New-York tribune., 1872-07-29
OLD COLONY LETTERS.
UI.-MARSHFIELD
AN ENCHANTED vOYAGE-THE MARSHFIELD
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WEBSTER'S PLACE
THE WEBSTER MANSION-THE HFRD-THE

ELM-THE HOMESTEAD.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUYBl
STANDIsH HOUSE, DUxBURY, July 27.-An
excursion, however beautiful is not always its
for being, but requires objective purpose. Most
of u.s. Also have instinct to with our own
and in way, localities which pen and pencil may
often have described; To catch their spiritual amo-
sphere by actual inhalation OF the winds that mover
about them. From double motive have thus been led
to visit the almost forgotten home OF that largemoded
statesman who, than all his compeers, was the ma
tons pride and SORROW that besbeoved. adopted son
OF Massachusetts, upon whom she lavished her hearb
her loyalty, and her treasure freely and unregretfuy'
10 the very last She could else mother On ers
ing him in his strength and weakness and though sno
might not follow him when he left the pain "nero ho
himself had guided her. 1t was tendery' ana Win no
averted eyes, that she laid him in mis- homestead sepu
cher and consecrated it thenceforth TO the "
those who inherited his blood and name'
translucent July morning beaooned me upon my pii-
eriuaee 70 the historic downs OF Marshfeld. Who, go
ing thither would follow weary miles OF DUSTY tuIhP'
when the blue ocean could bear ham 10 ls very pou
by the same unfurrowed path which webster loVeu W
take-acIoss the bay, along the winuing Inc anu w %
reedy river whose sedges seem to murmur OIL HUI S"
And so, on this sheeny Summer MORN
"Tbe tide Of time flowed back with me.
The forwardhowing tide OF tme'
oo IN cou,nanv of an eagereyed American boy whose
possibilities of life all before him, pushed my
sha frO
was gliding over the flats and headed for the Clarks
Island channel that enters Duxbury Bay clear fair
skv and steady favoring breeze. Look over the un
wale and see all the marvels of Eden glmmering be-
neathi "Seafan and tange, the blooms and palms OF
the ocean," with pointed feathery plumage compact OF
gorgeous dyes bend slowly to the current, like wind
kissed tropical forest under the and in open rock
srewn places the sarsh. muSsel shells, and cookies
have prismatc mingled beauty, and even the huge,
unganly sculpins nosng among them-so hdeous above
seas-are here in nuous keeping and renew for us the
lesson that
There is in nature nothing mean or ssse'
But only 5 our baseness makes 1t So"
On our right about the Gurnet placid
that you wonder how the ship-channel can rage 50
wildly there in a stormy time. LOngfelow must have
made study whether in his library or on the spot
itself of the scene of his Old Colony hexameers His
topography everywhere correct and YOU can here
plainly see how the Mayhower
-" "sailed from the harbor
Rounded the point of the Gurnet and leaving far to
Island and cape of sand and the Field of the First
Took the wind on her quarter and stood for the open
Atlantic"
"The Gurnet" Is a name resonant and distinctive
that have been moved to ask of its origin and have
asked in vain-Obscurty of local tradition prevailing
here elsewhere. After ALL 1t seems to be derived
from the tOadheaded fish which have mentioned.
horny yheaded species, found along the Devon coast,
England, whence the Pilgrim sres The old fisher
men heTeabout tell that sculpns often were called
gurneys" until within score of years. Great num-
bers caught around the point in question and doubt
that the explorers mistakng them for their English
cousins gave their hame to the headand whose waters
their haunt.
But we have crossed the bay, steering through the
guzzle Of the shoa upon which the current is roaring
in this calm weather. like the crack OF doom. We
heed ii not, but shoot like Argo between the 0stng
rocks, and in moment under the lee OF Saquish,
and have 1OOd-tide to help the shadows and
up channel still before PROV. We speed
past Dxbury the scattered houses of Marshfed break
into view; while boat fitting over submerged low
lands enters Cut Rivera passage open to the tide half
creek, half canal by which going northward you can
reach Green's River and thence again the ocean above
the glorious Marshfed beach. Winding UP this salty
stream, either side of lie bottomands, where In
the Fall all kinds OF marine fowl wont 70 cOngregate
fly within the sportsmans range. Beyond them,
the eye see, the woods downs and wind
swept waters, that constantly afforded Webster the
chase Of wing and fin and all the zest of outdoor life so
essential his vigorous prmeva nature. But we are
opposite the wooded hummock where the French cable
lands and the barracks of the officials who have
the cis-Atlantic station in charge. The county map
shows that at lonely bridge before us is good place
TO let down sail and fasten painter so, taking to our
feet, find ourselves upon meadowroad, lined with
blackberry bushes alder, and sweet fern, with but
miles walk yet further to the Webster Mansion.
In few minutes we reach struggling gabled farm
house. painted white, to which leads shaded by'waik
was the residence of the late Col Fletcher Webster
the statesman's last surviving son, who was Killed at
the second Bull Run ght-a man OF brilliant parts, but
handicapped and overweighted from the first with the
prestige of his fathers glory and born to chansei
easy-going somewhat purposeess life. He died Tor MS
country in the end he who has fulfilled that spar
at has
"D w." deeply craven in poplar near the gateway
catch the quick eye Of my boy who asks II the great r
Webster cut them No. those letters are done In sprawl
ing boyish STYLE likely by Daniel, Fletcher Web
ster's son. whom fastened the hopes and name
OF the grandfather but who died years ago. in sOr
row and obscurty after brief unrestful manhood His
crayon likeness as youth Of eight or nine Summers,
hangs in the parlor at Marshfeld-an exquisely CHS
eed grish face classical beauty but with something
know not what, of passionate weakness about the
mouth and chin
The Fetcber-Webster place has passed into strange
hands and is sadly neglected The hedges have run to
waste and the hckt the entrance is like the oopse
that hid the Sleeping !Paace during fated hundred
wears We turned away and followed the road through
an open farming region, with houses few and far be
tween but lined with fragrant hay fields and afordng
here and there gmpses OF ocean TO make us less Ioor
Suddenly we upon noble herd of cattle, ranging
tweny-acre lot some head IN ALL mostly COWS
of mingled breed but with four great oxen towering
above the highshouldered behemoths OF the field
sprung must be, from the lons of Websters favorte
bulls There was something heroic about these mon
sterssacred TO Helios it seemed, and facing the four
Winds distinguished" as one Of Homers pupils sang
"amidst all the trail-foot kline" 80 many
descendants OF the cattle whose breath was grateful
70 the farmer statesman whose fanks he loved to fon
de yet remain and others Of the same stock are to be
found on certain OF the neighborng farms Beyond the
pasture Of these Augean warders we enter narrow
winding road leading up to the center of the Webster
- -. -ho 4.uoor trrn nnteurnrthY hnnsea: