scarcely recognized them from the pitchy black substance that now more or less enveloped their persons. These were considered, however, as honorable marks or scars, that showed the desperate nature of the struggle, that lay not so much with blackbirds as with the miry terrors of the hitherto unexplored regions of Round Meadow, and which the enemy had believed, and not without reasons, heretofore impregnable. After our party had partaken of a hearty lunch under the shade of a noble old gum, and found no longer a foe to con- tend with, they beat a retreat a few hours before sun- set for their respective homes. That day it is said over fifty dozen of the enemies' heads were secured and duly strung for the treasury. The amount re- ceived in our present currency would be about $1.80.
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