USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 2
USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 2
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A STRANGE ADVENTURE.
It has been supposed that at some period of their lives all persons become devoted lovers, and that none can become such without having their weaknesses or infirmities strongly brought out. This was exactly Sauly's case. His love, however, was for rum-the genuine New England article distilled from molasses, and at this period as common in use as is now soda water or lager beer. As stated, whilst using his lap- board, needle and shears, or in making hay or binding grain, he had given the matter considerable attention as to the best mode of attaining this enjoyment. Such a study may surprise the uninitiated or our ignorant moderns as unnecessary ; but alas, Sauly knew from bitter experience the miseries that had heretofore as- sailed him in various ways whilst intoxicated, from which he. now desired to escape. Had not mischiev- ous boys in playing at hide and seek or through his snoring repeatedly discovered him, though ever so nicely ensconced in a mow or in a barrack with his loved beverage beside him, and disturbed his slumbers by tickling his ears or nose with straws? Even those of older growth had searched him up in this state to drink the remaining contents of his bottle, sometimes leaving instead a vile home-manufactured article, the mere taste of which had sometimes helped to keep him a teetotaler for a whole month or two. However, could he have hit on some plan to prevent snoring on such occasions all would have been well, but unfor- tunately for such comfort or consolation even unto this day no such remedy has been discovered.
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SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
On an exceedingly hot Saturday immediately after dinner did the farmer pay Sauly his wages, when to carry out his plan he at once started for a neighboring store, purchased a round-bellied bottle, because he could secure no other, into which he had emptied a pint of rum and a pound of common brown sugar, the whole costing him about a dime and a half. His bottle having evidently been modeled after that primitive vessel called a gourd, could not under any possibility be conveniently disposed or concealed in an ordinary pocket, but for convenience in carrying and a check to longing, thirsty eyes, he securely tied it within a large blue checkered cotton handkerchief, making all of a dozen of hard knots. He now started for a mill dam in a rather retired place but of convenient access, about a mile and a half distant in a southern direction, where he meant to indulge unrestrained and alone his appetite without any apprehension whatever of being disturbed in so quiet a retreat. In spite of the un- common heat at this hour his anticipations had so in- cited him that he was not long in arriving there, hav- ing passed by some six or seven houses on the way. On one side of the dam lay a highway of little travel, from which he now turned off a few yards to the right so as to get immediately below its breast which was in a shady woods extending westward a considerable distance, within which were scattered around a num- ber of goodly sized rocks. In between two of these with a huge white oak to his rear was the spot. Any quantity of dead leaves were lying here, rendering it
A STRANGE ADVENTURE. 25
the more comfortable as a resting or lodging place in such extreme weather. Sauly could not fail but ad- mire the judicious selection he had made with the un- - usual quietness prevailing, indeed not having heard a sound of anything except the occasional noise of a locust on some bush or tree on the roadside incited thereto by the heat.
To render himself more comfortable under the cir- cumstances he now took off his hat and vest, for coat he had none on, rolled up his sleeves, and wiping the profuse perspiration from his face preparatory to seat- ing himself on the leaves braced by the oak. He next commenced undoing the many knots of his hand- kerchief, in which, after some effort, he succeeded, and lo! before him, divested of all its covering, was the bottle containing his favorite drink. Holding it up and delightedly surveying it he observed the sugar partly settled to the bottom, but by a goodly shaking it soon became intermixed. Placing its extremity in his mouth he elevated it so as to let a portion of the contents descend in a gentle gurgling stream into a reservoir that may have been prepared to receive it many, many years before. But hark! in this quietness a sound suddenly breaks forth to his astonishment, as if it had issued from out a vacant hogshead of his favorite beverage: "Bottle of rum! bottle of rum! pound of sugar! drink away now, Sauly, like a boozer!" He at once brought down his bottle and thought over this unexpected announcement, exclaim- ing: "Frogs! knowing ones too! 'to drink away,' that
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SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
is sensible on so hot a day. But as to being a boozer, bug-bear or whatever it is, to frighten women and children, I deny!" Again did he hear the exclamation. - "Agreed," he shouted; and raised up deliberately the bottle to his mouth as an experienced sportsman would his gun preparatory to pulling trigger. As the liquid was descending, on looking along its range, most strange to say, he made a discovery up a tree-top.
