WEYBRIDGE. 109
WEYBRIDGE.
BY COL. ISAAC DRAKE.
WEYBRIDGE was chartered in the 2d year of the reign of George III., by Governor Wentworth, of N. H., Nov. 3, 1761, to Joseph Gilbert and 63 others, — 70 equal shares. Said tract is something more than 6 miles square. Snake Mountain, near the centre of the town, runs north and south; Lemon Fair runs through it, near the east side of the mountain, and unites with Otter Creek.
When the towns were surveyed, Weybridge lost 7 miles in length from the west end of the chartered tract, which the charters of Bridport and Addison, bearing earlier dates, covered, and held. Oct. 28, 1791, about 700 acres of the S. W. corner of New Haven were annexed. Oct. 22, 1804. about 2,000 acres of the S. E. corner of Addison, lying east of the summit of Snake Mountain. Oct. 28, 1806, about 100 acres of the S. E. corner of Panton were annexed; and in 1857, the line between Weybridge and Addison was surveyed and established by commissioners, appointed and authorized by an act passed by the legislature, A. D. 1856. In November, 1859, about 500 acres of the N. W. corner of Weybridge were annexed to Addison, in opposition to the expectations and wishes of the inhabitants of the town, leaving only a tract at the present time, of about 10,000 acres.
The map of Addison county, from actual survey, under the direction of H. F. Walling, does not show the addition of 2,000 acres to Weybridge, from Addison, although having been part of the town for 53 years, with 13 dwelling-houses thereon, and as many families. One street, 3 miles in length, on which these families live, is laid down on the map, as being in Addison, quite too much of an oversight for being accidental.
The N. W. part of the town lies on Snake Mountain. There is a great variety of soils between the base of the mountain and the broken, ledgy lands around the waterfalls on Otter Creek; a large amount of water-power, contiguous to the railroad, a large, inviting, and desirable part unoccupied, to wit: Belding's and Painter's falls. Thomas Sanford and Claudius Brittell, with their families, came into the unbroken forests of Weybridge, and commenced a settlement in 1775. David Stow and Justus Sturdevant, with their families, settled about the same time, in that part of New Haven now Weybridge, the former on the south side of the creek and the latter on the north. They came in boats up the creek, and located upon its banks, where they sustained themselves until the 8th of Nov. 1778, when they were taken prisoners by Indians and Tories, who burnt their houses, destroyed most of their property, and selected Mr. T. Sanford and son Robert, Mr. C. Brittell and son Claudius, Jr., Mr. D. Stow and son Clark, and Mr. Justus Sturdevant, and took them to Quebec. Mrs. T. Sanford, Mrs. C. Brittell, and Mrs D. Stow, and their younger children, and Mrs. Justus Sturdevant and children, were left almost destitute. The only shelter they had was a cellar, made in the ground, and covered with earth,* where they remained 8 or 10 days, until the American troops came from Pittsford, and rescued them. David Stow died in prison, Dec. 31. 1778. Thomas Sanford escaped from prison, and travelling through Maine and New Hampshire, reached his family. The other prisoners, after extreme suffering, were discharged in 1782. In 1783, those families began to return to their farms in Weybridge, and other families soon came, and commenced permanent settlements.
Eben'r Wright, and Sam'l Child, and others, settled in that part of Addison now in Weybridge. David Belding, Eben'r Scott, Aaron
—————
* "A handsome marble monument has recently been erected on the site of the out-door cellar, in which the women and children found shelter, in memory of the captivity of these men. The pedestal, vase, die, and cap make the height about 8 feet."
110 VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
Parmalee, Solomon Bell, Sam'l Clark, Sam'l Jewett, Dan'l James, Roger Wales, Asa Dodge, Silas Wright, Asaph Drake, and Joseph Kellogg, the descendants of whom, with other valuable additional families, form the present inhabitants of the town, who are an intelligent, industrious, and energetic community, ready to contribute their property to promote religion, education, and sustain good order.
The first child born was Ira Sanford, time unknown. The town was organized in 1789. Sam'l Jewett, town clerk; Z. Stakney, constable ; Abel Wright, Joseph Plumb, and Joseph McKee, selectmen; Aaron Parmelee, justice of the peace. The population was, in 1791, by census, 175; in 1800, 502; and in 1850, 804.
