YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

3 9002 05350 3471 GLIMPSES

OLD NEW ENGLAND DM

OF OLD BEDFORD.

m\

&2£20vt <C6bt

7 S/^

yy

&

.,

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

1941

This book was digitized by Microsoft Corporation in
cooperation with Yale University Library, 2008. You
may not reproduce this digitized copy of the book for
any purpose other than for scholarship, research,
educational, or, in limited quantity, personal use. You
may not distribute or provide access to this digitized copy
(or modified or partial versions of it) for commercial purposes.

GLIMPSES

OLD NEW ENGLAND LIFE.

LEGENDS OE OLD BEDFORD.

ABRAM ENGLISH BROWN,
author of
History of First Sabbath School of Bedford, History of
Bedford, asd Bedford Old Families.

'T is strange, — but true ; for truth is always strange ;
Stranger than fiction. Byron — Don Juan, Canto xiv. St. 101.

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR.

R. H. BLODGETT, PRINTER,
30 Bromfield St., Boston.

Copyrighted by Author, 1892.

"In those days," said Hiawatha,
"Lo! how all things fade and perish.
From the memory of the old men
Pass away the great traditions,
The achievements of the warriors,
The adventures of the hunters,
All the wisdom of the Medas,
All the craft of the Vfahenos,
All the marvellous dreams and visions
Of the Jossakeeds, the Prophets."

DEDICATION.

TO MY GRANDMOTHER,
WHOSE LIFE WAS A BLESSING,
AND WHOSE MEMORY IS A BENEDICTION,
(fttjis lJolumt
IS GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED
BY THE AUTHOR.!

INTRODUCTION.

There is a sentiment, so often expressed as to be
classed with modern proverbs, that a parent who is a
wise disciplinarian, when becoming a grand-parent is
over-indulgent. It was the good fortune of tbe author of this volume
to be much in the society of his grand- parents, espec
ially that of his grandmother. After a lapse of time
sufficient to remove all sentimental prejudices, he
would enter a protest against the commonly accepted
belief. It is to his grandmother that the author is indebted
for the facts which this volume contains.
"Had I the ability, I would prove to the world
that truth is stranger than fiction," was an expression
of hers that found lodgment in the mind of the writer ;
and while laying no claims to literary ability, he has
tried to clothe a series of truths in a style of dress
attractive to readers of all ages, knowing that the
adult, at times, is not averse to stories especially
adapted to younger readers.
The one credited with this series of truths spent
her life in the place of her nativity, as did also several
generations of her ancestors, she being peculiarly
adapted by nature to gather and retain facts which
would have faded from other minds.
(6)

6 INTRODUCTION.
The Author was not supplied with many of the
melodies and fairy tales, which too often surfeit the
youth of to-day, but in their stead, while sitting at
the fireside through the long hours of the winter
evenings, was entertained by his grandmother with
true stories, some of which are herein related.
If the thoughts expressed at times seem too
mature for such a listener it may be credited to her
who believed in bringing the young mind up to hers
rather than descending to the level of the child.
The Author admits that he has not strictly adhered
to the time of the occurrence of the events, thereby
aiming to guard against tresspassing upon the sacred-
ness of family ties.
The Author, at first, thought of including the lead
ing facts with the History of Bedford, but at length
decided to give them under assumed names for obvi
ous reasons, and style them legends.
In order that the customs of our ancestors may not
be lost sight of and we fail to appreciate their lives,
a series of cuts is added, illustrative of the times and
experiences narrated in this work.
With profound gratitude for the many kind words
from appreciative readers of the History of the town,
this volume of Legends is offered to them and to all
who may peruse it, with the hope that it will not
only furnish amusement but give helpful instruction.

CONTENTS.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.
THE SILVER CROWN.
THE WITCH OF SHAWSjIINE.
A POD OF NINE PEAS.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY NEW ENGLAND MAGAZINE,
C. L. FLINT, F. A. LAWS, AND HELIOTYPE
PRINTING COMPANY.

Frontispiece. Home Life.
My Grandmother, . ... 4
The Living Room, . . . . 10
The Parson and the Miser, . . .15
Larkin' s Shop, ... 25
Cynthia Smith's Quilting, ... 31
Horse and Sleigh, • 33
Old School House, . • 35
The Singing School, . . . 37
Warning the Rats, ... 44
Miss Nibbs left the Briggs House, 48
Home of Deacon Sprague, . • 54
Page drove his Steers to the Garden Wall, 61
The Miser's Death Bed, . • 71
Funeral of Hezekiah Pendleton, . 75
Hiding the Treasures, . . 78
Opening the Mysterious Room, 82
Pendleton Homestead, . ... 84
Meeting Hctise, . . ... 88
The Crow and the Raising, • 109
Buying the Wedding Garments, . Ill
A Midnight Revelation, . 121
Dividing the Treasures, . 125
"Cried in Meetin'," 128
Marriage of Priscilla, . . 133
Preaching at Home, . • 139
A Neighbor's Home, . . . 143, 150
The Silver Crown, . . 159, 160
Fitch's Tavern, . . .165
The little Grave among the Daisies, . 172
A Family Cradle, . 175
The Mill on the Shawshine, 177
The Bridal Party, . 180
The Shawshine House, . . • 182
Michael Bacon's Home, 183
Going to "Meetin'," ' 184
A Pod of Nine Peas, . ... 192

LEGENDS OE OLD BEDFORD.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

FIRST EVENING.
pBISCILLA, you go to bed ; I'm the one the
gentleman wants to see," was the imperative
command of Sally, the elder of two spinster
sisters, to the younger.
It was a winter night. The flames of the broad,
open fireplace, in the absence of the needless candle,
made more sharp and vivid the shadows on the oppo
site wall, not only of Priscilla, but a neighboring-
swain, Amariah Quimby, whose glances of inquiry
seemed to alternate from the face of doubtful years
to the stars, plainly visible through the broad chim
ney, up which the hickory smoke was winding.
The pertinacity of the angular creature, whose
command opens our story, made it evident to the
youthful suitor that no advances from him could be
received there, unless made to the one who had just en
tered, whose age gave her the precedence in household
affairs and which she determined, as did also her aged
parents, should give her the first right to the atten
tion of the gentlemen. Having no desire to submit
himself to the whims of that angular personage with
the aquiline nose, Amariah took down his three cor
nered hat from the old oaken peg, cast a farewell

10 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
glance at Priscilla, for he had tender feelings towards
her, and hastened home, adding another to the long
list of those who had met with similar disappoint
ment.

" Priscilla, you go to bed ; I'm the one the gentleman wants to see."
The other members of the family are two broad-
shouldered, hard-fisted brothers and the father and
mother of the four children, both far advanced in
life. A homespun gown of blue was the every day
costume of the girls, while that of the boys was a
loose skirted frock and trousers of home manufacture.
A broad, ruffled cap ancl kerchief of blue and white
plaid, carefully folded over the shoulders, finished
the mother's costume. That of the boys was good
enough for the father, with an added fixture in the
way of a broad leather apron that saved the home-

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOJH. 11
spun frock and breeches, which latter came only to
the knee to meet the long stockings that completed
the dress of the lower limbs. The ancestral dwelling,
facing square to the south, had never known the
painter's brush outside or in. On entering it, one step
down was taken, thus bringing the floors a little
below the level of the ground. Their white surfaces
revealed no lack of faithful scouring, neither did the
amply shelved dresser, on which was arranged in
maidenish precision the scanty supply of pewter and
time-honored blue ware.
The singing of the huge-mouthed tea-kettle on the
crane, with the hum of the ever busy wheel, fur
nished the music for the living room. The same
ness of the best room was broken by the well-
sanded floor, where grotesque figures of the broom
showed an attempt at an artistic flourish ; the solid
mahogany table, its surface waxed and rubbed until
the copy of Holy Writ that lay upon it, was mirrored
to double thickness ; and the closely curtained bed
of down in the corner ; these, with a few straight-
backed chairs against the wall, made the company
room. Few visitors came here, so there was little use
for this apartment. Of the upper rooms one only,
that dingy north-east corner with its bars and bolts,
interests the reader. None but the stealthy footstep
of the tyrannical owner ever stopped at its threshold.
What was within and what became of a. slowly accu
mulating wealth, none knew, other than he whose
" Don't you dare," sent a chill through every member
of the household, held in subjection through fear of
the husband and father.
To liye in this house with any degree of safety, to
say nothing of comfort, was to be perfectly submis-

12 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
sive to the iron will wrapped up in a little, wrinkled,
bowed, weird figure, whose address as father was
obtained through fear rather than respect, on the
part of the four children, who were kept from secur
ing the benefit to be obtained from the few weeks of
school that the town provided, because of the ever
increasing penuriousness of this narrow minded
parent. The godly minister of the town, after much
anxiety, called at the home of the Pendletons, and
in the discharge of his duty asked for the tottering
sire, when the good wife meekly answered, " He's in
that room and I am afraid to call him, for he always
comes out in a rage if I call him for any other pur
pose than to come to his meals or to take money ; he
won't dare to say anything to you or when you are
here, but when you are gone he'll act the worse and
scold the more ; but I'll call him, for you are aware
that no one on earth dares to go to that room."
With these words the good woman left the room.
Mr. Whitford regretted that he was liable to be
the occasion of another scolding from the head of
this family to a most faithful companion, yet, with
the hope that he might be the means of doing good,
he allowed him to be thus called.
"Father, you'd better come down and see Parson
Whitford," were the words echoed through the unfin
ished rooms above, soon followed by the sound of the
clumsy key being turned in the rusty lock and the
clattering of the hard brogans of the father of the
Pendleton family.
" Eh, eh — good morning, Parson Whitford. How
do you do this oold morning ? " were the words of
salutation that met a warm response from the rever-

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 13
end gentleman, while the smile on the little russet
face showed plainly that his " good morning " was
only superficial.
" Mr. Pendleton," said Parson Whitford, " I came
up to tell you that a friend of mine is about to open
a private school in the village and I want you to
send the children."
"Eh, eh," began the little man, Mr. Pendleton
had a slight catch in his speech which served as a
prelude to his remarks and was generally regarded by
the family as a warning of something unpleasant to
follow. "Eh, eh — send them great boys and gals
to school, big enough to go to meetin' barefoot, send
'em to school ? I guess not ; and I guess they'd be
ashamed to be seen there anyhow."
" But," continued ¦ the pastor, " the expense is not
great." " Eh, eh — expense, hey ? Do you think I'm
going to send myself to the town for the sake of
eddicating them children ? " interrupted the little
man. " No, Mr. Pendleton, I know very well you can
send them without laying yourself liable to any
suffering and with no sacrifice on your part that you
will ever feel, for we all know that you have a plenty
of this world's goods," continued the good pastor.
" Eh, eh — I guess you are talking about what you
don't know," replied the little man with a scuff of
the feet, plainly telling to the good wife that the
wrath of her husband was getting fully aroused, and
the dreaded outburst was not far distant. But,
thought she, if he will only keep calm till Mr. Whit
ford is gone, I will bear it without a word of com
plaint.

14 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
Like many a faithful wife, Mrs. Pendleton was
willing to suffer alone rather than expose the faults
of her husband, and she was a sufferer too. Only a
small part of the management of the household came
to her, save to spin, churn and plan to have her sons
and daughters decently attired on Sundays, and com
fortable on week days.
"Now, Mr. Pendleton," continued the minister, "I
feel it my duty as the clergyman of this town, and
your pastor, as well as that of a friend, to plainly say
to you, that to allow your sons and daughters to go
on in life with no more advantages than they have
enjoyed, is a great wrong. I know they are quite
well advanced in life and to some might seem too old
to attend school, but the one we are to have this win
ter is for adults and they won't feel out of place
there. And," he continued, "Mr. Pendleton, I fear
if your children ever come in possession of your
wealth they will spend it unwisely, because of the
little opportunity they have had of mingling with
others and securing the knowledge necessary to make
their way in the world."
Mr. Pendleton bore this plain talk from his pastor
with as much grace as it was possible for him to
show, and, with an occasional scuff of the feet, sup
pressed his wrath, while Mr. Whitford, determined
to do his full duty, added, "Mr. Pendleton, I fear
you are breaking the commandment, 'Thou shalt
have no other Gods before me,' and that your God is
locked up in that room where you spend so much
of your time, but you must know, brother Pendleton,"
striving to touch the heart of the little russet-faced
man by introducing a more familiar address, "that
the time is not far distant when you and I must

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

15

leave all that we have accumulated here and give an
account of our stewardship to the great Judge
above." "Eh, eh— leave all, hey? Well, I guess I shan't
have much to leave, and if I did as you want me to,
I shouldn't have enough to bury me," replied Mr.
Pendleton, with the emphasis of a double scuff of
his feet.

The Parson and the Miser.
"Now, my friend," said the good pastor, rising to
go, " I hope your money will spend well and that you
will see that you are not fully discharging your duty
towards the children whom your kind, Heavenly
Father has given you, in depriving them of an or
dinary education. There is a very homely saying
which is replete with truth, ' What is got over the
devil's back goes under his feet,' and I feel that rob
bing children of an ordinary means of obtaining a
living, is a kind of cheating, and I doubt not, Mr.

16 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
Pendleton, at some future time, those idols I have
reason to believe you are carving out in that lonely
room, will fall down and crush you or your blameless
children, and God forbid, even bring trouble to your
faithful wife in this world. You know full well the
Kingdom of Heaven has no mansion for any one who
prefers other Gods than Jehovah and seeks for salva
tion through any other source than His Son."
After a word of encouragement, kindly given to
the trembling mother, who had ventured from the
kitchen on observing that the conversation was draw
ing to a close, the good pastor retired, and the miserly
tyrant crept off to his den without a word that had
been feared by his faithful companion and the girls,
who soon appeared from their hiding places. Sally
at once went with her broom to the best room , where
their pastor had been entertained, and repaired the
figures in the sanding as well as she could, while
Priscilla revived the hum of the great wheel. As
soon as Mr. Whitford's chaise was well down tbe hill,
Seth and Saul, the two sons, came' from the rickety
barn, where they tremblingly did the father's bidding
when he was at home, and with some degree of confi
dence, planned for an attack on the iron bound apart
ment when he was away. When the time came for
carrying out their plans, they somehow lost what
courage they had and, partly because of their regard
for their mother, failed to carry out any attack that
they had hoped to make.
The drifting snow that whistled about the house, together
with the intense interest of this evening's story, for grandma
was in her happiest mood, had so charmed the listener that he
now, for the first time, broke out with indignation, "Well,
grandma, I should say those folks were fools to be so run over

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 17
by that old man. I wish I had been one of them, I would have
upset his den and found out what he had there that made him
such a terror to all the folks."
" Ah, but my child," said grandma, " if you had
been one of them you would have done no better.
You must know, or will some clay learn, that when
people are kept down and hardly allowed to think
for themselves, they grow up with a very different
spirit from that which controls people who are sent
to school and clothed so that they feel at ease in the
company of others, and mingle with the outside
world. Why, my child, there was no such thing as
a newspaper or book in that home, and the almanac
was about all they had except the Bible, and those
four children had so little learning that they could
read them with but little understanding. I tell you,
Ned, that people kept under as they were all their
early life, have but little courage. It is impossible
for you to fully appreciate their position, for these
times are so very different from the days when Heze
kiah Pendleton ruled that household, but you can
learn from what I tell you of these people, to more
fully appreciate the blessings with which you are sur
rounded and cease wishing you were rich as I so often
hear you express it, for you must see from what I
have already told you that wealth did not bring con
tentment or even comfort in this case."
" But, grandma, will you tell me what Mr. Pendleton did all
the time in that dark room?" anxiously inquired the boy,
seeing that grandma was about to close the story for the even
ing. "Well, my child, you will have to wait until
another evening, I guess, for I have a good deal more

18 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
that I can tell you about the family and their asso
ciates which I hope will be of profit to you as well as
amusement. The question you have now asked me
was the subject of wonder and speculation fully
twenty years in this community; some would say he
was there alone in meditation with God, but they
would soon give up that idea, knowing that one who
meditated upon the mind and character of the Divine
One could not conduct himself as he did for a single
day, to say nothing of years. Some thought he was
in league with the ruler of the realm of darkness,
but as his family and the town-folks had to wait till
death opened the door, I think it won't be unreason-
pble for you to wait awhile ; but don't spend your
time in wondering, over that question, rather seek to
be contented, and by doing your duty show that you
appreciate your many blessings."
With a good-night from the venerable lady, the
happy youth was soon asleep to dream of that mys
terious room.

SECOND EVENING.
[jrCROSS the meadow, by the side of the hill,
lived a thrifty farmer, Jacob Briggs, whose
family consisted of wife Lucy and two burly
boys of twelve and fourteen years, named George
and Josiah, respectively. Now this "Goodman Ja
cob," as the people styled him, strangely enough
had gained the confidence of the ehtire Pendleton

THE MYSTERIOUS EOOM. 19
family, and all secrets ancl difficulties were entrust
ed to him, save this one. In fact, my child, Jacob
Briggs was the closest-mouthed man I ever knew,
any one could tell from the expression of his counte
nance that he would never betray the confidence of
another, and I tell you, my boy, that is a noble trait
of character in any one ; if there were more such
people in these days, there would be less trouble in
society. If Mr. Briggs ever heard anything bad of a
person he would suppress it, and he never allowed
himself to tell a person anything that he knew would
wound his feelings. He had justly won the confi
dence of the entire community, as well as that of the
Pendletons. During one driving north-east snow storm, about
like that of the evening when I commenced this story,
when no one was expected at the home of the Briggs',
who should come puffing at the height of his speed to
the back door but Seth, the older and coarser of the
Pendleton boys, or young men I ought to call them,
— for they had reached manhood physically, long
before this.
Supposing that nothing but distress could have
started any one out in such a storm, Mother Briggs
hastened to the door with knitted brow and anxious
face, and in spite of the insifting snow, feelingly
exclaimed, " Seth, what is the matter ? Has your
mother had another of those spells ? Why didn't
you put the wormwood right on before you started ?
I suppose the girls are doing that, — but how bad
is she ? "
Seth, who by this time had shaken off the snow
flakes that covered his rugged form, displayed a look
not akin to such trouble, but to anxiety of another

20 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
kind, soon made known by his own words. Mr.
Briggs, having been called from the attic, where he
was shelling corn on a shovel, seated himself before
the broad' open fire with his good wife and Seth,
whose clothes were already steaming by the flashing
flames. After several tosses of the head and a num
ber of attempts to clear his throat, Seth made known
the cause of this unseasonable visit.
"What do you think, Mr. Briggs, that Dad did
last night, when we were all drinking our catnip ? "
The Pendletons drank catnip tea unless a neighbor
happened to sup with them. " Why, I haven't seen
him so good-natered for months to the whole of us,
and ma'am thinks it is a warning of something awful
coming. ' The sunny hours before a thunder storm,'
she says. Why, he said he'd come to the conclusion
that none of us was ever going to git married, and he
was going to make an offer, and what do you suppose
it was ? He said he'd give to the one of us that
would git married first, the Simpson farm. Now,
what do you think of that ? "
Seth was too full to give Mr. Briggs a chance to
answer any of these questions, but went on to describe
the Simpson place, which was well known to Mr.
Briggs, as he was one of the assessors of the town, and
knew the appraised value of all the real estate in the
community. "That's a fine house and forty acres of good land,
besides the cranberry medder, and he says he means
it too," continued Seth.
" Do tell ! " exclaimed Mother Briggs. " I should
think something was coming, and I don't wonder
your mother looks for some calamity after such a
strange thing on the part of your father."

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 21
"Now, what I want is, to git that place myself.
I know neither of the gals will git it, for Sally is
bound to be married first 'cause she is the oldest, and
no one will have her ; ancl as for Saul, he hain't got
spunk enough. Now, what shall I do first, Mr.
Briggs ? I lay awake last night, and I thought of
Patty Potter, who lives at the Deacon's. Do you sup
pose she would be willing to have me ? "
Here was quite a pause. All three seemed intent
on watching the flames as they crackled and rolled
up the chimney. One might have known, however,
that Mr. Briggs was giving the peculiar question
serious consideration, from the manner in which he
ran his fingers through his chestnut locks. At last,
but not until Seth began to be a little discouraged,
Mr. Briggs broke the spell ancl said : —
" You had better go to the singing school in the
village. They say that is a great place for making
matches. Go next Tuesday evening ; Patty will be
there, and when they get through the singing meeting,
you just step up and ask her if you may have the
pleasure of accompanying her home."
" But what shall I do if she says no ? " anxiously
inquired Seth.
" Oh, never mind that, the girls often say no when
they don't mean it ; but step right up to her and
insist on going," said Mr. Briggs, roguishly.
Seth, whose face was aglow with hope by this
time, burst in with the inquiry, " Shall I ask her to
have me right off, or have I got to wait till another
night ? I can't waste much time, for Saul will be try
ing to git some one, and I am bound to git that farm,
so close to Squire Smith's it ain't to be sneezed at, I
tell you."

22 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
" I wouldn't speak right out the first night but, use
your judgment and let me know how you get along.
Patty is a fine girl and worth trying hard for," said
Mr. Briggs, encouragingly.
" But, Mr. Briggs," responded Seth, " I have got to
have these brogans mended or have some new ones
before I can go to the singing school or anywhere
else, and Dad won't give me any money; but I am
going over to Larkin's shop before I go home and see
what he can do for me. I guess he'll trust me, for he
knows Dad will pay rather than git into trouble. I'll
come over and tell you what Patty says ; if Saul or
the gals come over, don't tell them I 've been here."
With these words Seth started across the lots for
Mr. Larkin's.
" Now, father," said Mrs. Briggs, as soon as Seth
was well out of the way, "those Pendletons have
come to us for advice on various subjects, but this is
a new one."
" Sure enough," said he.
" But," she continued, " what do you think has
come across the old gentleman, that he should start
out with this offer ? Stop — stop ; who is that com
ing ? " she said, lowering her voice, before her hus
band had time to give an answer to her first question.
" That is Saul," replied Mr. Briggs ; " now be sure
that nothing is said."
Turning to Saul, who was well nigh in, she ex
claimed with seeming surprise, " Good-morning, Saul,
how are all the folks ? "
" About the same," replied the awkward fellow,
excepting Dad, and he is getting real good-natered.
Why, he said last night that he'd give the Simpson
farm to the one of us that would git married first."

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 23
"That is a new departure," slyly responded Mrs.
Briggs. " Yes, 'tis ; but I don't believe much in it," contin
ued Saul, with a doubtful shake of the head. "But
Seth is all up on it and went off, as soon as we had
foddered the cows, to git his brogans mended up to
Larkin's shop, and the gals are a little stirred up on
it too ; but they can't agree, and it is of no use for
them to think of it. No one will have Seth if he
tries, but he says he is going to, though. Did you
know, Mr. Briggs, that Parson Jones has bought the
Goodnough farm and is going to live there ? I guess
he thinks this town will hire him to preach," contin
ued Saul.
"Why no," exclaimed Mrs. Briggs, voicing the
surprise of herself and husband ; " when was that ?
Why, his wife is dead ; how can he carry on a farm
with no one to take care of the dairy ? "
" I don't know how that is," said Saul, "but I must
hurry back, for Seth is off and Dad won't come out of
that den of his if the cattle ain't watered 'till night ;
but he'll blaze at us if we let them go for an hour
over the time."
" Give my regards to your mother and the girls,"
. exclaimed the familiar voice of Mrs. Briggs from the
cheese room, whither she had gone to attend to the
duties of the day. "And tell them," she continued,
" my last churning was the best of the season, little
too white, but good for winter butter. Has he gone,
father ? " the same voice followed with a whisper,
which grew louder when assured that Saul was be
yond hearing. I declare, Mr. Pendleton has got them
pretty well stirred up, but Seth seems to be the most
aroused and I hope he will succeed. I don't see why

24 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
he won't make a good husband ; to be sure, he is
rather awkward, but a good wife will help him to
overcome those failings, and with that Simpson place
all clear, they would have a good start."
" I think so, too," said Mr. Briggs, " and I mean
to help it along. I think it is real missionary work
to aid in getting one of those Pendletons out from
the iron sway of their father. If you see Patty, you
just speak to her ; she will be at the quilting to-mor
row, for she is always ready to lend a hand in all
good work. You suggest to her that there may be
an occasion for another quilting if she is willing,
and that will set her to thinking before the singing
school.'' "Now, father, I am afraid you are overdoing the
thing," said good Mrs. Briggs, reprovingly.
"Here, Ned," said grandma, "you can but see that the
ignorance of the unfortunate children began very soon to
show itself. No young man who had enjoyed ordinary advan
tages would have started out as did Seth, and, in fact, no
father who had done his duty by his children, would have
made any such proposition. As you have never been al
lowed to spend your leisure hours in a cobbler's shop, you will
not fully appreciate the position of Seth when .reaching the
workshop of Mr. Larkin."
Seth, on finding that his job could be done right
away, concluded to stop, and as the pair of well-worn
brogans was all that he possessed, he saw there was
no other way to put them in trim in time for the
singing school than to wait while Mr. Larkin made
the needed repairs.
"Seth, you ought to go to the singing school,"
shouted the little bald-headed man, who sat at a
low bench in one corner. "They say the boys and

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

25

girls are all getting matched, and you won't stand
any show at all after this season," continued he, little
thinking he had touched a tender chord when he
addressed this remark to Seth, all the time driving
in the pegs to a stout cowhide of overgrown propor
tion. " That's so," drawled out a portly fellow while
turning about on his stool for a rest and a pinch of
snuff. " Yes, yes ; that's just what I told my wife," said
a third, who had just entered and stood with ox-whip
in hand. "I expect all three of our gals will be
spoke for, before that singing school is over ; and as
for my Jake, he is arter some of them himself."
Seth, for whose benefit these remarks had been
made, could stand it no longer, but stammeringly
exclaimed : —

Larkin's Shop.

26 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
" Well, I am going to that singing school ; that's
what I'm gitting my brogans fixed up for ; not that I
expect to learn to sing, but I'm bound to git the
Simpson farm. Perhaps you don't know that Dad
has offered to give that nice farm, cranberry medder
and all, to the one of us that will git married first,
and Mr. Briggs tells me to go to the singing school
and go home with — with some one."
Here Seth wisely put a stop to his injudicious
exposure, which called forth the exclamation from all
hands, "Who? Who? Who?" but Seth shook his
head, and, with a pleased countenance, began to tie
the leather strings that held the freshly tapped bro
gans in place.
After promising to settle the bill as soon as he
could get the needful change, Seth arose to go, when
the little bald-headed man exclaimed : —
" My Isaac says that school is good for nothing.
They don't learn a thing, for they are sparking all the
time, and the master can't make them attend to time
or tune."
This remark called forth from a tall, lean figure
that sat partly screened behind a side of leather,
these words, which he jerked out between the insert
ing and pulling of his waxed end : —
"Yes, but Patty Potter settled his case the other
night when he stepped up to her, my Hannah says,
and she saw it."
With these words ringing in his ears, Seth started
for home, meditating as he went, and sometimes get-
ing so lost in thought as to find himself talking
aloud. " Now, if Patty Potter wouldn't let Ike Fos
ter go home with her, perhaps she won't me," mut
tered Seth with a shake of the head. " But I'm

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 27
bound to try, and when she knows about the Simpson
farm, and I'll tell her the first thing, she'll let me go
I '11 bet." Here the revery of Seth was suddenly cut
short by an unexpected shout from a figure in blue
frock and high boots, that proved to be Hanson Page,
a good neighbor, who was on his way to town.
" They tell me your father is getting pretty feeble
and ain't going 'to be able to guard that garret locker
always. Then I suppose, Saul, the gals and you will
have things about as you want them."
"I don't know about that, but Dad offered the
Simpson farm to the one that will git married first,
and I'm bound to git it," unwisely added Seth, not
thinking the news would spread like wildfire through
the village.
Seth, in his newly tapped brogans, made haste for
home and was met at the door by his good mother,
who reprovingly said, " Where have you been all this
time ? The forelog is all burnt out, the eggs ain't
got and they will all freeze. Saul has been off, and
the girls are so full of silly notions about that Simp
son farm that they are just good for nothing. I guess
your father has spoiled the whole of you. Oh, 'tis a
pity he hadn't put a little good sense into your heads
by keeping you at school instead of bringing you up
in this kind of way."
Here the good woman brought her complainings to
a sudden stop, for the quick ear of Seth heard the
father, and gave the warning, "Dad is coming," which
was always regarded as the best reason for being busy
about the chores. Mrs. Pendleton was a thoroughly
good woman, and evinced not a little sound judgment
when she dared to express her own thoughts. te

28 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
"You, Ned, have yet to learn that many a good woman is
kept from doing the most for her children or appearing at her
hest, because of a tyrannical husband."
" Eh, eh ! " growled the little russet-faced man,
before he reached the bottom step, "it's going to
be a cold night. Where's Sally and Priscilla and the
boys ? The forelog is all burnt out and my cider is
stone cold," continued he as he stood before the
smouldering embers taking a sip from the tall mug
that always stood in the corner of the great fireplace
in order that the beverage might be of a temperature
agreeable to his taste.
"I believe you have spoiled the whole of them
children about the Simpson farm," meekly expressed
the mother, as she slackened the big wheel to which
she had hastened on the approach of her husband.
" The cup of steaming catnip served, and chores outside and
in, all done, we will leave the family about the snapping, flam
ing fire for the evening. They did, sometmes, sit down to
gether, but there was not that sweet sympathy and kindly
feeling existing which you would enjoy or which is to be found
in any home where each member of the household thinks of
and works to promote the comfort of the other."
Thus grandma closed the evening's story and gave
the usual good-night blessing.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 29

THIRD EVENING.
j=%|5r|5s>HEW ! Whew ! How the wind blows ; been
\3ilfi blowing all night," exclaimed Priscilla,
3rj>SMS while pouring the cups of catnip the fol
lowing morning. "I'm afraid the roads will be
blocked so we can't git to Cynthia's quilting. Saul,
did Mrs. Briggs say anything about the quilting ? "
" Yes," replied Saul ; " and she sent her regards to
the whole of you and wanted I should tell you she'd
churned the day before and got some white butter,
but I guess she was going to have some color to it,
for I saw a good mess of carrot on the table."
" I s'pose she is going," said Sally.
" Yes ; but she was afraid the weather was going
to be bad," added Saul; "yet she said she had
rather it would be stormy on Candlemas Day."
" Sure enough, this is the second of February. I'm
glad it ain't clear and bright, for then winter would
have another flight," ejaculated the good mother.
Here the inquisitive lad broke in upon the story by saying,
' ' Grandma, will you tell me what you mean by Candlemas
Day?" " Yes, Ned ; it is the second day of February. In the early
days of the Roman Catholic Church, a festival was held on the
second day of February, when there was a procession with
many lighted candles, supposed to commemorate Christ, the
light of the world. All candles to be used in the' altar service
during the year were consecrated on that occasion. It was
thought by the ancients that a fine Candlemas foretold a
severe winter. Various couplets conveying that idea are re
peated on that day. The Scotch say :
' If Candlemas is fair and clear,
There'll be twa -winters in the year.'

30 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
" A family saying at my home was :
' Candlemas Day; half your corn and half your hay.'
Thus implying that winter was just half gone, and that half
the supplies should be still in the barn. But, my child," said
grandma, impressively, " such things are far from helpfnl, yet
I heard them during my younger days and they seem to have
an influence on me up to this time. I want you to come up free
from such whims, and the impressions that are made on your
mind now are going to be lasting. Why, I used to be told that
to see the new moon through a glass was to have trouble while
it lasted, yet it is an extremely foolish notion ; but I must con
fess I had rather see it without the glass, for the impression
has so strong a hold on my mind — but to my story. Now, my
boy, if you don't want me to wander you must keep your
questions till I am through for the evening," said grand
ma. Seth, who was busy putting down the brown bread
and cheese with his cup of catnip, here shouted,
" What was you over to Mr. Briggs' for ? "
"For the same reason that you was, I guess. I
tracked you across the orchard lot," replied Saul.
" Eh, eh ! " exclaimed the little man at the head of
the table, " I didn't suppose you'd all make fools of
yourselves when I told you I'd give the Simpson
farm to you, but I'm bound to stick to my offer now
I've said it."
Breakfast over, the brindled steers were hitched to
the clumsy oak sled, and the boys, with the father,
cleared the road in time for all hands to go to Cyn
thia Smith's quilting. They were a little late, but in
season for the first rolling and ready to aid in putting
in the "shellwork." The Pendletons, mother and
girls, were very skilful at quiltings, and their pres
ence was most desirable on these occasions.
" What a brisk set of hands, and all hard at it,"

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 31
exclaimed Madam Jones as she entered from the
kitchen with cap-strings flying.
" Good-afternoon," was the salutation from side to
side, as hands were extended from various corners.

Cynthia Smith's Quilting.
" Herrin' bone ! " exclaimed Hannah Nibbs ; " I
always did like that pattern."
" Yes, 'tis pretty, but there's a deal of work in it,"
responded the Deacon's wife.
" But many hands make light work. Come, it's
time to roll on this side," exclaimed Hannah, with
the usual business air which she always assumed on
such occasions.
" Mrs. Briggs, what are you thinking of ? you seem
to be in a serious frame of mind this afternoon ; hope
none of the boys are sick ? " inquired Madam Jones.

32 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
"No — no, I thank you," replied Mrs. Briggs, wip
ing her glasses. " I never can put in herring bone
and talk too, for it's rather of a particular figure you
know ; but there's Mrs. Pendleton and her girls, who
are so skilful in quilting they go on with as little
concern as they have in footing a stocking. I was
thinking, however, and I have been ever since I
heard a bit of news a few days ago, that I would like
to know who we are going to have for neighbors on
the Simpson farm."
" Why," exclaimed a chorus of voices, " has Mr.
Pendleton sold it ? "
" No — no; but — but — " here Mrs. Briggs stopped.
" Oh, never mind, Mrs. Briggs," exclaimed Hannah
Nibbs, " I know what you mean, and I ain't afraid to
tell it, too. Father was over to Larkin's shop yester-
terday, and Seth was in there, and he said his father
waff going to give the Simpson farm to the one of
them that would get married first ; and I guess it
will be Seth, for father said he seemed wide awake."
By this time the faces of Sally and Priscilla gave
unmistakable evidence of internal struggle, yet they
plied the needle with increased vigor.
" Bemarkable step for Mr. Pendleton — hope it isn't
a bad omen," anxiously remarked Madam Jones.
"A good start for whoever gets that farm," says
another, while giving her thread another- twist, when
Patty Potter turned the conversation by remarking
about the neat pattern in hand.
The quilt all rolled, two of the company volun
teered to take it home and put on the binding ; and
as the wind began to drift' the light snow, all hands
started for home, fearing the roads would be blocked
again if they stopped to tea, as was the custom on
such occasions.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

33

"Mother, did you say anything to Patty about
Seth?" asked Father Briggs, while jogging along-
home in the old yellow sleigh.
"No — no ; there was no need of it. I just hinted
about the prospect there was of our having some
new neighbors on the Simpson farm, when Hannah
Nibbs, she always knows everything, broke right in
and said her father was up to Larkin's, you know he's
always loafing about that shop, and heard Seth tell
the whole matter. Just think — he had to go and
tell after charging us to be so sly, and so it's all out,"
replied Mrs. Briggs, with apparent indignation.
"Perhaps Hannah would like to skim milk in the
north room herself," said Father Briggs.
"But I tell you, father, Priscilla and Sally did
look troubled when Hannah shouted that out," added
mother ; and it was so strange that Patty Potter
should be the first one to speak and turn the conver
sation by admiring the neat pattern of the quilt."

Homeward from Cynthia Smith's Quilting.

34 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
" Well," said Father Briggs, giving the horse a cut
with the whip, " I shouldn't wonder if Patty had the
next quilting in spite of that irrepressible Hannah
Nibbs." "Now, my boy, about the time these events were transpir
ing in this town, the first movement was made in way of
organizing a temperance society. Rev. Mr. Whitford, who
was in the habit of drinking a little himself, as were most of
the people, got some men from Boston, I think, to come and
talk up the subject, and a society was organized, and many
signed the pledge; but drinking was not looked upon with
such disdain as it is now, and some of the first people would
not give it up. Deacon Jones, in whose family Patty lived,
entered upon the temperance work with a will, and, in fact,
was so rigid, that he thought any one who did not join the
society.' was worse than an infidel. People nowadays would
more generally sympathize with him in his new departure.
The society went on and flourished. They had meetings quite
often; sometimes the minister would make an address, and
again one of the doctors of the village. Much good resulted
from that first movement, and I think there has been a tem
perance society here ever since."
" Did the Pendletons join the society?" inquired the boy.
"No; not all of them," said grandma, "for they enjoyed
strong drink now and then, and you will see how they allowed
the habit to get control of them."
If you had been at the home of the Pendletons one
afternoon of the following week, you would have
seen the boys making haste with their chores, and
found everything done up before sundown, with
a plenty of wood by the hearth to keep up the fire
through the long evening. Seth and Saul took a
hasty supper, and then, in their best trim, started off
for the village to attend the singing school. Seth's
newly tapped brogans had been well covered with
beef's tallow and lampblack, which greatly improved

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

35

their ordinary condition, and to his mind looked
" amazing nice." Seth generally liked company, but
on this evening would rather have been left alone ;
yet Saul was ready to go with him, although not
fully realizing the condition of his older brother's
mood ; he was supposed to know it all by the ardent,
anxious suitor, who even regarded his brother on
this evening in the guise of a rival.

17+1 *%¦ '
The Old School-house.

The old school-house was torn down before you were born ;
it stood almost in the road, near the location of the present
one. It was once a rude dwelling; the only door was on the
north side. The furnishing for school purposes consisted of
rough benches, and a high desk for the master.
In that house the singing school was taught, once
each week. Seth and Saul were among the first to
appear at the school-house that evening, and as it was
their first appearance of the season, the salutations
extended were hearty, and to some would have been
interesting ; but that irrepressible Hannah Nibbs had
been faithful in spreading the story that her father

36 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
gathered at Larkin's shop, so the little sly notes from
the boys, and the shy acts of the girls, were under
stood by Seth, although he had mingled but little in
the society of young people. Among the different
groups standing about the fire, Seth soon spied Patty
and Deacon Jones. The inoffensive deacon, who had
an eye single for the good of mankind, happened to
notice Seth and Saul. As it was their first appear
ance at the school, and unusual too, his heart of
sympathy prompted him to go to them at once, and
in the kindest manner give them a welcome to the
school ; he told them he would like to speak with
them after the hour's instruction. The deacon had
heard some notes about the Simpson farm, but had
given no heed to them, and was perfectly innocent of
any of the charges being brought against him in the
minds of some of the by-standers and whispered from
side to side, one voice being often heard above the
whisper, to the amusement of many.
"There," said Hannah Nibbs, "I did have faith
in Deacon Jones, and his prayers always did me good ;
but if he will stoop to help Seth Pendleton get a wife,
just for nothing only to get that Simpson farm, I
shall lose all confidence in him and everybody else
that belongs to the church."
"I should think from the way you talk," said a
seat companion half aloud, " that you wanted control
of the Simpson house yourself. I'm sure 7" would n't
marry Seth Pendleton for all the farms in town."
"Nor I," exclaimed Hannah, as she hastily opened
her singing book and began to run over the scale.
There was a good deal of whispering and subdued
merriment through the session of the school, more
than usual, and the order was none too good at any

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. ,'37
session ; yet Seth, revolving the deacon's kind words
in his mind, sat through the hour like a martyr who
wras under sentence and awaiting the hour of torture.
He had made up his mind that Patty was his, that
the deacon had given evidence of his approval of the
whole matter, and with such a brilliant prospect
before him he could endure all the annoyance of the
whole school.

The Singing- School.
At the close of the session, Saul stepped out and
started for home, glad enough to again be free and
alone ; but Seth lingered in spite of the jeers of the
boys. He had an object in view, and was determined
to accomplish his purpose. A wife and farm, instead
of the tedious servitude at the old home on the hill,
were objects of sufficient value to inspire courage and
determination in any one of the most timid nature

38 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
and retiring habit. Presently the good deacon came
up and said to Seth, " I am real glad that you have
got started out, and I hope you will continue to come ;
I have a good deal of feeling for you all up there on
the hill."
Turning about and finding Patty waiting for him
to go home, he formally introduced her to Seth, who
smiled as never before ; but his words were few — he
was too full for utterance. Patty, who was innocent
of the charges brought against her by many of the
school, did not fail to drop a word of encouragement,
as she had caught the missionary spirit from her
friend the deacon.
"Seth," said Deacon Jones, "you know we are
forming a temperance society here, and we want you
to join with us," — a subject entirely foreign to that
which occupied the mind of the anxious youth, who
tremblingly assented without giving it a thought,
and in fact hardly grasping the idea.
The company had disappeared before the lingerers
were aware of it, and Seth mustered courage to ask
for the privilege of going home with Patty. This
seemed strange to her, for there was no occasion for
such civility on the part of any one ; but as she was
anxious to help on the temperance reform, and
thought it might be pleasing to the deacon to have
Seth walk with them, she did not refuse, and Seth
Pendleton had never seen a more happy hour. The
deacon, being hard of hearing, had not caught the
words of Seth when asking the important question,
and he did not understand whether it was Patty or
himself who was having the honor of the escort ;
neither did the boys and girls who watched the pro
ceedings from various corners and hiding places.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 39
A kind invitation from the good deacon to Seth to
come down and spend the evening sent him home as
happy as he ever went in his life. First he ran,
and then he walked, all the time invoking blessings
upon the head of Mr. Briggs, and promising himself
in the stillness of that winter evening to always
remember his good adviser, and vowing that he would
follow him in every matter.
Saul had reached home a little before him, and
there was a real bustle in the old house when Seth
came in. Neighbor Briggs and wife Lucy were in
formed of the success of the evening as soon as the
duties of the following day would permit. Seth soon
blacked his brogans again and went to the deacon's to
pass the evening, and continued to go, and soon
became a member of the temperance society, although
Hannah Nibbs did say, " He won't keep the pledge,
and he is an awkward fellow, and I don't see what
Deacon Jones is thinking about. I thought he was a
more sensible man than to advise a good, innocent
girl like Patty Potter to receive the attentions of a
clownish fellow like Seth Pendleton."
Here grandma, realizing this kind of talk might not be help
ful to the youth, stopped, and said, "My boy, you now see
how easy it is for perfectly innocent people, with the best of
motives, to have the appearance of doing evil, and to be con
demned when they are not guilty. Deacon Jones was only
trying to cheer and aid Seth and promote the temperance
cause, when Seth thought he was gaming the good man's aid
in securing Patty for a wife, and thus making sure of the
Simpson farm. There is one thing that I would like to have
you remember, and that is, the determination with which Seth
went about this enterprise, and try to put as much energy into
your efforts, although of a very different nature."
Only a few months passed before there was a quilt-

40 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
ing at Deacon Jones'. Hannah Nibbs was not there.
"A little indisposed," said her mother when asked
why Hannah didn't come, while making free use of
the snuff, her only reliable solace, that always kept
her nerves calm at a quilting.
A general clearing up at the Simpson farm told all
the neighbors that the taxes would be set to Seth
Pendleton the coming year ; ancl so it was. Patty
Potter was well located with Mr. Seth Pendleton at
the Simpson house before the blueberries were ripe in
the three-cornered lot, where she met her friends and
took pleasure in saying, " You are welcome to all you
can pick in our lot." Hannah soon learned to
address Patty as Mrs. Pendleton, and treated her
with much respect.
This change did not add much to the happiness of
the Pendletons. Saul, Sally and Priscilla declared
they would punish Seth some day.
" Just see what a spirit, my boy, and it is such as we often
see, and what I want you to guard against — that is, a desire
to ruin or make uncomfortable any one who succeeds in get
ting what we would like ourselves but fail to obtain."
Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were soon invited to drink tea
at the Simpson place, and a better cup of tea or a
better spider cake they both agreed they never ate,
while they hoped Patty would never regret the step.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 41

FOURTH EVENING.
fBOUT the time that Seth Pendleton and his
bride Patty took possession, as the lawful
owners of the Simpson farm, Bev. Mr. Jones
settled on the farm recently purchased of the Good-
nough heirs ; he cleared away the house and barn, and
began to replace them with as fine a set of farm
buildings as the town afforded. Mrs. Briggs often
remarked to her family and to callers, that she
could not see what Parson Jones was thinking of, — to
come to town, buy a piece of real estate and erect fine
buildings when he was a widower ; but Mr. Briggs,
who was famous for settling all kinds of affairs, from
a large estate to a family quarrel, when overhearing
his good wife, would decide this difficult question
by saying, " There are a plenty who would be glad to
preside in that new house." It was at this mid-sum
mer season that a shadow came over the Briggs home.
Mrs. Briggs took a severe cold in the early spring,
and in spite of all the faithful efforts of the doctors
of the village, together with the best of nursing from
her devoted husband and. the good neighbors, all of
whom were strongly attached to her, she went into a
rapid decline, ancl on the last day of July she passed
from her home and family.
Strange it seems to us that one so much needed in,
her family, and in the community so endeared, should
be thus early summoned from earth.
" My child, you must learn that God's ways are best, and if
we cannot sea it at the time, we must have faith in him and
his promises and know he has told us, ' He doeth all things
well.' "

42 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
The neighbors were very attentive to Mr. Briggs
and full of sympathy for him in his lonely condition,
and it is true they went so far as openly to speak of
the matter at a sewing meeting held at Deacon
Sprague's in the following September.
The ladies there assembled, representing many of
the families of the village, agreed that the Briggs-
home must be very lonely, and that Hannah Nibbs,
who, by the way, had gone, as she claimed, " out of
pure sympathy," to keep house for the family, was
not the one for the place. She did not know how to
manage boys at all, and George and Josiah began to
show the loss of their mother already. While the
conversation was at its height, Dolly Sprague, the
deacon's daughter, companion and housekeeper, who.
was entertaining the sewing circle, came in with her
span clean apron fully spread and announced that tea
was ready. It was quite noticeable that Sally and
Priscilla Pendleton did little during the afternoon
but listen to the conversation about the Briggs
family. Tea over, and a committee chosen to pack the box.
that was to be sent out among the Indians, the others-
hastened home. The " Pendleton girls," as they were
called by the townfolks, took a short cut over the
hill, down "Love Lane," by the Briggs house, and
just dropped in to call on Hannah Nibbs and inquire
after the household.
"Why didn't you go to the sewing meeting at
Dolly Sprague's ? " said Priscilla.
"Why didn't I ? " replied Hannah, "how could I ?
You know I only came here out of sympathy, and I
tell you here is missionary work enough to be done.
I don't know but my sympathy will give out, for

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 43
these boys do require so much mending, and to keep
them fed is a difficult task. But when I remember
their poor mother, I am so full of sympathy that I
stay on, and while I am here the Indians and every
other savage will have to get along without me."
These remarks were made with an air of conceit
that seemed to show that Hannah thought she had
the full control of the Briggs house. As the Pendle
ton girls rose to go, Hannah said, " I don't think over
much of Dolly Sprague, for I hear she pretends to
sympathize with this poor afflicted family; but she
never comes here, and I mean she never shall have the
chance, though I guess she would like to."
"Yes," replied the younger of the Pendletons,
"Miss Dolly spoke very kindly of the family this
afternoon, and I presume would be ready to do for
them, only you are here, and she wouldn't want to
interfere with your affairs."
" She'd better not, or any one else as long as I am
here," replied Hannah, with a toss of her head that
seemed to imply, what Hannah Nibbs don't know is
of little use to any one.
Early in her stay at the Briggs home, Miss Nibbs
claimed to have done invaluable service by success
fully warning off the rats that infested tlie house and
were extremely destructive. In this, as in many
ways, she applied what she had seen her mother
practice. She went through the house, above and
below, beating a tin pan with a cream stick most vio
lently, thus calling the attention of the whole rat
family, and shouting, " Leave this house, leave this
house ; go over to Dr. Preston's, go over to Dr. Pres
ton's." At that time she entertained most unfriendly
feelings towards the doctor of the town, so she tried

44

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

to perform double service by this peculiar warning —
to rid the Briggs family of a great annoyance and to
lodge the enemy at the home of the town physician.

Hannah warned away the rats.
Mr. Briggs and his boys suffered on through the
fall and winter, while the pretended sympathy of
Hannah was sufficiently strong to keep her at her
chosen post of duty ; yet every week, when paid her
regular compensation by Mr. Briggs, she would say,
" Now, Mr. Briggs, you know this 'two and thre'-
pence ' is not what keeps me here, for it is nothing
but sympathy that tempts me to leave my home and
take the place of poor Mrs. Briggs ; she was a blessed
good neighbor — " at this point she always drew
out a faded red and yellow homespun handkerchief,
and wiped the tears that flowed from her large gray
eyes as easily as rain falls in April, while she made
free use of her snuff-box.
A week before "March meeting," there came a
fresh fall of snow, and Sally Pendleton had made up
her mind that she would start out on a little mission.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 45
She tripped down to call on Hannah, and Mr. Briggs
as well; but Hannah, not seeming to be very agreea
ble, was soon left in the room alone, and Sally, with
the two boys, went to call Mr. Briggs, who was in the
lot getting wood. Sally had an errand with him, she
said. " Smart errand," said Hannah, as soon as they were
out of hearing. I guess she won't make out much,
although they have got money up there ; for Mr.
Briggs thinks more of himself than to take one of
them gals to fill Lucy's place."
Hannah's whole conduct indicated greater fear
than her words would imply. In response to her
call for tea, Mr. Briggs and the boys came in, pleas
antly chatting, and Hannah overheard in the conver
sation, " Can I go too, father ? " from Josiah, the
younger of the boys ; the reply she did not hear.
She poured the tea with much nervousness, and
seemed to have but little appetite. " Got a fresh
cold hanging out that washing; nothing but sym
pathy would tempt me to do it," said Miss Nibbs,
emphatically, with her face drawn down in a manner
that foretold the usual shower, while she fumbled in
her pocket, which was a false one tied, under her
skirt, for the ever ready handkerchief of rainbow hue.
Before retiring for the night, Mr. Briggs got out
his best boots, brushed them, and took " a clean
shave," preparatory to an early start on the following
morning. Hannah, who was at a critical point in her
stocking, "setting the heel," occasionally turned up
one eye, and having endured it as long as she could,
burst out by saying, "I suppose you are going off
with Sally Pendleton. Now, Mr. Briggs, you know
I came here out of sympathy, and I feel it to be my

46 LEGENDS OE OLD BEDFORD.
duty to tell you what everybody says, — that Sally
Pendleton means to step into Lucy Briggs' shoes,
and your poor wife not nine months dead. I wouldn't
have thought it ; I wouldn't have thought it ; no, I
wouldn't!" '
When Miss Nibbs recovered from her hysterical
attack, Mr. Briggs, feeling disgusted with the con
duct of his housekeeper, gently said, " Miss Nibbs, I
believe I paid you last Saturday, didn't I ? "
"Yes," she stammered, "but it ain't money that
keeps me here, it's sympathy ; and to see you go off
in this way makes me feel dreadfully for poor Mrs.
Briggs' sake ; her memory is precious to me if it ain't
to other folks." The reply, in faltering accents, was
followed by the ever ready shower that burst forth in
copious drops.
Mr. Briggs was a man of but few words, yet he
did venture to make one request, which was, that
breakfast might be ready early, as he was going ta
Boston in the morning and would like to take the
trip in a sleigh, the roads being best before mid-day.
Nothing more was heard until early dawn, when Mr.
Briggs was stirring the coals and the boys were has
tening around to aid in the chores.
When Miss Nibbs appeared, it was evident she was
suffering from a severe cold ; yet she aided in prepar
ing breakfast, all the time keeping watchful eyes on
the movements of Mr. Briggs as he made the needful
preparations and gave orders to the boys about the
work of the day. Mr. Briggs hadn't been long out
of the yard before Hannah ventured to ask Josiah
which way his father had gone. On finding that it
was towards the Pendletons, she came into the house
somewhat rudely, and said half alond, " Up the road,

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 47
sure enough, — that ain't the way to Boston. He's a
liar with all the rest; yes, he is. I will tell Mr.
Whitford before noon, I will. Yes, he's a liar and a
member of the church too. I'll never go to commun
ion again as long as he lives, I won't. When he gets
home he'll come pretty short, I guess, for I won't
¦cook anything to-day. I'm almost sick with a cold,
all from hanging out them clothes yesterday. Who
would do all this for sympathy but me ? "
" Sally," squeaked out a roguish youngster, who
had become disgusted with the conduct of the house
keeper, " there she goes now ; " and the passing
sleigh, containing Mr. Briggs and Sally Pendleton,
just met the eyes of Miss Nibbs, as the bells jingled
by the door on the way to Boston.
"Just as I expected. Sally Pendleton was over
here yesterday and teased Mr. Briggs to take her to
Boston. Just as likely as not she is going after her
wedding fixin's."
She threw herself into the rocking-chair and con
tinue the impassioned soliloquy : What treatment !
Whe.i I came here and left mother alone with the
girls, of co se they were lonesome after father's
death, just ;. much as Mr. Briggs was after burying
his wife. I won't stay any longer. I'll pack up my
things and go right straight home, and when he
comes back he may get his own supper or go without.
I guess he'll have to. Who will get it for him and
these hungry boys ? "
" Sally ! " cried out the same roguish voice from
behind the entry door.
" Sally ! " shouted Miss Nibbs, as she rocked out
of her chair, " and so she may. I guess she won't
show you much sympathy though."

48

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

Miss Nibbs left the Briggs Home.
A few moments passed and Miss Nibbs was seen
with carpet bag in hand, headed for her home, and
the house left without a woman's voice or work.
The boys, having a very good understanding of culin
ary affairs, had a meal prepared for their father and
the chores all done when he reached home in the early
evening. Their account of the departure of Miss
Nibbs seemed to move Mr. Briggs but little, for he
was a cool, self-possessed man, of few words and
decided action.
The way Sally Pendleton happened to go to Boston
with Mr. Briggs was this, although she may have had
other intentions ; but Mr. Briggs was strongly forti
fied against all designs of a serious nature. That he
was going to drive to Boston was known by the Pen
dletons, and Sally made bold to ask for the privilege

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 49
of riding with him, which he could not very well re
fuse after all they had done for him during the ill
ness of Mrs. Briggs. That she rode down and back
was all the story. Mr. Briggs was well pleased, on
entering the house, to find that his two boys had as
sumed the charge of affairs. As soon as tea was over,
he sent George to the Nibbs house with the portion of
a week's pay that was due Miss Hannah, and also his
sincere gratitude for all her sympathy had prompted
her to do for him and his family.
"With the youthful housekeepers in charge, I will leave the
Briggs family for the present and tell you more of them some
other time, said grandma," in closing her story for the evening-

FIFTH EVENING.
j^S you, and the young people generally, know but
little about the good times we had when we were
young, I will try to give you a little account of social
life among us. There were "Tea Drinkings," which
were invited parties ; but as a general thing we felt free to
start out and spend the day with a neighbor without any invi
tation or notice. Then there were the " Quiltings," of which
I have given you an idea; the " Applebees " and "Huskings,"
which were harvest gatherings when the gentlemen went; the
" Wood-Cuttings, " when the young men gathered at the vil
lage pastor's and cut up dozens of cords of wood, hauled by
parishioners as a part of his annual salary. The latter were
anticipated with a deal of pleasure, for quantities of dough
nuts were prepared to go with the cider for lunch. The socia
bility of the occasion more than balanced the labor. We

50 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
always had a plenty of good ham of our own curing that we
could cut a slice from at any time, and our good home-made
sausages we packed in meal and kept until far into the sum
mer; and as for butter and cheese, we made these ourselves, and
so felt it was good enough for any one who might drop in to
spend the day; so we were always prepared and felt at ease
when company came.
The Nibbs sisters had a "Tea Drinking," an invited
party, in honor of the engagement of one of them to
a "spruce young man from Boston." He had kept
the school the winter before, and in his boarding
around, as was the custom, had taken a fancy to Han
nah's youngest sister, and this party was the occasion
when the engagement was made known, although
Hannah had not failed to previously hint at the
matter. "Mother Nibbs," as she was familiarly
known, had on her best mourning cap, with broad
strings flying at either side, and was located in her
chair in the corner. Her hands kept up a continual
struggle over the blue sock that she was knitting,
only halting to take a pinch of snuff and replace her
needle in the cob that she had fastened to her right
side by the string of her apron, this being her
arrangement, " sheath," as she called it, for fastening
her work.
"The gals are doing the whole thing this time,
going to show what they know, I guess. I have tried
to have them capable. They say I must sit here.
Well, I don't care, I should like a little time to rest
and meditate," said Mrs. Nibbs, while indulging in
another pinch of snuff. "It's high time the gals
was trying their hand at things, for 'Becca is going
to be married, you know. Lor', of course you know
it, for that's what this great fuss is all about. I

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 51
don't suppose they want me to say anything about it
though; but they needn't think I'm going to sit
perched up here and hold my tongue," continued
Mrs. Nibbs ; "that hain't been my habit all my life,
you know."
By this time Hannah, who had been evidently
enjoying a fit of the sulks, appeared from another
room, and at once entered into conversation, all the
time turning a look that half betrayed her feelings
to Dolly Sprague, who had arrived among the first of
the party. Now, Dolly, like a good, faithful daugh
ter of a pious deacon, entertained no unkind feelings
towards Hannah, although she knew very well that
her good humor was not reciprocated. While we
should expect that Hannah would welcome each in
the room before seating herself, we must overlook
this lack of courtesy in her, by remembering that
she was not a little disturbed in her feelings at
present, and did not entertain the kindest regard
for Dolly, any more than she did for Sally Pendle
ton. To shake hands with all but Miss Sprague
would be too much of a display of feelings ; so
she slyly located herself, apparently unnoticed by
many who were busy in conversation.
At this point, Mother Nibbs shouted, — being deaf
she could not properly pitch her voice, — " 'Becca,
where on earth are Sally and Priscilla Pendleton.
Didn't you ask them ? Of course you did."
The efforts of Rebecca to quietly suppress her
mother were of no avail, for she would finish her
remark and then settled quietly down in meditation,
as she called it. Hannah, whose face indicated a
rush of blood to her head, exclaimed, " I rguess they
think they have other business to attend to ; most

52 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
likely they are making Sally's wedding fixings. I
suppose she bought them when she went to Boston
with Mr. Briggs."
With this remark from Hannah, the drift of con
versation was entirely changed, and centred, as you
must suppose, on the subject — the marriage of Sally
Pendleton. " What's that you say, Hannah ? " exclaimed
Mother Nibbs, "Sally Pendleton going to be mar
ried ; to who, do tell ? "
Hannah's face revealed the whole story, and it was
useless for her to try to conceal anything in regard to
her sudden departure from the Briggs family, while
it had thus far been the general impression that Mr.
Briggs was practising economy.
" Why, can't they get along alone until haying ? "
said one. Such was the general understanding of the
change until this moment, when Hannah's words and
actions quite plainly revealed that her unexpected
removal was not of a very pleasant nature.
" Is it Mr. Briggs ? " voiced the senior Nibbs.
" I'll warrant it, and that's what started our Han
nah off. I know well enough. Hannah, why didn't
you tell us when you came home, instead of laying it
to the boys, and saying you had no more sympathy
for them ? "
Here Dolly Sprague, realizing the peculiar situa
tion of Hannah, turned the conversation by remark
ing, " It was a familiar saying of my mother, ' That
the chaff always goes before the wheat,' and I think
we must come to the conclusion, from what we have
learned this afternoon, that Sally is the wheat."
" And you mean to insinuate that I am the chaff,
Dolly Sprague, do you ? " said Hannah.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 53
"Not at all," was the pleasant reply of Miss
Sprague, whose face apparently indicated her regret
at having so innocently wounded her neighbor's feel
ings, who was not very friendly towards her ancl had
not been for some months. " I was about to say that
I presume Mr. Briggs feels so lonely that he is going
to try to fill Lucy's place. I can't blame him ; I
thought the family very fortunate in securing the
services of Miss Nibbs, who is so efficient in a house
hold. I didn't know you had resigned your position
until Mrs. Johnson just told me."
"Yes," replied Hannah, in a tone somewhat sub
dued ; " I left there some weeks since, and I had a
good reason for it too. Sally came down and coaxed
Mr. Briggs to take her to Boston ; I don't know for
what, yet I have my opinion, and after all I have
done for Mr. Briggs and those motherless boys in
their affliction, I thought it rather unkind treatment ;
and so I left, and Sally can go there ancl keep house.
I guess things won't be as tidy as they were when I
left, if she does the work. I don't know but that's
what's keeping them this afternoon, for 'Becca says
she asked them. I didn't have anything to do about
it ; this is 'Becca's Darty. If she'd asked me to help
her, I would have snubbed them for once anyhow."
Here the subject was dropped, for Sally and Pris
cilla Pendleton came in apparent haste around the
corner, and were greeted by 'Becca, who had not
imbibed any of Hannah's feelings towards them.
Their apology revealed the fact that their father had
been taken ill, and they came, very reluctantly, after
much urging from their mother, who felt sure the
attack was not serious.
On learning this bit of news, Hannah, beckoned to

54

LEGENDS OE OLD BEDFORD.

