Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-06-11

MGR To his home in the west of Massachusetts, to
help him catch trout and get up picnics both a.
musements equally novel and agreeable to raw
Boston boy. Though quito inexperienced, had
q relish for oddities, and some quickncss of OBJ
servaton, SO that could appreciate that singular
collection Of characters common in New Eng
land country villages. There was old negro,
staunch in his advocacy Of temperance, and re-
garding the rising generation with universal
patcrnal interest. Though now twisted out OF all
proportion by q fifty years rheumatism, he had
once boon a soldier, alternately shouderlng his
musket and cooking the officers dinners; and had
endless stories to tell about Gates and Burgoyne ;
always dwelling with peculiar gusto on details of
tho hideous wounds he had seen, and whereof he
had assisted in tho cure, by holding the sufferers
during tho operations of the camp-surgeon. Then
there was sef-taught geologist, who had filled
back room Of his old farmhouse with several
tons of specimens. gathered from the mountains
far and wide and who, dexterousy placing his
chair against tho door, would entertain his inn
prisoned guests with geological discussions, and
theories Of the earth, now alike to tho Vulcanans
and the Neptunians. Beside these. there tho
travelling book pedlar, better acquainted with the
world but not loss eccentric and amusing than the
others, and more likewise. who need not be dweIs
My friend proposed to go and see old Doctor
able he could think of.
The doctor the oldest man in town. His
lettering, double-roofcd, implanted house, stood
on hill. with two ancient ems before it, and
well hard by, from which the water was raised
by q sweep instead Of windlass. l readily
sented to go, glad to any thing in the shape of
a curiosity, for as such my friend described the
doctor painfully climbed the hill, gazing
back at times upon the quiet and sutry landscape.
Ono of his numerous granddaughter opened
tho door, with q stout infant of her own in her
arms. The old man was, usual, in his private
sanctum, to which my friend led me, through va
Tious numbering passages; and respectfully knock
ing, entered. 1t was long narrow room with a
very venerable and somewhat dilnpidated air.
On side a little counter, with a pair of
rusty scales hung over it, and behind number of
shelves of dusty walls and gallipots. AT the far
Their end. which was rather dark. appeared low
bedstead, with a faded curtain, supported by a
ricketty frame, the whole scarce big enough to
accommodate LiIlipu.ian. There was q fire.
place at ono side, in which we're slowed two enor-
NOUS yellow pumpkins. with expanded checks,
bright rs the fame that roared up the wide Chin
ney in December. Over head hung punches of
parching corn, and various natural curiositics,
while somo antediluvian pictures garnished the
walls.
The tenant Of this extraordinary apartment
seemed as true fragment of the old world the
place ITSELF He was very small old man, with
long whito hair falling to his shoulders. He wore
the grey brooches and buckled shoes Of the olden
time, which very we'll became pair of exceed
ingly good-looking lttlo legs. His face though
thin, was cmnentIy handsome, considering that
it had weathcred more than ninety years. which
had sunk his largo lively eyes deep in their black
ened sockets. Ho had some papers q desk be-
fore him, which no was turning over when we
came in.
My friend, putting his mouth to tho doctors
ear, roared out my name in voice that made the
dust fly, and filled tho old man with Indignation
at the implied reflection on his powers Of hearing
He soon got over his dispeasuro however, and in
quarter OF on hour was sweeping along on tho
full tide OF "reminiscences, delighted at finding 50
attentive listener as myself He needed no spur,
but talked on without a pause. except at inter
walls Of fifteen or twenty minutes, when he would
bury his countenance in a largo mug of moasses
and water for q few moments then set it down,
draw a long breath, and resume the thread Of his
story with, 'Wcll now, what was telling yer on!
Had the enviable power Of recording his tales in
his own phraseology think. Mr.. Editor, that your
readers would confess themselves edited, as | |
certainly was although it must be acknowledged
that certain passages of his discourse were par
long winded and monotonous. He we'll
repaid when he spoke of his personal expert.
ences for tho withercd disciple of Galen had
been soldier in his youth, and the martial spirit
had not quito deserted his shrivelled carcass vet.
One Of his stories is rooted in my memory. l
will tell it we'll as can. wish you could
have heard the doctor
AT nineteen years Of age. he joined the army
Of tho provinces, that in 1855 essayed to take
Crown Point from the French. He marched to |
the lakes with Colonel Ephraim Williams, than
whom moro gallant man never breathed the dir |
Of New England. Tho doctor fought under his
at Lake George. on the memorable sth
Of September; saw, or imagined he saw, the fall Of
his barve leader. and is quite that he put q
bullet into tho French officer. Mons. St. Pierre.
The next year he joined Rogers company of
Rangers and was stationed with party of them
at Fort Ann, not far from where Whitehall now
stands. But at that day it dark and
bloody ground: n frontier station in tho forests,
which were filled with rival savages attached to
France or England.