The lands are well watered, and well adapted for grain and grazing. Fruit does well on the hills. The first sawmill was built on Belding's Falls, in 1791, by Joseph and Eleazer McKee; a gristmill in 1794, by David Belding, Eben'r Scott, and Asaph Drake; and a furnace, in 1795.
Solomon Bell, and sons, built a sawmill on the Falls, about 1 mile below Middlebury Falls, in the town of Weybridge, in 1793 or '94; and a paper mill was also built on the same Falls, by Dan'l Henshaw; and there are now on these Falls in Weybridge, an oil mill, a paper mill, a trip-hammer shop, and a sawmill.
At Lower Falls Village there are 2 sawmills, 1 gristmill, and other machinery carried by waterpower, built and in progress of building. Weybridge has 4 large falls of water on Otter Creek, in the distance of about 5 miles. At the pleasant village at Lower Falls, formerly a few of the denomination of Friends resided; but all have died or moved away. This village is situated 7 miles above Vergennes Falls, and surrounded by a large tract of as good land as can be found in the valley of Otter Creek, and there is no reason why it should not become a thriving business place. Want of capital is the only thing which has retarded its progress.
Rev. Joseph Gilbert preached in Weybridge soon after its organination. Rev. Mr. Johnson preached and kept school in 1793. Rev. Mr. Frost succeeded him, and preached a year.
The first CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was formed June 20, 1794, with 15 members.
The first meeting-house was built by the first ecclesiastical society, and other citizens, in 1802. Rev. Jona. Hovey was settled over the Congregational Church, from Feb. 10, 1806, to Dec. 9, 1816; Rev. Eli Moody, from Aug. 12, 1818, to Dec. 9, 1823; Rev. Harvey Smith, from March 8, 1825, to April 22, 1828, and Rev. Jona. Lee, from July 2, 1834, to May 24, 1837; other stated supplies, Rev. Prof. John Hough, Rev. Prof. Wm. C. Fowler, Rev. Prof. Albert Smith, Rev. Benj. Labaree, Rev. L. L. Tilden, Rev. Jed. Bushnell, Rev. T. A. Merrill, D. D., about 10 years, Rev. E. H. Lyme, Rev. Prof. Boardman, and at the present time, Rev. Sam'l W. Cozzens.
The society erected a new meeting-house in 1847-8. They have a new parsonage house and lot, of 9 acres, also a burying-ground, all in good repair, and handsomely situated.
EPISCOPAL METHODIST, Rev, Sam'l Cockren, formed a class of 30 members, in May, 1805. From this class grew the prosperous and efficient church, which erected a house of worship in 1835, and have almost always, from the first, been supplied with preachers.
This society has a parsonage house and lot, in good repair, near the meeting-house.
The WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH, formed August 20, 1843, with 66 members, erected a chapel in 1847, in the Lower Falls village.
Emigration to the West has kept this church from increasing its number of members much above the original number; but the church and society have had a stated supply of preachers. A few of the members own a parsonage house and lot, in good repair.
Paper Mill Village is only 3-4 of a mile from the several churches in the village of Middlebury, where many of the inhabitants, with those in the S. E. of Weybridge, generally attend church.
A few Baptists have a parsonage house and lot, in good repair, and a Baptist clergyman in occupancy,
There was one school established at an early day. There are, at the present time, 6 school districts. The town has a very small school fund.
The proprietors lost so large a proportion of their chartered lands that there remained only about 180 acres to each share, adding all the several divisions together. Two shares were appropriated for the benefit of schools, leased according to the value of wild lands and perpetual leases.
HARVEY BELL, born in Weybridge, April, 1791, graduated at Middlebury College in 1809; read law at the Litchfield Law School, Conn.; in 1813, commenced practice in Middlebury, where he resided until his death, July 11, 1848; was member of the Governor's Council, 1835; member of the Vermont Senate, 1835-6; Secretary of the corporation of Middlebury College, 1826-43, and was editor of the Northern Galaxy, 1841-48.
CHARLES W. JEWETT, born in Weybridge, June 13, 1810; graduated at Middlebury College in 1834. In 1836 he became a lawyer in Niles, Mich., and is still there. He has been prosecuting attorney for his county 4 years; became judge of the county court, 1847.