Mrs. Johnson, who followed her into the well-room,
as they called a side apartment, and there poured
forth another of her impassioned speeches.
" What if Mr. Pendleton should die ? but he is so
tough and contrary that he will stand it one while, I
guess ; but of course they would like him out of the
way. How I would like to get into that room. If
he should die, wouldn't Seth, Saul and the gals have
a good lot of funds ! I don't believe but that's what
Mr. Briggs is thinking of. Well, if he gets Sally
and a heap of money, he won't fill Lucy's place.
What a good woman she was ! "
A call from Miss Bebecca to tea broke up the
little groups and discussions, and all hands were soon
seated at the table, which Bebecca had spread with
all the nice things that she could prepare ; but the
good time was suddenly disturbed by Saul, who came
running at full speed for his sisters and exclaimed,
"Dad's awful bad ; I guess he'll go this time."

ti> a

Home of Deacon Sprague.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 55
After the " girls " had gone, the conversation natu
rally turned to the prospects of a change at the Pen
dleton home. Sympathy, mingled with indignation,
was freely expressed, when Dolly Sprague, in her
characteristic good spirit, feelingly said, "Let the
result be what it may, it is God's doings, and although
it may be marvellous in our eyes, it is right."
Dolly was familiar with the Scriptures, and was
never at a loss to find a passage to meet any emer
gency, although she would not always give the exact
wording. Mother Nibbs had by this time succeeded
in learning the cause of the sudden departure of the
Pendletons, and gave expression to thoughts which
many, less inclined to talk, would have suppressed.
" I do wonder if Parson Whitford has been sent
for. I should think it would be awful for Mr. Pen
dleton to die just as he is. Who will dare to go into
that room ? Poor old man ! how he will hate to leave
that key, and them children are so ignorant ; and if
they get a lot of money they won't know how to
spend it. But there is Mr. Briggs, and they all think
he is perfect. I suppose he can settle the matter for
them ; and if he marries Sally, as Hannah says he is
going to, the whole affair will work well."
This soliloquy of Mother Nibbs was not fully
appreciated by the guests, as it was directed to no
one in particular and interspersed with sips of the
tea and several pinches of snuff, for when Mrs. Nibbs
was excited, she used her solace most freely, even at
her meals.
Comments on the superiority of quince preserve
and " 'lection cake," were freely made, and the pecu
liar fitness of Bebecca for the wife of a school-master
was hinted at by Mrs. Johnson, and received the

56 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
assent of the whole party. This school master was
one of the many who had met with a rebuff at the Pen
dleton's when seeking the affection of Priscilla, but had
received a welcome at the Nibbs home from the very
flower of the family, Miss Bebecca, or 'Becca, as she
was called more familiarly. She was a very different
person from her older sister, partaking more of the
nature of her father, who had recently died, than of
her mother, who, notwithstanding her peculiarities,
was a good, kind woman, and a faithful friend and
neighbor.

SIXTH EVENING.
JjfftfT was a c°l^ spring day, one of those chilly days
'ij of May, when a fire is as needful for comfort as
f»J| in mid-winter, that a company of the farmers had
congregated in Larkin's shop and were having a good
chat, such as the people of an old-fashioned town
heartily enjoy when the weather does not admit of
out-door work. Several of the company were of the
group who happened to be present when Seth Pendle
ton got the taps put on his only brogans. A new
associate was a round-faced man who was busy at his
post of duty; he was closely shaven, save a few
gray bristles on his neck, suggestive of stray brush
about the stone wall of a barren pasture, while a
huge wart on one cheek, with another somewhat
smaller nestling by the side of his Boman nose,
reminded one of the boulders so common on neg-

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 57
lected grounds. Isaac Fuller, better known as Ike
Fuller, was standing by and seemed to be the chief
speaker of the hour. He was six feet tall, with a
great display of jewelry upon his clothes ; he seemed
to be discoursing upon the merits of a pair of steers
which he had lately purchased. Fuller was some
thing of a cattle trader, by the way, and thought
no one was such a good judge of live stock of
all kinds as he. Mr. Larkin himself had as keen
appreciation of fun as any one and loved to help it
on ; but, at the same time, would preserve a coun
tenance that would lead one to suppose his mind
was fully engrossed with his work ; his bench being
so located that his back was to the bystanders, his
interest in the conversation was not noticed. His
son Lewis was of a mirthful turn, much like the
father, only he was quite small and slender in his
frame. The company were all giving close heed to
the remarks of Fuller, when the door opened and
Hanson Page entered with whip in hand. Page was
a rough fellow and found his greatest delight in tor
menting any one who came under his sway. You
will remember that it was Hanson Page who met
Seth Pendleton on that day when he had been to
Larkin's shop to have his shoes repaired, in prepara
tion for the singing school. After a "How are
you ? " all round, Page and Fuller had the floor, the
one flourishing his ox whip and the other making a
great display of his watch chains and seal rings.
" They say," shouted Page, " that things don't go
on so fine at the Simpson farm after all. That tem
perance pledge that Deacon Jones got Seth to sign
don't amount to much, and he gets right out and out
drunk so soon."

58 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
"Just as I expected," replied Fuller, while the
round-faced man paused in his pegging and said,
" Perhaps you are misinformed."
" No I am not," said Page, " for I got it from Han
nah Nibbs as I came up. I stopped there to get some
purple topped turnip seed to sow among my potatoes.
I knew Mr. Nibbs always raised it, and I thought he
might have left some that they would not use. Han
nah seems to be full of sympathy for Seth's wife who
has been so taken in."
"Sure enough; no doubt of that," said the round-
faced man, giving the nose wart a slight twist. " It
is a fact, Hannah did feel bad about that Simpson
farm, and I guess she would have liked to try her
hand there, but she didn't succeed, and now her sym
pathetic disposition has found another object on
which to fasten itself. I wonder if she would like to
have it known generally why she left Mr. Briggs'
employ ? "
Here Fuller broke in by saying, " That's you,
Spencer," addressing the round-faced man. " You
will defend any one that belongs to that temperance
society, and won't believe anything against them, no
matter who tells it. I think Hannah Nitobs is a
truthful woman, and I believe Seth has gone to
drinking again; perhaps not enough to hurt him
though/' beginning to be a little ashamed in the pres
ence of Mr. Spencer.
"If such is the case," replied Mr. Spencer, "I
think he may be reclaimed, and that's a part of our
work, and I for one shan't give him up."
" If old Pendleton dies and Seth and Saul get the
inside of that room, I just bet they will be drunk
half of their time," said Page.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 59
Here Larkin whirled on his stool and said, inquir
ingly, " Is Mr. Pendleton sick ? "
"Yes," said Page. Hannah tells me that the gals
were at 'Becca's party yesterday and had to go home
before tea, for the old man was taken with a bad
spell, and I met Parson Whitford headed that way as
I came up. I guess he has got a hard fellow to con
tend with in Hezekiah Pendleton, if he hopes to pre
pare him for death ; he has been housed up in that
room too many years to repent now."
Here Mr. Spencer interrupted by saying, "All
things are possible with God, and it is not Mr. Whit
ford who can prepare him, but the Spirit of God.
Mr. Whitford may be able to direct his restless soul ;
but it has been so imbedded in this world's goods,
that it will cling tight in death, I fear."
"Right here, my boy," said grandma, "let me impress upon
you the worthlessness of all earthly gains and possessions
when one comes to face death ; if he has lived a good, useful
life and done as he would be done by in all things, trusting in
Christ for salvation, he won't fear in such an hour. I hope,
my child, that the folly of Mr. Pendleton will aid you in so
planning your life and conducting yourself, that when the
summons comes, let it be in youth, middle life or old age, you
can welcome it and go in peace and leave a good name behind
you in the world. Such a legacy is a good deal more valuable
than gold and is worth thinking of. Riches are of but little
account in the last hours of one's life, but treasures that are
laid up in Heaven abide and avail for us then."
You will see that Mr. Spencer was a good man in
word and his whole life was after that type. He was
not ready to believe evil reports of any one, and as
such a person, he was an influence for good in this
community ; but I can't say as much for Fuller and
Page, yet I think that Hannah Nibbs had a good

60 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
heart, but she was quite advanced in life when she
was introduced to you. Her early hopes had been
blighted and she saw no bright prospects for the
future, which explained, I think, why she conducted
herself so strangely at times and talked so unreason
ably on some subjects.
The opening clouds caused a breaking up of the
meeting at Larkin's and the gossips disappeared,
greatly to the relief of Mr. Larkin and Mr. Spencer.
Hanson Page, while on his way home, stopped at Mr.
Briggs' to inquire after the Pendletons, and also to
see why Hannah had gone from his employ, for Aunt
Hepsy, his wife, always wanted to know the news,
and being somewhat lame, she could not get out
much herself, so a budget of news was quite a relief
to her. Mr. Briggs had no taste for gossip, and it was
but little of that kind of conversation that he could
be drawn into ; yet Page drove his steers to the gar
den wall and went in and found Mr. Briggs sitting by
the fire, while Dolly Sprague was near by busily en
gaged. Both seemed to be looking over various arti
cles of wearing apparel unfamiliar to this rough man.
After comments on the weather and inquiring after
Mr. Pendleton, Page started on with his steers, much
to the relief of Mr. Briggs and Miss Sprague.
Dolly had come over the hill from her father's reluc
tantly, to aid Mr. Briggs in securing various articles
of clothing that were being damaged by moths; but
Hanson Page saw it in another light, and on reaching
home made haste to tell Hepsy, his wife, and so the
story started that Mr. Briggs was soon to take Dolly
Sprague over the hill to fill the vacancy in his home
and the void in his heart. Whether there were any
such intentions at the time of this visit on the part

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

61

"Page drove his steers to the garden wall."

of either, I do not know, but it was not many months
before it became apparent to all that this rumor was
well founded, and just before haying time of the fol
lowing year, the dwelling of Deacon Sprague was
alive with people, for there was to be a- double mar
riage on that day. Mr. Briggs was to take Dolly
away, and Jabez, Dolly's brother, was to bring a wife
home, where he was to locate, and, with the aid of
the youthful Mrs. Sprague, to care for his father in
the absence of Dolly, who would preside as Mrs.
Briggs at the end of the lane leading from Deacon
Sprague's to Mr. Briggs' home.
Hannah Nibbs felt better about this and was sorry
that she was so hasty in leaving her situation. Mr.
Briggs and the boys had got along during those

62 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
months quite well, and had enjoyed themselves far
better than if Miss Nibbs in her unhappy frame of
mind had remained. Hannah was so in the habit of
talking that she could not refrain from making a
remark once in a while, and she would occasionally
say, when in the company of those who would under
stand the full import of her sarcasm, " So Mr. Briggs
has got the Sprague wheat," but it can be said to her
credit, that she seemed to lose some of the vindictive
spirit that had controlled her, and she settled down
to care for her mother who was now becoming quite
old and feeble.
Dolly Sprague had always been known by the Pen
dletons and they seemed to take her right into their
confidence as they had her predecessor, and Mr. and
Mrs. Briggs were now their chief advisers, as in
earlier years Mr. Briggs, with bis wife Lucy, had
been. Sally Pendleton seemed a little disturbed at
first, but it was soon over, for Miss Nibbs had not
become the companion of her friend, and things went
on with the old-time peace and good cheer. The
Briggs boys welcomed the new mother as real gentle
men, and found in her a mother's heart, and one who,
by her mild, gentle manner and Christian principles,
deserved to be called mother.
" My child, I would have you know that the true Christian
man or woman is better fitted to fill any position of responsi
bility than one who has no decided Christian principles. The
position assumed by Mrs. Briggs was not an easy one. Two
boys, who well remembered their mother, were ready to detect
seeming faults in the one who came to take the mother's
place. Yet they soon learned that she was trying to be a true
mother to them, and they grew up to honor her and be
honored by her. I may add that good relatives, outside the
home, made this position more easy to fill than if they had

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 63
taken the opposite and more common course ; and much is
due to these young men, who did their part most faithfully ;
and now they are useful, honored men of business and trust in
the world, having gone from that home with a realizing sense
of the importance of Christian principles exemplified in their
step-mother.

SEVENTH EVENING.
?B. PENDLETON lived some years after the
party at the Nibbs', but, sad to say, he did
$?iH n0* Pr°fit by bis illness that so excited the
family and others. As soon as he was able to get to
his room, he crawled up those dilapidated stairs and
continued to rule his family with the same tyrannical
force ; his anxiety for a better preparation for the
future life was all over when assured that death had
loosed its grip, but the time came when it was per
fectly apparent that his strength was waning not to
revive again ; and early one autumn morning, when
the grass was still crisp with the frost of the night,
Saul Pendleton entered the home of Mr. Briggs hast
ily and said, "Dr. Preston says Dad is going this time
and can't live long. I don't believe he will ever git
off his bed again, and Sally and Priscilla want me to
git the key from him and git into that old room and
see what he has got there before he dies. You know
that Seth got that Simpson farm right away from us,
and Hanson Page tells us to git the start of him now
and look out for ourselves and come up to him in

64 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
some way, so the gals have sent me down to see what
you think of it."
Mr. Briggs did not approve of the course of Mr.
Pendleton in regard to the Simpson farm after he
learned that Saul and the girls did not have anything
in way of an offset ; but he could not indorse the
plan that Hanson Page had advised, and in reply to
Saul's question said, " Now that you have come to me
for advice on this matter, I will give it, for I think it
is a very serious question. I think you had better
do nothing of the kind. Your father has kept that
room sacred to his own use for twenty years, and no
one has stepped into it but himself ; now let his last
days and hours be undisturbed, and don't meddle with
the room or the key."
" Oh, he has got the key tied by a leather string
about his neck, and there is no way to git it while he
knows anything, but to cut the string ancl take it in
spite of him," said Saul.
" No, Saul, I would never trouble him about it, but
let him die in peace as far as you are concerned,"
repeated Mr. Briggs with a shake of his head.
Saul, who was reluctant to abandon his plan to get
into that room, and by the aid of the girls to secure
something to balance the Simpson farm, was hard to
be convinced that he must not do it, yet at last con
cluded to go home and abide by the advice of the
ever faithful Mr. Briggs. Saul had no sooner reached
home than Sally made her appearance at the Briggs
house in a business-like manner and sought advice on
a different subject.
" Now," said she, " Saul has told you that father
won't live long, but a few days at the longest, and we
want to git ready for the funeral. We must have a

THR MlrSTERIOUS ROOM. 65
good black gown each of us, and it ought to be made
right off, for there will be no time after father is
dead. We have no money on hand to git the cloth
with, and we want to know if you will let us have
the money until we can pay it back to you, and if
you," turning to Mrs. Briggs, " will go to Boston and
get the goods." On being assured that all these
requests would be granted, Sally continued, " I think
you had better git a good lot of crape for our bon
nets too. Git enough for mother, Priscilla and me.
We ain't going to do as Hepsy Page did, when her
mother died, go all about the town and borrow every
thing she wanted, not a bit of that. You'll git your
pay one of these days, no matter whether Seth likes
it or not. Just let us git hold of that key and we
will show him who had the Simpson farm. I am
going right over to see if Hannah Nibbs will come
and make our gowns just as soon as you git the
goods ; and will you go to-day ? "
Leaving Mr. and Mrs. Briggs to consider the mat
ter, Sally started off to see Hannah and engage her to
come to do the work ; returning in a very short time,
she stopped to report her success. Hannah was only
too willing to make the engagement, being not a little
impelled by her curiosity. Mr. Briggs had consented
to drive with his wife to Boston on the following
day, which was the best he could do, and by some
persuasion convinced Sally that there would be suffi
cient time to prepare for the funeral if they did not go
for some days ; but such a delay could not be consid
ered for a moment by the anxious visitor, while she
believed, after Mr. Briggs' talk with her, that her
father would last some time, yet said she always
liked to have things on hand.

66 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
As soon as it was convenient for Miss Nibbs to
leave home, she started out among the neighbors " to
learn the most suitable way for making the gowns,"
she said ; but it was very plain that she was so
delighted with the prospect of being at the PendleT
tons when the father should die, that she could not
control herself ; in fact, the hours dragged heavily
and she expressed much fear that his end would
come before the gowns were done. Hannah had not
been very cordial to Mrs. Briggs and had not called up
on her since she became the occupant of their neigh
bor's home ; but she did say to Mrs. Johnson this after
noon that she was glad Dolly was going to select the
goods as she had excellent taste. She felt so happy
over the prospect of being at the Pendletons, that
she had a pleasant word for every one and but a
little fault to find with any. It was perfectly evi
dent that she hoped to be present when the forbid
den door should be opened that she might get a look
into the mysterious room.
Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, good as their word, started
for Boston as early in the following day as the
duties of the farm would permit, and purchased all
the necessary articles, and the succeeding morning
found Miss Nibbs seated in a narrow room across the
dingy entry from the larger room, where the little
russet-faced man lay curled up in bed, hugging his
key and fighting the grim messenger that was hov
ering over the dwelling and would not be turned
away until the work was done.
" My child," said grandma, " had their father done his duty
by these children,, they would have been spending their time
in providing for his little wants in his last hours, instead of
making preparations for a fine appearance after his death, for

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 67
it is plain to be seen that the only evidence of mourning was
to be their dress. I do not mean that they neglected the aged
parent in his last hours, but their -mind was not fully on him
as is generally the case when a parent is sinking away."
The ever-faithful pastor called in the afternoon
and tried to talk with the sinking man, but it was too
late. If the fourscore and fourteen years of his life
had not furnished hours for his preparation of soul,
these last days did not, and his hearing was so
impaired that he could not follow the good friend
when pleading at the Throne of Grace for him, so he
interrupted the prayer by crying out, "I want a
drink so, I'm most choked."
This rather hastened the Christian friend and
pastor, who, with "amen " and a kindly word for the
family, left the house for the last time while Heze
kiah Pendleton lived.
Seth was the oldest of the Pendleton children, and
Hanson Page had driven around by his house and
convinced him that it was his privilege to take the
command of things at his father's, now the aged par
ent had become so weak that he could no longer rule.
So he left his wife Patty in charge at the Simpson
farm, for it was still known by that name long after
Seth Pendleton became the possessor, and went over
to the homestead and began to assert his rights ac
cording to the directions of Hanson Page. Seth was
in the house when Mr. Whitford was there, but kept
quiet until the good minister was well down the hill
on his way home.
"I think it was fortunate that Mr. Pendleton was deaf
and that his eyesight was so dim that he did not realize any
thing of the scene that took place in his own room, but a
little while before his spirit left the body. It was very differ-

00 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
ent from that which you witnessed when your grandfather
passed away. You well remember how we administered to his
wants because of our love for him, which his good, generous
life had called forth from us. When we saw that life was gone,
you remember, we all felt that his example was one that we
ought to try to follow; but when poor Hezekiah Pendleton
passed away, no one could say that his life had been such as to
furnish an example for good, or regarded his memory pi'ecious
for any acts of kindness that he had performed of late years,
although in his early days he was a different man, for those
characteristics that were so strong in his last years had grad
ually grown upon him. Surely those last hours furnished a
scene that I hope will never be repeated, and probably would
never have been known to the world, had it not been for Han
nah Nibbs, whose curiosity prompted her to divide her atten
tion between the mourning gowns and the sick room, making
her desire to have a 'good fit' a most plausible excuse for
intruding on the family as they stood about the aged father in
the last hours of his life."
The good old mother sat trembling with emotion,
no doubt forgetting the scores of years that were
now closing, and recalling the early days of her mar
ried life, when they had less wealth and more real
comfort. At such times, great faults are overshad
owed by the virtues of earlier days, that is, in the
minds of those who have known them in both, as,
when we are passing through a severe storm, we
recall with much pleasure the bright sunny days that
have preceded it. Seth, with his broad shoulders,
hard fists, unshaven face and bloated countenance, for
his habits had begun to tell upon him already, sat at
one side of the bed, and Saul had equally as promi
nent a place on the opposite side, while the two girls,
for such they were always called, until they left the
old home, were near at hand ; each of the four was
anxious for the end of the father's life, but the latter
three were quietly planning in their own minds some

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 69
way " to come up " with Seth, and make sure of a
share to balance the Simpson farm.
" I want you all to understand," said Seth, " that I
am the oldest, and I am going to manage things here
when father is done with them, and that will be
pretty soon too, by the appearances now," stooping
over the bed to see if breath still lingered in the
aged parent. " I shall take that key as soon as he is
dead, and I'll see what is in that room in spite of
you." The good mother, who had been kept down so long,
did not once think that she had any right to a voice
in the matter, hence said nothing and only feared the
scene that would follow the death of her husband.
At this point a voice from the lower room checked
the conversation. Not one of the children of the old
couple being willing to trust the others in the room
during their absence, Hannah was called to go and
see who was there and attend to his wants. It
was Ike Fuller, who, on learning the state of affairs,
did not wait to be asked, but pushed his way to the
sick room, exclaiming as soon as entering, "Wall,
wall, the old gent is about gone and you will soon
have matters in your own hands, mother," turning to
Mrs. Pendleton and addressing her familiarly, as was
his custom, for he was not an infrequent visitor to
the Pendleton home.
"What's that?" shouted Seth, "I'm the oldest
and I guess I shall manage affairs myself."
"Tut, tut," said Ike ; " it's your mother's privilege
to say who shall attend to matters if she is not able
to do it, and of course she is not."
Here the good woman took courage and said, " I
will send for Mr. Briggs," and addressing Mr. Fuller

70 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
said, " Will you go right down for him and tell him
father is about gone and that I want him to come
right up here ? "
Ike was soon off, rather glad to be able to do the
errand, in hopes -to be asked to return, and possibly
to get a look into that room.
Mr. Briggs was soon at the Pendletons and Ike
Fuller with him. The good old lady had seemed to
change in her appearance in the very few moments
that had elapsed since being told that she had some
rights, and she quietly withdrew to another room
with Mr. Briggs, to tell him the condition of things,
while the four ignorant, avaricious children of the
aged couple stood watching the father and each
other. The sewing room of Hannah Nibbs was so located
that she could hear the conversation from both par
ties, and, according to her story, the change that
came over Mrs. Pendleton: was wonderful when
she realized that it was her right to speak and
exercise a little authority. Before Mr. Briggs left
the house, it was wisely agreed that everything
should be put in his charge, but that the key should
not be touched even by him, until death had done its
work. On directing Ike Fuller to stay until he
returned, Mr. Briggs went home to arrange his pri
vate business so that he could devote most of the
immediate future to the new responsibilities which he
had reluctantly taken.
While watching with the sinking man and the
family, Fuller made good use of the time by display
ing the merits of his jewelry and telling wonderful
things of his brindled steers. Strange subjects for
such an hour, you say, so did Miss Nibbs ; but you

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

71

must remember that Fuller was a rough, unprinci
pled man, was always ready for a trade, and had an
eye to some of the money that was soon to leave the
grasp of Mr. Pendleton and start into circulation.
His bogus watch and chain, with those flashing seal
rings, looked fine to Saul and Priscilla, who silently
declared they would have some of that sort one of
these days.
While Ike Fuller was talking with Page, who had
dropped in, the aged father passed away, and when
Mr. Briggs returned, hastened by Hannah's call, there
sat Mother Pendleton, Seth, Saul, Sally and Priscilla
around the bed, on which lay the lifeless form of
husband, father, miser. Fuller and Page were abashed
in the presence of death, ancl stood in the rear.

The Miser's Death Bed.

Mr. Briggs, with his characteristic dignity, stepped
forward and said, "According to your agreement, in

72 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
your presence and in the presence of Isaac Fuller,
Hanson Page, and Hannah Nibbs," who, with an
unfinished garment in hand stood in the doorway,
"I take possession of this key," cutting the string
that held it to the poor, emaciated form, and formally
placing it in his breast-pocket.
A life of ninety-four years had closed with but few
regrets, save that the influence of this long life could
not be more helpful to the community in which it had
been spent.

EIGHTH EVENING.
T required some time for the Pendleton sons and
daughters to realize that they had given up their
power to Mr. Briggs before they had a right to
exercise it in reality ; but the good mother manifested
no desire to assume any responsibility whatever, and
in fact her children had implicit confidence in Mr.
Briggs, and he would have succeeded in doing what
he felt was his duty, with but little opposition, only
that Hanson Page and some others filled them with
ideas that were prompted by feelings of jealousy.
Many of the townfolks had a great longing to fill the
position which Mr. Briggs was to occupy.
Ike Fuller's desire to work off some of his jewelry
led him to make too many calls on the younger Pen
dletons for their good ; in fact, he did not hesitate to
make his flattering offers before the burial of the
father, and Page's steers did tempt Saul. While

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 73
these pretended friends, but mischief makers in
reality, were filling the heads of the girls and Saul,
Mr. Briggs was making preparations for the funeral.
Squire Taylor, as he was commonly known, being a
Justice of the Peace and a carpenter by trade, was mak
ing the coffin, and Hannah Nibbs was gathering the
folds in some dark brown calico for the last garment,
ancl hastening to finish off the gowns that were now
actually needed. The people of the little town had
generally learned that Mr. Pendleton was dead, for
the bell in the old church belfry that stood apart from
the meeting house had for five minutes slowly pealed
forth its measured notes, proclaiming to all that a
death had taken place, and warning them to be ready
to count. After a pause of two minutes the rapid
strokes of the bell-man counted up to ninety-four,
which convinced all that Hezekiah Pendleton had
gone, for he was the oldest citizen in the village.
Bridge Potter, brother to Patty, happened to drop
into Taylor's shop, ancl finding Ike Fuller there,
stopped to inquire into the particulars of the last
hours of Mr. Pendleton, and see Squire Taylor put
the staining on the surface of the rude pine coffin
that was about completed.
"Pendleton can have that room all to himself, and
there is no need of a lock to it either," said Bridge
thoughtlessly, pointing to the coffin, that was just
receiving the finishing touches by the Squire.
"Sure enough," replied Fuller; " ancl I guess he'd
be glad to have a chance to let in a little air, for I
reckon he'll want all the breeze there is'where he's
gone." "These were unkind remarks indeed, my boy, as you well
know, and no kind-hearted, thoughtful person would talk in

74 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
that way ; but Potter and Fuller were rough, and thoughtless
of the feelings of others, and the life of Mr. Pendleton had
been such that the best of people had but little reason to
express sympathy for the family or to respect the memory of
the dead."
Seth, who was feared by his brother and sisters,
went home soon after Mr. Briggs took the key, and,
unfortunately, indulged his appetite too freely, and
being under the influence of liquor, did not appear at
the old home until the day of the funeral ; and it was
to be regretted that he came then, for, knowing that
Mr. Briggs was one of the active members of the
temperance society, he believed he would not provide
the complement of liquors for the funeral, and being
determined "that father should have a good send-
off," he came on with a supply of punch all ready
made, and had Ike Fuller, Hanson Page, Bridge Pot
ter, and some others, who gathered early in the after
noon of the funeral day, well filled before Mr. Briggs
found it out ; who, when he did learn of the state of
affairs, remonstrated with Seth ; but on finding him
¦determined, gave up and let him have his own way,
rather than have a scene of discord, just as the town-
folks were gathering. The girls had proposed that
black gloves be furnished for all the mourners, hav
ing seen this done in some families of note ; but Saul
did not favor it, as none but home-made mittens had
ever been on his bony hands, and " What is good
enough for me is good enough for any one who will
come here," said Saul, with a veto of emphasis.
Mr. Briggs had no such ideas and readily acceded
to the desire of Saul, and gloves were not furnished.
Just before the company were seated in the best room
for the services, Seth called the neighbors who had

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

75

been selected for bearers out one side, and gave them
another round of punch, saying, "Drink hearty, for
you've got a long tramp to the yard. To be sure, the
old gent don't weigh much, yet you'll need it." But
five of the eight responded to his call. Three of
them had joined the temperance society, and believed
it was incumbent upon them to keep the pledge even
on such an occasion as this.
" The customs in the days of the Pendletons were very
unlike those of the present, so the proceedings of Seth were
not looked upon as they would be now. There was no such
thing as a hearse in which to carry the dead, and at times
the coffin was borne on the shoulders of four men. In later
years they had a frame, called a bier, with four handles to it
on which the coffin was placed and carried to the grave much
more easily. Eight bearers were selected, so as to give an
opportunity for rest to four, without delaying the procession."