As I am in no hurry I would say to the reader that on a certain occasion, as we read in Don Quixote, Sancho Panza exhibiting a profound knowledge of the stars, in surprise asked him, ignorant peasant as he seemed, how he came by this information. The reply was through his lifting up the wine bottle at nights. So Sauly on divers occasions even in daylight by similar means had enlarged the boundaries of his knowledge. For just now in his observation he spied a red squirrel that he fancied had dexterously placed its fingers on its nose and twirled them around and then winked and grinned at him for his drinking or what the frogs had said or perhaps both, and most provokingly repeated it. Again for solace and courage to meet all this was the bottle elevated but to hear in deep sepulchral tones " Bottle of rum! bottle of rum! pound of sugar! take only one drink more, Sauly, you boozer!" "Only one more drink!" thought he; "why I will take as many as I please in spite of all the frogs, squirrels or imps that may keep about here." For with drink his valor was now rising within him and therefore not disposed to yield to any trifles but boldly assert his rights.
27
A STRANGE ADVENTURE.
The heat being still intense at this afternoon hour, with an increasing thirst and a disposition to slumber, the bottle was again raised and as he now looked over its range he observed a red-headed woodpecker peep- ing from out his hole on a tall trunk and insultingly nodding to him whilst the former voice uttered in an ominous dolorous tone, " Bottle of rum! bottle of rum! pound of sugar ! You will be drunk again, Sauly, as a boozer !"
He now felt vexed at frogs, squirrels, woodpeckers, and what not, to be thus assailing him who had done them no matter of harm, in fact had never intruded himself on this ground before, and of all places had here expected peace, where too there was not a human being about. But he had imbibed so freely and his bottle being empty he turned over, stretched himself at full length on the leaves and soon fell into a pro- found slumber. After several hours of this long sum- mer's day afternoon had thus passed away, he slowly awoke, dejected in ambition and wondering where he was. However, his bottle soon claimed his attention, but to his great regret was as completely empty as the purse of a spendthrift heir. In this state to harass his feelings came forth again in dismal, admonishing strains, "Bottle of rum! bottle of rum! pound of sugar! you have been drunk again, Sauly, as a boozer !"
The sun had now descended into the west, and in one hour more would disappear. Sauly arose some- what sore and with a headache. On ascertaining his
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SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
whereabouts, he seized his bottle, which he enclosed again within his handkerchief, and donned his hat and vest with a view to his return. But with the approach of- evening the clamor of the frogs had increased to an unendurable extent. Wisely and gladly did he now conclude to get away from so annoying a place and have his ears no longer assailed by epithets about his rum, sugar and drunkenness. Having made nearly a mile he met a farmer whom he intimately knew, re- siding in the vicinity, returning homewards from his labor, and under the impulse of the moment related to him the extraordinary adventure that had just befallen him at the dam. From its novelty the surprised farmer went that very evening to his nearest neighbor, Frederick Selner, to whom he related all that Sauly had told him about the frogs. This highly delighted the latter, for he was one of the greatest wags and teasers in all that section, being a large, stout man, who almost at any time would as soon enjoy a joke as a dinner. He resided only about half a mile from the dam on a small farm of which he was the owner. On these hot nights with his bedroom window raised he could distinctly hear at all hours the frogs and now comprehend what they were saying. He enjoyed this hugely and under the circumstances kept thinking over it daily for some time.
About two weeks had elapsed when whom should he accidentally meet but Sauly at the store, where both were in the general practice of making their purchases, being in fact the only one within three or four miles
٥
29
A STRANGE ADVENTURE.
around. With what delight did now the jolly Selner approach the tailor from the knowledge that he had received. "What," said he, "have you been doing at Youngken's dam that the frogs there keep making such a fuss about ? Why I can hardly sleep at nights with my window hoisted for their shouting 'Bottle of rum! bottle of rum! pound of sugar! Sauly was as drunk here as a boozer!'" The astonished tailor was through this sorely puzzled, for he had forgotten that he had told any one about it. "Do they really say that?" replied he. "Really say it?" said Selner, "why if you have any doubts about it come to my house on any warm night or go down to the dam and judge for yourself." Sauly could not bear this. He shrunk away, fearing every person that now lived in the vicinity of the dam with the revelations they were thus making derogatory to his character or standing, and so for re- lief he left the neighborhood. But the tradition still lives and the frogs keep repeating, though all of half a century has passed since the occurrence.
1
Interrupted Napping.
What would be said if a number of cases were to happen of voluntary submission during the winter months, for a number of years in succession, of one hour's uninterrupted sleep being only allowed at a time, for the accommodation of shelter and lodgings furnished? In addition, at the expiration of each ex- act hour, to be awakened with the noise of thunder, even causing the structure to vibrate or tremble, and then for a few seconds or minutes to be ejected for an airing into the cold and freezing atmosphere. Next to return to the aforesaid lodgings to be all repeated over again at the expiration of that particular time. The reader must understand that this is an unceasing, undeviating and enforced requirement for the benefits and advantages derived and only on this condition conferred and allowed. This is no fancy sketch. I know well the facts from near the beginning, having had ample time to make numerous observations on which to study and draw my deductions. But to my story or explanation.
In the fall of 1857 a majority of the voters of Mont- g hery county saw fit to elect me to an office, upon the duties of which I entered on the first Monday of the new year, and in which I was continued for two
E
31
INTERRUPTED NAPPING.
terms, or six years. My position required me to be annually, at this time, several weeks at Norristown, and the chief of the business to be transacted in the - court house, but recently built, with the county com- missioners and treasurer. For convenience I boarded at the Rambo House, immediately opposite. A front room on the second or third story was assigned me for lodgings, which I thus occupied for five successive winters, to which in this time I got of course pretty familiar. The first night I occupied said chamber I awoke before daylight, and hearing considerable stir below I got up and went to the window and gazed out. The landscape lay covered several inches in snow the sky was unusually clear, the air calm but intensely cold, and the stars appeared to twinkle with more than ordinary lustre in the deep blue firmament.
I turned to look up at the face of the high clock in the court house steeple, when in loudest tones it struck five distinct times. With the first stroke I noticed all of thirty snow-birds issue in greatest consternation from out the lattice or open work immediately over the clock (but beside the bell that weighs 3,532 pounds), maintaining their winged positions till it ceased, when they as speedily returned to their shelter and lodgings. The hour being too early for my con- venience I returned to my comfortable bed to reflect on what I had just now for the first time witnessed; certainly the most novel and punctual kind of nap- ping or sleeping and awakening that I have ever heard or read about. The renowned Sancho Panza,
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SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
thought I, had bestowed blessings on him who in- vented sleep, but certainly would not have com- mended such an addition as an improvement. But to return to the birds, my neighboring lodgers.
I continued my observations on them for five con- secutive winters. Perhaps through all hours of the night, and invariably at the striking of the hours, I would see their sudden issuing and return as stated. One thing struck me ; they had certainly learned from experience that the striking must shortly cease, to venture at returning so soon thereafter, even when the sound had not fully ceased. The wonder is it did not wholly frighten them away. Perhaps this was only owing to a want of better shelter and repose through those long nights of cold and piercing blasts. It was also a wonder to me why they should for this purpose seek so elevated a place, even higher than most tree- tops. What was also singular to me in the long time I was there, I could not learn of anyone else observ- ing or noticing what I have just related.
After an interval of eighteen years, I wrote to two of my friends residing in Norristown to observe during midwinter nights when the clock struck whether these birds still roosted there. The reply was that under the aforesaid circumstances they could not now be seen. One of my correspondents attributes the cause to the introduction of English sparrows, whose pugna- city is such as to drive them away, as well as some of our other more useful and interesting species of birds.
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The Tree and the Vine .*
William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania and its pro . prietary governor, landed at Upland, now called Ches- ter, according to old style, October 28, 1682, in the ship Welcome, commanded by Robert Greenway. One of his first acts was to naturalize the settlers who had located themselves here previously, and it appears to have been his earnest desire to extinguish every kind of title or claim to the lands necessary for the accommodation of his colony to live also in lasting terms of friendship with the Indians. On the 4th of December, Penn had called the first Assembly togeth- er at the aforesaid place, about which time the three original counties of this State must have been formed. At a council held by the Governor at Philadelphia on the following 23d of first-month or March, it was or- dered " that the seal of the county of Bucks be a tree and a vine," which brings me to this subject.
