The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-11-19
THE copTcTL.
A TALE OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT
OF NEW ENGLAND.
by. MI. WILLIAMS.
Charter I.--Ms old Cottage.

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"The Wild Windssweep across the old damp aoors,
And make wea aud waiting moan:
All night YOU hear the clap Of broken doors,
That on their rusty hinges great and grOan."
The early days Of New Englandl What q
flood OF romance is connected with their bis.
tOryl The opening incidents Of Onr present
narrative are laid at period Just anterior TO
the stirring events which led to the AIneri-
can Revolution. The colonies were compara-
lively tranquil, bnt the great cauldrol Of pnh-
lie sentiment had already began to simmer at
the bottom, although 40 human dreamed ol
the great and, staltling upheavings which soog
after followed.
At the time Of which we write, there stood
acrGzy old cottage, some leagues frm any
other dwelling, Just oil from the highway
Leading from the metropolis of the colonies TO
the settlement Of Salem. 1t was then full
days journey between the settlements, aud
the traveller, whether nObleman Or, peasant,
deemed italmost Indispensable to halt at the
old cottage for rest aud refreshment. Little
thought they who then passed over the dreary
rOad--thOse staid old mobiles and sturdy yeo-
men---that their grandchildren would per-
form the same journey in few moments; that
they w0uld seat themselves In magnifieent
car, possessing all the ease and lnxuriauce Of
Oae's private apartment, and with scarcely
time 10 glance at the beautiful villages, and
the tasty farm houses, nesting away among
the fertilehills which they passed in quick sReI
Gession, find themselves set down at their
jeHEney's end, almost before they could re-
collect where they were, But so it is. ln
the language Of TennysoR--
'.'we doubt NOT thai thrO' the Ages one increasing
And the thoughts Of men are wIdeHed by the pro-
cess Of the suns
But to The little cot. Its sole occupant was
an eccentric female, familiarly knoWnas "Old
Meg" whose singular manners and kind
hospitality had become proVerbial among the
cOlonists. Probably less than forty years had
rolled over her head, but within thai time she
had passed through many severe trials, and
her wrinkled brow and bent. form, her thin,
gray l0cks and hollow checks, gave her the
appearance Of a veteran on LIES Journey.
Her strange history, to those who were ia
miliar with It, was one Of the deepest interest;
but as it has no connection with our mar
Tative, we pass 1t over, merely fefnafking that
she was known to be mistress Of rare edu-
cation, and 10 possess a score OF valuable
books both Of which she dispensed with be-
coming liberality.
Her humble abode was indeed shattered
old hulk, composed Of logs far gone to decay,
and the storm caused 1t to guiyer like toy.
But through the protective care Of old Meg,
filled with moss and straw, so that il now al
fOrded comfortable shelter in heat and cold.
Old Meg possessed heart OYerflOwing
with goodness, and the weary travellers upon
the highway were not the only recipients Of
her hospitality. The cottage was situated
near the niche Of little cove, and in rough
weather many a stOrm-beaten, mariner found
shelter under It's humble roof. The place was
also much fTequented by the fishermen, who
cfuised along the coast, here they put in for
water, and it was faYorita pastinie with old
Meg, during their leisure hours to teach them
10 read and write. Her door was ever open
testnngers, aud she never seemed so happy
as when administering to the comfort of some
poor unfortunate.
OHAPTER / I.--- I've Ste1i- Fathey.
'sPaEents have fiiniy heartsl No tears eau move
them. ."--OTwAY.
Where now stands the little villageOf Wey.
mouth, at the time Of our narrative only few
Fade cots were scattered here aud there along
the margin Of the deep. dark forest. One of
the number never failed to attract the atten-
ton Of passefs. And it could not have been
the building itself which drew this unusual
notice for IL was only mean rough cot at
best. But its rude front was covered with
thrifty woodbine, aud the neat yard teemed
with variety Of delicate flowers and tasteful
bhfuDDefys WHICH pfostnteu oucl strange
contrast with the grim forest in whose bosom
itseemed to nestle, that even the sturdy far
mer, in returning from his work IN the gray Of
the evening, weary though he was With the
day, unconscionsly stopped at the wicket gate
70 admire the scene. And the bare footed
cowboy, as he drove the lowing herd before
him, always turned up at the flower garden to
peer over the rude fenee and often, while gaz-
ing, became unmindfnl Of his charge. And
the sehOol.children, when sporting ineFrily
home from school upon arriving at the enclo-
sure forgot their frolic, aud paused to clap
their, little hands with childish glee at the
blooming flowers, 30
Such were the attractions around Mr..
Grey's cottage; but II We peer very closely
through che clustering foliage, We shall dis
eern : diligent attendant whose beauty may
well vie With that Of the beauteous plants
she % dearly cherishes. She fits around
Amnng the vines, humming some plaintiye air,
or hosyihg deep siShs which plainly tell that
she Is the companion Of grief. And why
ahoald grief agitata that fair frame Surely
those mild blue eyes and golden ringlets were
never intended Tor child Of sorrow. But
sorroWful she Il Once her beauty might
have hee4 compared With the blooming fresh.
ness q tie rose-An0W X narlakes ol theealm5
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