STEPHEN PEARL LATHROP, from Weybridge, graduated at Middlebury College in 1839; was preceptor of Black River Academy, Ludlow, 1839-40; read medicine in Middlebury and Woodstock, 1840-43; graduated at the Vermont Medical College, Woodstock, 1843; practised medicine in Middlebury, 1843-46; was principal
WEYBRIDGE. 111
of Middlebury Female Seminary, 1846-49; since he has been Professor of Chemistry and Natural History, in Beloit College, Wis., where he died.
The other college graduates, from Weybridge, are, Constant Southworth, Silas Wright, Edwin James, Azel Hayward, Pliny Romeo Wright, Cyrus Bryant Drake, Gad Lyman, Emerson Ransom Wright, Silas Goodyear Randall, Henry James, and Gilbert Cook Lane.
———————————————
SKETCH OF HON. SILAS WRIGHT.
BY REV. WARD BULLARD.
SILAS WRIGHT, clarum et venerable nomen, was born in Amherst, Mass., May 24, 1795. In 1797, his father, Silas Wright, Sen., removed, with his family, to Vermont, and settled on a farm, in the town of Weybridge, on the bank of Otter Creek. Mr. Wright, Sen., being a working-man, his children were bred to labor. Young Silas was early put to work on the farm, and kept steadily at it, with the exception of going to the district school in the winter, till in his 14th year, when he was sent to Middlebury, to fit for college. He soon tired of Latin, and being too bashful to declaim, played truant, to shirk his lessons, and get rid of "speaking a piece." His father found it out, and called him to an account. Silas acknowledged, and plead in palliation, his unwillingness to attend the academy, and begged that he might return home, and work on the farm. But his father kept him at his studies, and he graduated in 1815. As a scholar, particularly in mathematical and philosophical branches, he stood high.
The four years immediately succeeding his collegiate course, he was engaged in teaching and the study of law. The latter he pursued at Sandy Hill and Albany, N. Y. In 1819, he made a journey into western New York, with the view to a location; but finally settled at Canton, where he soon rose to distinction, excelling in the examination of witnesses, and being uncommonly successful in the management of intricate suits, in bringing out the strong points, and laying open to a jury the more difficult matters involved.
In 1820, he was appointed surrogate of his county, and soon became justice of the peace. He held the office of postmaster 7 years, and was inspector of common schools. The last two offices were, according to his biographer, the only ones he ever expressed a wish to obtain. Two considerations, perhaps, led him to desire to become inspector of schools. — one, the real usefulness and honor of the office; the other, the fact that most persons did not covet it.
Soon after settling in Canton, he raised an independent rifle company, and was chosen captain, and rose, through successive grades, to the office of brigadier-general. It is worthy of remark, that he never bore a military title, and was known only as Mr. Wright.
In 1823, he became a member of the State Senate. He was named for this office, contrary to his expectations, and remonstrated against being placed in that position, saying there were others older and more deserving of the office than himself. But he was elected, and in the discharge of his duties as senator, exhibited fidelity and singular ability, that commended him to higher office, and he was elected a representative in Congress, after serving 4 years in the State Senate. He filled the place of representative in Congress 2 years, with honor, and performed effective labor, as one of the committee on manufactures; but nothing occurred, while holding this office, to call out his latent talent. In 1829, he was appointed comptroller of the State of New York, a place of much labor and responsibility. His reports, while in this office, denoted labor and ability, and are among the most distinguished State papers ever emanating from any department of the government of that State.
Mr. Wright was elected a member of the United States Senate in 1833, at the age of 37 years. This place he held, uninterruptedly, 11 years, being elected first to serve out an unexpired term, and being called to other service after occupying some two years of a second full term. In this body, he was surrounded with the greatest lights, as some affirm, that ever graced the Senate. He served there, too, when great and exciting questions were before the country, and when, from determined and relentless opposition, talent was taxed to the utmost. Mr. Wright, aware of the importance of his post, applied himself assiduously to preparation for duty, and when he came to participate in debate, his influence was felt. His cool judgment, his shrewd discernment, his wide grasp of mind, his imperturbable temperament, the ease with which he spoke, and the pertinency and directness of his language, all combined to make him a tower of strength; and the unequivocal fact that he stood at the head of his party, when that party was high in the ascendant, and when great measures were pending, proves clearly his decided superiority. The questions before the country, during his senatorial career, were mostly those of currency, which, besides their inherent importance, the state of the country and condition of parties rendered still more important, and very difficult of management. Mr. Wright was chairman of the committee on finance, and brought forward and led the measures settled upon by that committee, and after years of opposition and conflict, and temporary defeat, the policy advocated by him has become the settled policy of the country.
