Milford chronicle., 1889-06-21
THE TWO BRASS KETTLES.

4
called It-was built in this way to protect
the dwellars against rude Indian assaults,
There is but one house standing that resem-
bles 1.-THE Cradock mansion in Medford.
There were many such houses In the old col
onies, but one by one they grew gray with
moss and vanished The Minot house itself
was burned about twenty years ago, after
standing about 2:}0 years
The Old people of Dorchester and Neponset
must remember it. 1t rose solemn and state
ly at the foot Of the high hills overlooking
the sea meadows. The high tides came into
the thatch margins near it and went out
again, leaving the abundant shell fish spout
ing in the sun. The fringed gentidns grew
amid the aftermath of the hay fields around
it. The orioles swung in the tall trees in
summer time, and ospreys circled and
screamed in the clear sky over all.
But the orchards-here were the fullness
and perfection of the old New England Or
chardsl The south winds of May scattered
the apple blossoms like snow over the emerald
turf. and filed the air with fragrance The
earliest bluebfrds cams to them, and there
the first robins built their nests. How charm
ing and airy it all was in May, when the days
were melting into summer, and how really
beautiful and full Of life were all of these
venerable New England honest
After the old house was burned / visited
the place, and brought away few bricks as
a souvenir of home of heroic memories-of
happy memories, too, if we except a single
tragedy Of the Indian war. The great or
chards are gone the old barns and their swal-
lows; only the well remained, and heap of
| burned bricks and the blackened outline of
/ the cellar wall
1t was house full of legends and stories
| wonder tales that once led the stranger to
/ look upon it with kind Of superstitiousa awe.
1t had its historic lore, but the most thrilling
legend associated with the old walls was
known as THE Two Brass Kettles" The
legend may have grown with time, but it was
well based on historic facts, and was often
told at the ample firesides of three genera
tions Of Dorchester people.
"Uncle Zebedee, -" piped.
'Well, dearie"
"Aunt said that you would tell us the story
of THE Two Brass Kettles after dinner"
"Why, dearie, yes, yes. Two been telling
that story these eighty years, come October.
Didn't you never hear it, l thought all little
shayers knew about that. The Two Brass
Kettles yes.
"They're in the old cupboard now
Bring them out, and will tell you all about
'em shan't live to tell that story many
more years. Maybe / shall never tell it |
again
The servants brought out the two kettles |
into the kitchen, where we could see them |
through the wide dining room door.
Put em in the middle of the floor before |
the window" said Uncle Zebsdee 'There, |
that will do. That is just where they were |
when the Indian came
''You see the window" he added.
1t had great deep set easement. Grape
vines half curtained it now on the outside, |
and the slanting sun shone through them, its
beams glimmering on the cid silver of the
table 1t was past the middle of the after
noon of the shortening days of autumn.
"You have all heard of Philips war" be-
gan Uncle Zebedee, leaning forward from
his Chair on his crutch- Everybody has
it destroyed thirteen towns in the Old Col
ony, and for two years filed every heart
with terror. Philip struck here, there and
everywhere. No one could tell where he
would strike next The sight of an Indian
lurking about in the woods or looking out of
the pines and bushes usually meant u mas
cree (nassacrel.
"One Sunday in July, in 1915, the family
went to meeting, leaving two small children,
a boy and a girl, at home, in charge of a
maid named Experience. The kitchen then
was as you see it now. The window wasopen.
the two brass kettles had been secured on
Saturday, and placed bottom upwards on the
floor, just as you see them there.
ut was blazing July day The hay fields
were silent. There was an odor of havricks
in the air, and the bobolinks, suppose, top
pied about in the grass, and red winged black
birds piped among the wild wayside roses.
just as they do now. wish that you could
have seen the old hay fields in the long July
all scent and sunshine; it makes
me long for my boyhood again, just to think
Of them. But shall never NOW again.
'Let me see The two children were sit
ting on the floor near the two kettles. Ex-
perience was preparing dinner and had made
a fire in the great brick oven, which heated
the bricks but did not heat the room
swell, on passing between the oven and
the window she CHANGED to look towards the
road, when she saw a sight that fixed her
Eyes, and caused her to throw up her hands I
with horror, just like that"
Uncle Zebedee threw up both hands. like
points, and let his crutch drop I
nto his lap
WELL the maid only lost her wits for few q
She few to the window and closed S
t, and bolted the door. Then she put one of
he children under one Of the brass kettles
md the other child under the other kettle.
nd took the iron shovel and lifted it so, and
waited to see what would happen and"- q
Uncle Zebedee lifted his crutch like an in 7
point, and we could easily imagine Z
be attitude of the excited maid. q
"And-where was Tn l
1.-THE children were under the Two Brass n
Kettles, and the maid was standing with tho c
re shovel in her haSd, son- said aunt ia, y
We heard that story ever since was a girl" q
Eyes, yes; have 1t all now" said Uncle 8
ebedee- "She was standing with the fire &
novel up 50, when she discovered that the o
indian had gun-a gun. Q
''Hou see that old hintlock there, over the Il
deboardl used to fire it Of every Fourth d
July, but the last time fired it kicked me n
yer Once-don't you never fire it, children. r.
always kicked, but It never knocked mo .
Vsr before. don't think that | am quite y
vigorous as used to be, and"-- ~
"What did the maid do with the gum
;ked aunt y
"The gun-yes, that was the gun, the one
p there. The gun was up in the chamber
len, and she dropped the shovel and ran up
airs to find it. But it was not loaded. and v,
lie powder was in one place and the shot in N
lother, and In her hurry and confusion she Ii,
sard pounding on the door, just like that tu
Uncle Zebedee raped on the old oak table is
it'll startling effect, and then, after a mo- nj
ents confusion, continued; "She loaded the ar
IN, and went down to the foot Of the stairs, pa
I'd looked through the latch hole Of the stair of
)or, so-and-yes, and the Indian was stand 70
e at the window That window. His two ~,
res were staring with wonder ON the Two by
rass Kettles. He had probably never seen W,
kettle like these before. and he did not know ga
hat they were. ha
while he stood staring and wondering 70
ie kettles began TO move. Two little hands th
'otruded under the bail Of each of item, nj,
Re turtles paws. for the kettles stOod on =