Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-24
GRA NDMOTHER'S STORY.


Another Glimpse OF Ne OIden Time.
[From a manuscript found n an old house in Plym-
outh, Mass; printed in Harper's Magazine for No
yember
was born in Msrshfeld in the state of
Massachusetts,, on the 9TH Of April, 1905, and
was the daughter OF jeremiah and Priscilla
Thomas OF that town. My father was the
grandson Of William Thomas, one of the
merchants of London who by their aid and
influence enabled the Pilgrims to found a
successful colony in New England. He was
a large landed proprietor, and bis estate Join.
ed that Of Isaac Wnsow, the grandson of
Edward Winslow of the Magf0uer. John
Winslow, a son OF Isaac, was my school and
playmate, and after he had become dstin-
guished as Commander Of the Massachusetts,
forces 10 the expedition against the Acadians,
| often saw him and admired his military
and gentlemanly bearing.
My childhood and youth were passed with
out any special event to disturb their mouot-
ony, my parents giving me the benefit Of the
short seasons Of the single public school of
the town, and the raTer privilege of attend
ing such private schools as were occasionally
taught during the winter months by either
students or graduates of the college at Cam.
bridge. Though Marshfed was on the road
from Plymouth to Boston, there was little
communication with either, and the mails
we're carried TO each place on horseback only
twice in each week. Much of my time was
spent in the ordinary occupations of spinning
and weaving as all tue outer clothing worn
by members OF the family wAs-as was the
cutsum of the day in all country towns
made from cloth spun and woven at home
There were two fuliDg-mlls in the village,
and the only work on the cloth used by the
household which We did not ourselves per-
form was that done in these establishments,
which found abundant support from coDtri-
buttons Of domestic industry.
As may be supposed, to those leading a
quiet country life the arrival Of strangers
was great event. Whether old or young,
and Of whichever sex, they we're looked up
on ~ in these later times the barbarous in -
habitants OF some distant island look upon
casual visitors from more civilized shores
But IL At any time by chance a strange young
man should visit our town, Am not ashamed
to confess that the female heart was thrown
into state OF excitement and perturbation.
And now and then such wAs the case in the
form, as / have said before, OF some student
or graduate Of Harvard who came on a pros.
pecting tour in search OF a school, Though
some of my schoolmates surrendered to these
sieges laid to their hearts by these young
men, was fortunate or unfortunate enough
to escape an attack from these foes to the
peace of our fresides until l was nineteen
years Of age.
But my turn was soon to come. At that
time q young man named Noah Hobart, a
graduate Of Cambridge, in the summer of
l724 came to Duxbury to teach a winter
school, and brought letters of introduction
to my father. DuxbuTy was but three miles
distant, and soon after his arrival he came to
present his letters, and was urged to take his
- ~ a =
| He belonged to one of the old families of
Massachusetts, Colony, his great-grandfather
having been Edward Hobart, one OF the early
settlers of bingham in 1885. On the occa-
sion of his first visit was much impressed
| with his manly beauty and entertaining con-
versation, and, maiden like, thought that
| discovered in his somewhat distant and dig
nifed manner OF addressing me that he had
received as favorable an impression of my
self. Though perfectly free and unrestrain-
ed in his bearing toward others, his treat
ment Of me from the first, as he afterward
acknowledged, was as if l were shrine too
holy for him to approach with levity on his
tongue. l long ago discovered that love is
sober and serious 10 manifestations and that
the merry voice directed to merely friendly
ears gives way TO tenderness akin to sadness
in the presence of one beloved. With me it
| was love at first sight-the only true love in
| the world, as l believe, a love which has no
chilly morn nor dusky eve, but is from first
| to last meridian day. When he left US on
that frst.evening, thought, in bidding him
| good night, felt a pressure OF his hand,
which the will by which his tongue had been
controlled had no power to repress. know
| not why il is, but women read the hearts OF
men more clearly than men read theirs. 1t
may be that men are more pronounced in
/ uia OF their aHaalinn a or hat
less perfectly educated in the language which
| lovers use. 1t was not until after repeated
| visits that he discovered the interest felt in
| him, and even then he was reserved in his
| attentions, oppressed as he was by the con-
! viction that his worldly prospects were not
sufficiently established to warrant the declar-
| alton of his love. But at length the strength
of his affection overcame his fears, and with
no thought beyond the happiness of the
| hour l promised to become his wife. The
fear, however, that long time must elapse
before we could be married continued to ha-
rass him, and mingled with this fear was the
me of more favorable opportunities of mar.
riage.
Such was the state of things between ui
when one day, during the summer OF 1927,
my mother called me into her chamber, tell
ing me that she had an important communi
| cation to make which concerned my future
welfare and happiness. With a feeling OF
half hope and half fear L followed her, and
| both hope and fear were soon overwhelmed
in the astonishment felt at her announce
ment. She told me that John Watson, gen
tleman OF Plymouth, had, through my father,
solicited my hand in marriage. Mr.. Watson
was merchant in his native town, living
with abundant means and in comparative lux.
| avA thnpob lOpp, a griapA ~ nV,r Fap,
was so much older than myself that had
looked upon him rather as the associate and
companion of my father than those of my
own age. He had married, in l7l5, Sarah
| Rogers OF Ipswich--a descendant of John
| Rogers, the martyr-who had died, leaving
him a widower with two children, John and
George, both OF whom are now living. My
father had told him, in reply to his soloita
tion that was already engaged to Mr.. Ho
bart, and with the instincts Of an honorable
man he had urged the withdrawal of his of
fer. My father, however, deeply impressed
with the advantages of the proposed ALI
ance insisted on communicating his wishes
with the distinct understanding, however
that all parties should be informed of the cir
oumstances attending their expression. 1
was the earnest wish, my mother told me
both OF herself and my father, that l should
terminate the engagement with Mr.. Hobart
which promised to be of indefinite duration
and accept Mr.. Watson. Mr.. Hobart sh,
said, was poor and if he should ever be able
to make me his wife, he could hardly be ex
peoted to maintain a family in the comfort
and luxury to which l had been accustomed
But the prudential reasons stated by my mo
ther had no influence on my mind. 1t wa
enough for me that was living in a worlt
OF happiness and love, and the future wal
beyond the horizon of my daily thought
and feelings. This happiness surrounded mt
as the atmosphere surrounds the earth, and
felt that wherever destiny might lead, i
would always follow me through the orbit o
my life.
But in those days, in matrimonial affairs
the wishes Of parents we're law for tn