1. Squire Taylor made the Coffin.
¦2. The Funeral of Hezekiah Pendleton.

76 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
As the yard was quite a long distance from the
Pendleton home, the full number was very neces
sary at the burial of Mr. Pendleton. Miss Nibbs
was selected as the general directress of affairs in
the house, with the exception of what Seth would
attend to. Priscilla, who was very particular about
the appearance of the rooms, came into the living
apartment just before Mr. Whitford began the read
ing of the Scriptures and gave her last orders to
Hannah. Her coarse voice was heard through all the
rooms, as the silence that is customary in the pres
ence of death had -taken possession. "Miss Nibbs,
if you see any ants on the dresser, you brush them
off." It is needless to say that some people were inclined
to smile at these directions of Priscilla, regardless of
the hour and the occasion.
The service being over, many stood about in a cir
cle, while Ike Fuller brought in a pailful of toddy
and passed it around, greatly to the disgust of many,
but to the pleasure of others, who quietly said, " Seth
is doing it up in good shape." It was noticed that
Hanson Page changed his position during the passing
of the drink and so located himself as to have a sec
ond opportunity, and he showed its effects before he
reached the grave.
Bev. Mr. Whitford took Mrs. Pendleton into his
chaise and followed immediately behind. the bearers
and the body. The other members of the family
walked to the grave, as horses were not very numer
ous and carriages were hardly known ; only the min
ister and doctor, with a few wealthy people, had
them. Mr. Briggs and Hannah Nibbs remained at
the house. Hannah was to prepare tea for the family

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 77
and neighbors who had been asked in to eat with the
mourpers on their return from the grave.
Before sunset, Seth was carried home, worse from
the effects of his liquors, and before all the people
had retired. Mr. Briggs, knowing that Seth was
located for the night, and fearing nothing from the
other members of the family, decided to go home, and
Hannah Nibbs also left the house. The family were
alone, a sad time generally in a home that has been
visited by death ; but sorrow did not enter here, only
as the heart of the good old mother was pained, as
she recalled the years of her early married life, when
her husband was considerate of her feelings, and
when they_ labored and planned together to provide
for the wants of their growing family. Could one
have looked in upon them in the early hour of dark
ness, he would have seen Saul and the sisters skulk
ing about the house by the light of a dim candle.
What were they doing, do you ask ?
" We'll pay Seth for getting the Simpson farm
away from Dad in that way," whispered Saul, fearing
Mother might be disturbed ; and knowing she would
not countenance anything of the kind, they did not
want her to appear. Had one have been outside the
house an hour later, he would have seen, by the light
of the stars that twinkled in the crisp atmosphere of
that November night, three tall figures start from the
back door of the house, come around to the front by
a circuitous path, cross the highway and pass on into
the cattle yard and disappear from view. One, appar
ently in female attire, seemed to lead the way, hav
ing in hand a tin frame punctured with small holes,
through which the flickering rays of a lighted candle
dimly shone, but aided in seeing the outline of the

78 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
other two figures, one of which seemed to be bending
over a heavy burden, while the other carried -what
appeared to be a frame of some kind in one hand and
a spade in the other. Their shadows, cast by the dim
light, revealed their stealthy movements.

The Night after the Funeral.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 79

NINTH EVENING.
£HE legal steps having been taken, Mr. Briggs
took full possession of the Pendleton prop
erty, and at an early date commenced to set
tle according to law. There was no will. Hezekiah
Pendleton had such a firm grasp on life that he never
allowed himself to think of death ; and if he had, I
doubt if he could have brought his mind to the point
where he would have been willing to put on paper
the words, " I give," for they were unknown to his
vocabulary since Seth got the Simpson farm; but "I
keep " were words that filled all the space.
"My child, I hope you fully realize the misfortune that
befalls any one who forms such a penurious habit as did Mr.
Pendleton. I would not have you unmindful of the future and
fail to prepare for old age, but guard against a miserly propen
sity." A few days after the funeral Mr. Briggs appeared
early in the morning with three men, he having spent
the greater part of each clay there since the funeral.
They were Jones and Taylor, both Justices of the
Peace, and Mr. Larkin, who were to take an inven
tory of the property.' Mr. Briggs was careful to
guard against any opportunity for the many jealous
people of the village to charge him with appropriat
ing anything to his personal use, so he decided not to
enter that room alone, and he had not touched the
lock since he took the key from its dead owner, and
was quite sure no one had, and believing no one
could find any other entrance to the den, he felt per
fectly safe in waiting until the appraisers were duly
sworn, before he touched the door which had swung

80 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
open for no one but Hezekiah Pendleton for twenty
years. They waited for Seth, that every member
of the family might be present when the old rusty
key was turned. They did not wait long ; Seth soon
came puffing in at a rapid pace, and up the back stairs
they went. Mr. Briggs turned the key and swung-
open the door. The squeak of the old rusty hinges,
that had sent a shudder through each member of the
family for years, had now turned to melody and sent
a thrill of joy through every one of them. A little
window of diamond shaped glass set in lead, opening
out upon the roof of a shed at the rear, was the only
means of obtaining light, and this being partly
screened by a board resting against it, allowed but a
very dini light to enter the room. The screen being
removed, and the eyes of each of the explorers, for
such they might well be called, becoming accustomed
to the conditions, there was but little difficulty in
viewing the surroundings. The room was about ten
feet wide and a little longer ; quite low studded, with
the rafters all visible. It was entirely unfinished. -
The old beams and braces were perforated by the
worms of years, but as it was the contents that inter
ested the appraisers, administrator and heirs, as well
as Hannah and all the townfolks, so that is what is
of the most interest to you.
This room was none other than the temple which
contained Hezekiah Pendleton's god. Here was what
he had worked for ; that for which he had denied his
wife and children the comforts, yes, necessities of
life; and what had afforded him no comfort in the
hour of death. Yet it was his god.
"What do I mean? Why, my child, I mean that any thing
or person that is worshipped by another becomes that person's

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 81
idol, and any one who sets his affections on such an object or
person, breaks the first commandment, which you well know
to be, ' Thou shalt have no other gods before me ; ' and from
what you have learned of Hezekiah Pendlton, do you think he
kept that commandment?"
•'No, grandma, I do not, said Ned ; "but do tell me what
was there. ' '
There were a few partially burnt sticks on the old
hearth, a little round table near it, on which was a
piece of birch bark, that revealed some figures — col-
ums added, and some not added. These articles, with
an .old wooden chair without a back, were all of the
furnishings ; but on the beams, in the angles where
the braces met, and in fact on all parts and in all
corners of the room, were piles of coins and rolls of
bank bills, and hanging from wooden pegs were bags
that held from a quart upwards, filled with rusty
coppers and odd pieces of coin, the value of which
could not be then determined. It was noticeable that
at one side there seemed to be an empty appearance,
when compared with the other parts, and one
remarked, " Well, the old man didn't live long enough
to fill up this end." At this time Saul ancl the girls
seemed to be uneasy, yet it was but little noticed, and
the work of counting and recording went on. All
of the coin that was familiar to the appraisers and of
which the value could be determined was thrown
into one large box, ancl that which was not known
was deposited in another, while the paper notes were
uncertain and given over to Mr. Briggs to be exam
ined by experts in the city, a record of the denomi
nations being made without the value.
The beams being cleared, the company descended
to the lower floor, and the work of appraisal contin-

82 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

•'Mr. Briggs turned the key and swung open the door."

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 83
ued with more rapidity, for the heirs were not quite
as attentive, and their company might well have been
dispensed with ; their duties thus far had been self-
imposed, and were mostly those of watching each
other. While looking at the cattle in the barn,
Squire Taylor said, " If the old man had put a few
of those bank bills on the cattle, they would have
been in better condition, and I am mistaken if he
wouldn't have left more property. I shall miss my
guess if half of those rolls that he has been counting
over for years, until they are worn thin with his fin
gering, are not worthless."
After serving a good, hot dinner for the gentlemen,
Sally and Priscilla concluded to go up to the mysteri
ous room and give it a cleansing, such as it had not
received for many years ; neither broom nor brush
had entered there for a score of years, unless their
father had taken it, and as that was not in keeping
with the habits of Mr. Pendleton, it was not at all
likely that any cleaning had been done there at all,
and the appearance of the floor and any unoccupied
parts indicated neglect, while every corner and angle
that held the coin and bills was free from dust and
cobwebs, and the hoarded wealth was noticeable for
its freedom of' dirt, showing conclusively that the
owner spent his time here in counting and rearrang
ing his accumulations. Had Mr. Pendleton put his
money at interest and spent his time, if he must
waste so much of it, [in reckoning up the interest,
he would have left a much larger estate. Sally was
down on her knees peering into every dark corner
and giving each part a thorough cleaning, when she
discovered a hole, evidently the work of rats, and
calling Priscilla, who was up on a stool brushing the

84

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

cobwebs from above, a candle was lighted and brought
in and investigation made. A bunch of tattered
paper was brought out that proved to be parts of
bank bills, and aroused the sweepers to such an inter
est that they hardly knew what course to pursue.
"I'll go and tell Mr. Briggs," said Sally.
"No," said Priscilla, "let's look into the matter
ourselves, ancl if there is anything here we'll keep it.
Seth has got the Simpson farm ancl Saul will git the
best of us anyhow."

The Pendleton Homestead.

They concluded to say nothing about it, and some
time when Saul was away they would take up a floor
board ancl see what they could find. Night came on
long before the appraisers had completed the round
of the buildings. They left the records with Mr.
Briggs, and decided to resume work on the following
day. Josiah Briggs came for "his father with the
horse and sled, as the snow had been falling all day
and the first sledding of the early winter had come.
It was fortunate that the son was so thoughtful,.
otherwise Mr. Briggs would have been obliged to

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 85
remain all night as he had allowed his helpers to go
home without making any provision for the safe
keeping of the money, and he could not feel secure in
leaving it long enough there with the legal heirs, to
go for his team ; and not one of the four children of
Hezekiah Pendleton had confidence enough in the
others to leave them while the boxes were in the
house, so they would not go to the barn to get the
Pendleton team for Mr. Briggs.
With the heavy boxes of coin on the sled, Josiah
drove off, while his father kept an eye on the precious
load. They were but a short distance down the hill
when Seth was seen coming the same way, but as Mr.
Briggs knew that Saul and the sisters would not be
easy if he should permit Seth to ride, he did not halt.
On reaching home he found Saul, who had taken a
short cut across the lots in order to learn if his
brother had got on to the sled and thus had a chance
to put his hands into the contents of the boxes.
These acts of the Pendleton children were not
because of a loss of confidence in Mr. Briggs, but
indicated their lack of confidence in each other. The
three who lived at home had some reason for the
feeling against their older brother, while he distrusted
them. A bad state of affairs to be sure, but the Pen
dleton family was not the only one where such feel
ings exist and are manifested, especially when there is
property left to be divided, and where the members
have had the advantages of a better training.
It took more than another day to finish the work.
There, were broad acres of a heavy growth of the
best of timber and many acres of out-land that had
to be visited and looked over, and the snow was a
hindrance to that part of the work. Ike Fuller con-

86 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
vinced Seth and Saul that they would be taxed, if it
was known how much property there was, to such an
extent, that they would be alarmed; so, with the
advice of Fuller, they undertook - to persuade Mr.
Briggs not to make a correct return of the inventory
to the Probate Court, and in fact did try to bribe him '
and the appraisers as well, but Mr. Briggs was above
bribes and true as steel, and went on doing his full
duty, fearless of any man. The town was not with
out jealous people who were ready to say that he
would "feather his own nest," but he had such a
reputation for truth and veracity, that any thought
ful, honest person in the community would not have
the least suspicion of him.
After the work of appraisal was over, Mr. Briggs
took a trip to Boston on horse-back, carrying a differ
ent load from what he had ever taken before. The
large leather saddle bags were thrown over the back
of the horse, filled with the coins of doubtful value
to be exchanged for currency of the day. He was
obliged to make several such journeys for the same
purpose before the value of the contents of the
boxes was known. And when many of the bank
notes were offered for exchange, they proved to be
worthless, and the banks which they represented were
no longer in existence, and to all appearances were
worthless when Mr. Pendleton took them and packed
them away in the mysterious room ; but as he did
not know of their worthlessness, he derived as much
comfort from counting them as he did from reckoning
up the piles of silver crowns and other pieces ; and I
don't know but it was just as well for his children as
though they had brought par value.
This report disheartened the girls and they at once

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 87
lost confidence in their secret prospect, so they told
Mr. Briggs about it and he at once took up the floor
boards and found that what they had taken from the
mouth of the hole was only the beginning of the store
that the destructive animals had taken away. Doubt
less the greasy surface of the bills had made them
doubly attractive to the marauders, and they had
gathered a large quantity, the remnants of which
filled the largest milk pan of the family; but the
mass was so thoroughly torn that it was impossible
to make any accurate estimate of the value that had
been carried away. The wonderment was that so
much could have been taken while Mr. Pendleton
lived and not have been missed by him. From the
appearance of the nest, it was not a fresh one, and
must have been taken from the room some months
before. When this fact became known to the people of the
village, it furnished a subject for discussion at many
gatherings, and the next meeting at Larkin's shop
faithfully considered all sides of the question, and
the verdict reached was that Mr. Pendleton did real
ize that his funds were on the decrease, and this was
what made him more fretful towards the end of life ;
and some of the company fully believed that the anx
iety and worriment hastened him to his grave. How
much good that old man might have done with the
money, and how much better it would have been if he
had put it on his cattle as Squire Taylor remarked.
All the benefit that can result from the regrets of
any one now, must eome in the way of guarding
against such propensities as predominated in Heze
kiah Pendleton.

88

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

The Meeting House.

TENTH EVENING.

^Sft'N many of the early settlements of New Eng-
£§ land, the first matters that received the atten-
jj| tion of the pioneers were the founding of a
church and the settlement of a pastor. He was or
dained with very impressive ceremonies, and his term
of service was not expected to end until death. Par
son Whitford spent his life with the people of this
town, and was sincerely mourned at his death.
Bev. Mr. Jones, who had completed his farm
buildings, had an eye for the pastorate, and sought
an opportunity to be heard, in fact, did go so far as
to make himself rather obnoxious to the people ; and
when he found he was not to be called to the vacant
pulpit, he became very morose and said many bitter
things and manifested anything but a Christian
spirit. The good folks kept on wondering what he was
going to do with his new buildings. " Fine chance

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 89
for sombody," said Hannah Nibbs one day when call
ing at the Pendletons and sympathizing with the
family. Mr. Briggs was now very busy with his own duties
ancl the added cares of the Pendletons ; but the
increased burden was lightened by the willingness of
the family to do whatever the administrator suggest
ed ; and had they not felt called upon to submit so
much to him for decision, the duties would not have
absorbed so much of his time. One day, when Mr.
Briggs was very busy about his farm work, Saul
came down the hill at a rapid pace and demanded
his immediate presence at the house. Feeling that
the case was urgent, he responded, expecting to find
Seth in an intoxicated state over there making a
disturbance, as he was the only member of the fam
ily that gave him any trouble whatever ; but on
reaching the house he found everything quiet and
no appearance of Seth's having been there for some
days. The occasion of the call was ascertained
when Sally opened the door to the great brick
oven and showed the mop that Priscilla had placed
there to dry. They had been baking in the oven
during the day, and there being a little heat left,
Priscilla thought it a good time to dry the mop.
This was out of the regular order of things. The
Pendletons were very neat, although Hannah did
insinuate that such was not the case, and Sally could
not allow her to make this departure, hence a dispute
-arose which seemed to be coming to a serious pass
when it was decided that Mr. Briggs should come,
and whatever he said was right should meet with
the family approval. He took the mop from the
oven and, after giving a little advice as to some phy-

90 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
sical treatment, returned to his home, somewhat
amused, to be sure, yet feeling gratified that the fam
ily were so ready to accept his decisions.
In regard to the property, the law was to direct
the division, there being no will. The contents of
the mysterious room was divided very soon, each
having a share. Saul was to carry on the farm for a
while and have the income of it for the support of
his mother, while the girls were to have their living
at home as long as they remained and administered
to the wants of her who, through many privations,
had faithfully cared for them. Saul could not man
age the work of the farm without the aid of his sis
ters. They were as handy as men at almost any
department of the farm work. They always did the .
milking, and could hold the plough as skilfully as
Seth or Saul.
Things went on very comfortably for a season, but
new burdens were to be taken up and new responsi
bilities were to be assumed. How to invest the
amounts which they had already in their possession,
was an important question, and when to say " no " to
the various parties who beset them on every hand
with all sorts of attractions, was a matter difficult to
decide. Hanson Page had already persuaded Saul to
buy his " brindles " at a fabulous price, and a long-.
shining chain now hung from his homespun waist
coat ; but the watch was such as Ike Fuller would be
expected to sell, and not to be relied upon.
It was fortunate for Sally and Priscilla that they
had taken Mrs. Briggs for an adviser. Dolly was a
true friend, and when they followed her advice it
¦was to their advantage. Many who had made sport
of the Pendletons in earlier years, began to court

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 91
their society, and, I am sorry to say, some of them
sought not for the companionship of the members of
the family as much as they did for the advantage
which they might get over them, who, in almost
every transaction where money was involved, were
imposed upon, unless they took the advice of Mr.
Briggs or his wife. The reason of this was their
neglected childhood. Never having been trusted
with responsibilities while their father lived, they
knew- but little how to assume them now, and not
having had ' money to spend they were illy prepared
to use it to their advantage now that they had it in
their possession.
Mr. Jones had completed his buildings, and for
some months had been conducting the business of his
farm by the aid of a housekeeper, but when he was
obliged to conclude that he was not wanted to fill the
pulpit made vacaut by the death of Mr. Whitford, he
at once decided that he could manage things alone,
so dismissed his faithful servant and decided that he
would not try to make his home attractive to the
public. Early in the spring following the death of Mr.
Pendleton, Mr. Jones drove one afternoon into the
Briggs' yard, tied the old white horse to the block,
and pleasantly saluted Mrs. Briggs, who, having seen
him from her window, was at the door before he had
smoothed down the wig which hid his bald head and
scanty gray locks. She made him welcome. He was
a man of but few words, and when he had any busi
ness to do, came to it without indulging in many pre
liminaries. It was an uncommon thing for Mr. Jones
to call in this way at the home of the Briggs', hence
Mrs. Dolly was confident that something important

92 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
and uncommonly pressing had caused him to come
out, which she soon found to be the case.
"Mrs. Briggs, I need a wife," he abruptly said,
"and I have come to secure your assistance in the
matter." "Indeed," said Mrs. Briggs, with an inflection and
look that awakened courage in the caller. " This is
a very important step for any one to take, and it is
not reasonable to suppose that every one can fill the
important position of a minister's wife. Whom were
you thinking of centering your affections 'upon, may I
ask ? "
"Well, Mrs. Briggs," said Mr. Jones, giving his
chair a little hitch and looking at either side to be
sure that no one was near to overhear the secret he
was about to entrust to her, " I had been thinking
that Priscilla Pendleton would be just the one for
me, and knowing that she and the whole family are
very intimate friends of yours, I have called, after
much prayerful consideration, to ask you if you
would be so kind and obliging as to ascertain if a
call from me would be agreeable to Miss Priscilla,
the younger of the promising ladies."
" Perhaps you are not aware that it is a plan in
the family that Sally, the older, must be married
first," said Mrs. Briggs.
" Yes, madam, I am aware of that ; but perhaps as
they are now differently situated, they may be will
ing to abandon that plan," replied the persistent
seeker. On receiving a favorable reply from Mrs. Briggs,
the clergyman retired, promising to call in a few
days and learn what impression was made by the
proposition. The call and the occasion of it were

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 93
reported to Mr. Briggs on his arrival home, and they
both concluded that even the minister had an eye to
this world's goods, and both feared that it was
money which he was seeking for, as well as a wife,
but it was evident to all that he did need a compan
ion, and Mr. and Mrs. Briggs both thought he was
wise in his choice.
Betsey, a black-eyed niece of Mrs. Briggs, had
recently come to make her home with her aunt, and
had now for the first time learned something of the
Pendleton family, as she had overheard the conver
sation between her aunt and Mr. Jones.
Mrs. Briggs was as good as her word, and soon
called on the Pendletons and laid the matter before
the family. At first Sally made strong objections,
and insisted that as she was the older she must be
married first, and that by right she ought to have the
proposal ; yet when convinced that the minister was
decided and that it must be Priscilla or neither, she
reluctantly concluded that she would give way and
let Priscilla have the offer, realizing that this might
make way for herself.
Mrs. Briggs soon made it convenient to inform Mr.
Jones that his attention would be agreeably received,
and he promised to call again and notify her when
the first visit should be made ; as she had confiden
tially suggested to make a head dress for Priscilla
that she might be in an attractive attire when the
clergyman should make his first call, believing that
first impressions were lasting.
Betsey had some modern ideas of millinery and
promised to aid her aunt in the work of preparing
Priscilla for the visit. The Pendleton girls were not
very particular about their dress when about home,

94 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
and Mrs. Briggs was in hopes to have an opportunity
to procure lace, and with the assistance of her niece,
to make a tasty cap for Priscilla before the first
meeting ; but before the opportunity came, as Mrs.
Briggs was leaving her home with the purpose of
calling on the Pendletons for an afternoon chat, she
looked down the road towards the village and saw
Mr. Jones' white-faced horse coming towards her.
Believing that the minister was out for the important
call, she started Josiah across lots to notify Miss
Priscilla that she might make preparations. When
Mr. Jones overtook Mrs. Briggs, he drew up his
horse and asked her to ride, telling her that he was
about to make the proposed call. Mrs. Briggs felt it
to be her duty to reprimaud the reverend gentleman,
a very bold thing for any one to do in those days.
Said she, " You are not doing according to your agree
ment, for you promised to give me due notice, and I
had arranged to notify the lady. I am afraid she
won't be ready for this call."
"Never mind about that," said the suitor, " I shan't
be so likely to be deceived."
If they had known what was in his heart, they
would have seen that it was not necessary to make
any change in dress, for truly, I must confess, that it
afterwards proved that money was tho first object of
Mr. Jones' search, and a wife was a secondary matter.
A clergyman should have had a better motive, as
a minister of the gospel is expected to be exemplary
in every particular. While driving leisurely along,
the old horse came to a sudden stop.
" Is your horse contrary, Mr. Jones ? " said his
companion.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 95
"No — no," replied the clergyman; "he has only
stopped to take breath."
With his lungs well inflated, he started on and
soon reached the top of the hill. While Mr. Jones
was making his horse secure, Mrs. Briggs hastened in
to the aid of Priscilla, who was already doing her
best to make a fine appearance, Josiah having warned
her of the coming event. It was in the same room
that Amariah Quimby received his lasting rebuff, that
Rev. Mr. Jones met a cordial welcome ; but things
had changed — some years had passed, age was creep
ing on, making unmistakable furrows in the faces of
both Sally and her fairer sister ; the tyrant had been
called from his den ; the mysterious room had given
up its contents ; its treasures were divided, and in
some instances were being rapidly scattered. Mrs.
Briggs managed soon to have an excuse for leaving
the room and succeeded in calling out the mother and
Sally as well, so that the room was left with only two
occupants, and no more were wanted.

ELEVENTH EVENING.
3fcgt|SfHILE Mrs. Briggs was at the Pendletons
fyfwbwc' w^ -Mr' J°nes' Mr- briggs took a walk
SrjfgT© over the hill through " Love Lane " to Dea
con Sprague's to look at some cattle, and as the road
lay by Seth Pendleton's, he dropped in to say a neigh
borly word. On entering the room he plainly saw by

96 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
the appearance of Patty, that things were not going
on altogether right, and he asked for Seth. Patty
hesitated at first, but finally, in a discouraged man
ner, did say, " I may as well tell you the whole mat
ter. I know you are friendly towards us and will not
unkindly expose our misfortunes. Seth has not been
himself at all since you paid him his share of the
money. You know he went right off and bought that
horse and chaise, and he has been riding ever since ;
and Ike Fuller and Hanson Page have been with him
continually, one or the other being away with him all
the time. To be sure he provides enough to eat, but
beside that I have not seen a dollar and I don't
know what he is doing with it."
Here Patty hesitated, but soon started again, as if
determined to secrete her troubles no longer. -
" I believe that Ike Fuller is not hanging around
Seth from any good motive, and as for Hanson Page,
I think he'd better stay at home with his wife, for
there she is, poor woman, and can't get out at all."
" Where is Seth to-day ? " interrupted Mr. Briggs.
" Oh, he hasn't been off the bed yet," said Patty.
" He didn't get home till almost morning, and then
he was so much the worse for liquor, that I had to
put the horse in the stable ; and I have done all the
chores at the barn. Now, Mr. Briggs," she continued,
"I am about discouraged, and sometimes wish his
father had not left a cent. When Seth is at home he
is either half drunk or scolding about Saul and the
girls, who, he says, are getting more than he is ; but
I know, and so does- he when he is sober, that you are
doing everything right, and that they ought to have
their living from the farm if they stay and take care
of their mother."

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 97
" Yes ; and you know that this farm was a gift
right out to Seth by his father," said Mr. Briggs.
"I know it," sadly replied Patty, "and I wish I
had never " —
At this time in stepped Joe Nibbs, who was a
brother to Hannah; he had- been away for some years,
but had lately come home to take charge of the farm
and look after his mother with the aid of his sister.
"They do tell me," said Joe, "that Ike Fuller is
going to build a barn right off, and Hannah says his
wife told her they had money enough on hand to put
it right up and have no mortgage on it either. Now,
I don't see through it," said Joe, "for Ike don't
attend to his affairs half as well as some of them
round -here, and they couldn't build a barn if they
wanted to, and can't pay off what they do owe on the
old one, half of them ; but Hannah says, and she
knows, for she has got it right from Huldah, that Ike
has had great luck lately and struck some fine bar
gains, so they are going to have a right smart barn."
"Indeed," said Mr. Briggs, "this is news. I knew
that Mr. Fuller needed a barn, and so do I, but I had
not learned that he felt equal to building at present.
I guess the watch speculation is profitable just now."
Patty did venture to say, "I guess he wouldn't
have built a barn if Mr. Pendleton had lived ; poor,
foolish man he was, to deny his family the comforts
of life and a respectable schooling, and leave his
money to be wasted in this maner, just thrown away
by his own children."
The appearance of Seth from the bed-room put a
sudden stop to Patty's sensible remarks. One needed
to take but a look at Seth to know it all. Ike Fuller
and others had taken the advantage of his ignorance

98 LEGENDS OF _ OLD BEDFORD.
and weakness and persuaded him to drink' repeatedly,
until he was becoming , a confirmed drunkard ; and
these continued drives from home were bringing des
olation upon the farm, sorrow to his neglected fam
ily, and shame and ruin to himself. Patty did what
she could in caring for the stock and looking after
affairs outside ; but these duties, added to the care of
three children, were too much for any woman, and
she was losing courage, thus making the outlook
very bad for the occupants of the Simpson farm,
Many women, under better circumstances, would have
lost courage long before Patty did, but she was a true
wife and mother, and as such, struggled on, bending
more and more in both mind aud body as the burden
grew heavy and this troublesome journey lengthened.
When Seth realized that Mr. Briggs was present,
he tried to appear decently, but it was with diffi
culty that he walked across the room, and seeing the
real state of affairs, the good neighbor left the house,
wishing he could do something to bring about a
change in that home.
Mr. Briggs went on to Deacon Sprague's, looked at
the cattle with au eye to purchasing, then hastened
home to find his good wife Dolly with Betsey and
the boys, waiting tea for him. When seated about
the table they reported the experiences of the after
noon, while George, Josiah and their black-eyed
cousin gave more heed to the reports than to the
food before them.
" I was never more amused than during my visit
this afternoon," said Dolly. "We were all in the-
best room together, when I felt that Mr. Jones was
being placed in a very trying position, so I managed
to leave the room, and Sally and her mother followed

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 99
me, which left Mr. Jones and Priscilla alone, just
what I suppose they wanted. Mother Pendleton,
Sally and I sat down for a good visit as I expected,
but in less than twenty minutes from the time we
left the room, Priscilla came out looking wonderfully
smiling, followed by Mr. Jones, who entered into
conversation with Mother and Sally. Priscilla called
me into the cheese reom, and when she was sure we
were alone and away from the hearing of any one,
she said, ' What shall I get for my wedding gown ? '
This, I must confess, surprised me, but I found that
the case was fully settled and they were engaged.
Priscilla wants to do everything up iri grand style,
but, poor woman, she knows very little of the world,
and I fear, by this unreasonable haste, shows that
she does not fully realize what a great change she is
about to make. I only hope it will prove a wise step
and that Mr. Jones will make her a kind husband,
and I fully believe she will do her best to fill the
position. Priscilla is so utterly incapable of going to
town to make the needful purchases, I have con
sented to go to Boston with her, and she wants to go
immediately. I believe she is fully as anxious to
bring the serious matter to a close as Mr. Jones is,
and when you can make it convenient, I wish you
would drive us to Boston and aid in the purchases.
If left alone with her inexperience she is liable to be
' imposed upon. Those clerks will give one anything
for dress fabric and trimmings when they see that a
customer is not posted as to the fashions and is not
accustomed to making selections. All the neighbors
will blame us if anything in her outfit is not appro
priate. There will be one pleasant feature about this

100 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
business, Priscilla has a plenty of money and there's
no need of economizing."
" Yes ; and I don't know but it may as well be
spent in that way as to go as I feel that Seth's is
going," said Mr. Briggs. "Now that you have told
your experience this afternoon, I will tell mine."
" Oh, did you buy father's cows ? " interrupted
Dolly. "No, I did not," was the reply. . I called in to
Seth's on the way and was so troubled by what I saw
and learned, that I did not feel like' making an offer
just then, and your father was engaged with some
people on church business."
"What is the trouble at Seth's?" interrupted
Dolly again; whereupon Mr. Briggs told the whole
story and what Joe Nibbs had told them about Ike
Fuller's building prospects.
" I declare," said Dolly, "1 suppose it won't do for
any one to say what they think ; but what a pity it is
that these Pendletons hadn't been allowed to mingle
more with the world and been educated a little so as
to have more judgment in their dealings with these
smooth-tongued fellows who pretend to be so very
friendly, and are nothing but wolves in sheep's cloth
ing." "I have feared for a long time that Seth's old
appetite was getting the mastery of him," said Mr.
Briggs, thoughtfully ; but I don't know what can be
done ; there is no Mr. Whitford to talk to him now.
When he signed the pledge, he was led to it by the
persuasions of the deacon, who, he thought, would
aid him in getting Patty if he should gratify him by
signing, and joining the temperance society; but
there is no such motive to impel him to keep his