In 1844, Mr. Wright was nominated for the office of governor, very much in opposition to his wishes, and was elected. He failed of a second election to that office, owing, probably, in the main, to his fidelity and rigor in executing the laws against the anti-renters, who prevailed extensively in the counties on the Hudson River.
112 VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE
At the close of his executive labors, he repaired to his farm in Canton, and expressed great satisfaction at his "relief from public cares and perplexities, and responsibilities, which he called an ever-pressing load." Well he might thus feel, for this was his first respite from the burdens of responsible office, after having become a public servant, a quarter of a century before. At his home he spent his time in manual labor, during the day, and attended to his correspondence and other literary labor at night. He had not enjoyed this calm repose a year, when he was arrested by death. His decease occurred suddenly, Aug. 27, 1847, and was a stunning blow to the country, producing extended grief.
Mr. Wright refused several high nominations; one by President Tyler, to a seat on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States; another by President Polk, to a seat in his Cabinet, that of Secretary of the Treasury; and another, that of Vice-President, by the Baltimore Convention, in 1844. The latter, he declined, peremptorily, yet courteously. But it is believed he rejected this nomination with internal scorn, in view of the summary rejection of Mr. Van Buren by the two thirds rule, and of the fact, — of which he could not have been unconscious, — that such were the relative qualities of himself and the man nominated for the higher office, that the nomination should have been the reverse.
One prevalent opinion respecting this distinguished man must be erroneous; that is, that he rose by his own merits, without the aid of friends. He rose by his own merits, but not without the aid of friends. In this particular he was fortunate in no small degree. His early and immediate connections were respectable and influential; both his parents highly worthy; his father a man of rare talents. His foresight may be seen in the selection of Canton for a location. If he wished to rise, it was the very place to start favorably, (the county being settled, to a great extent, by people from the same section from which he came,) and being once started, his merits, and the friends he could not fail to acquire, were sure to move him on.
Amenity of manners, and unvarying equanimity were pre-eminent in his character; and he never failed to practise an active benevolence. He sympathized with the afflicted, often going miles to watch with the sick.
His habits of plainness and labor deserve to be mentioned. He labored much with his hands, when at his home in Canton. He kept no team, save a yoke of oxen, and no carriage, except an ox-cart and a wheelbarrow, and the latter he usually trundled himself.
The relation of a few incidents, illustrating some of his marked traits, may not be amiss. There was once an encampment of his brigade, of several days' continuance. On a certain day, as they were preparing for the standing review, dark, heavy clouds were rising above the horizon. When ready, the General and his staff moved off gracefully on their chargers, and just as they had reached the line, and the General had doffed his hat, a violent storm of wind and rain beat upon them, and the soldiers fled precipitately to their tents, save the rifle company that he had raised. Passing along with no troops to review, till he came to this company, he cried out, as he reached it, — "That's right, boys; I knew I should have one company to review, if it rained forks, tines downwards." The storm soon passed by, and the men returned to their places, expecting a scathing reprimand from the commander; but he only spoke of the storm as one of the sad incidents of war; was glad they had passed through it so well, and congratulated them in being so successful in preserving their uniform.
A traveller once drove up to the public house at Canton, and called for the hostler. The landlord being out, and no one responding, a man near by, loading manure into a cart, came and took care of the traveller's horse, and returned to his work. Presently the landlord came in, to whom the traveller said, "You have a splendid looking hostler." "Hostler!" said the landlord, in an inquiring tone. "Yes, sir; the man that took my horse; that man shovelling dung there." The traveller's surprise may be imagined, when the landlord, casting his eyes upon the man at work, replied, "That, sir, is Senator Wright." Mr. Wright had bought some manure of the landlord, and was drawing it away.
