Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-12-29
aOLD CONCORD.

Dear monitor Each week you
bring me faithful news of our old
friends, which we gladly receive; and
it occurred to us that you, and they,
might be interested in recent trip
of ours to Concord, Mass. Long
had we desired to visit the historic
old town, and it was with light hearts
and happy anticipations that our lit
tie party commenced its tour of in
vestigation.
We remember that here the revo-
lntion practically commenced the
resistance of Major Buttrick's men
to the British soldiers at the north
bridge across the Concord river. AS
we pass through the beautiful avenue
leading to it, it is gratifying to note
the careful pride of the people in
cherishing the memories and adding
to the beauty of that town, whose
very nsslne was ezsesen fro4n the Chris
tian union and concord among the
first company, and whose patriotism
shines so brightly upon the pages of
history. Even the humblest of her
citizens feel that her honor, given to
his keeping, is restraining influence
upon his life and conduct.
Arriving at the scene of the battle,
we pause upon the east bank of the
river, whose slight fall (only one
fourth inch in a mile) gives it a peace
full beauty, and stamps it river of
leisure, no common stream working
itself into froth and foam in its per-
petual struggle to keep the mills upon
it's stream in constant operation.
Here is grand obelisk, suitably
inscribed, erected upon the very spot
where the first British soldiers fell,
and near by are their graves.
Crossing the bridge, we stand
"where the embattled farmers stood
snd fired hard round the world"
Here is the minute man, beautiful
statue quite recently erected, one
hand resting upon the plough, the
other holding his musket, while the
face represents that dauntless resolu-
ton which characterized our forefath-
ers in their struggles for freedom.
We noticed the artists name, D.
G. French, but regretfully surmise it
is not your townsman of the same
name. Within sight live the grand
daughters of Maj. Buttrick, COM
mander of the Concord officers, in a
house built by their father on a part
of the home farm. A little further
back is the home of the Major him
self. recently repaired and modern
lied, which bids fair to last another
century. Adjoining the battlefield
stands 1.-The Old Manse," owned by
the Ripley family, from rear win
dow of which the pastor watched the
battle between his parishIoners and
the enemy. But the old "Manse"
is better known to all lovers of Haw-
thorne, as his residence for time,
was here, during which he wrote and
compiled "Mosses from an Old
Manse," which has delighted so many
readers.
Following the road over which the
British retreated, our attention was
called to bullet hole which remains
undisturbed on an ancient house. Re-
port has it that man came to the
door to watch the novel sight, and q
soldier fired at him, but fortunately
the house, not the man, received the
bullet.
We pass the Wright tavern" OF
revolutionary fame on the way to the
late home of Hawthorne, where he
spent the last years of his life. The
place is full of interest. Our last
look was directed towards the study
windows where he spent so many
hours.
We visited the home of the Alcotts
where the illustrious Prof., feeble
with age, resides with his giftet
daughter, Louisa, so well known as
the author of 'sLittle Women Near
by is the building where the Concord
School of Philosophy holds her ses
sions. We were somewhat familiar
with representations and descriptions
of it as given i'll practical papers, st
were not expecting an elegant build
ing, but rather commonplace; bu
we were disappointed it is not com
monplace it is too humble for that
we see a small, wooden structure, un
painted and unattractive. But peo
pie whose thoughts soar SO far be
yond the comprehension of ordinary
, mortals that their themes and mucl
of their discourse might almost a
we'll have been written in Sanskrit
may well afford to be oblivions t.
| outward surroundings.
| We turned toward another student
the real Mecca of Concord, the hom
of Raldh Waldo Emerson and her
, there was no disappointment. Th
> plain elegance and simple good tast
) of the home and grounds, made it
fitting abode wherein the reyered sag
could frame into words the thought
J that so enrich our literature. /
speaks volumes for his kindness ant
/ warmth of heart that contrary to th
4 usual homes of prophets, he is no
: where so much loved and respecte'
/. as in his own village.
D A drive of about two miles brough
rs TO Maiden Pond. familiar as ia