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 101
pledge, and in fact, every influence is on the other
side, for his companions now are so unlike those who
aided him at that time."
" But," said Dolly, " are not the good people of that
temperance society to blame for allowing Seth to
drift away from them and their influence, and giving
these bad people a chance to overpower him in this
way ; and must we not take a little of the blame to
ourselves ? "
"Possibly we are at fault," said Mr. Briggs, with
an apparent twinge of conscience, " but what is to be
done ? If I go to making myself too conspicuous in
the case, Fuller and Page and such men will try to
make Seth believe that I am aiming to do what we
think these evil-minded men are doing."
"Sure enough," said Dolly. "Oh, if Mr. Whit
ford was alive ; but it is useless to talk about that,
the good Heavenly Father has called him home, and
it is the duty of the people to do the more now that
he is gone. I think that is one of the best ways for a
person to show regard for a friend who is called from
this earth."
"That is very true," said Mr. Briggs, "but my
one and only objection to organizations for reform of
all kinds, as you well know, is their spasmodic way
of conducting them. They will get aroused and make
a great effort for a time and draw in large numbers,
many of whom are brought in through excitement,
and when that subsides, the most active fail to keep
up their enthusiasm, and those who are not firm of
purpose drop off and by their conduct often bring
reproach upon the cause. Seth's case is just an illus
tration." "I know the ground on which you base your objec-

102 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
tions," said Dolly ; " but did you throw away all
those bank notes that you found in Mr. Pendleton's
room just because some proved to be worthless ? "
Here the conversation was brought to a sudden
close by the appearance of Hannah Nibbs, who "just
dropped in for a few moments," as she said, but
which proved to be for some hours. Hannah was
not in the habit of making short calls. She had been
very careful about calling at Mr. Briggs' since she
left so unceremoniously ; but now having a new topic
for discussion, it was impossible for her to keep away.
Betsey's black eyes and keen wit furnished not a lit
tle attraction, while this new member of the Briggs
family saw in Hannah a most interesting character.
"I guess Patty Potter is sick of her bargain by
this time," were the first words that Hannah said on
entering the house, and she had part of her salutation
expressed before she was seated. "They tell me
that Seth is drunk half his time, and he isn't any too
kind either," she continued. " It's plain enough to be
seen that all he joined the temperance society for
was to get Patty. I thought so then; I wouldn't
have had him if he had signed the pledge a dozen
times. I know what them Pendletons are, although
the gals do step so fine now they have got a lot of
money ; if they don't look out it will go as Seth's is
going. Yes; go to build a barn for Ike Fuller. I
don't care what anybody says, I just speak right out
what I think, and it's what everybody else thinks too.
And they say Priscilla is going to have Priest Jones."
"Who says that?" exclaimed Dolly, supposing no
one could have learned of the call so soon.
"Who ? I guess you know all about it. Your
Josiah is pretty close mouthed, I know, but he did

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 103
tell Ned Page where he had been this afternoon and
what his errand was, and I was down to see Ned's
mother when he came home and told it, so Hepsy
and I just put our heads together and studied it out.
Poor Hepsy, she is so lame, and she does so long to
get out and see folks and get the news too. Why,
she says it is as good as a sewing meeting to her to
have me come down, and if I can do any good in that
way I am sure I am willing to do it. I do think peo
ple ought to be more willing to do good in the world
now that Mr. Whitford is gone. But poor Patty —
she ought to have known better than to have taken
that awkward Seth Pendleton; and I should think
them folks that helped along the match would feel a
little disturbed by things at the Simpson farm.
Patty is welcome to all she can get out of that farm.
I hope Priscilla will make out better. I should think
some folks would be more careful how they help on
these matches ; but perhaps they can get some of
that money if they only help the gals get married. I
hope Priscilla will be a better housekeeper in her
own home than she has ever been yet."
The soliloquy, for such it seemed, being directed
to no one in particular, was brought to a close, or the
subject changed, by a word from Mr. Briggs, who
roguishly said, "I have heard that Saul is paying
his visits rather more often than has been his habit,
to the Nibbs family."
" Yes," said Hannah, as she rose to go, " Joe and
he always were intimate."
It was decided that the Boston trip should be made
early in the next week, and Dolly, in the meantime,
was to make out a list of the articles to be bought,
which she faithfully did.

104 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
The time for closing an evening's story had arrived. The
tall clock that stood in the corner had struck nine, and grand
ma arose to draw up the weights, pausing to hastily add a few
practical remarks by which she hoped to make a lasting im
pression on the boy, who sat at her knee and eagerly drank in
every word of her story. Said grandma, "I want you to learn
from the facts that I have given you this evening the folly of
living for money, if you have not already been sufficiently im
pressed with the lessons of former evenings, and also to see that
the evils of such conduct do not fall entirely on one person, and
quite often not upon the one who is in the wrong. Mr. Pen
dleton lived for money, but much of the evil of his wrong
doing fell upon his children as you see, and will yet learn that
his good, pure-hearted wife was also a sufferer.

TWELFTH EVENING.
jABKIN'S shop was alive with the notes of the
town-folks who dropped in for a little chat,
J3 and the various speakers did not hesitate to
comment on the prospects of Ike Fuller. The round-
faced man showed a good deal of feeling over the
downfall of Seth, and was the only one known to
make a personal effort to reclaim the unfortunate
man and relieve Patty of her trouble ; but his efforts
were of little avail.
That the report was correct was soon apparent, for
Ike Fuller had a gang of men at work laying the cel
lar wall, ancl the lot of noble oaks on Seth Pendleton's
farm were fast being cut and hewn for the building.
" What did I tell you ? " said Hannah, one morn-

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 105
ing as Mr. Briggs was passing the Nibbs house.
" How much do you suppose Ike Fuller pays for them
oaks that Hezekiah Pendleton watched so many
years, hey ? " continued Hannah.
"I don't know, I am sure," said Mr. Briggs ; "but we
have no right to say that he does not pay all they are
worth. The timber belongs to Seth and he is at lib
erty to dispose of it as he pleases. It is grand tim
ber that they are getting out, and I see no reason why
they may not put up a superior barn, and I hope Mr.
Fuller will enjoy it, for to be sure he needs it very
much." "I tell Joe," said Hannah, "that he had better
renew his acquaintance with Seth and see if we can't
have a new barn as well as Ike."
"Now, Miss Nibbs," said Mr. Briggs, "you don't
mean that you would have a barn obtained by any
unfair or underhanded means."
"No, to be sure not," replied Hannah, just as her
mother came forward and offered Mr. Briggs a pinch
of snuff, while taking some herself. Mrs. Nibbs was
noted for being the greatest snuff-taker in the neigh
borhood, and always had the best quality of Bappee
and Maccoboy mixed. Mr. Briggs commented on the
weather, but the good woman failing to hear, cried
out, "Meditating, as usual." With a gentlemanly
salutation, Mr. Briggs hastened on his way.
It was the custom for people to prepare their tim
ber for building in the winter, when the work of the
farm was not so pressing as in the spring and sum
mer, and when the sap was not so active. The fact
that Fuller allowed the winter to pass, also the early
spring months, before he began his work of felling
the stately oaks, caused those who were the least

106 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
inclined to suspect wrong of their neighbors to be a
little suspicious that everything was not straight in
the purchase of this timber of Seth Pendleton ; and
it seemed utterly impossible for Fuller to get his
barn ready for the hay when harvested. After some
weeks, during which there was much discussion
through the community, all hands were bidden to the
raising at Fuller's. Joshua Paine was the master
builder, and he had a large gang of workmen, who
could drink as much hard cider as any men in the
country; they could also do as much work as any
company of laborers of equal number.
The day was clear and calm in the morning, and all
things looked favorable for a successful raising ; but
to Hannah there seemed to appear an omen of evil,
for a crow chanced to light on a tree near the piles of
lumber. In those days the building was framed and put
together on the ground, and raised one side at a time,
being pulled into an erect position by the great com
pany that always gathered for the purpose, with the
expectation . of being treated to a good feast and a
plenty of strong drink, according to the custom.
Boys were there as well as men, and not a few women
aided in preparing the dinner. Hannah was leader
in the house, for Mrs. Fuller was in poor health, and
Hannah always had so much sympathy, and not a
little curiosity, that she volunteered to be present,
and but few could be found in all the village who
were as capable and willing as she, and her strength,
. with her power of endurance, led many to call upon
her, when some one less inclined to comment would
have been preferred.
I regret to say that at Fuller's raising, three tubs

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 107
were brought out, ancl early in the day, were filled to
the brim with as many kinds of drink ancl of different
degrees of strength. It was for the free use of the
workmen, and those who looked on also, and the latter
never failed to exercise that right. Before the work
began it was the custom for the clergyman of the
town to offer prayer, and as the society had not yet
called one to fill the vacant desk, Mr. Jones was
invited and performed the service to the gratification
of all. Hepsy Page, who had been brought over,
despite her lameness, in Seth Pendleton's chaise,
remarked that she thought Mr. Jones would make a
good pastor for them, and as he had settled in town
it would be convenient for him ancl for the people.
Having a home already established, they would not
be expected to give him a settlement fee. Hannah
ventured to say in reply, " He might do well enough,
but what sort of a minister's wife would Priscilla
Pendleton make ? "
All agreed with Hannah that she was not one
whom they could respect as they had Mrs. Whitford.
Hannah brought that conversation to a close by say
ing, " If Mr. Jones is so foolish as to take Priscilla
Pendleton for a wife, and that is what he is going to
do, why, we won't have him for our minister."
A grand hurrah from the assembled crowd attracted
the attention of the women, and by one pull the first
side was put in an upright position and held there,
while Paine hastened from stick to stick and drove
the fastening pins. Soon the opposite side was up,
and the ends were in place before many hours ; thus
the long anticipated job was well under way before
Hannah Nibbs was ready to serve the great feast,

108 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
having given them a lunch earlier, " just to stay their
stomachs,"' she said.
While the company was disposing of the ham of
Fuller's best curing and the eggs, Hannah doing her
best in serving, one of the youths who was waiting
for the second sitting was heard to say, " Do you see
that cloud over there coming from the north ? "
" Yes," was the word that came from Hannah, who
was passing the door at the time and stopped to
reply, although she had not seen it or thought of it
until she heard the voice outside ; but her desire to
be the first to see or know anything always kept her.
ready to make a reply, and sometimes placed her in an
awkward position, especially when she gave an answer
that was the very opposite from what she would have
given had she understood the nature of the question.
"Yes, I see it," said Hannah, " and it is just what I
expected. That crow meant something, I knew."
By the time the boys were seated at the table for
their share in the feast, the cloud had become very
large and the wind was fast rising. Paine, fearing
bad results, and knowing that the frame would not
stand through a great blow in its present condition,
ordered all hands at work to make it more secure ; but
a sudden gust, then a whirl of wind, together with
hail and rain, dashed down upon them before they
were aware of it, and this was followed by others of
increased violence, until a wrench, a twist, and a
crash settled the whole; and the frame of the building
was brought to the ground. The timber was in a
more useless condition than before it was taken from
Seth Pendleton's lot ; but worse than all that, two of
the young men were killed by the falling timbers.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

109

While the living were exerting every muscle to re
move the mass of timbers in order to get at the life •
less forms, after the dreadful cloud passed over, Han
nah was hastening from man to man, exclaiming, " I
told you so ; that crow was a warning ; and what will
poor Amy say when she knows her Thad is dead ? "

The Orow and the Raising.

One of the unfortunate workmen was engaged to a
promising young lady who had not appeared at the
raising, and Hannah at once aroused her sympathy
for the one who soon must know that her fondest
hopes were blasted. The living soon separated, to
return to their homes, and the dead were given Chris
tian attention; but Larkin's shop still kept up its
busy hum, and the company again gathered there to
exchange regrets and speculate on the cause of the
calamity.

110 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
"The innocent must suffer with the guilty," said
Mr. Spencer, continuing to base his ideas on the
Scriptures. "If Ike Fuller got the timbers for his
barn in an underhanded way, and this storm was
directed by God as a punishment for his evil doing,
why, Thaddeus Peterson and Jacob Paine were the
innocent who have been cut off, while Fuller still
remains.

*jfe

THIRTEENTH EVENING.
J*^N the appointed day, Mr. and Mrsf. Briggs,
with Priscilla, made the important trip to
j^ Boston. The Pendleton girls had both been
in Boston several times, and Priscilla was not so
ignorant of city ways as one would have expected ;
but she often did and said things while on this shop
ping trip that brought mortification to her compan
ions, and gave occasion for much sport on the part of
the clerks.
Her money was carried in a bead bag or purse
that she had borrowed for the day of Mrs Briggs ; it
was well filled. The dealers, when seeing the quan
tity of coins from which they were paid for their
goods, and the apparent freedom with which their
customer distributed it, became unusually attentive
to the purchasers, all the time deriving much amuse
ment from their conversation with them.
" Is that what you sell for a wedding gown ? " said

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

Ill

Priscilla to a smiling clerk, while she began to pull
over some pieces of gaudy fabrics before him.
" Yes," replied the clerk with a roguish curl of the
mouth, " if any one wants it ; but here is the very
article so very becoming to one of your style of
beautv."

1 Is that what you sell for a wedding gown ? "

This interested Priscilla, whose joy now seemed
beyond expression. To be called handsome, for she
understood it thus, and with a sure prospect of mar
riage in the near future, she needed nothing more to
perfect her happiness. She really seemed overcome
with joy, and had she been making her purchases
unattended, might have become the victim of whole
sale imposition and the object of ridicule. I must
say, although not to the credit of clerks, that in those

112 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
days, as well as in these, when business is very differ
ently conducted, purchasers were often made sport of
when innocently looking about for those things
which they were ready to procure. It mattered not
where they were from, some peculiarity was often
detected, and the thoughtless person behind the
counter revealed his ill-manners in making fun, while
he thought he was displaying his wit in creating a
laugh in others as ungentlemanly as himself. The
clerk had riveted Priscilla's attention by his seeming
flattery, and she continued her inquiry by saying,
" Do you think it fit for me when I am going to
marry a minister ? "
On being assured that it was well adapted to the
purpose, she exclaimed to Mrs. Briggs, who had lin
gered at another counnter, "I have got it; just the
thing for a minister's wife, he says," starting to meet
her adviser, while holding the end of the web of silk
with one hand and grasping her bead bag by the
other. Mrs. Briggs, however, persuaded her that another
shade would be more desirable, and a more subdued
pattern would be quite as becoming for one who was
to occupy the important position of a minister's wife.
Priscilla, as ever, was perfectly willing to listen to
Mrs. Briggs, and the selection was made at another
counter, to the apparent displeasure of the clerk who
had interested himself so much in the customer from
the country, and who had already begun to anticipate
a word of commendation from his employer when he
should inform him that he had disposed of a shop
worn pattern which had been on hand a long time.
A generous number of yards were purchased, more
than Mrs. Briggs thought necessary, but as Priscilla

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 113
was anxious to have everything made in the very
best of style, a large pattern of each kind selected
was decided upon. Priscilla opened the bead bag and
paid the price of the wedding gown with some of the
identical money that was taken from the mysterious
room. She did not fail to inform the attending
salesmen in every store which the purchasing party
entered, the occasion of this visit to Boston ; and
when any inquiry was made on the part of the clerk,
the whole story was told, and it seemed as though
the whole town must know of the plans of Priscilla
Pendleton before the goods were all selected. The
entire day was spent and many stores were visited
before the list was filled.
Priscilla did not intend to be outdone by any one
in the way of fine dress and trimmings, and as she
had been deprived for so many years of the real nec
essaries of life, now that she had the power and the
opportunity, she was the more determined to go to
the opposite extreme. She was to learn that fine
clothes would not make a lady ; and that Priscilla
Pendleton in the finest and most costly attire could
not appear as one. She had had no training in man
ners and customs outside of the limited sphere in
which she had always moved, and being far behind
the ruling customs of her immediate neighbors, she
was regarded an object of pity by the thoughtful
and kind-hearted. She, with the whole Pendleton
family, were the occasion of many a joke among
the thoughtless ; but not so much so since they had
come into the possession of wealth. It was noticea
ble that people who seldom spoke to Saul, Sally and
Priscilla before the death of their father, were now
very attentive and polite, and in some instances made

114 LEGl'.XDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
special exertions to take notice of them. The one
whose friendship is aroused by selfish motives like this
is not the true friend and should never be trusted.
The weeks and months that followed the trip to
Boston were busy ones at the home of the Pendle
tons. The faithful mother kept the wheel going to
bring out the good homespun linen for the beds.
She was desirous that the first daughter who mar
ried "should have a good setting out." Sally was
rather slow to lend a hand at first, not having fully
recovered from her disappointment ; but she finally
listened to the advice of Mrs. Briggs and took hold
in earnest, it having been decided that she should
have the same amount of things prepared for her
future use as Priscilla was having made for her
immediate demand. This plan, of course, required
twice the time, and months passed before Priscilla
was ready to decide upon the day for the marriage.
During these busy clays, Priscilla occasionally
received a call from Mr. Jones, but it was seldom of
more than an hour's duration, and often made while
the family were present, Sally never being known
to stop her work for one moment. On one occa
sion Mr. Jones was persuaded to stop to tea, and
Sally volunteered to prepare the meal, which seemed
quite surprising to Priscilla until they were seated at
the table and the tea was poured, when catnip flavor
was recognized by Priscilla, who, in what she in
tended for a whisper, said to her sister, " It is cat
nip, Sally."
The reply, " 'Tis good enough for him," easily
heard by all at the table, was extremely mortifying
to Priscilla, but apparently unheeded by Mr. Jones.
Sally also manifested her displeasure by serving her

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 115
guest with a skimmed milk curd instead of their best
quality. Mr. Jones saw the situation and turned the
joke upon Sally by freely complimenting her for her
good taste and remarkable skill in domestic matters.
While Mrs. Briggs was busy at her wheel one after
noon giving instructions to her niece Betsey, who
had reached her "teens" without this accomplish
ment, she heard the familiar " Whoa ! " of Mr. Jones,
as he stopped his horse at the end door. She has
tened down to meet him as she expected a call, and
was not disappointed. In the course of conversa
tion Mrs. Briggs ventured to express the same idea
to her caller that she had repeatedly in her own fam
ily, but in very careful language, for she was not
wanting in that unswerving regard for the clergy
that prompted universal respect, and in many, a rever
ential awe. "It seems to me, Mr. Jones, that you
hardly stop long enough with Miss Priscilla to
become well acquainted."
"Been acquainted this many a year," was the
prompt reply of the elderly suitor. His arrogant
spirit rebelled against this reprimand, and he soon
found it best to head his white horse towards his
home. An unexpected difficulty now arose at the Pendle
ton home. Sally, who had been to all appearances
quite contented of late, was not so complacent as
she appeared outwardly, and she had succeeded in
arousing Saul to an uncomfortable state of mind, and
they seemed determined to do something to get even
with Priscilla. On the evening of the day that Mr.
Jones called and was admonished by Mrs. Briggs,
they started down to call on their faithful friends
and give vent to their feelings. The burden of their

116 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
whole trouble was the forthcoming marriage of Pris
cilla. Sally insisted that, as her sister was younger,
she had no right to make that change in her relations
before she did. Saul had an idea that Hannah Nibbs
had been quite attentive of late when he called to see
her brother Joseph ; and Sally had come to the con
clusion that the only way to keep up with her sister
was to have' just such things made as Priscilla did,
and be ready in case she should have an offer. With
the ever-ready good and wise counsel of Mr. and Mrs.
Briggs, they returned to their home, apparently satis
fied, but not to retire to rest, as we shall see on an
other evening.
"Ned," said grandma, "you must see that the money
which these people had so longed to get into their possession
did not bring happiness, and it seldom does when it is unlaw
fully obtained or falls into hands like the Pendletons. Money
is good when honestly obtained and kept for a good use ; but
when not, it is a curse. Tou see that it was the want of
money that caused the unrest in the Pendleton family for
some years, and now the possession of it was really the cause
of an equally restless spirit.

FOURTEENTH EVENING.

SAAC FULLEB learned no helpful lesson from
his disappointment in the raising of his barn,
and soon made preparation for another gala day.
Hannah Nibbs was not slow in her work of persuad
ing the town folks that the curse of God rested on

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 117
that enterprise ; that the crow of that eventful morn
ing was a most peculiar bird and had a very unearthly
look when giving the warning that ought to have
been heeded, and that Ike Fuller had not obtained so
much money in so short a time honestly. She also
urged that the calamity proved God's displeasure with
Fuller's work, and that he was visiting wrath already
upon the smooth-tongued fellow. This impression
was so general, that when Fuller announced that all
was ready for another raising, but few responded, and
Fuller's wrath was beyond expression. He deter
mined to give himself no rest until he had punished
the one whom he blamed for this ; but he had mis
judged somewhat, for Larkin's shop had not been
free from discussions on the subject. Hannah had
suggested the matter in the homes of several of the
frequenters of this rainy day resort.
Fuller had again secured the confidence of Seth
Pendleton, with whom he had been less neighborly
since his cash was exhausted. Seth was_now a miser
able drunkard. The Simpson farm was still in his
possession, but fast running down, and would have
been well covered with mortgage had not his wife
refused to sign the papers. Coin from Fuller's well-
filled purse served as an effectual bait, and Seth was
again under the control of Fuller, but for what reason
it was difficult to tell ; even Hannah was at a loss to
know what motive to assign as the occasion of the
renewal of the friendship between that once friendly
couple. It was well known that Seth had no ready
cash with which to pay the bills that were incurred
by a repetition of the old-time sprees ; yet Fuller
was artful^ and took this roundabout way to punish
Hannah. His plan for accomplishing this purpose

118 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
was somewhat complicated, and no one but a studied
mischief-maker would have thought of such. To
arouse Seth to the point where he would make trou
ble for his brother, and thus frustrate some plans of
Hannah's, was his determined purpose.
Fuller labored with Seth until he convinced him
that Saul and his sisters were in league against him ;
that they would never be so united unless they were
bent upon mischief and were making some plan to
cheat him out of his part of the property that yet
remained undivided, and which Mr. Briggs was deter
mined should remain intact as long as possible. He
saw what poor use Seth was making of the share
already in his possession, and felt that it ought to be
kept for the benefit of the faithful wife, who even
now had to plan most carefully for the comfort of
the three children, whose needs were poorly supplied.
It was not long before Seth was fully convinced that
he was being wronged, and he hastened to see Mr.
Briggs, and talked in a most vociferous manner about
the property, Saul, and his sisters, until Mr. Briggs
hardly knew how to pacify and persuade him that all
was right as he believed it was. Until now, he had
been able to quiet Seth when he became uneasy about
the delayed division. This was not the first time he
had complained to the administrator of the estate,
although in a very different manner, and Mr. Briggs
did not fully understand the cause of this great
change in Seth's deportment ; but he mistrusted that
Fuller was at the bottom of it, for he had noticed
that he had kept away from him for some weeks, and
he believed, what is often true, that when a person
suddenly begins to shun another whom he has been
friendly with, it indicates that he has been talking

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 119
maliciously of that one, or is planning mischief.
After the advice of Mr. Briggs, Seth started for his
home, but suddenly determined to go to the old
homestead on the hill, bent on making trouble if pos
sible. He found all hands, except the mother, busy
in the preparations for the marriage ; even Saul had
become so far interested as to aid in the use of the
great wheel that was kept whirling from morning till
night. Said Seth, with his usual abruptness, " I know
what you are about here, and I am just going to put
a stop to it. I believe you have been stealing from
me and are doing it now. Ike Fuller says you are,
and we are bound to spoil your fun and put you out
of here. It's just nonsense for you all three to have
your living from this farm just to take care of ma'am."
The expressions on the faces of the trio were
enough to convince any one that they had been guilty
of something which Mr. Briggs had not been con
sulted about. " A guilty conscience needs no ac
cuser." Seth was sharp enough to detect this, and
made such threats that Sally tremblingly said if they
would send for Mr. Briggs they would tell the whole.
This was agreed upon, and Saul started for the one in
whom they all had confidence. It was nearing mid- ¦
night ; the quiet sleep of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs was
suddenly disturbed by a rap at the bed-room window.
" Who's there ? " shouted Mr. Briggs.
" 'Tis Saul ; and we want you right up to the house
at once for there is trouble," replied the harsh voice
of the angry Saul.
Mrs. Briggs, supposing that sickness must have
driven him out at this late hour, exclaimed, " Is she
very sick ? Shall I come too ? "

120 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
" No — no," was the hoarse reply, " she is all right,
and we don't want any one but Mr. Briggs, and don't
want any one to know anything about it."
This aroused the suspicions of Mrs. Briggs, who
felt that things were not all right, and she did all she
could to prevent her husband from going, fearing
she should never see him again.
"I don't know but the Salem witches are coming
around in these days," said Mrs. Briggs, trying to
assign some cause for this midnight visit. However,
Mr. Briggs entertained no such fears, and doing what
he could to quiet his somewhat alarmed companion,
started out into the darkness of the night and went
off in the direction of the Pendletons with a tall fig
ure, that to Mrs. Briggs," as she saw it through the
window, seemed twice the height of Saul.
The two walked on in silence. Saul was too much
ashamed to speak, and as Mr. Briggs did not know
the nature of the trouble, he did not feel at liberty to
speak from fear of hurting the feelings of his mid
night companion. On entering the house, he at once
saw by the aid of the fire, and the dim," flickering can
dle, Seth, Sally and Priscilla sitting as silent as stat
ues. The silence was soon broken by Seth, who said,
"What did I tell you, Mr. Briggs! They are cheat
ing me out of my part, if you don't know it ; they
have told me as much ; they have done something,
and we want you to settle the matter."
' The confession was made, and the tin lantern
was brought forth. It was seldom used and had
been lighted but a few times since the eventful night
after the burial of the father, and before Mr. Briggs
took possession of the property and the mysterious
room. The mice had visited the candle since it was

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

121

last lighted, but this was unnoticed in the excitement
of the hour, and the dim rays seemed struggling to
shine out through the irregular holes that were par
tially covered with a coating of spider's webs.
With the lantern in one hand and a shovel in the
other, Sally took the lead, followed closely by the
other three, while Mr. Briggs attended them, all the
time wondering what the case could be. Out into
the midnight darkness they go, across the road,
through a gateway into the cow yard, over a wall to
the rear of an old wood colored building known as
the mill house ; here they halt.
"There," said Sally, relapsing into silence.
" That's a hen coop," said Mr. Briggs.
"Take it up and dig," said Sally, passing the
shovel. Sally seemed to be the only active one in
the revelation.

' Take it up and dig," said Sally,

122 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
' Mr. Briggs removed the old frame, and by the few
flickering rays that shone from the fast declining
candle, put in the shovel, which had evidently been
used but little for many years. The frost hindered
his progress, but after a few persistent efforts, he
struck something hard.
" There," said Sally, "there it is, I s'pose."
" What ? " shouted Seth, for his first utterance
since the family left the house.
"What?" said Sally, repeating the question,
" what you have made all of this fuss about."
Mr. Briggs rested on his shovel while the conver
sation waxed earnest and hot. One not so well
acquainted with the family would have been alarmed
as they raised their voices and shook their fists at
each other in the frosty atmosphere of that hour.
" I suppose you have buried there what you intend
ed to spread on, when you married Joe Nibbs," said
Seth to Sally with much emphasis ; " but I'll spoil
your fun and show up all three of you," he continued.
Mr. Briggs now mistrusted the whole affair, and
said in a tone and air of authority, " Whatever there
is here is for me, as administrator, to take care of.
That I shall do, so you may all stand back while I
see what kind of a crop we are going to harvest here
at midnight."
He stooped down and worked with his hands until
he found the edge of a board, which he lifted, just as
the candle flickered and went out. Seth, being an
inveterate smoker, had a plenty of tinder in his box
and vainly tried to strike a spark into it from his
flint and steel, but all to no purpose ; the candle was
nearly gone when they lighted it for this search.
Mr. Briggs worked away by the light of the stars,

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 123
not thinking it best to venture to ask the assistance
of either of the four who stood by. At length he
loosened the great earthen vessel, from which he had
removed the cover, but the falling earth had so com
pletely hidden the contents that he could not tell
what he had found. Be took up the heavy burden
and gave command for all to follow. No order was
ever more readily obeyed. Seth kept a close eye on
the leader. Upon entering the house, Mr. Briggs
gave further orders to the anxious and shame-faced
followers, so that when he lighted a fresh candle they
sat in the four corners of the room, or as nearly so as
the furniture would allow, while the earth-covered re
ceptacle which he had brought in stood on the table
in front of the fireplace.
Mr. Briggs saw at a glance what the nature of the
contents was, and turned the jar upside down and left
nothing but a heap of coin with a mixing of earth on
the table. Looking at the pile before him, and then
from one to another of the three who had caused this
disturbance, Mr. Briggs remarked, with a good deal of
emphasis, " I want to know if you have carried on
any more such work as this, and if you have any
more of your father's property secreted, for I have
the law to direct and uphold me, and I can make
great trouble for you ; but if you will confess all, I
will proceed to do justice by each as well as by your
poor mother, who is sleeping so quietly and knows no
more of this midnight proceeding than I suppose she
did of the night's work when you secreted it."
" Mother ? " exclaimed Seth, " she's got enough,
and I don't see what she has to do with this. If she
has any of it Saul and the gals will git it away from
her."