Mr. Wright was once assailed in Congress with insulting abuse, which he bore with his wonted composure. On adjournment, some of his friends gathered around him in hot temper, ready to take summary measures in his behalf. Mr. Wright good-naturedly remarked, "Let us defer the matter till after dinner," and there the tempest ended.
As to his morals, — "His candor, his integrity of purpose, his unaffected modesty, his disinterestedness, and patriotism, were apparent in his public and private life."
In reference to his personal appearance, he was large, and firmly built; his head massive; his features full, well marked, and symmetrical; his complexion florid, and an indefinable charm perpetually hung around his looks, air, and manner. His remains repose in Canton. A beautiful marble monument has been reared to his memory in Weybridge, by his friends throughout the country; but he reared for himself a monument far higher, and more enduring.
———————————————
LETTER FROM HIS EXCELLENCY,
MARTIN VAN BUREN.
LINDENWALD, Feb. 24, 1860.
MY DEAR MADAM: It affords me much pleasure to do what I can to comply with the request you have made of me.
The inclosed letter, from our departed friend,
WEYBRIDGE. 113
the greatly lamented Silas Wright, presents, within a short space, as just a view of the truthfulness and integrity of his character, as any I have been able to lay my hands upon.
I have never known a man for whom I felt more respect, or for whom I cherished a warmer esteem than I did for him, and nothing in my power that would do honor to his memory should ever be withheld.
I remain, madam,
Very respectfully,
Your ob't servant,
M. VAN BUREN.
MRS. HEMENWAY.
————————————
LETTER FROM SILAS WRIGHT TO MARTIN VAN BUREN.
WASHINGTON, 17 April, 1844.
MY DEAR SIR: I take a moment to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th, which came to me this morning, all safe. I cannot give you any reply to the matters contained in it, because I am under great press to get ready to make a tariff speech, which I have concluded it is best for me to make. I am strongly pressed to be prepared by to-morrow, and must, if I can. You know exactly how difficult it is for me to speak upon that subject; and how liable I shall be to say things which you and I, and all our friends, will have cause long to regret. I doubt whether any man has had the pleasure of making a greater number of such speeches than have fallen to my lot; where you stand like a man walking the ridge-pole of a barn, when the slightest inclination upon either side will give him an equally certain fall. If, like such a man, no one was to be hurt but myself, I should make these attempts with very little comparative care. However, the thing must be done, and it will quite certainly have been done, well or ill, before you can see this, and the intention will be good. I shall try more to say what I think is sacred, and true, and right, than what I think is politic. I shall look for the Major* with interest, but if the Whigs, or anything else, should keep me from this speech, until after he arrives, I shall pity him, as he will be very likely to find me impatient and cross.
I return the letter you inclose, and am in great haste,
Most, respectfully and truly yours,
SILAS WRIGHT.
HIS EXCELLENCY, MARTIN VAN BUREN.
—————————
CLOSING PARAGRAPH FROM THE TARIFF.
MR. WRIGHT'S SPEECH AT WATERTOWN, N. Y.
WHAT is this system of benefits which our opponents so urge upon us, and to oppose which, they say, is anti-patriotic and anti-American ? — Strip it of its imaginary qualities, and of the beauties of rhetoric in which they dress it up, and it is a system of taxation on the people. And did our revolutionary fathers ever dream, when they were conferring on the federal government this tremendous power of taxation, that the people were to stand up in mass and instruct their representatives, — "tax us on, — tax us on, because by taxation you can drive us into unexampled prosperity?" [Laughter.] Fellow citizens, it is a fallacy. Divest the human mind of prejudice, and it will detect the fallacy at once. It is not a system of blessings at all; and if your government required no revenue, no congress would be permitted to lay taxes to tax you into prosperity. This is all the benefit, — a11 the honest part of the invention, — that by a just regard to the different interests of the country, by an honest exertion of the taxing power, you may relieve burthens on the community. Tax lightly the necessaries of life, and you relieve taxation on the poor and laboring classes. Tax heavily the luxuries, and you reach property that should bear the heaviest portion of taxation. Where your interests conflict with foreign interests, bear taxation on the foreign article as hard as it will bear, consistently with revenue. You fill the treasury and relieve taxation from another source. What I pay more for my coat or cotton wear I do not pay on anything else, — whilst I aid an important interest. But the moment you depart from that principle, and consider any system of taxation a blessing, I have shown you by the history of the old governments of this world, where the mistake must lead.
————————————
DR. EDWIN JAMES,
born in Weybridge, August 29, 1797; graduated at Middlebury College in 1816; studied medicine in Albany, N. Y., 3 years, — botany with Prof. Torrey; geology with Prof. Eaton;— was attached to Major Long's exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains 3 years, — 2 years compiling and publishing the journal of said expedition; — 6 years surgeon and Indian agent at the extreme outpost of the U. S. Government; 2 years editor of the Temperance Herald and Journal, Albany, N. Y. From 1834 to '40 returned to the Indian agency, since which he has been a farmer in Burlington, Iowa, acting also as an Indian agent and surveyor. He has published 9 different works, 5 of them in the Ojibewa language, among which it a translation of the whole Bible. — Middlebury Triennial Catalogue.
————————————
DR. JAMES'S LETTER.
BURLINGTON, IOWA, Nov. 19, 1859.
. . . YOURS of 8th inst., coming from Weybridge, is thankfully acknowledged as an authentic invitation from that town to one of her sons
—————
* On the back of the letter is penciled by Mr. Van Buren, — "Expecting the Major with the Texas letter."
114 VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
half a century absent, to send back friendly greetings, and recall some memories of the past. My native State has always had a large share of my regards, and as fears and forebodings for the South and West, at times came over me, I have looked back to her peaceful hills for a home, should a just retribution overtake us. The Vermonters are in all countries, South and West, and are mostly men one is glad to see, and proud to take by the hand, as fellow-countrymen. Martin Scott, of Bennington, found, in the wilds of the West, many sons of his boasted native State, worthy the grasp of his strong, friendly hand, — few nobler than himself. All are not like him. Here and there a "pious Jones is dealing faro at Chicago."
Weybridge may remember, —
"E. T. J., that pious man
Who built his house with brick,
Who got his cash, and all his trash
By selling Otter Creek."
At least the muse of Weybridge said so. Then, if dear old Vermont, who is the mother of us all, sends her inquiring glance beyond that dubious cluster of her little ones in Chicago, she will see more, but not such, handling iron, managing railroads, building towns, and doing other needful work; least, but not last, one raising cattle and clover, and writing autobiography on this sheet, enough of it, at least, to tell his Weybridge friends of his vigor, and almost life-long virtue, as he deems it, of total abstinence from all intoxicating drink, — tea, coffee, tobacco, and bolted wheat flour, and who here turns aside to ask them in all these things to do likewise.
Weybridge gave me birth, too, and of her, I am now, by your indulgence, to speak. Some of her people may remember the cold Friday, when George III. was king. Would they like to know how Silas Wright, Jr., rubbed your correspondent's frozen face with snow, on the evening of that memorable day? how that face felt to its owner's hands something like a basket of chips, when Silas, turning suddenly in the straight path he loved to make through the snow, called attention to it, by exclaiming, — "Why, Ed., your face is freezing!" They will not remember, for they did not see, unless Josh. or Horace Dickinson is there, those mathematical straight lines he used to make for the "Weybridgeoons," as the autocrats in town used to call the idle squad, of whom Silas was file leader. They did not see them skulking across fields, swamps, and on the ice of the creek, — straight as a new sill, straight as the Czar's railroad, or a line across the page of Virgil. The capital letter at the head of the line, at least, after every new snow or high wind, was always the same, Silas. The places of the Glaucon, and Medon, and Thersilochon, were filled by the two D.s, and John Brow', No. — John Brown, they say, was born at Litchfield, or some obscure place in Connecticut. I think differently. The Browns of Tow Head and Cobble Hill got all their learning at the district school kept for so many years, and with so much success, by the true-hearted Jacob Lindsley, their catechism from their parents at home, their homilies and theology from Rev. Samuel Haines and Jedediah Bushnell; and they too were makers of straight paths. Didn't Mr. Higgginson find Mrs. Brown and the children that are left, in the Schroon Mountains, just back of Weybridge, or in just such another place? We may not consent to have it said he was born elsewhere, because Weybridge, though she has the statue of one upright man and true Democrat, is not rich in historic names. We know that John Brown was both fool and crazy, for all the newspapers tell us so. The "OLD FOOL," as they are fond of calling him, no doubt said in his heart, There is a God. Will he be crazy enough to mount a Virginia scaffold a few days hence in testimony of his belief of some such glittering generality as that all men have by nature certain inalienable rights, &c.? Still, if he is ours, let us acknowledge him. Virginia keeps, they say, some of his blood and nuggets of his flesh upon the walls of her armory. Let them keep that stained wall untouched, undefiled; such blood is not too plenty there. The blood of her presidents and her F. F. V's, must receive many a dilution, many a washing from "Afric's sunny fountains" before it can shine like that. Let them keep it, and when their terror is a little abated, — when the bloody shroud of Brown shall lie beneath their soil, germinating a harvest richer than that of Mt. Vernon, let them send some youthful prophet into that room to read the "mene mene tekel," there written in letters outshining the sun, but which their mightiest and wiseest cannot see now. But if John Brown was born in Weybridge, let us all remember it.