It will appear from the aforesaid that the formation of Pennsylvania into the three counties of Chester, Philadelphia and Bucks must at least have been de-
*Composed for the Bucks County Bi-Centennial in March, 1882, and published in the Bucks County Intelligencer and Hatboro Public Spirit of May 6th of said year.
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SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
termined on a few weeks after Penn's arrival, and the said seal within a period of five months thereafter. Whether such a seal was ever used for official pur- poses I have my doubts, as I possess no knowledge of having seen anything of the kind affixed or im- pressed on any ancient documents pertaining to the several records of the county, in the archives at Har- risburg or in the collections of the Historical Society, though I have carefully kept this matter in mind and even mentioned it in my History of Bucks County in 1854. 1 It is sincerely hoped if any device of the kind should be found it could be made the subject of some interest to the approaching bi-centennial of said coun- ty, and I for one would hail its discovery with no in- considerable degree of pleasure. However, I take the occasion to further impress this matter on the atten- tion of the several antiquaries now residing in the various districts of this noble old bailiwick if such a resuscitation be possible.
1
Several years even before the birth of William Penn, the Dutch had erected a fort for trading purposes with the Indians within the present limits of Bucks county, on an island a short distance below the falls of the Delaware. We also know how a little later they prosecuted the beaver trade with the utmost activity, and in the pursuit of which they must have repeatedly ascended the river to the Musconetcong and thence up the same to the present Powhatcung lake. This fact is additionally confirmed by the knowledge ex- hibited of this section of the country on the early
35
THE TREE AND THE VINE.
Dutch maps prior to 1664. The Swedish chaplain, Rev. John Campanius, who resided on Tinicum island, below the mouth of the Schuylkill, from February, 1643, till into the spring of 1648, when he embarked for Europe, states in his work on New Sweden that "about the falls the land is rich," and that "there grows a great quantity of grapevines, the fruit thereof white, red, brown and blue; the inhabitants want only to know how to press the grape in order to have a rich wine country." He further mentions that there is also to be found walnut, mulberry and several sorts of plum trees in abundance: Hence we see from this early description, and that too by a Swede, how ap- propriate and beautifully emblematic of this county was the "Tree and the Vine," which in consequence as natives of the soil must have flourished here for ages.
1921419
The aforesaid is also confirmed by letter from Wil- liam Penn, dated the 30th of 5th-month, 1683, to his friend, Henry Savill, in England, wherein he states " the woods yields us cypress, cedar, black walnut, sassafras, oak-white, black, red, spanish, chestnut and swamp, the hardest and most lasting poplar -- the best in the world. I have here a canoe of one tree that floats four ton of brick ; also ash and many that in England we have not. The woods also yields us grapes, plums, peaches and strawberries and chestnuts in abundance." Perhaps the heaviest body of timber found in Pennsylvania was in the manor of Pennsbury, the trees in that section being so large that one could.
port
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SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
readily travel through them on horseback. Penn in a letter from there the 22d of 6th-month, 1700, to his secretary, James Logan, in Philadelphia, requests him to "send me up one of Carpenter's compasses for the- woods, to steer by and take courses," meaning his lia- bility of getting lost unless aided by some such as- sistance. In this account "The Tree and the Vine " again impress us as they must have the early settlers through their wild and spontaneous luxuriance.
Here, under their own " Tree and Vine," first came the Swedes and Dutch whose descendants we still have among us in the names of Cox, Moon, Closson, Johnson, Williams, Cooper, Hulings, Ackerman, Van- devere, Rambo and `Oram. To the former much honor is due; they prepared the way for William Penn, and long before his arrival continued to dwell here in peace and friendship with the natives and under all governments were alike good and useful citizens.
