Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-10-14
N. R9fi7
Heathenville.
And the School in StubzHollow.

~
Hollow. 1t was s.ttled long ago by GER
tain sturdy defendants of the Pilgrims,
to wit, Cap. Longmaker, Lient. Shocks,
and Corporal Stubs. The original
Longmaker vas gigantic and extensive
IN stature, but was somewhat indolent,
it being commonly reported among his
neighbors that the wrens once made a
nest in his coat tail.
The FIRST Shocks that came into Stub
Hollow was immense in latitude. The
Shocks that came over in the maylower
having during the s%ojourn of the Pilgrims
in Holland, married q Dutch wife, WHO
died soon after landing at Plymouth
Rock, the change from sourkraut to
hominy having been too much for her
constitution. When cabbage grew the
ensuing season, the krout barrel was re-
plenished, and so her interesting off
spring were kept in a aourishing ..condi
ton. Corporal Stubs, although inferior
in rank, was the hero of the settlement,
having in single.handed contest shot an
old Indian. and captured on old squaw.
This daring achievement is ever held in
remembrance by his defendants, and one
of them of an artastic turn, has sketehed
the scene in q thrilling manner upon can
yass, representing the Industrious ancestor
leading the squaws away iuto captivity.
In favorable situations a peculiar race of
sharp-nosed sheep were kept but the
principal dependence Of the inhabitants
was upon geese,raising, as these pibeds
managed more adroitly to secure the her
bage that grew among the rocks. Their
feathers formed q principal article of ex-
port. 9a
The public buildings were a church, a
schoolhouse and a grocery. The church
was, at the period Of which we propose
to speak, seldom visited by the male
population of mature years, there being
little prospect OF" getting anything to
drink" in that direction, and it being the
custom to carry "a guest home' on the
Sabbath. On week days their horses
were hitched around the grocery. Hence
i" Heathenville" became the popular
name of the village.
The school-house was beautifully stu
ated near the highway, on the edge Of a
frog pond, aud was hanked by briar
hedges. There was a tradition among
the old ladies, that it had once been
painted red, and within memory Of the
8 oldest iuhabitant' the wood house had
been split up for kindiings.
The inside of the house was, for the
most part, filed with a stone chimney,
in which was a fire place, and at times
an imitation Of a fire, the rule in the dis
trict being to keep a plenty of sappy,
soggy stuff at the door, that no FIRE in
common use could possibly consume, so
hat if the world caught on fire the wood
Pile would be likely to escape the gen
eral confagation.
The ceiling was garnished with book
leaves in a m~asticated state. The ben
ches were very high, with no backs. The
mall scholars were seated upon them,
like frogs, and looked as though al
ways ready for a jump into the middle
Of the floor. The larger pupils made out
better, having the honor of resting their
backs against the writing desk. s0F8.
A massive ferruie lay upon the table
a Formidable bunch Of birch whips were
in 8 convenient position.
The schoolmaster, Peter Smuggins,
had seen better days. He vas far away
IRON his native village from the pleasant
hills and valleys where he had wandered
joyously ip his happy youth. He had
long before been in prosperity's pathway,
where were flowers and sweet songsters
by the wayside, q genial cloudless sky
above, He saw a fair one, and she was
cruel, or perhaps she liked some one else
better. Peter, after this event, fed to
Heathenville, lived by himself, and in
winter kept school. The tall elegant
young man, with the form Of Apollo, soon
grew weazen and wintry in eountenance,
lank, scrawny in. person, and uncouth in
manner.
His only companions were a pug dog
and q tame crow. The pug, in the sum
mer season, used to chase Peters old
rooster and six hens out of the garden,
and when school was kept he went wagg
ing his tail after his master every morn
ing to the school house, where he lay by
Peters oyercoat, and at night followed
his master home with due regularity, In
course Of time he grew fat and died from
apoplexy. The crow, in school time, had
q cage at the school house, over the fire.
place, where he kept a close watch of the
A B G class. who deemed him akin to old
Satan himself in watchfnlness and sagaci-
ty he never made disturbance in school
but once. Then, Petor's back being
urned, young Hen. Smith bestowed kiss
upon the not very unwilling Nance Hig-
gins, at which, though done decently and
softly. with no snap and pop like common
country kisses, The crow thrust his head
out and uttered q sharp cav" This
directed the attention Of the school and
Peter toward the bold Henry and the
olushing Nancy, when the master whol
was always down upon any juyeniIity,I
bestowed a suitable reprimand. This
timely Or untimely Intervention of the
crow was followed, in due time, By a wed
ding of Mr.. aud Mrs. Hen Smith. -
Each morning the grief Of young Heath
%enville was manifest. He was duly ejec-
Ted from the paternal premises at half
past eight, a. NJ, with precise directions
10 mind his book" which book consis
led, in, each family of an old edition of
Webster's spelling book, 2 part OF a les
lament, with a portion of the cover, With
some leaves IF ali English Reader or