The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-09-11
Thoughts and Musings.


when tell you that my capricious muse,
tired Of " scroeching out prosaic verse;"
has, in fit of rumination come to the
determination to take leave for while of
the enchanting heights of poesy, and de-
sccnd into the plain ungarnished fields of
unpretcnding prose where she can "mutter
her wayward fancies," untrammelled by
the ti:esomc routine Of jingling verse.
1t was a lovely afternoon, not many
months since when your humble servant
sought repose from the busy beehive e-hum
of the school-room in solitary ramblo in
he outskirts Of our pleasant little village
| wandered along through lovely grove
whose pendant boughs were covered with
the fresh young foliage Of early summer,
and ascending an elevation of land, seated
myself on rock under the shade of fine
old tree. Before me lay our small, but
entcrprsing and beautiful village, with its
numerous church spires pointing toward
the skies, the smoke curling in cdies from
its chimneys and manufactures, the wind
inc Pawcatuck mcandering through its
centre and onward to The ocean, while the
whistling, rattling, lushinr, locomotive was
passing along with its heavy train, and
beyond and around as far as the eye could
reach, stretched the undulating hills by
which Westerly is surrounded, diversified
to the northward by 4 fine view of Still
manvillc and the distant rock-crowncd
hills known by the name of Carr's Noun
tains.
And what u (to me- delightful scene
was here presented! What rich field
for contemplation was here opened to my
ardent imagination.
People may rave Of the beauties of
foreign climes, Of the clear sunny skies and
the classic halls Of Italy, Of the ancient
relies and wonders Of Egypt, of the gay
FESTIVITIES of vine clad France, Or of the
aristocratical greatness of Old England; but
{or me, prefer the rocky soil of New
England hallowed as it is by the memories
Of those holy and dauntlcss Pilgrim
Fathers" whose lofty character and in
domitable courage and energetic spirit has
been transmitted to their posterity, and
immoltalized as is its every hill, stream and
vale, by the thrilling and romantic Legends
Of its former dcnizen, the rcd-man, the
scattered fragments Of whose race are now
dwindled down into almost utter extinc-
ton.
How great arc the changes which few
short years have wrought in the surround
ing scenery, thought L, as gazod around
me upon the varied objects which met my
view. Perhaps upon the very spot where
now L sit, an Indians lowly cabin once
sent up its curling smoke through the
overshadowing trees while upon this very
spot where now l sit, an Indians lowly
cabin once sent up its curling smoke
through the ovcrshadowing trees while upon
this very hill his sturdy children rcvelled
in their childish sports, or here perhaps
the wary hunter in ambush watched the
approach Of the bounding deer or the
hungry wolf whose hearts blood was des-
tined to be shed by the swift uncrring
flight of his deadly arrow. Yonder spot
now occupied by the crowded dwellings of
the white man, where the noisy hum of
business is continually mingled with the
unceasing murmur of the flowing river was
once wild uncultivatcd wilderness,
through which the dark chiefs yelled
alarm" when with their wary forces they
stole subtlly and unpcrceived upon the
sleeping villages of their hostile neighoors.
The calm blue Pawcatuch, which was then
untrammcl!ed by confning dams and un-
disturbed by noisy watcr-whecls, flowed