Through religious persecution in Great Britain, the Friends commenced to arrive here from England and Wales. The following came between 1677 and 1682 and settled in this county : John Pursloir, Daniel Brinston, Joshua Bore, John Wood, George Brown, William Biles, Charles Biles, Gilbert Wheeler, Robert Lucas, Richard Ridgway, Joseph Kirkbride, Samuel Darke, John Otter, William Darke, Lionel Brittain, Gideon Gambell and William Clark. In 1682 came Richard Amor, Henry Paxson, Luke Brinsley, John Clow, Joseph Clow, John Brock, William Venables, John Haycock, George Pownall and William Yardley.
37
THE TREE AND THE VINE.
With those that came in the Welcome, with the great founder, and settled in Bucks, are Thomas Fitzwater, Nicholas Waln, Cuthbert Hayhurst, Giles Knight, John Rowland, Thomas Rowland and William Buck- man. Shortly after in the same year arrived Henry Marjoram, William Beeks, Henry Comly, John Scar- borough, Thomas Walmsley, Randall Blackshaw, James Harrison, Phineas Pemberton, Ralph Pember- ton, Robert Bond, Ellis Jones, James Clayton and James Dilworth. In 1683 Thomas Janney, George Stone, Richard Hough, John Hough, John Hart, John Palmer, Joshua Hoopes, William Bennett, Henry Baker, John Penquite, Joseph Growdon, Lawrence Growdon and David Davis. In 1684, John Chapman, Thomas Langhorne, David Hall, John Eastborne, Thomas Can- by and Thomas Dungan. Most of these brought fam- ilies, also relatives, besides a number of male and fe- male servants. A few of the aforesaid were Baptists and fellow sufferers through religious persecution who had settled around Cold Spring, above Bristol. To the descendants of all the aforesaid the bi-centen- nial has a threefold interest-through the arrival of their ancestors, the founding of Pennsylvania and the formation of the county.
About 1720 to 1730 the Welsh commenced settling in New Britain and Hilltown, calling the former at first North Britain. Within said period the Irish commenced settling in Bensalem, Warwick and Bed- minster, and somewhat later in Tinicum and Haycock. They were a warm-hearted, impulsive people, and
·
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SKETCHES AND LEGENDS.
none entered more freely into the struggle for inde- pendence. Comparatively few Germans were settled in the county previous to 1730, but after this date they commenced to pour rapidly into the upper and northwestern townships, and by keeping it up well into this century they have become so numerous that I entertain no doubt that they now constitute a ma- jority of the population, and through their devotion to agriculture in their southern progress keep absorb- ing the possessions of those that had preceded them.
Let then the descendants of those that made the wilderness blossom as the rose forget at this great festival that they were Swedes, Dutch, English, Welsh, Irish, German or French, for an amalgamation from all of these has now made them American citizens, and physically, intellectually and morally the equals of any people. Let too the wandering sons of old Bucks residing elsewhere, also return to participate in this grand family reunion for entertainment, instruction and the renewal of friendship, for which we may be all the better. Let now, for the first time, the ringing rocks of Knock'em mix 'em be brought forth to hail the joyful occasion. Let the Conestoga team, the Durham boat, the Troy coach, the gig, the loom and the flax-brake of our grandfathers be represented, as also the spinning-wheel and reel of our grandmothers, for these have all been of use in their day. The fox of the Haycock and the 'coon of the Tohickon should also be there as living representatives of very old families. This brief mention is only given as more
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THE TREE AND THE VINE.
suggestive of novelty and to help break the monotony of a mere modern mechanical display.
Almost two centuries have now elapsed since Wil- liam Penn in council ordered " That the seal of the county of Bucks be a Tree and a Vine." Since then how many have left Europe to find here a home by their own " Tree and Vine," for convenience, for lib- erty, and prosperity's sake? No tithes, no standing armies, no privileged classes, no church and state, no censorship of the press to exact obedience from the mind, the body, and the purse. This was well for the first century. The beginning of the second, after a long war, brought peace, independence, the extinction of hereditary and feudal prerogatives from both the Proprietary and the Crown. Then came the abolition of negro slavery, also of servitude for passage from Europe and imprisonment for debt, and more recently the final emancipation of all born in bondage through- out the whole length and breadth of this great Re- public. But witness other results. Several vast ca- bles now span the broad Atlantic, connecting this country with Europe, over which, with lightning speed, messages are sent. Yet it is an American
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