The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-15
CHAPTER II.
"rhe lovely cottage, with it's own dear brook,

Inc loNely COTTAGE WIN its own Drookg
fts small pasture, almost its own sky"
Wards Hollow" is green, pear-shaped val
ley, shut in between ranges Of low, wooded hills
A small clear brook, that has its source in some
hidden spring beneath the rocks on the northern
side winds leisurely through it, as II 10th to leave
its sheltered precincts, until, catching view of
the cleaning mill stream through an opening at
the southern extremity Of the valley, it dsshes
forward with new impetus, like delighted
school-boy, to overtake its companion.
At the northern end, the hills assume holder
front, and are scanned with gray lodges Of gneiss,
amid the crevices of which grow many wild flowers,
and queer grotesq trees, butternuts prn-
cpaly, at all angles with the horizon The ground
at the foot of these bluffs Is the highest portion Of
the valley and here, directly facing the southern
opening, stood the old Ward farmhouse.
Here at the first settlement Of our village,
Adam, ninth son Of Corporal Adam Ward Of Ely,
one of Cromwell's old troopers, raised his rude
hut of logs, and manifested the same energy and
perseverance in subduing the wild forest, as had
animated his father, when he fell at the head Of
his band, at the celebrated siege Of Basing House.
And we'll did mother Earth reward his toll The
valley, or Hollow, as he named it, lay like rich
garden smiling up to Heaven, and in the course
of years he added to it many broad acres beyond
that circle of green hills. They were kind
hearted, upright, rigidly honest race, somewhat
opinionated perhaps, but respected by all men !;
and thus three generations went down to the grave
leaving Adam, the grandfather of little Mercy,
the sole heritor Of the name and estate. lie was
very young when his father died, but so truly did
his mother train him in the ways Of those who
had gone before, that when the Revolutionary
war broke out itseemed AZ If the very spirit of old
Adam of Ely still breathed in the breast Of his
H. I'D Cd bo W here
bravery, his instructive military skill and nteli-
eence, coupled with his answering integrity, soon
won him O commission When the unrighteous
strife ceased he returned to his neglected estate,
poorer by hundreds in purse, bat rich in the love
and esteem of his fellow-oficers, and the admira-
ton and reverence of his townsmen. Most of
Whist was called the "Outside Land, y which lay
without the hills, was sold to pay of debts con-
tracted during the war, but the Hollow remained,
and he diligently set himself to repairing the in
roads made upon it by 10 many years OF neglect.
This DONE he became more and more conscious OF
the loneliness of the old farmhouse for his moth
err had lived barely long enough to welcome him
home. He was still In the prime Of life, and with
his high character and military fame, which was
something more than prestige in those days he
might have chosen bride from any Of the wealthy
families Of his acquaintance, with dover suf-
cient to have repaired bis shattered fortunes but
he passed by them all, and, seeking out Mercy
Lindsay, his early playmate In the humble farm
house, where since the death Of her friends she
had won her daily bread by the labor Of her own
hands, he took her to his bosom as his wife, COM
panion, and friend. They had but one child, and
for several years this green earth contained no
happier family than the one at Wards Hollow
James was an active, spirited boy, and as he grew
older, the green valley became too narrow for him
He lOnged TO 60 out and mingle with the great
current Of life and sl that his father told him Of
bis own experience there only increased his long
Ing. II was sad thing TO his parents when
they became convinced that quiet, agricultural
life would never content him, but they were toe
wise TO force upon him an occupation which he sc
thoroughly dsiiksd therefore they procured him
. situution ~ clerk In mercantile house In tbs
neighboring city, in which, after two or three
years service in that capacity, he became part
ner.
For some years all seemed to 70 we'll. He mar
ried pleasant, excellent girl, and two ohildrsu
were welcomed ~ Q veritabls gift from God By
them, and most especially by the solitary old
couple at the Hollow. These children spent much
Of their time there, and their presence seemed "a