124 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
Mr. Briggs, still maintaining his dignity, glanced
his large gray eyes from one to another, as he said,
" If you are all willing that I should take one-third
of this for your mother, I will divide the remainder
equally, and you may each give me good pay for this
midnight disturbance."
" If you will promise not to tell about it we will be
willing to do as you say," said Sally.
Mr. Briggs was not to be hired, but he was never
inclined to tell much of his business, and he went
on with the work of counting and dividing; being
more familiar with the value of some pieces than
he was when he assumed the care of the estate of
Hezekiah Pendleton, he could do this work more
easily than at the appraisal. He first took the share
which he thought lawfully belonged to the aged
mother, who was sleeping as soundly as an infant in
the bed-room near by. Seth took his share and
started for his home, declaring that he and Ike Ful
ler would come over there and dig the whole farm
over, but what he would find more.
"I guess your digging won't amount to much,"
said Priscilla, who held her portion in her apron with
but little idea of the amount or value of the bundle,
while Sally, who held hers tied up in a blue and
white kerchief, said to Seth in parting, " I hope you
will make better use of this than you have of some."
Saul had already made haste to his room in the back
part of the house and deposited his portion.
When Mr. Briggs reached home he found his faith
ful wife and Betsey sitting by the fire waiting for
him. Mrs. "Briggs commenced a series of questions,
hardly stopping long enough to get an answer if one
had been forthcoming. Unlike many people, Mr.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

125

Dividing the Treasures.

Briggs had things that he did not tell to his wife,
and the experiences of this night were some of those
things that he did not see fit to reveal to any one.
He drew a bundle from his coat pocket and handed
it to his wife, saying, " Ask me no questions ; every
thing that seems so shrouded in mystery to you is
all right ; and some day you may know it all. Until
then, be contented and take good care of that pack
age. The worthy couple again retired to their room,
but not to sleep, for Mrs. Briggs could not be quieted
with her husband's explanation.
Betsey had now become somewhat familiar with
the Pendleton family and was quite a favorite with
each of them. Her excellent taste had been put to a
good use in arranging the wedding garments. She
could not be easily quieted after this night's experi
ence, and the early morning found her on her way to

126 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
the Pendleton home to resume her duty as dress
maker, and possibly to get some more light on the
strange affair that was still a mystery to her aunt and
herself.

FIFTEENTH EVENING.
?E V. MB. JONES had made a decided effort
to secure the esteem of the people of the
town, since the death of their devoted minis
ter, and from the manner in which his services
were received at the raising of Fuller's barn, thought
there was a good prospect of being called to the
vacant pulpit. He was not, however, favored with
a call to the pastorate, and would not have been if
he had withheld the fact that Priscilla Pendleton
was to be hi's wife ancl preside in the next parsonage
that he should occupy. The people of this village
had been ministered to by a most superior man, a
true pastor and Christian gentleman, and they could
not look to an ordinary man as a leader, and espec
ially one who so earnestly sought the pastorate.
In the absence of a pastor Mr. Jones was invited
to officiate at the funeral of the two young men who
were killed at the raising of Fuller's barn. His ser
vices were unlike any that Mr. Whitford had ever
rendered, and the people were more decided against
him than before. Mr. Jones took the occasion to
express, what many were inclined to believe, that

THR MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 127
Fuller's barn was doomed for good reasons, and this
did not meet with a kind assent from some of the
influential people, although they entertained the
same idea. Hannah Nibbs said unhesitatingly that
Mr. Jones did it because he was in sympathy with
the three Pendletons, who were not friendly with
their brother Seth, a particular friend of Fuller's.
Miss Nibbs had a reason for everything and did not
fail to make it known.
A promising young man, fresh from his studies,
came among them and was soon called to the impor
tant position. The services of installation were per
formed, and the whole village rejoiced in the kind
dealings of Providence with them, although they
never forgot the good man who was the shepherd of
this people for many years.
From the time of settlement of the ^iew pastor, Mr.
Jones began to grow indifferent in his relations with
the church, and plainly showed his disaffection ; but
as he was looking to the time of his marriage, which
was fast approaching, his mind was fully occupied,
and he did not manifest the extent of his feeling.
The plans for the wedding at the Pendleton home
were left to Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, and they were
faithfully made, as was the case with everything
they undertook. The outfit for Priscilla was com
pleted under the skilful eye of Mrs. Briggs, and faith
ful hand of her niece Betsey, before the opening of
the new year ; and had it not been that Sally insisted
upon having very nearly everything to duplicate her
sister's, the day for the marriage could have been set
long before it was. She, however, was persuaded
to defer the making of her wedding dress until there
should be an occasion for using it.

128

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

There were those who did not credit the rumor that
the younger of the Pendleton girls was to be mar
ried first, and the family rule so disregarded, until
Eev. William Jones and Priscilla Pendleton were
"cried in meetin'."

"They were uried in meetin'.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 129
The law required an intention of marriage to be
made public three weeks, at least, before the event.
It was allowed to be done by being read by the
town clerk during the service of worship, or by a
notice posted on the door of the meeting-house, as
many other official proclamations were made. They
chose the former method. On retiring from the
meeting-house when the fact was first officially pro
claimed, Miss Nibbs was heard repeatedly saying to
the doubters, " I told you so ; I knew 'twas true."
An early day in February was set for the wedding.
Several loads of furniture from Boston had been
selected by the associated wisdom and taste of the
Briggs' with Sally, Priscilla and Mr. Jones ; the
entire funds coming from Priscilla's well-filled purse.
A wedding was a novel thing at the Pendleton
home. No event of the kind had been witnessed
there by the younger generation, excepting that of
Uncle James and Aunt Molly, who, after a moderate
courtship of twenty years, were married with but
little ceremony. Priscilla's wedding was greatly an
ticipated by the family, even by Sally.
The day of the marriage was one of those in Feb
ruary when the weather begins to suggest the
approach of spring ; when the thawing of the early
part of the day, and the freezing of later hours, ren
der the travelling uncomfortable ; when the farmer
who has started out from his home in a sleigh
wishes he was on wheels, and the one who has started
out on wheels regrets that he is not on runners. The
floors at the Pendleton home were scoured with extra
care, as the Pendleton girls were well versed in that
accomplishment, although Hannah had endeavored to
give people a different impression. The floor of

130 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
the best room was sanded in the most grotesque
figures. Every part of the old house was put in
"apple-pie order," said Mother Pendleton. Few
were invited besides the family. Seth was so embit
tered that he did not appear or any of his household.
The relatives of the groom were very few and lived
at a distance, hence his family was not represented.
Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were selected to stand up with
the couple, although seniors of the bride and groom ;
yet this favor they did not decline, while seeing the
inappropriateness of the selection. Courtesy would
admit of no other way than for the new minister to
be invited to perform the ceremony, unpleasant
though it was to Mr. Jones.
Early in the evening the little company assem
bled, Mother Pendleton in a suitable garb of black,
with a fresh cap and kerchief of white crape to
match, arranged by her young friend, whose excel
lent taste was fully apparent. Saul was put into
a " bran new suit of store clothes " as he termed
them, being the first that he ever had which were
not cut and made by his mother and sisters. The
broad ruffles of his shirt front, nicely crimped, con
trasted strangely with the stubborn bristles of red
dish yellow that encircled his face, while those that
fell over his large, brown hands, contributed to his
awkward appearance. A pair of boots of Larkin's
best workmanship encased his feet. They were fully
three inches longer than were needed and narrowed
towards the toe, with an upward tendency. They
looked and felb strange to Saul, for nothing but bro
gans of genuine cowhide had been furnished for him
until this time. In this costume he took a position
in a corner, and with an expression of perfect satis-

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 131
faction, maintained it till the ceremony was over.
Sally was attired exactly like Priscilla, with the
exception of the gown ; and she did not fail to make
it known that it would take her but little time to
get ready for her marriage when the opportunity
presented itself. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were neatly
attired and early at the scene, and Betsey accompa
nied them. Through her winning manners she had
early won her way to the affections of each member
of the Pendleton family, and although unconscious of
it, she had brought more cheer to those clouded lives
than all the coin of the mysterious room. The youth
ful minister, with his pretty wife, added character to
the occasion. All the guests were ready ; the fire in
the broad open fireplace never sparkled more bright
ly ; the old brass andirons never shone more bril
liantly ; no refreshment table ever looked more
tempting in that house than the one now spread in
the living room, dark and unattractive though it
was; but the best table cloth was of immaculate
whiteness, and the set of blue ware made a pleasing-
contrast. The bride was made ready long before the groom
made his appearance, and the little company could do
no less than pass the time in admiring her attire.
The excellent taste of Mrs. Briggs and her niece had
never been fully gratified before, for in no instance
had either felt at liberty to expend all the money
that she felt was needed to complete the costume of
any one. When Mrs. Briggs prepared her own out
fit, she was obliged to consider the uncertain state of
her father's finance and could not be lavish; but
here she had full direction and a well-filled purse to
be used without stint, and the Priscilla Pendleton of

132 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
ordinary occasions was net to be compared with the
Priscilla of the present hour ; but one only needed to
open conversation with her to see at once that she
had none of the mental furnishing that ought to be
found as adornments of one who was to occupy the
position that she expected to fill. A beautiful silk
of changeable hue, draped with a rich mantle of
white silk lace, gave a graceful bearing to. the tall
figure. Her hair was arranged on cushions so as to
stand very high. It required much time to dress it
and was necessarily done the day before by Betsey.
Priscilla was obliged to take her night's rest in a sit
ting position. The short cut sleeves of the dress
gave opportunity for the display of armlets that cor
responded with the drapery. Priscilla being very
tall, Mrs. Briggs had advised her to wear slippers of
a lower heel than was the custom. None but the
extreme of fashion would fully satisfy, and such were
purchased. Her height was more than that of the
average woman, and was extended not only by the
fashionable dress of the hair, but fully two inches
were added by the dress of the feet, which was of
the finest white kid. The embroidered stockings, of
cream-tinted silk, showed off to a good advantage, as
the fashion required the dress to be cut short. Pris
cilla was attentive to every detail of fashion, as the
more uncultivated usually are.
" I'm afraid he is going to sarve us a trick," anx
iously whispered Mother Pendleton, after a full half-
hour's delay.
" Oh,* no ; I think not," said Mr. Lawrence with a
soothing expression. " Slow and sure, madam, is
doubtless the motto of Mr. Jones."
Presently he was announced as rising the hill. The

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

133

Marriage of Priscilla.

old white horse came jogging along, while the sleigh
runners creaked and groaned as they vainly sought
for snow or ice of any thickness on that southern
slope of the Pendleton hill. Mrs. Briggs made it
convenient to meet Mr. Jones at the outer door, and
took the first opportunity to reprimand hyn for being
tardy. "Why, Mr. Jones, what is the trouble ? We have
been waiting a long time for you. It is now an hour
past the time appointed for the ceremony. Where
have you been ? " were the words of the family
friend. " Why, madam, it has been quite a cold day, and I
had to stop to gather my eggs before I started, fear
ing they would freeze, and this delayed me somewhat.
The hens were rather dilatory to-day, and I came one
short of the usual number after all."
This was the explanation given by Mr. Jones with

134 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
a good deal of complacency and ministerial dignity.
The ceremony was soon performed, the feast was
enjoyed by most of the company. It was a little
doubtful if Saul fully appreciated it, as his ruffles
were of great annoyance to him, and the tightness o-f
" store clothes " made sitting quite uncomfortable:
As Mr. Jones was storing away the last band-boxes
and carpet bags in the bottom of his spacious sleigh,
that had been driven up to the door, Mrs. Briggs ven
tured to say, " I hope you have left some one at home,
so that Mrs. Jones will meet with a cheerful recep
tion after the ride."
" I left the house alone ; but it won't take long to
blow up the coals and get a good fire," was the reply
of the groom.
At length Priscilla was seated with a freshly
stocked foot stove to keep her comfortable, and the
old white horse was off with Bev. William Jones and
his wife Priscilla.

SIXTEENTH EVENING.
r ABLY on the morning following the wedding,
,V*k Hannah started on a round of visits and a
*§X tour of news gathering. She had thought
that Saul's intimacy with her brother Joseph might
be the means of her being invited to the wedding of
his sister. She also had some faint hope that Saul
had a double interest in calling so very often at

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 135
their house; but now that Priscilla was married and
gone, and she not invited as guest or servant, there
seemed to be a new occasion.for unrest on her part.
Hannah was one of those people who enjoyed
being sent for on every occasion, whether of sadness
or rejoicing ; and wherever work was to be done she
could make herself useful. She seldom refused, and
then derived pleasure from complaining of her bur
dens. Her mother was at fault in this particular.
She put her daughter forward, offering her services,
and then continually complained because " My Han
nah is always sent for and gets no time for rest."
Hannah was not called to aid at the Pendleton wed
ding, and she manifested her disappointment by
blaming one and another for what did not meet with
her approval.
She first dropped in to have a word with Mrs.
Briggs, whom she found very busy in the work of
the dairy. " Well, Mrs. Briggs, is it possible that
you can bring your mind down to such work on the
morning following the great wedding ? " said Han
nah. " Why, Miss Nibbs, the wedding was not great ; on
the contrary quite small, and I did not allow my
mind to be disturbed, and I saw nothing to excite
any one," replied Mrs. Briggs, while she continued
moulding the lumps of winter butter. "Priscilla
looked very pretty. She has a fine outfit and has
furnished her house very neatly, and I hope she will
be happy with Mr. Jones," continued she.
"Mr. Jones," said Hannah sneeringly, "he must
have a taste to be happy with such an ignorant
person." " They are married," said Mrs. Briggs, " and it is

136 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
useless for us to trouble ourselves about the future in
their case."
" I hear Seth didn't go to the wedding," continued
Hannah. "No," replied Mrs. Briggs, "Seth is not making
the best use of his time and money; and there's
Patty, poor woman, I believe she has a very hard
time, so different from what the prospect was when
she married Seth."
" I never saw any prospect worth speaking of my
self," said Hannah, " and I should think those folks
who helped on that match would feel ashamed. I
hope the last match will be more gratifying."
The entrance of Mr. Briggs brought the conversa
tion to a close, and Hannah hastened on to spend a
while with Hepsy Page. There the burden of her
conversation was the same as at the Briggs home,
and when she had completed the trip and reached
home, she had accomplished but little more than she
did during her first call.
The Sabbath following the wedding was anticipated
by Hannah, and others as well, for they felt sure of
seeing Priscilla in her new garb. She was not the
only one who was looking forward to the Sabbath
when the newly married couple were expected to
" come out bride." There were several people in
the church who were not very constant ; some unus
ual occasion, like the first appearance of a newly
married couple, generally moved them to lay aside
their rheumatism for a few hours. Many regular
attendants were in their accustomed places before
the usual time. Hannah was among them, and her
head was plainly seen turning continually about,
expecting each new arrival would be Mr. and Mrs.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 137
Jones. James Wrong struck up his little fiddle, and
the big one soon followed with its bass notes, but no
bridal couple appeared. Invocation, song, prayer
short ancl long, and sermon, followed each other in
the regular order, and nothing was seen of Mr. Jones
and Priscilla.
After service the congregation scattered, save such
as, living at a distance, brought their lunch and
remained until the second service. Hannah was one
of them and wasted none of the time that intervened
between the services. She had an interest in the
prosperity of the church, and now that the new pas
tor was settled and it was certain that Mr. Jones was
not to be their leader, she renewed her energy and
spent a portion of the nooning in cleaning about the
pews, "hoeing out" she called it. While making good
use of the broom, she was heard to say to Mrs. John
son, "Where do you suppose the bride is to-day? "
" I had thought of that myself," replied Mrs. John
son, raising her head from a volume of Dr. Watts.
" I hope Mr. Jones is not offended because we have
not called him to preach for us regularly," she con
tinued. " I hope not," said Hannah, " but wouldn't he have
showed it before if he had any such feelings ? "
Here the approach of the bell-man brought the
chat and the cleaning to a close. Soon the worship
pers gathered for the second service, but the expected
couple failed to appear. Mrs. Briggs felt it her duty
to drive around by the home of the newly wedded
couple after the service to see if any one was ill.
She thought that it might be the eggs that kept
Mr. Jones, and of course Priscilla wouldn't go alone
on the first Sabbath.

138 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
" Expected to see you at meeting," said Mrs. Briggs
as soon as Mr. Jones appeared at the door, "hope you
are all well here."
"Oh, yes, all well, very well," replied Mr. Jones
with a downcast expression of countenance. " I have
concluded that as I am not good enough to preach for
you I am not good enough to worship with you. I
have a good congregation at home and I can hold ser
vices here, which I intend to do."
This he did, 'and Priscilla, who had expected to
appear in church on the first Sabbath morning, as
much as the folks had anticipated seeing her, was
obliged to remain at home and sit, the only listener,
through a long service, while her husband preached,
prayed and sang in a most vigorous manner. 'Mr.
Jones had not felt kindly towards the townspeople
for some months, yet had not absented himself very
often from church service ; but now that he was mar
ried he began to show his indignation by staying at
home and keeping his wife as well. Priscilla wanted
to go very much, as was her custom, but thought it
to be her duty to obey her husband, and never
thought she had any right to express her prefer
ence, for she had always seen her mother do just as
her father said. Mr. Jones adhered to this plan a
long time, and Priscilla continued to be submissive as
on the first Sabbath. She did not have an opportu
nity to display her fine outfit until the people had
given up thinking of her as a bride. Being so utterly
incapable of caring for her property, she gradually
gave it into the keeping of her husband; while the
cash that remained after the outfit -was completed
had gone .immediately into his control.

TUB MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

139

Preaching at Home.

That Sally was ready and anxious for an offer was
generally known, and there were many speculations
in Larkin's shop about the future of the two Pendle
tons who remained on the hill. Thomas Stark, a
widower with a large family of full grown children,
thought this a favorable opportunity for him, and
with but little preliminary work called on Sally and
at once made known his errand. He was not a mile
away from the Pendletons before Sally was at the
Briggs house seeking the advice of her faithful
friends. "Now, if I thought it was my money that he
wanted, I would refuse at once."
" Do you suppose it is love that prompts him to
call and make this proposition to you ? " asked Mrs.
Briggs. "He says it is," replied Sally; but how can I
know for certain ? "

140 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
"There is no way that I know of only to try him.
Wait and see if he remains attentive," said Mr.
Briggs ; "I wouldn't give him an immediate answer."
Sally received this advice with apparent regret,
and Went away with a disheartened spirit, for she
was anxious to have the question settled at once.
She could not bring her mind to the quiet routine of
duties at home after the months of exciting prepara
tion had passed since Priscilla gave the favorable
reply to Mr. Jones. She did so wish that her friends
had been moved to give her different advice ; but it
was such as their judgment prompted. They were
feeling somewhat disappointed over the manner in
which Mr. Jones was treating Priscilla. They had
never indulged a thought that her prospects were not
uncommonly promising. Mr. Jones was a clergyman,
had been a pastor of a large people, but having come
to town from another state, they did not know any
thing of his success as a pastor, although he had
spent some months in the neighborhood in his earlier
years, before he had completed his studies.
Mr. Stark repeated his calls upon Sally and pressed
the suit very urgently. On the morning following
one of his calls, Sally hastened down to Mr. Briggs,
carrying an orange and a package of confectionery
which her suitor had left as tokens of his regard.
On displaying the unmistakable evidences of love,
as she thought them, she said, "There, do you sup
pose Mr. Stark would give them to me if he didn't
love me ? "
It was a difficult question for them to answer
and please her and have due regard for their own
impressions, so they made no reply at all to the one
question, but started a different subject for conversa

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 141
tion in which Sally saw nothing interesting. She
soon gathered up her presents and went back to her
home in a disappointed and unsettled state of mind.
Mr. Stark was urgent ; it was her first offer ; Pris
cilla had married first after all the plans to the
contrary; she would like to follow soon, but to go
contrary to the advice of those ever faithful friends
did seem hazardous to her. She yielded at length to
the persuasions, of the artful suitor and the day was
set. But little time was required for the last prepar
ations, and in May following the marriage of Priscilla
Sally went with Thomas Stark to the Justice of the
Peace, and the ceremony was performed, and they
began housekeeping in the village.
The property was not fully settled, and it now
became necessary for Mr. Briggs to give directions
about the household affairs, and some one to assist
Mother Pendleton was sought for. Hannah did say
that if she could leave her mother she would go, but
shevwas not called upon, and for a time Saul and his
mother managed affairs alone. As Sally ancl Pris
cilla had gone from the home, the plans made soon
after their father's death for the care^of their mother
had come to an end, and it seemed necessary that a
final division and settlement should be made. This
was done at once. Seth was given a new start. Sally
bought a fine farm, and with her husband, Thomas
Stark, settled in a most promising manner. She
also had twenty acres of the best of the woodland
that was near her old home, wisely preferring to have
some of the farm rather than so much money. Pris
cilla, unwisely enough, gave all her portion over to
her husband as she had perfect confidence in him.
Being a clergyman, she would not have thought it

142 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
right to doubt his wisdom any more than she did the
plans of her Heavenly Father. Saul kept his por
tion, as he said he intended to do, "Until I have a
good chance to invest." He had learned a few of the
terms and expressions rather imperfectly from Ful
ler, who, it was plain to be seen, was trying to get
the best of him as he had of Seth.
While Saul and his mother were managing affairs
at the old home without aid from any one, the day
came for providing homes for the people who were
supported by the town. Ike Fuller was at the sale,
ancl being the lowest bidder, Suky Giles was set down
to him for the next year at three and ninepence per
week, "being a good strong woman and capable of
doing a good deal of work." Ike convinced Saul
that she was just the one for him to have to help
about the house and do the milking, so they made
a bargain and Saul took Suky Giles for what she
could do, and Fuller was to get the pay from the
town. While the woman was in good health this
plan was not objected to by any one, but in a few
months she was taken ill and Fuller was compelled
by the selectmen to take her to his home.
Here Ned, very naturally, began to inquire about the cus
tom, and grandma was obliged to explain. " In the earlier
days," said she, "towns did not have almshouses as later,
but once a year the people gathered and said how little they
would keep a certain one for during the year, and generally the
lowest price was accepted. The later plans for caring for the
poor are very much better, as are many of the modern ways.
In those days old and feeble folks were sometimes neglected
and not infrequently abused. In these later times, it seems to
me that the Christian religion has taken more practical forms,
for no one can be long allowed to suffer from neglect or abuse
without the interference of some of the representatives of the
humane societies that are so numerous."

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

143

A Neighbor's Home.

SEVENTEENTH EVENING.

£HE Pendleton property was fully settled. No
one knew what the amount of the estate was,
outside the family, with the exception of Mr.
Briggs, not even his wife. Saul had an extra portion
with the agreement "to see his mother through."
For a while things worked very well, until at length
Saul brought a housekeeper from the neighboring
town who managed to get the control of not only
Saul but his mother, and they both had implicit con
fidence in Silence Baker. She took the part of a
suitor and soon met with a conquest. Saul was
brought under her control completely, and Mother
Pendleton was set one side as a kind of machine to
eat and drink what was set before her and ask no
questions. As the property was fully settled and
out of the administrator's hands, Mr. Briggs had no
legal right to say anything about matters on the hill,
and the new mistress of the house didn't propose to

144 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
have him interfere, and even Saul was not allowed to
go for advice on any subject, save one occasion when
his favorite cow was choked with an apple ; but the
noble heart of Mr. Briggs prompted him to respond
with as kindly feeling as had actuated him on any of
the numerous calls from that family. With the aid
of Saul he saved the life of the cow, but Silence very
ungratefully showed that she had no further use for
their kind neighbor after the life of the cow was as
sured. Silence Baker could not have been more inapproc
priately named, for she was never silent when there
was any one near by to scold. A few years had
brought a great change in this old home. For a long
time the Briggs' had been welcome at all hours and
been sought for on all occasions ; now they were the
last resort, and Saul scarcely dared to drop in for a
moment when on his way to the village. He was as
much an underling as when the father ruled the home
and all who were in it ; but he received little or no
sympathy, as he had brought this trouble upon him
self. In all other matters of difficulty he had
resorted to Mr. and Mrs. Briggs for comfort, but now
he must endure it alone, and he was poorly prepared
for such a mental burden.
Silence began to express a desire for a new house,
and it was not an unreasonable request. The old
dwelling was very much dilapidated; but Saul was
attached to it as it had sheltered him all his days,
and there were pleasant associations connected with
it when viewed from his present standpoint. The
darkest days of his early life looked pleasant to him
now. He did not assent to the proposition of his wife,
and this gave rise to a decided quarrel. Mother Pen-

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 145
dleton meekly took her food, ate it and said nothing,
but longed for the visits of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs as
of old, and even did venture to send for them by
Hannah, who dared to call upon the aged lady " out
of sympathy ; " but Silence, who was as good as her
name only until Hannah departed, so opened her bat
tery of words upon the good woman, that she never
sent for them again. When they came in response
to the request of their old neighbor, Silence kept
within hearing so that the good woman had no oppor
tunity to tell her grievances to them or ask advice as
she always had done and still longed to do ; and truly
she never needed it more. Her hearing was not
impaired in the least, but she had a trouble in her
limbs that prevented her from walking but little ; so
she was obliged to remain at home and hear the
scolding of Silence ; and when any one came she was
not allowed to be alone with them long enough to
tell her troubles. An occasional visit from the light-
hearted Betsey was as a sunbeam to her lonely room,
and not infrequently the gentle hands of the young
friend deposited on her table a bunch of old-fash
ioned posies, that served to carry back the thoughts
of the aged woman to the days of her youth.
Saul was obliged to give way to the persuasions
and threats of his wife, and begin to plan for the new
house. Silence considered Fuller's advice very much
better than any that her husband could give. The
house was to stand on the opposite side of the high
way from the ancestral dwelling. It was built large
ly of lumber prepared from the trees of the old farm,
and was months in process of erection. Saul, being
entirely ignorant of the expense of building or of
making bargains, was imposed upon at every hand.

146 ' LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
Ike Fuller had secured his confidence, and now re
joiced in the fact that he had the place of Mr. Briggs
as an adviser. It seemed strange, but it was true, that
Fuller so got the control of Saul that he believed
that Mr. Briggs had been imposing upon him ;
"feathering his nest," as Fuller called it, and Saul
now felt relieved that he had secured for an adviser,
one so capable, so kind ancl willing. He could not
see how his brother Seth had been brought to ruin,
and this blindness was due to his early lack of train
ing. Fuller took the entire direction of building the
house, and persuaded Saul, with the help of Silence,
to erect a barn at the same . time. Fuller provided
the cash when any was needed for paying the bills,
only asking Saul and Silence to put their names on
a paper. So kind, they thought, to take so much of
the care.
As the buildings were nearing completion Silence
began to make known some plans that she had been
maturing in her mind ever since the foundation for
the house was laid. They were to go into the new
house, and a lame old lady would. not be an attractive
feature of the residence across the street, was inti
mated by Silence. When this subject was suggested
to Saul, he said that his mother could remain in the
old house and they could provide her meals for her
and look after her there. But no ; Fuller had sided
with Silence, and he said that the house must come
down as it would spoil the view from the new one,
and so it did come down ; the rear buildings before
the new house was fully ready. Silence concluded
that Mother Pendleton should have a back room in
the new house, and she was located there.
People who were familiar with the early history of

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 147
the Pendletons would say, as they passed by or
spoke of them while in their homes, " What a change
for the better. The old tyrant gone, a fine new set
of buildings, how Saul with his wife and old mother
must enjoy themselves." But how deceptive appear
ances often are. To be sure, the old tyrant was gone,
and the old house with the other dilapidated build
ings were gone and a nice set of farm buildings was
substituted for them. Mother Pendleton was located
in a room where the wind or storm could not reach
her as it had of late years in the old house ; but there
was a new tyrant in the new house and a continual
storm that seemed never to abate.
Fuller called about three months after they were
located in the new house and demanded the first
instalment of interest. This was astounding to both
Saul and Silence. They had mortgaged the farm to
Fuller for the money to complete the buildings ; so
Fuller said and so the papers indicated. They paid
the interest and thought this was all, as they
did not fully understand the nature of a mortgage,
Silence being as ignorant of business as her husband.
Saul was not to blame for this ignorance ; but he
must be the sufferer. It was the iniquity of the
father visited upon the child. Great anxiety did not
show itself on the part of Saul and Silence until a
second demand was made by Fuller, and this brought
them to the place where they were ready to send for
Mr. Briggs, before whom the matter was laid. He
found that Fuller had furnished the needful money ;
where he got it Mr. Briggs could not tell, as well as
what became of the quantity that Saul had when his
old adviser was dismissed by Silence. The records
showed that there was a heavy mortgage on the whole

148 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
property, and the old lady had signed the papers as
well as Saul and his wife, and she was in a fair way
to come to want before she died if her life was pro
longed to a great age. After telling the family what
they had unconsciously done, Mr. Briggs declined
to have anything further to do with the matter and
started for his home.
Hannah Nibbs, who was ever spiteful after Saul
married Silence, did not hesitate to freely say that
Fuller took the money from Saul to pay the bills and
then got him to mortgage the farm to secure him for
the money that was never his. No one can tell the
truth of Hannah's supposition, but she was not alone
in that opinion.
It was too late now. The interest was accumulat
ing'; Saul was obliged to cut off wood to meet the
payments and the value of the farm was fast dimin
ishing. Saul had the whole .of his'mother's property
in his hands through the aid or leadership of Fuller
and Silence, and Mother Pendleton did not know it,
yet the papers were duly executed. The old lady
never fully realized how much she had. The re
peated demands for interest prompted Silence to
reveal another of her deep laid plans. She wanted to
sell the property and go elsewhere to live ; but in
order to do this, felt obliged to make some plan to
dispose of the old lady. She proposed to give some
one an amount of money "to see Saul's mother
through," as he had legally bound himself to do.
This brought tears to Saul's eyes. He loved his old
mother, but tears were of no avail with Silence. She
accomplished her undertaking, and Mother Pendleton
was literally sold to a man from another town, packed

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 149
up with her few furnishings, to be provided for by
strangers. " She can't get much worse treatment than she has
now," said Hannah, when calling on Mrs. Briggs
after this change.
Saul was blamed from one end of the town to the
other, but he could not help it now. It was too late for
him to have any influence ; he was a mere underling.
The property was fast going ; through his ignorance
he had been defrauded and his old mother as well.
If this punishment could have fallen on the elder
Pendleton, it would have been his just desert, but to
come upon the innocent, upon that good, blameless
old lady, was enough to arouse the passive to action.
On hearing that Mother Pendleton was to go to her
new home on a certain day, Mrs. Briggs and her
niece ventured to call upon her ; and it was upon her,
for no one but Saul was to be seen, and he was too
much troubled to speak, so the kind heart of Mrs.
Briggs deterred her from adding fuel to the flame
that was already tormenting him. The grief of the
old lady was very affecting to her friends. She
begged to be led around where the old house stood
that she might just look once more into the cellar.
This was done ; and on the arm of Mrs. Briggs and
TSetsey she leaned while saying, " There was where
the old chimney stood where my husband and I sat
beside each other so many evenings when the chil
dren were small. I spent many happy years in that
house ; but to be sure my husband changed before he
died and was a hard man. I never thought I was
bringing up children to treat me this way in my last
years. Poor Saul, he is not to blame ; he has gone
over to that Jezebel of his.'*

150

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

Mrs. Pendleton was familiar with the Scriptures
and had been quite a reader ancl thinker in her early
days, ancl in these trying hours happened to apply
the Old Testament story very aptly, for surely Silence
was a woman of a very bad influence, and after know
ing that she had been cheated herself,' she was even
more unkind than when she thought she was being
shrewd and dealing unjustly with others. Two
teams were seen rising the hill, which brought the
trying scene to a close. The goods were packed into
one and the good lady was taken into the other.
Silence did appear to see that none of her things were
carried off, as she said, with a look of mingled
shame and contempt. ,
"I hope they will bury me beside my husband,"
were the last words that Mrs. Briggs heard from her
friend of so many years as the carriage passed down
the hill. No funeral procession ever bore to a grave
a more afflicted mourner than was now being carried
to a strange place and among strange people.
"God will punish them for this, you say. We must look
farther and see. Where was Seth ? We know that ruin has
followed in his path. Where were the daughters ? We shall
see and also learn what other trouble is hidden in the homes
of the Pendleton family."

