The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-11-20

| seventy years OF age; but ne is SUlll 1ull
of that fire which made his father such
a marked man.
l imagine that he does not look unlike
his parent did when he died. His little
vineyard of seven acres, from which he
| picks good living, unless all the evil
dences fail, stands back from the main
road some distance, and the house where
he lives is Just beside the waters of the
lake. All about it are proofs of neatness
and a reasonable degree of prosperity.
After we had chatted for time we
went down to seat under the spreading
branches of tree, and there talked for
an hour. Just to the left of us was a lit
tie office facing the house, in which the
veteran preserves the relics of the con-
test at the little Virginia town at the
| junction of the Potomac and Shenan-
| doah rivers, that has made his family
name famous the world over. In it are
books, manuscripts and even some of the
arms that were used at Harper's Ferry.
ROMANCE AND TRAGEDY.
Mr.. Brown keeps the small building as
a sort of workshop, where he may live
among sacred memories. To pore over
the mysteries of that place and delve
among the written things he has pre-
served would be worth much, but he is
keeping them all for family record, and
| ! can say nothing more about them than
that when they are given to the public
romance and tragedy will be so mingled
as to attract any mind.
Eyes, my sister Ruth, who lives in
California, is preparing a scrt of sketch
or memorial volume about the events of
1859 and those that preceded and fol-
lowed it. She may not write large
book, but good part of her life has
been spent in gathering up the threads
of that time, and when her volume is
printed the world will have some new
facts in relation to John Brown. do
not know how they will be received, for
it has moved so rapidly since those days,
| that it is hard to say what will interest
those of the present generation. But l
am getting evidences every day that
thought about the cause my father es-
poused and his family, who tried to help
him carry it out, is not dead"
Were you in the fight at Harper's
Ferry ?"
mo. had been sent by my father TO
Canada to enlist the active support of
the better class of colored men who had
escaped from bondage; in fact. to re-
cruit soldiers for our cause. | had been
quite successful, and had just returned
to our home in Ashtabula county, in
tending to rejOin my father near the
scene of action, when the combat took
pl zee. 1t was not his intention to make
tic attack for some months after he did,
but traitor in his party forced him to
move quickly and without proper pre-
paration. He was a very ardent man,
who knew no fear, and hence when the
emergency arose he never hesitated to
act.
WON'T SELL GRAPES FOR VINE.
ave have profound respect for his
memory, and have never looked upon
his like since he went to his grave You
will remember perhaps, that the move
ments upon the armory at Harper's
Ferry resulted in a Congressional in
vestigation, which was managed by Mr.
Mason of Mason and SlIdell fame. They
undertook to take me to Washington to
testify. They even sent deputy mar
shall after me; but | refused to 90. |
knew what my presence in Washington
would mean, and remained at home. l
took no part in the war. except to 90 to
Kansas, and Join one of the border regi-
ments for time.
''Let me see, it was early in 1862 that l
came to this island and settled on this
litUle patch of land to raise fruit have
led very secluded life attending to my
vineyard and gathering my grapes. See,
| have a wagon load almost ready for the
Detroit boat, where | have sent all of my
product for years. | never sell a pound
of my growing for wine"
WHERE PERRY's MEN LIE.
"You will excuse my farmers garb,"
said he as we walked along, but like
it and it fits my business"
We parted at the gate hy the main
road and | walked toward the little
wooden town which is called Put-in-Bay.
An hour later, just as was finding my
way to the dock where the big steamers
land for Detroit, Cleveland, Toledo and
Sandusky, met Mr.. Brown again just
under the spreading branches of the
willow tree which marks the spot where
Perry's men are buried who fell in the
memorable battle on Lake Erie when
the old Commodore sent the ringing
message to the government that has been
cast in letters of gold:
I'VE have met the enemy and they are
ours"
We gossiped little about the history
of this spot where we were standing and
as we parted he said kindly:
Come and see me again if you ever
come this way"
Then the picturesque man who repre-
sents such remarkable family passed
out to the little vineyard. 4.
Burr in N. Y. Press.