The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-04-15


commenced my journey. The clouds which.
Tor some time, had darkened nv skv. now
began to clear up, and l fancied that. by
the return OF spring, should be able to ap-
pear with a coach and four at my command.
While | pursued nv course, bravinp the
cold and buffettlng the storms of December.
the sunny antlcpations Of better days afford
ed snfhcient encouragement; l pressed on
resflutely, usually riding until late hour
at night: Before l reached the place of my
destination, thaw set in, and urged on
my laithinl beast through mud and mire,
Tor twenty hours, with scarcely any inter
mission, while the rain was pouring down
sucl torrents, that, had any one possessed
confidence enough to declare himself a
Seer'he might have frightened the crfd4Ie
last last coppeI had been shaken from my peck
ct, and. during this time procured nothing
to eat, though my stomach was imperious
in its demands. After much hesitation, |
called at the house of Dutchman, who fur
nished me and my horse with a shelter from
the storm.
| At sunrise the next morning, the rain had
ceased, and after breakfast of roasted po-
tatoes and butter milk-a rare dish, no
| doubt, in Those parts-which the stranger
was so kind as to offer me without price, |
resumed my journey, and arrived late in the
evening in The vicinity of my uncle's. l
called at the door of farmhouse to inquire
/ the way to his dwelling. | was informed
! that the darkness rendered it impossible for
me TO attain It in safety, there being sever
al fences formy horse 10 leap, and several
brooks TO pass, over which there was no
bridge except a single board or plank. The
family of the farmer gathered around me,
and persuaded me to tarry with them till
morning. When supper was finally out of
the way, began TO question mine host con-
| corning the old bachelor, whom had trav-
elled so far to see. He at first spoke upon
the subject with some freedom. He relat-
ed with the eloquence of one accustomed
to fre-side gossip about his neighbors, many
things concerning the whims and oddities
of the field bachelor, as he termed him, who
was so called by his neighbors from his
| living at distance from the road. ! could
not but smile at the anecdotes which he
played off with an air of experience seldom
known to any but Il good nat,tred farmer.
But to my inquiries about the lberality and
kind heartedness of Tom Roderick Furci-
fer Harmonoopooter Blagden, he was reluc-
| tant to give an answer. He fixed his eyes
upon bed of embers in the fire. place, and
soon complained ofdrowsiness, which took
for hint to retire. This sudden breaking
off in the farmers conversation, rendered
me suspicion of the accounts given by my
parents of my uncle's generosity. Fearing
that should not be rewarded for the hard
ships / had suffered in travelling, l lay,
turning and groaning, until was startled
by the slamming of the doors IN other parts
of the house.
Having left my jaded beast with the
farmer, and declining an invitation to stay
to breakfast, was making my way over
fences and through swamps, towards what
| had hoped to find a mansion of princely
structure, when, on ascending a little emf
hence, the farmers son whom had taken
as guide, pointed out among some scatter
ing oaks that flung their naked arms far
into the air, low, fat-roofed, one-story
house, out of which stared chimney of
prodigious height. This was the abode of
| the bachelor so renowned in my fathers
neighborhood. Here my guide left me. |
quickened my steps, and with much Difficult
| ty climbed over the log fence, the massy
gate that led to the door yard having been
(
! tors; and Knocked at the door. Immedl-
ately the dogs set up frghtful noise with
| in, and ore of them showed himself through
window near which was standing. Such
yelpings and howlings | never heard before
nor since, and, confess | considered them
a sort of dismal foreboding. At one time
thought the cottage actually tottered upon
its foundations. | heard voice trying,
now by threats, and now by entreaties, to
persuade these noisy inmates to be silent.
! At length the acceptable sound of "come
in" gave me courage to attempt an entrance.
| found long, lank, raw -boned form, which
| thought might be a son of some degener-
ated race of giants, placed upon the hearth
on all-fours, attempting to kindle a fire, and
putting and wheeling like pair of worn
out bellows. enquired for Corporal Tom
Roderick Furcifer Harmonoopooter Blag-
den. Any one may Judge of my surprise
when the figure before me pleaded to the
name, title, and all. should have with
held an account of my relationship, had
there been third present; but as circum-
stances were, | informed him of it. In
token of respect, he pointed to mutllated
stool that lay upon one corner Of the hearth,
as sign for me to help myself to a seat ;
and then set his lungs and windpipe to
work again. He offered few excuses for
the lateness of the hour of his rising, the
principal Of which was, that having nothing
to do that morning, he thought it hest to
save the expense of fre-wood, which he
could sell for seventy cents cord. |
did not like this, nor the general appear
ance of things, but determined to make the
best of my situation, and to hope for better
things by-and-by. The furniture. which
consisted of an old, broken-backed chair,
three lame stools, table which was proba-
bly, once square, hut now made almost round
by the teeth of the dogs, with IA square box
made of upland oaken planks and stoutly
strapped with iron, was to me, on the whole,
somewhat novel. In one corner of the