A Neighhor's Home.

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 151

EIGHTEENTH EVENING.

?HEN the condition of affairs was known
iWd througa the community, the selectmen of
si5$s^p the town, by the advice of Mr. Briggs, de
cided to have the business reviewed. There seerned
to be a chance for the one who had taken Mother
Pendleton to throw her upon the town at his pleas
ure and also to treat her unkindly if he was so dis
posed, with no one to interfere. If there was any
way to secure the town from this possibility and
make the old lady's comfort more secure, they deter
mined to do it. A lawyer was employed and the
selectmen met with him in council, together with
Mr. Briggs. It was decided, as the first step, that
Mr. Briggs should visit each of the three children
who had made homes for themselves, and see if they
would not attend to the case and thus prevent the
unpleasantness of a public investigation. This he
very reluctantly consented to do, and in company
with his wife Dolly, started out on the first conven
ient day. They first drove to the house of Mr. Jones
to call upon Priscilla, whom they had seen but seldom
in her home since the marriage, and had never alluded
to business affairs since the last division of the prop
erty. It was plain to be seen that Mr. Jones was
greatly disaffected and did not feel kindly towards
any one in the church or parish. Priscilla was as
much troubled by the state of affairs at the home
stead as any one, and would gladly have prevented
the arrangement made for her mother's care if she
could ; but as it was left for Saul to provide for the
mother, and as he had wasted the property that was

152 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
allowed him as an extra portion for that purpose, she
did not feel that she ought to do anything about it ;
and her husband was not willing to interfere or have
his wife meddle with what was not their business.
Having willingly consented to allow Saul all that was
asked for the care of his mother, and as she was sat
isfied with the provision, they considered their duty
fully discharged.
It was very apparent that Mr. Jones had the entire
control of Priscilla's business affairs as well as of all
domestic matters. Her will power, never too strong,
seemed entirely lost in that of her husband. The
Sabbath morning bell, calling the people to the ser
vice of worship, did arouse a longing in her heart to
take her accustomed seat in the meeting-house, but to
no avail. She was obliged to occupy a straight-
backed chair in her best room and there listen to her
husband's sermon, prayers arid songs, participating in
the latter as the only member of the congregation.
She, however, found some satisfaction from regularly
attiring herself in her best garments and sitting as
though in the house of worship. Mr. Jones pre
tended to have a greater veneration for the evening
of Saturday than for the Sabbath, and he required all
worldly business to be laid aside by sun-down on Sat
urday night, and the Sabbath, so tedious to Priscilla,
was very much lengthened, although after sundown
of the Sabbath, she was allowed to look into Fox's
Book of Martyrs and similar works other than the
Bible. Keeping Saturday evening as holy time was not
peculiar to Mr. Jones. It was the custom of those
days. The Sabbath was kept with great strictness.
Nobody was expected to be seen on the street in time

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 153
of Divine worship except officers of the law, and
they were appointed to search the town and look
about for any disobedient or irreverent person. Any
reading that would provoke a smile on a child's face
was not allowed. Occasionally a parent was so indul
gent as to permit a child to walk out in the fields
after sundown on the Sabbath, but he was not
allowed to pick a flower or gather a berry that he
chanced to see during his release from the Sabbath
confinement. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs left the house of the Jones
family with the consciousness that Priscilla had not
lost her regard for her mother ; but that she could
not take her parent to live with her or spend money
in her behalf.
They next drove to the home of Thomas Stark, and
found Sally overjoyed to meet them, supposing that
they had come for the day. Mr. Stark was not a par
ticular friend of Mr. Briggs, and Sally's marriage was
not really favored by him or his wife. He would not
admit that Thomas Stark and Sally Pendleton were
ever married. " Squared together," he said, showing
his disapproval of their plan of having the marriage
ceremony performed by a Justice of the Peace ; but
they were lawfully married. " Only a second-hand
husband," Hannah said, and declared, perhaps envi
ously, that she would rather have none at all.
Sally was not aware of the state of things at home.
She knew that her mother was away, but did not
understand the occasion of it. Mr. Stark was many
years the senior of his wife, and did not go about
much, so she did not get the news. Hannah was
offended with them and did not call, hence there was
a very good reason for the ignorance. Sally was

154 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
grieved and indignant, and declared that her mother
should come and live with her and promised to aid in
paying the expense of the investigation; but when
Mr. Stark appeared he put an end to that, which
brought to light the fact that Thomas Stark had been
providing some nice liquor of late for his wife, and
that while under its influence, she had signed away
the whole of her property, so that now she -had no
control of it whatever, and she could not do for her
mother what her heart prompted. She loved "toddy,"
and had indulged her appetite, and through it and
ignorance of business, had signed away her right and
placed herself in a position where she might become
subject to the unpleasant control of the grown-up
children of her husband in the event of the decease
of Mr. Stark.
Mr. and Mrs. Briggs left the Stark's for a call at
Seth's, expecting no better results. Seth, as usual,
was intoxicated; the children were caring for the
house and barn, which showed that boys' work was
not very thorough unless directed by some one who
was capable, and there was no one here. Patty of
old was no more to be seen. There was a worn-out
figure of a woman in the house, but it was not Patty ;
her mind was shattered and there was only a wreck
of the once trim, faithful woman, wife and mother.
With sad ^hearts Mr. and Mrs. Briggs drove to
their pleasant home, having discharged their duty as
servants of the town and as true friends of Mother
Pendleton. They reviewed the condition of these
four children of Hezekiah Pendleton in a most
thoughtful manner, when duties permitted them to
gather at their pleasant fireside, and contrasting their

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 155
situation with that of their own sons, who had
become honored men in the world, they were more
thankful than ever that they had reared their chil
dren in a different manner.
"Although Mrs. Briggs was not known by that name," said
grandma, " when you, my boy, were introduced to the Pendle
tons, but having always lived in town and known of the out
ward life of this peculiar family, she could easily understand
the inner workings of that part of their history which you
nave been told about, before Dolly Sprague left the home of
lier childhood and care of her venerable father."
" Oh, the folly of living for money," exclaimed Mr.
Briggs, after seating himself by the little round
table. "I never realized it more than at this mo
ment. If the sons and daughters of Hezekiah Pen
dleton could have had the advantages that many
young people have enjoyed, how different might have
been their condition. The far-sighted minister, Mr.
Whitford, looked into the future sufficiently to fear
the sad ending of the Pendletons, and did all in his
power to prevent the impending evil ; but the moth
and rust of this world had so far corroded the mind
and soul of Hezekiah Pendleton, that it was impossi
ble to make an impression upon him ; and I believe,
in the sight of God, he is the one charged with the
blame ; ancl," continued Mr. Briggs, " I shall be
obliged to report to the selectmen that the children
of Mrs. Pendleton can do nothing for her."
This he did. The authorities went on with the
investigation, only to find that the custodian of
Mother Pendleton was an unprincipled man, and that
he had not been asked to give bonds for the fulfil
ment of his contract, and this he declared he would

156 LEGENDS OP OLD BEDFORD.
not do, so that the fears of the authorities were well
grounded and liable to become realities.
At the time of the investigation there seemed to
be no indication of any wrong dealing on the part of
the custodian of Mother Pendleton, and it was agreed
that she was better off than when under the care of
Silence Baker, as she was always known, for Mrs.
Sparhawk was a kind, motherly woman, and to all
appearances, intended to deal kindly with the unfor
tunate mother.
Ike Fuller was pressing Saul in every way he
could, and as the months passed away it became
apparent to Saul and Silence, as well as to the whole
community, that he was as bad as Hannah Nibbs had
represented him. About two years from the time
when Mrs. Briggs made her last visit at the Pendle
tons, Saul made a hasty call at the home of the
Briggs', and revealed his trouble to the ever-faithful
friend of his parents, as well as of himself. That
Ike Fuller was going to sell him out and drive him
away from home, was a difficulty indeed, and a mat
ter that Mr. Briggs could not prevent. It was too
late. With the artful Fuller on one side and the
tyrannical scold, Silence, on the other, life was but a
burden to Saul Pendleton. He had seen but a few
happy hours in the new house, and none since his
aged mother had been carried away from the home of
her right.
Mr. Briggs feelingly said, " I am sorry for you,
Saul, but unless you can meet the payments accord
ing to your agreement, you must endure the conse
quences." With the last ray of hope bedimmed, Saul Pendle-

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM. 157
ton walked up the hill to his home with a crushing
burden upon his mind. It was of no use for him to
go into the house, for there was no comfort beneath
that roof for him. The true wife is one to whom a
husband can unburden himself as to no other ; but
Silence Baker was not such an one. She married for
money ; it was gone, through her own folly, in part ;
but that did not change her feelings, but rather made
her more irritable. Saul could not think of facing
the harsh treatment that would be meted out to him
if he went into the house and told the decision of the
one in whom he had more confidence than all beside,
for, notwithstanding the manner in which Saul and
Silence had treated Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, they still
felt them to be their only trusty, faithful friends ; and
really they were true to the noble character they had
always borne, with reputation unsullied. It was too
late for them to aid in this matter. Ike Fuller stood
before the down-hearted Saul, in vision, like a fiend
from a land of darkness. In the quiet of this mid
night hour of his career, he was confronted by a
power outside of himself. How long Saul suffered
in mind in view of his condition, we cannot tell. All
we know is, that when Silence became anxious
enough about her troubled husband to go out and
search for him, it was but to find his lifeless body in
the old cellar across the highway, close by the chim
ney where the tearful eyes of the aged mother last
rested before she was taken from her home.
Mr. Briggs, who was called, did his duty. The
sympathy of the community was with the feeble old
lady, who now thought of her son as at rest, where
she longed to .be. A grave was made for Saul near

158 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
that of his father, where a headstone had been
erected with the inscription :
"Sacred to the memory of Hezekiah Pendleton, who
departed this life, November 27, aged 94 years."
Hannah did not hesitate to say that Ike Fuller was
seen out on that memorable night ; but she was very
thoughtless oftentimes of the feelings of others, as-
well as of her own safety in regard to the control of
the law. As soon as the heat of the excitement was
over through the community, Ike Fuller took legal
steps and the Pendleton farm was sold to a worthy
family from Boston. Silence determined to do some-
damage when she found she must leave; so she
stripped off paper from the walls, tore out such orna
ments as she could take away, and so damaged the
house that what she would have had to carry away
with her was very much reduced in satisfying those
who had bought the property. With her few scant
bundles she left the hill, with what feelings we may
never know.
" I know that your mind lingers," said grandma, " with the
good old mother, whose cup of sorrow, it seems, must have-
been full."
She was trained in her early life by godly parents,
and the principles of the Christian religion were so-
wrought into her very life that she had more to lean
upon than her children had, and as one's early life-
becomes more vivid in their later years, so her early
habits of prayer and dependence on God became more
real — became a part of her being. The chapters of
Scripture, and hymns that she had committed to
memory when young, were now familiar to her -r

THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.

159

and, as she said, "they were her meat and her
drink." It is doubtful if one of her children had as peace
ful an end as had she ; but it was very different from
what it should have been. Her last hours were
passed at the home of a friend in her native town,
and her care was paid for by the same authorities
who annually sold the paupers to the lowest bidder.
True friends administered to her wants. Priscilla
tearfully closed her eyes, while Mrs. Briggs com
mended her spirit to God who gave it.
"Now, my boy," said grandma, "you cannot fail to see
that the love of money was the root of the evil in this family,
and to furnish you with a reminder of this story — of the down
fall of this family, of the deception of another, and the fol
lies of many individuals, as well as the virtue of others, I will
give you this silver crown, which for years, doubtless, gratified
the eyes of Hezekiah Pendleton as it shone in the dim light of
the Mysterious Room."

160 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

THE SILVER CROWN.

NINETEENTH EVENING.
pEZEKIAH PENDLETON was a Tory, in full
sympathy with the Boyalists, hence at enmity
with all neighbors and people who set them
selves against the oppressive measures of George III.
He claimed kinship with the house of Brunswick,
the truth of which no one was at pains to verify, but
many saw in his tyrannical disposition traits so much
like those of the obnoxious sovereign that they were
inclined to believe his claims were well founded.
He never manifested more joy than when the
Stamp Act was proclaimed in the Province. He early
made the acquaintance of Andrew Oliver, the ap
pointed agent for stamped paper, and hoped to secure
a quantity to sell at a profit to his town's people. He
made frequent calls at Oliver's house, and was said to
have been present when the effigy of the unpopular
agent was burnt before his own door.

THE SILVER CROWN. 161
Mr, Pendleton, in his younger days, made his trips
to Boston in the night, and his sly acts were not so
easily detected.
The elder Fuller reported that his neighbor Pen
dleton was in a rage when he called at his home soon
after the destruction of Oliver's house and the sack
ing of Chief Justice Hutchinson's. This convinced
the people that the well-known Tory was aware of
the bold proceedings, if not a sorrowful witness of
the destruction.
He was served with a copy of the notice posted in
Boston, which read as follows : —
" Pro Patria.
" The first man that either distributes or makes
use of stamped paper, let him take care of his house,
person, and effects. " We dare. Vox Populi."
There was rejoicing in the town when the Stamp
Act was repealed, as there was among all who opposed
the measure. The ranks of the Boyalists were rapidly
thinning, but few were now found in the little town
who would shout with Hezekiah Pendleton: "God
save King George ! "
Mr. Pendleton heard the continual ringing of the
bell at the training-field, and, foaming with indigna
tion, galloped into the town, his faded scarlet cloak
flapping in the breeze, reined up his steed, and ordered
the bell-man to stop.
" You are one of them traitors, are yer ? Do you
mean to ruin the bell house ? " „,v^
His authority was of no avail ; the bell continued
to ring, and he returned to his home filled with indig
nation.

162 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
Some of General Gage's troops were occasionally
seen galloping up the hill towards Mr. Pendleton's,
or dashing off the back way to Boston. As they
molested no one, they were not disturbed until the
time came when some decided action was apparent ;
then the officers of the town's militia set a guard and
the movements of Hezekiah Pendleton were carefully
noted. The ministers who favored the cause of the Prov
ince were preaching against tyranny with all their
eloquence, but the pastor of this town was silent on
the question. " Not a fit subject for the pulpit," he
said. He entertained as strong Tory sentiments as
prudence would allow. He knew that a large part
of his flock was against him. He was, in reality, in
full sympathy with Mr. Pendleton, and made frequent
calls at the home of this unpopular parishoner.
While the people of the town were making sacri
fices to aid the poor who were shut up in Boston, Mr.
Pendleton was slyly communicating with the King's
officers, and supplying them with the best produce of
his farm at fabulous prices and hoarding the proceeds
away from the eyes of all. He boasted of having
supplied the detested occupants of the Province House
with his butter, eggs and poultry.
Mr. Pendleton declared, if the unsettled feelings
ever culminated in open rebellion, he would pack his
things and go to a province that was sensible.
" I '11 never pay a cent of tax to oppose cousin
George ! " shouted Mr. Pendleton in town meeting
when the question was being discussed of raising
money to meet the demands. This was the first time
that the Tory had openly proclaimed the degree of
relationship to the tyrant across the Atlantic. Could

THE SILVER CROWN. 163
the arrogant monarch have seen his pretended kins
man we doubt not he would have been willing to
sacrifice the aid being rendered his cause rather than
have acknowledged the tie. It was on the last day
of June of the same year that the freemen met at the
meeting-house "To know and determine what meas
ures are Proper to be taken at this present time of
Trouble and Distress." The minister opened the
meeting with prayer, as was the custom. Every word
of his petition was carefully watched to see if any
Tory sentiment could be detected. He was appar
ently praying to the people rather than the Lord,
and knew it would not be prudent to give utterance
to what was in his heart.
Mr. Pendleton was early at the meeting, and at
tempted to express his ideas on the whole state of
affairs, but found it difficult to be heard, as the many
were against him and his lordly cousinship across the
water. The question of providing for the poor who
were being sent out from Boston to be supported by
the towns was discussed at this time.
With all the other burdens falling upon the people
this was a severe test of the patriotism of the voters.
When Mr. Pendleton spoke on this subject they
seemed more willing to listen : " You '11 every one of
you be paupers 'fore you git through this, and it's
what you deserve, too. Besides supporting our own
poor, you see we 've got a lot of them ragged rebels
from Boston to feed," said Mr. Pendleton. It was
voted that when this town's share arrived they
should be sold at vendue, the lowest bidder to have
one or more.
As the spring of 1775 drew near, an accommodating
illness secured for Mr. Pendleton a relief from train-

164 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
ing with the militia company to which he belonged.
He had prided himself on being a faithful military
subject of the King, and was always on duty at all
trainings and musters ; but he would not use his skill
in preparing to oppose the mother country. There
was no escape for his sons ; they must join the minute
men and be ready. "Beady for what?" said the
father, when the constable called in the exercise of
his duty. "Beady to meet Gage's troops," was the
prompt reply. "You'd better never meet them un
less you want to be swallowed — the whole of you,"
said the Tory. "King George '11 find us a harder
load to carry than the whale did when he took Jonah
on board," replied the constable, as he gave the official
notice for Seth and Saul Pendleton to meet with the
minute men on the following day for regular drill.
When away from the father's influence the two
young men fell into line in good order and required
but little watching.
When the alarm of the movements of the British
reached the Pendleton home on the night of April 18,
Seth and Saul responded to the message, and were
early at Fitch's tavern, ready for marching orders.
Hezekiah Pendleton boldly declared that he hoped
every one of the rebels would be killed, not with
holding his own sons from the sweeping denunciation.
Even the persuasions of his old neighbor Maxwell,
with whom he had fought the French, were not suffi
cient to turn him from his Tory sentiments.
It was fortunate that the Pendleton home was not
on the line of the march of the militia and minute
men of the town, or it would have been destroyed;
for the Tory had displayed a rude design representing
the Lion and Unicorn, the arms of the kingdom.

THE SILVER CROWN.

165

Fitch's Tavern.

Later in the day, when the sad tidings of the fight
at Concord reached Mr. Pendleton, and the death of
his neighbor, Capt. Wilson of the minute men, was
announced, and also the wounded condition of another
made known, he simply said : " I told you so. You
ought to have known better," and then shut himself
away from the sight of those who, in their sorrow
and excitement, went from house to house to discuss
the whole affair.
Mrs. Pendleton would gladly, have gone to work,
as did her neighbors, in the preparation of food for
the army at Cambridge, but the head of the family
effectually vetoed any such action, and succeeded in
withholding his sons from voluntarily going into camp
at Cambridge, which they were ready to do.
It soon became impossible for the Tory to dispose

166 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
of his produce to the British officers, and his greed
for gain led him to look about for a way to make
something out of the Continental army. He had
refused to acknowledge the commissions of the offi
cers of the army, but after all other sources of income
had vanished, was ready to turn about, so far as there
was money to be gained from acknowledging the
authority of the Congress of which John Hancock
was president. Mr. Pendleton had some personal
acquaintance with him, and esteemed him as a friend.
He had emptied his saddlebags many times at the
Hancock warehouse, sampled the liquors and reloaded
with merchandise for home and neighborhood use.
He had hoarded away many a coin from the Hancock
till. His love for money overcame his prejudice for
those now in power who had a liberal portion of
wealth. He carefully scrutinized each coin paid to
him, and kept a set of small scales in which to test
the value. When the Continental bills were issued
he sternly refused to accept them as of any value,
ignoring paper currency as long as he could, but at
length accepted a quantity which he stored away,
having a silent belief that it would greatly increase
his wealth at some future time.
The officers of the town correctly interpreted the
change in the attitude of the Tory towards the au
thorities, and when they were called upon to supply
hay and wood for the army, refused to purchase of
him. This was a great trouble to the man, for he
had a large quantity of the best of wood, and here
was a good market, with the town as paymaster.
His sentiments had been too freely expressed to be
overlooked for his advantage, and while six cords of
wood and two loads of hay were being taken to

THE SILVER CROWN. 167
Cambridge daily from the town, none of Mr. Pendle
ton's stock would be accepted. This so angered him
that he refused to pay the oft-repeated call for taxes.
He declared he had no money, and dared the con
stables to make the collection. Men who did not
cringe at the point of the bayonet at Concord and
Bunker Hill were not to be baffled by one Tory, and
they levied on his stock of oak and maple, and took
it away for the tax to help support the army fighting
against the cause that Mr. Pendleton claimed was
just and right in the sight of all good men and God
as well. Mrs. Pendleton did not sympathize with
her husband in his unpopular sentiments, and would
gladly have spun and woven to make blankets for the
soldiers, but she was not allowed to do anything of
the kind. It was almost impossible to find another
house in the town, save that of the parson, where
the wheel and loom were not kept busy in the prepa
ration of supplies for the army.
When the town's share of Boston poor was put at
vendue, Hezekiah Pendleton was in attendance. He
saw a possible chance to make some money ; all other
families were busy in the interests of the "rebel
army," and this was his opportunity. So he bid the
lowest, and four of the poor, frightened mortals — one
family — were set off to the Tory at ten shillings a
week, " hard money," and what they could do. Their
lot was hard enough — willing to work at home, but
deprived of its meagre comforts, and parceled out in
this way was cruel indeed. It was one of the many
sufferings that war entails. The able-bodied men
were in the army; the aged and infirm, with women
and children, ^constituted the company of enforced
paupers.

168 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
The town's folks generally regretted the result of
this provision for the poor of Boston.
The only hope of just treatment being rendered
at the Tory's home was the kind heart of the
mother and the willingness of the daughters to
aid in carrying out her wishes as far as it was pos
sible. The selectmen had received this notice : —
" Boston, May 7, 1775. The bearer, Mrs. Mehitable
Melville, and her family, removing out of the town of
Boston, are recommended to the charity and assist
ance of our Benevolent, Sympathizing Brethren in
the several towns in this Province. By order of the
Committee of Donations. Alex Hodgdon, Clerk."
Catnip had been the family beverage at the Pendle
ton's before the opposition to the tax on tea and other
articles was publicly announced. The poor fared the
same as the family in this particular, but it was only
the beginning of their hardships. They were too
feeble to work, but compelled to do service on the
farm, and scantily and poorly fed, only when some
thing extra was slyly passed out to them by those
who did not sympathize with the head of the family.
They were allowed to serve the neighbors, after hav
ing done a day's work for Mr. Pendleton; and there
were several people who were actuated by sympathy
to employ them. The feeble mother in this family of
Boston's poor was a capable woman, and her ability
soon recommended her to a neighbor of means. She
supplemented her day's work for the Tory by faithful

THE SILVER CROWN. 169
service for this new friend, for which she was well
paid. Her hard-earned coin prompted the avaricious
tyrant to offer her better food and more of it, and
she thereby gained strength for her double service.
It was not for herself; her mother's heart prompted
her to exert every power to satisfy the yearnings of
young children who could not understand why these
privations were inflicted. She continued to perform
these duties until illness prevented, when it was more
difficult to endure the hardships, for they increased
rather than lessened.
Mehitable Melville was the head of the unfortu
nate family. In addition to the privations at the
Pendleton's, she had reason to believe that her hus
band had been killed in the army, or taken as a pris
oner of war. Her last and only hope of securing any
thing beyond the bare necessities of life was a string
of gold beads which she held as an heirloom and
which she had frequently noticed attracted the atten
tion of her Tory keeper.
It was the pastor who was expected to look after
all cases of poverty or injustice in the town, and one
might have wondered why it was that these poor
strangers in his midst were so neglected. While Mr.
Pendleton denied his family many of the necessaries
of life, he did not fail to occasionally leave a cheese
or sparerib at his pastor's door. This inclined the
clergyman to the belief that his parishoner was judged
too severely. The fact that the parson and Tory were
in sympathy on the political questions of the day
might have been received as a partial explanation of
neglect of duty.
Mehitable Melville was missed from her allotted

170 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
task one cold day, and her youngest child was also
missing ; the latter caused no anxiety to the Tory, it
was the mother who must be found. Search being
made, her hiding-place was detected by the voice of
the child in seeming distress. It was ill and the
mother was stealing her time to care for it. The
privilege was not denied the woman, although Mr.
Pendleton growled not a little at the "waste of
time." The child grew worse. Mrs. Pendleton
and her daughters did all in their power to aid and
relieve the sufferer. Doctor Ballard came, his benig
nant face gleaming with light and cheer, and brought
sunshine to the heart of the troubled mother, although
he was obliged to tell her that she must part with the
child. Once it would have been much harder for the
mother to meet this' sorrow. She was granted extra
comfort in the home. It would not do to allow the
good doctor to see what privations she had endured.
He was a determined opponent to King George, hav
ing served the town as a member of the Provincial
Congress. Mr. Pendleton did not refuse to allow the
mother and child the comfort of an extra fire on the
hearth, and other things for which she was told she
must pay him, even to the sacrifice of her gold neck
lace. At length the child died, ami was buried among
strangers in the village burial yard.
When life seemed the darkest to Mrs. Melville
relief came to her troubled heart. The way was
opened for the poor to return to Boston. Col. Mel
ville was alive. Into the arms of her faithful hus
band she rushed, and to their former home they joy
fully returned, where, as never before, they appre-

THE SILVER CROWN. 171
ciated all that could be enjoyed in a once-divided,
but now reunited family.
" But one dead lamb was there."
Notwithstanding all the sorrow experienced at the
home of the Pendletons, Mrs. Melville often longed
to go back. It was the vacant chair at her fireside
that caused these yearnings. Her husband had re
ceived part payment for his services in the army in
worthless paper currency, and they now were obliged
to struggle together for the necessaries of life.
At length came relief to the colony from "His
Most Christian Majesty, our excellent ally." The
fleet of D'Estaing was loaded with King Louis' silver
crowns. This precious freight was stored in Han
cock's building, where was the office of the deputy
paymaster-general of the Continental Army. Col.
Mellville, with the others, received a share of these
bright crowns, bearing the impress of Louis XV. ;
and the relief, so long delayed, was now at hand.
Hezekiah Pendleton was the only man known by
Mrs. Melville who could tell where the stranger's
grave was made in the burial yard, and to him was
entrusted the duty of erecting a little stone at the
lonely mound. He performed his duty. More than
a century has passed, but the little moss-covered
stone, half hidden in the midst of the grass and
daisies, tells its story, and suggests to the thoughtful
wanderer among the memorials of the past, an un
written volume of sorrow and sacrifices, in part the
price of our liberty.
To pay for this little memorial of a parent's love,
Mehitable Melville parted with her brightest crown ;

172

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

and it was added to the hidden store of the Pendleton
home, there to remain till death broke the seal, and
the mysterious room gave up its contents.

The little Grave among the Daisies.

"Every name we read in rugged and half -worn capitals re
calls some page of romantic history, some career over which
the archaeologist may linger with affectionate remembrance;
wafts legendary stories from the dim twilight of the past, and
recalls traditions which years may have buried amid the lum
ber of our recollections." — Tennyson.

THE WITCH OF SHAWSHINE.

TWENTIETH EVENING.
^HE Pilgrim's century was taking a last look
at the world when the humble farmhouse of
Solomon Gray received a new tenant ; and
the new century had but just dawned when Bev.
Thomas Barnard dipped his goose-quill and entered
in the records of the North Parish Church of Cochi-
chawick, " Baptized Miriam, daughter of Solomon
Gray." " A precarious time to be ushered into the world,"
muttered the parson, when making the sixth entry
of baptism on the first Sabbath of the opening year.
These had all been born within a week, ancl through
this ordinance the parents had tried to secure for
their respective babes a safe passport to the realm of
bliss in case the fates decreed that their little hands
should be folded in death before their lips could be
taught to lisp their Maker's praise.
No one can wonder that the parson shook his head
in foreboding as he entered the name of the new-born
child. The unsettled state of society in this town
ancl the others round about cast a gloom over the
present and future. The scenes on Gallows Hill, in
the neighboring town, where the condemned witches
had been hung, were still fresh in the minds of the
people. It was well known that the mother who
had welcomed her ninth babe with 'the rising sun of
this Sabbath morning, was one who gave testimony
against Martha Carrier in the trial of August, 1692;

174 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
Born beneath the shadow of such a scourge as Salem
witchcraft, and of a mother who had fallen a prey to
the deluding influence, it would not be strange if this
new babe, and others that were hastened out of the
rude cradle, only to see their places filled by their
counterparts in swaddling clothes, should suffer from
unfortunate birth-marks.
There was a seeming rustle in the congregation in
the primitive meeting-house when Parson Barnard
dipped water from the pewter basin, laid his reverent
hand upon the little brow, and, in measured tones,
uttered the prescribed words : " Miriam, I baptize
thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Ghost, Amen." The deacons, in their
elevated seats beneath the more elevated pulpit, were
seen to exchange glances, and their wives, on the
" woman's " side of the meeting-house were staring at
their companions, while others, versed in the Old
Testament Scriptures, gave involuntary nods of their
h^ads. When leaving the house of worship some were
heard to say, "This one is to be a prophetess."
When Deacon Goodwin had joined his family he
dared to quote in this connection the song of Miriam,
the sister of Moses and Aaron, " May she sing to the
Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously ; the horse
and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." Miriam
was the acknowledged queen of the cradle, and entitled
to the service of the older children, until in turn after
two years she was tumbled out to make way for a
burly successor.
The children growing up together were regularly
seen in the family pew at church each Sabbath, and
in the winter their presence could be detected by as

THE WITCH OF SHAWSHINE.

175

many breaths puffed out between the ornamental bal
usters of the partition walls into the frosty atmos
phere of the meeting-house, like the steam of an
equal number of teakettles hanging from a kitchen
crane.

A Family Cradle.
Not one of the children of Solomon Gray was more
regular at school than Miriam, the ninth. She was
the first to answer the questions of the pastor when
catechising the pupils in the old log school-house.
Not one in the school was more sure of keeping her
feet at the recitation-crack of the rude floor than this
black-eyed girl ; while at the home of the Gray's,
Miriam was a leading member. At the age of twelve
she could turn off a good skein of linen, and about
match her mother in the knots of yarn from the great
wheel, as they counted up a day's work in the busy
season of preparation for the winter. She learned
many of the out-door mysteries of the farm before
reaching her "teens," and often put her elder brothers
to shame by taking less time to get a brimming pail
of milk than they required. The boys declared that
"Old Chestnut" and "High Horn" knew when

176 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
Miriam pressed her soft hands to their flesh, and
rewarded her gentle touch with but little effort on
her part, but stubbornly withheld the white nectar
when they sat down to press it from the udder.
Whether the boys were right in their opinion, or
whether they, as many others, did not like to admit-
the superior ability of a girl, we will not decide.
In the church records of a town twenty miles
nearer the source of the river there was recorded, on
the second Sabbath of the eighteenth century, the
baptism of Benjamin, son of Solomon Fay. He was
one of a large family in the town which for a while
bore the name of the stream that winds through its-
eastern acres. After attaining his majority Benjamin
bought of Michael Bacon the corn-mill on ' the Shaw
shine and began business for himself. The legacy
from his father's estate was - sufficient to purchase
this place of business and the rude dwelling near the
mill-house. The river was a convenient highway be
tween the villages of Cochichawick1 and Shawshine,2
and in the absence of trodden paths through the for
ests, intercourse between the villages was commonly
carried on by the way of the stream. On either side
of it were remnants of Indian villages, and now and
then a scattering group of the original owners of -the
soil could be seen in the distance. They offered no
sign of hostility. Their war-like leaders were gone,
and their courage had abated, while not a few had
learned of the gospel of peace from Eliot and Gookin,
and come to regard the white men as friends.
When nearing Shawshine the rolling and tumbling
of the water indicated an obstruction in the channel,
and the traveller was obliged to abandon his canoe.
1 Andover. 2 Bedford.

THE WITCH OF SHAWSHINE. 177
Here was the mill where Benjamin Fay had begun
business. His customers were the brave pioneers
for miles about the stream. The hours were few
in the week when some one dressed in sheepskin
breeches and homespun frock was not seen standing
by, waiting to have his yellow corn ground into the
steaming meal.

The modern Mill on the Shawshine.
Benjamin's need of a helpmeet wa.s generally con
ceded by the people of the towi/> But he seldom
went away from his business except on the Sabbath,
and it was thought for a while that he was not fully
{ .- <; Gi his greatest need.
"Benjamin, the miller, has gone down stream. He
goes often tl-'se drys," said the youth in charge of
the stones to an inquisitive customer on an early
Monday morning.
" I, I, " says the inquiring farmer, who impatiently-
waited for his grist, " guess that means something."
The miller was never known to go so happily about
his work as when returning from one of these jour
neys down the stream. The reason of this could only

178 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
be conjectured for some months, but at last became
apparent. At a Sabbath morning service in the month
of May, the clerk of Shawshine arose in his seat and
read with measured words : " Marriage intended be
tween Benjamin Fay of Shawshine and Miriam Gray
of Cochichawick."
The announcement was made according to law on
three successive Sabbaths, and so the people knew
full well that the miller would not make the import
ant trip down the river until the prescribed time had
passed. The months of extra spinning and weaving at the
farm-house of Solomon Gray now began to have a
meaning to the people of that neighborhood, for the
same intention had been proclaimed to them by the
clerk of that town, and Miriam's companions had
learned who the sly visitor was that anchored his
boat at her fathe-'s landing. The misses made haste
to add articles to her stock of linen, and the matronly
neighbors gatherX ^XTutthe quilting-fraines and plied
their deft fingers ¦ 'il"}* " ing-bon.es " and "tortoise
shells " were seerX itchwork square. There
were the venerable r ¦>- ¦ , in cap and spectacles,
who recalled the days . old, who had heard Mrs.
Gray give that memor. tie testimony against the
witch, and who had tossed their knowing heads when
Parson Barnard laid his hands in baptism upon the
infant brow. One did not fail to whisper what many
thought: "Does the miller know that she may turn
out a witch ? "
The weeks passed rapidly at the village of Shaw
shine, and the miller's assistant was again in charge.
The news spread through the village, and many a
curious farmer filled his little sack with rye or corn,

THE WITCH OF SHAWSHINE. 179
and made haste to the mill, impatient for a fresh
grist. The miller's boat was not at its usual mooring.
This was the only suggestive sign besides the absence
of the skilful miller.
"Will soon arrive," was whispered from home to
home. Curiosity seasoned with fear filled the minds
of many good people. Coming events had cast their
shadows before, and the people of the village of Shaw
shine were not ignorant of the superstitions of Cochi-
chawick. Not a few declared that their quiet neigh
borhood was doomed, for a witch was coming to take
up her abode at the miller's house, and, what was
worse than all, to be the miller's wife.
While the villagers south of the " Dam " were busy
in speculation and wonder, the inhabitants on the
shores of the stream twenty miles to the northward
were making merry at the home of Solomon Gray.
In the pale moonlight of a Time evening a happy
group was seen to weigh anchors and paddle away
from the farmer's landing. Such a fleet had never
before glided over the surface of this Indian stream.
The chatting in the bridal bark eou^d well be com
pared to that of the r-bh-vs.- Xreacly mated for their
summer's bliss, while ; friendly canoes which led
and followed carried tL ,e whose mating was not yet
perfected. The moon seemed never to have shed more silvery
rays than those which fell upon the bridal party as
they glided over the water. On the marshy edges of
the sluggish river could be seen now and then the
purple petals of a tardy rhodora, and the overhanging
maples dropped their brilliant keys on the bridal party
as it neared the winding banks.
Solomon Gray had a tithing of an income from an

180

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

" English Bight " — an estate in the mother country.
His annual remittance this spring had been taken in
broadcloth of brightest scarlet with plumes to match.

HH

The Bridal Party.
" A strange order indeed ! " said the family agent,
when enclosing Solomon Gray's with those of the
other nine, and giving orders to his associate across
the water. The brightest tints of the early flowers
could not be compared with the scarlet drapery that
enfolded the graceful form of Miriam, the miller's
bride. Her full black eyes and raven locks were in

THE WITCH OF SHAWSHINE. 181
striking contrast to the mantle, while the brilliant
plumes that decked her broad-brimmed jaunty hat rose
far above the less pretentious costumes of the escort
ing party. It was a question whether it was not the
brilliant moonlight scene that aroused the nesting
red-breast ancl called forth his early matin notes as
the ten canoes drew near the miller's landing.
The weary eyelids of anxious neighbors had closed,
and the youthful band who kept midnight vigil had
broken up before the bridal party moored their boats,
hence the merry company reached their destination
all unnoticed. The flickering lights of numerous
candles in the miller's home were not detected by
any one at Shawshine, ancl the happy voices of the
departing escort were unnoticed as the company
weighed anchor in the twilight of early morning and
left the miller alone with his bride.
More than one housewife of the town declared her
meal chest empty that week, and the tall bin of
Benjamin Fay was brimming full long before Satur
day night.
"Never mind," said his assistant. "There 11 be a
lull in business after Sunday, and you'll have no
further use for me."
The miller was fortunately ignorant of the gossip
of the town, for no busybody had warned him of
impending evil ; no traveller had asked a seat with
him when on his pleasant trips up or down the river,
and so his cup of happiness was full.
The homes about the river were scattering. Far
ther, up the stream was the Shawshine house — an
old Indian trading-post, where the natives were wont
to barter with the white pioneers. The home of
Captain ~Page, the old Indian hunter, was not far

182

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

THE WITCH OF SHAWSHINE. 183
away. These, with Michael Bacon's, that stood on a
bluff farther down, and some distance from the stream,
were the only houses of the neighborhood, save that
which belonged to the miller's estate. The miller's
house was often known as " number twelve " — a
garrison in Philip's war, where Bacon's mill, now
Benjamin Fay's, had been guarded from the skulking
red men by 'two soldiers, allowed for its protection
by the order of Stephen Tyng, the commander of his
Majesty's troops.

Miehael Bacon's Home.
The notes of the old bell never sounded sweeter
to Benjamin Fay than on the morning of that June
Sabbath when he placed the noon lunch for two in
the saddle-bag, helped his bride to the pillion, placed
his feet in the stirrups, and galloped off to the village
meeting-house. They passed many a bare-foot lad, with shoes in
hand, who cast inquiring eyes, and not a few of
more mature years slackened their pace as the miller's
horse drew near. There were those who lingered

184

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

about as the bridal couple approached the house of
worship, but all were too busy in their talk to offer
assistance at the horse-block. Benjamin managed his
nettling steed with one hand, and with the other
aided his bride in alighting. The actions of the
miller's horse plainly indicated that he was not accus
tomed to the burden of the morning, ancl the reins-
man betrayed inexperience to the bystanders.

It required urgent circumstances to detain any one
from this morning service, and the pews were well
filled before the miller arrived. All eyes were on
the family-seat of the elder Fay, not knowing that
the young man had purchased all but the widow's
thirds in the Fassett pew. So Benjamin and his bride

THE WITCH OF SHAWSHINE. 185
were well seated before many were aware that they
had entered the house.. The scarlet plumes were
soon detected by the most observing, but some of the
more devout had not grasped the situation until the
congregation rose for the "long prayer," when all
had plenty of time to " see the bride." The prayer
was never so long as on this morning, thought Benja
min and Miriam. It was not altogether in their feel
ings, for it was of unusual length, as many had asked
a share in its interest. Madam Jones had buried her
husband since the last Sabbath, so she had presented
a petition to the Throne of Grace that the bereave
ment "might be sanctified to her and her family for
their spiritual good." Deacon Merriam had narrowly
escaped a watery grave, and had requested the parson
to " return thanks " for him. Phoebe Smith desired
prayers that she might be safely delivered from im
pending danger, while others had requested and
received attention in the morning petition.
The bride could not have selected a more unfortu
nate color for her costume, although it contrasted
finely with her eyes and hair. A people who already
believed that the new comer was doomed from birth
saw enough in the brilliant clothes to convince them
that there was truth in the rumor which had gone out
from the last quilting of winter.
" I told you so ! " were the whispered words from
one to another, as the congregation broke up. Not a
few of the worshipers made haste to the burial ground
to eat their lunch, and offered no greetings to the
miller and his bride during the noon intermission.
Time passed on. The miller pursued his business,
and his faithful wife performed her part in the rude
dwelling. The Bev. Nicholas Bond and his wife

186 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
made their accustomed call at the . miller's home, but
no liquor was served with the wedding cake. This
breach of etiquette was not reported by the first call
ers, but the few parishioners who afterward discharged
the claims of society did not hesitate to lay this omis
sion to the bride. They were ready to charge any
unwelcome change of affairs to her. The slightest
unusual phenomenon was attributed to a mystical
power which they had been led to believe was the
birth-mark of Miriam Gray. Many of the people of
Shawshine never called upon the new resident until
the scarlet garments were temporarily exchanged for
those of a more sombre hue, and some not then.
The words of the miller's assistant had now become
true, and he was able to carry on his business alone
and had much time to spare. Other troubles followed
the promising marriage. A protracted drought caused
the Shawshine Biver to dwindle to a trickling brook ;
the mill was silent; the farmers had no means of
grinding their corn, and water for their cattle could
only be obtained at great pains. Prayers were offered
at the meeting-house "that the bottles of heaven
might be unstopped." When the faith of the people
had been long and severely tried, and their wrath had
been kindled against the innocent wife of the miller,
the equinoctial rains came on, and all nature assumed
its wonted condition ; but the superstitions of many
of the people did not abate, and the most friendly
advances of the innocent woman were rudely spurned.
Years rolled on, and new subjects for conversation
came and went. Some parents did not fail to whisper
to their children that there was a mystery about the
miller's wife, and they were taught to believe that
the scarlet cloak and plumes would yet appear to cast
some unfriendly shadow.

THE WITCH OF SHAWSHINE. 187
Benjamin Fay ancl his wife were regular in their
accustomed pew at meeting. They brought one after
another of their infants and dedicated them to the
Lord after the custom of the age ; but all this did
not change the sentiment of many of the people of
Shawshine. Even the schoolmaster's reports of the
kindness of Mrs. Fay during his "boarding round"
had but little effect in allaying the prejudices of the
people of the district. The black-eyed children of
the miller found but few associates at the school,
and they were the first to reveal to the faithful wife
and mother the mystery of her life at Shawshine.
Benjamin Fay was faithful to his marriage vows,
and shielded his companion from the sorrow which
would have filled her life had she known that her
peculiar treatment was clue to her parentage and early
life. Age began to make its furrows on the once rosy
face of Miriam, and to silver with gray her once
raven locks ; but her earnest expression of counte
nance plainly indicated that she was bent on breaking
down the superstitions of years, and removing the
jealousies of blinded ignorance.
The alarming scourge of throat distemper visited
the colony, and the village of Shawshine did not
escape. Child after child died of the dreadful dis-
•ease, but it did not enter the home of the miller.
" Few people ever call on the Fays " was the reason
assigned by one, when the third little coffin was
carried out from the home of John Whitmore, and
the group of 'mourners marched off with measured
step to add one more to the long line of new-made
graves in the burial ground.
The heart of Miriam Fay was filled with sympathy

188 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
for her stricken neighbors, and so, after using all
known precautions in her own family, she started:
out to the relief of others. The first thing that met
the eyes of the afflicted Whitmores on their sad
return to the surviving members of the family, was
the scarlet cloak of the miller's wife. The dreaded
woman was busily engaged in packing the throats of
the remaining children with what seemed to Mrs-
Whitmore to be a compress of the tansy that grew by
her door, and a decoction of the same herb was being
prepared by the open fire. " This is what I have-
used with my children, and by the blessing of God
they are all spared to us." With these encouraging-
words Mrs. Fay left the family.
This woman had not failed to profit by her mother's-
instructions. She had often longed to help others iu
distress, but the scarlet wrap which defied the wear
of a lifetime, was looked upon as a shroud of mys
tery, and had often debarred the innocent owner from
administering comfort to neighbors in distress, and
her inherited spirit of independence had added strength.
to the barrier. In one case, at least, the obstruction
was removed, and the heart of Miriam Fay was found
to throb with love for God and man.
The disease was arrested in the Whitmore family,
and the simple means of prevention were effectually
applied in other homes, and by people who reluctantly
concluded that it might be possible for a witch to do-
one good deed with many evil ones.
Love of freedom was a lesson faithfully taught
by example and precept in the home of Solomon-
Gray, and Miriam had imbibed the spirit. She-
had been called to mourn the loss of two brothers,.
who perished with Lovewell at Pigwacket in that

THE WITCH OF SHAWSHINE. 189
most deadly conflict of Indian warfare. This did not
deter her from action : it rather made her more bold
and determined. She was left one day alone with
two soldiers, who had charge of the garrison; her
keen black eyes detected a skulking Indian near the
house, and failing to arouse the sluggish guards and
¦convince them of impending danger, she took a
musket and discharged it at what they said was only
a clump of brush; but she had the gratification of
seeing a dead Indian roll from his hiding-place.
Miriam Fay seemed inspired with the ardor of
youth as the days of the Bevolution drew near, and
her bending form became more erect as she fitted out
her sons for the army. She discarded tea and every
thing of foreign flavor long before the people of
Shawshine adopted the bill of non-intercourse, and
she was seldom seen in her scarlet cloak, for there
was a tinge of royalty about those thread-bare folds.
The minute-men were drilling twice each week in the
training-field of Shawshine, and the wits of men and
women alike were exercised to thwart the encroach
ments of the " Bed-coats."
People of this town, like others of the colony,
hardly knew whether they were looking into the
face of friend or foe, as they went about their accus
tomed walks. It required but the slightest indication
to brand one with the stigma of "Tory."
While the excitement was raging at Shawshine,
Miriam Fay, then past threescore years and ten, was
¦seen at early dawn, dressed in her scarlet cloak, dash
ing towards her home on the miller's horse. She was
now classed among the Tories — a companion of Heze
kiah Pendleton. The miller's life and property were
threatened, and had it not been for the mystical

190 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
power supposed to be vested in her, the family would
have been separated and the property confiscated by
the government, before she could have proved her
loyalty to the cause of the Colonists.
The scarlet broadcloth and plumes, although dingy
with age, were a good match for the red-coats, which
were plentiful in Boston, and not infrequently seen
on the backs of soldiers skulking about this neighbor
hood. The British generals, eager to get informatian of
the movements of the Colonists, were ready to adopt
any means, and extended a welcome to any one who
offered assistance.
They had no doubt that the woman in scarlet was
a friend of the Boyal cause, and gave diligent heed to
her story and plans. They agreed to meet her at a
time and place appointed, and thankfully bade her
good-night, as she dashed out from their quarters in
her haste to reach her home before the break of day.
It was past the following midnight when John
Whitmore was called from his bed by a man in mili
tary costume, and being mistaken for a Tory was en
trusted with the secret of the distressed man and his
associates. A woman in a scarlet cloak had visited their head
quarters on the previous night and agreed to reveal a
secret, if they would come on the following midnight
and bring a reward.
Believing that she had the key to the colonial store
house, they had made sure to meet her. The sup
posed Tory in scarlet had led them by the light of a
flickering candle through a subterranean passage and
over the swollen stream by means of a narrow plank
to a cavern beyond, where she had extinguished the

THE WITCH OF SHAWSHINE. 191
light and retraced her steps, pulled the bridge after
her, emptied their saddle-bags of the golden crowns,
and retired to her house.
In the darkness and mystery of the hour, foiled by
the shrewdness of a woman, the proud generals were
directed back to their quarters by one who was as
great an enemy to their cause as the woman in scarlet
had proved to be.
During the long and trying years of the war for in
dependence a more loyal woman or more faithful spin
ner and weaver could not be found than Miriam Fay.
No one sent more helpful packages to the sufferers
in camp and hospital, and all of the service was given
without drawing on the limited treasury of the town
or colony.
The helpful words of this patriotic woman gave
cheer to the people of Shawshine in their struggles to
meet the demands for men and money, and when they
all assembled at the meeting-house to engage in a ser
vice of thanksgiving after the surrender of Cornwallis,
the cracked voice of Miriam. Fay, " the Witch of
Shawshine," could be plainly heard through the con
gregation as it joined in the words of Miriam of old,
" Sing to the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously ;
the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea."

192

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

A POD OF NINE PEAS.
THE SECRET OF A WRETCHED LIFE.

TWENTY-FIRST EVENING.
^HE sky was overcast with the floating clouds
of a June day rain in New England. The soft,
muddy road of a suburban village of Boston
was desolate, save now and then a straggling boy wend
ing his way from school. One delinquent halted to
spat the mud with his bare feet and try his willow
stick on the brindle cow that had jumped the pasture
wall, tempted by the sweeter clover of the highway.
He heard the slow and measured tread of horses' feet,
hastened not by the sudden dash of rain from the
floating cloud, and saw the village hearse coming to
wards him. With boyish timidity he hid behind the
wall until, feeling that he was unobserved, he raised
his head and counted one — two — all had passed.

„ A POD OF NINE PEAS. 193
Then with reasserted bravery he stood erect and
meditated, half aloud : " Whose funeral is that ? Them
is the overseers of the poor in the first wagon, and
that is John Spinal in the poor farm carriage. He
keeps that place. 'Tis a pauper that 's being buried —
' Rattle his bones over the stones !
He 's only a pauper, whom nobody owns ! '
That's what grandma used to sing."
With these lines running in his mind and thought
lessly muttered aloud, the boy went abomt his part of
the chores at the farm, and when putting the last
armful of wood in the kitchen wood-box, he met his
grandmother, with anxious brow peering from the
broad ruffle of lace that protected the scanty gray
locks of her honored head, who exclaimed :
" What are you saying those lines for, my boy ? "
" Why, grandma ! I heard you sing them with
Aunt Urana, when I was a little chap, and was n't
that a pauper's funeral that I saw this afternoon when
I was getting home from school ? "
" One of the old people at the poor farm was buried
to-day, but you should not speak of her in that way,"
said grandma, reprovingly.
"Well, them two carriages had nobody in them but
the folks that take care of the poor, and I never saw
a funeral with only two carriages," continued the bare
foot lad, now growing somewhat thoughtful. "Ah,"
said grandma, " you have yet to learn that the worth
of a person is not measured by the number of car
riages that follow the body to the grave, although
wealth is too often indicated in that way."
The curiosity of the boy was now fully aroused, and
he continued his argument, all the time whittling the

194 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
knotty end of a pine stick on which his eyes were
¦fixed. "Did that woman ever have friends, and did she
ever live anywhere else ? "
" Yes, my child, and when you want a good, long-
story, some stormy evening, I will tell you all about
her, and try to convince you that to be poor is not to
be despised, and that to be wealthy is not to be
respected always ; but grandma is busy now ancl must
go about her work." So, with a loving pat on the
head, she dismissed her favorite, feeling confident that
the lesson would not be soon forgotten.
The evening soon came when the boy sat on the
stool at his grandmother's feet, with his elbows on
his knees, hands clasping his chin, and face upturned
to her, who, with the heel of her stocking well set,
started on with the foot and the story.
"Near by the house where I was born, in an old,
red mansion facing the south, approached from the
highway by a winding lane, lived a family highly
respected by all the folks.
" They had a good farm and knew how to carry it
on, too. The best of butter and cheese was made by
Aunt Nancy, that is what all the folks called the
good woman, and Uncle John, her husband, always
had the best cows and fattest pigs in the neighbor
hood. There were three children, two daughters and
a son. I used to go to school with them all. They
were fine looking, but one of the girls had rosy cheeks
and a complexion envied by us all. She was one of
the best scholars and always stood well in her classes,
and when we had a good, old-time spelling school in
the evening, she was sure to stand up till the last or

A POD OF NINE PEAS. 195
near it. She was the youngest of the three, and the
pet of the household and neighborhood as well.
" She was never taught to control the bad temper
' that she had by nature, and it often got the control
of her in company as well as at home. You think it
is hard when you can't have your own way, and your
little will has to yield ; but had she been obliged to
give up her stubborn will to those who were older
and better fitted to say what was for her good, she
might have had a smoother life. The few years of
her school life soon passed, as they did with many
of us, for we did not have the advantages for getting
an education that you have nowadays. When we got
through the district school we could n't go off to an
academy ; our parents could n't afford that, so we got
what we could at the old red schoolhouse, and then
took our place at the spinning-wheel and churn and
helped our mothers, who had much more to do in
order to keep the family properly clothed and fed
than mothers do in these days.
"But Miranda was an exception; she was not re
quired to do anything ; her hands were so soft and her
skin so pretty that her mother and older sister did the
work, and Little Miranda, as her mother called her,
had her own way, — just as you often wish you could
do ; but it was bad for her, as it is for most children,
for when they get older and meet with many people
out in the world, they can't always have things their
way, and it comes very hard to them to be opposed
and be obliged to yield to others.
"One day Aunt Nancy was shelling peas, while
sitting on the broad stone step at the door near her
bed of camomile and tansy, when, to coax Miranda to
assist her, she said : ' Now come and help mother get

196 LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.
the peas ready for dinner, and perhaps you will find
a pod with nine in it, and then you can put it over
the door, and the first boy who comes in under it will
be your husband.'
" With all Aunt Nancy's good sense, she had a few
foolish notions, and this was not the least. Little
Miranda was easily persuaded to aid her mother by
that talk.
" She counted and counted, and did find the charmed
number. It was put over the door, and the petted and
indulged Miranda was continually reminded of the
foolish whim until her restless mind was fully per
suaded that the first young man who should enter that
door was to be her husband.
" In those days it was the prevailing custom for the
minister and doctor of the town to go about making
calls without any particular invitation, and to stop to
tea was in the regular order of custom. So one pleas
ant afternoon, while the peas were still hanging, good
Dr. Prentiss drove up the lane, having come from the
village with the express purpose of drinking tea with
Uncle John and Aunt Nancy. As his good wife was
obliged to attend to other duties that appeared just
as the horse and chaise came around ta the door, he
took his only son. While Paul, Miranda's brother,
put the doctor's white horse in the empty stall, he
and his son walked right into the living-room, in the
place of going to the front door. Thus Samuel Pren
tiss was the first young man who passed under the
peas. "Little Miranda's eyes sparked, for that, she
thought, was fine, and Aunt Nancy was rather pleased,
and did not a little to impress the giddy girl with the
idea that Samuel was to be her husband, and in fact

A POD OF NINE PEAS. 197
went so far as to playfully call her Mrs. Prestiss, and
occasionally add, ' One of the best families in all the
town, and well off, too, and Samuel is the only son.'
Aunt Nancy succeeded in convincing Uncle John that
the plan was a good one, and that the fates had de
cided it, while he declared that she was a ' notional
woman,' but fell in with the notion. A singing-school
during the following winter was looked upon as the
opportunity for- carrying out the plan. Miranda at
tended the school, and was entertained by the doctor's
good wife when the weather was not suitable for her
to go the long distance home. The result of it all
was that Samuel and Miranda were married when in
their ' teens,' knowing but little of the world.
" The parents were pleased on both sides, and others
thought it was a fine thing to have two of the first
f&milies of the town united by the marriage of their
children. Few girls had a better setting out than
Miranda, — a good stock of furniture and fine clothes ;
besides, Uncle John gave her a cow and two sheep,
and, as he said, gave them a good start in life. But
neither of them knew what it was to get a living, and
Samuel had been the favorite with his parents and
indulged in every whim as much as Miranda had been
by her parents.
" It was not long before unpleasantness arose be
tween them, which was followed by open contention
and disagreement.
"Samuel found other places more attractive than
his home, and but few years passed before Miranda
went home to her parents and Samuel was left on the
road to ruin. They had one child, a source of much
contention. "Miranda now, more often than before, gave way

198

LEGENDS OF OLD BEDFORD.

to her unfortunate disposition, but, being the only
child at home, succeeded in passing the time in aiding
her parents, who were fast growing old, and did not
oppose her. Soon Uncle John died. Miranda had
her portion of the property, which was not a trifle,
ancl stayed with her mother until, with the advice of
ever-ready Mrs. Meddlesome, Aunt Nancy thought
she could get along alone, and Miranda made a home
for herself in another town.
"Aunt Nancy died at a_good old age. Another
division of property gave Miranda another start. So,
in living about, visiting cousins, who were too often
more pleased to see her go than come, and often times
doing good, she passed some years in the neighboring
town of B  , until a complaint from the authorities
of that place was entered in this her native town, and
she was brought to the poorhouse, a physical wreck
and penniless, where, after twenty years of unhappy
life, she died at the age of eighty years, with but few
relatives or friends, and none who could follow her to
her grave. Had she died before the pod of nine peas
was put over that door, this whole town would have
been as one mourner, but, as you saw the other clay;
two carriages held the company, and there was not
one person to shed a tear of regret. I will not pre
sume to say who was responsible in the sight of God
for the wreck of what early promised to be a happy
life, but trust that this story, never before told, will
be of profit to you and others who may follow you."

DONY.

fj>FTEB the foregoing Legends had passed
through the press, there was received from
a reader of the History of Bedford the fol
lowing question :
"Why was Bedford called Dony ?"
The answer is from the authority credited with the
Legends. The early settlers, weary from their long
journey to attend the service of worship, resolved to
secure the incorporation of a new town, which in
volved the erection of a meeting house and the orga
nization of a new church.
They were opposed by the people to the northward,
but were more successful in their appeals in other
directions. The people to the southward not only gave cheerful
assent, but they made gifts of money towards defray
ing the expenses of organization.
The agitators of the new town had sent out a cry
for help and been successful, as were the inhabitants
of Macedonia when they sought aid from Paul the
apostle. The pious zeal of some led them to select the name
Macedonia for the new town. In failing to carry
their point they manifested their gratitude for assist
ance by introducing the name Dony, forming the
word by adding the coloquial ending y to the root of
the Latin word Dono, to give.