I would like to speak of a few of the truths revealed in our time, a few of the lessons of practical wisdom inferred from contrasting the condition of barbarous and savage tribes with that of, civilized men, — the obligations of stronger races when placed in contact with weaker, — and many other things, would time and space permit.
Yours , very respectfully,
EDWIN JAMES
P. S. I mail a chapter of gossip too long by half, I fear, for the use you indicate. Use the pruning knife without fear, favor, or affection, to the exclusion of old Brown, if you must, whose historical status I know is not yet in the popular mind delineated. Be my Magnus Apollo, tutor, reporter, — anything to make me acceptable in the Addison Quarterly, and send me the number.
E. J.
WEYBRIDGE. 115
TRUST IN GOD.
BY REFINE WEEKS,
a citizen of Weybridge, who died some years since. He published, in 1820, a 12mo. vol. of 308 pp. entitled, "Poems on Religious and Historical Subjects." He was a native of Oyster Bay, L. I.
SHOULD famine grimly stare thee in the face,
Lo! there is granted all-sufficient grace;
Though thou the terrors of the grave might see,
Just as the day is, so thy strength will be.
Although the trees no more to bloom incline,
Nor fruit appear, that long adorned the vine,—
The olive fail her labor sweet to yield,
And herbage cease from garden and from field, —
The fleecy flocks all vanish from the fold,
Nor field nor stall a living creature hold, —
Yet those who in Messiah trust alone,
Who build on Truth, the sure foundation-stone,
Shall raise with joy a sweet triumphant voice,
And in their great salvation's God rejoice.
————————————
THE PLEASURES OF ASSOCIATION.
BY GILBERT COOK LANE,
who was born at Weybridge, May 18, 1828, but resided most of his life at Cornwall, where he died of consumption, Nov. 10, 1858. He was a graduate of Middlebury College, and afterwards tutor of his Alma Mater. Till within four days of his death, he was engaged on "A Commentary upon the Greek History of Herodotus," for a textbook for the college. His brief life was practical, earnest, and richly adorned with consistent piety.
WHEN he, who, wandering from his native glade,
In distant climes, o'er seas and realms has strayed;
Enriched his mind with images that rise
'Neath tropic suns, or Oriental skies;
Traced her lone way 'mid Alpine heights sublime,
And mused with monuments of ancient time;
Perceived new beauties on each winding shore,
And filled his soul with ocean's awful roar, —
Returns once more, to spend life's evening gray,
Where first had dawned the morning of his day,—
Then rise what new emotions in his heart,
And raptures which no foreign scene could start!
Then, as he mounts the last green hillock's side,
That overlooks the hamlet of his pride,
And first, since long, long years, that scene he views,
Soft tinged in recollection's fondest hues,—
How pleased he lingers, while his eye doth roam
O'er the fair spot he calls his boyhood's home!
Yon cottage, sleeping in the quiet shade,
By arching elms in autumn foliage made; —
There erst his pilgrimage of life begun,
There, smoothly childhood's crystal current run.
The grassy lawn, the woodbine o'er the door,
Where oft he watched the hum-bird's flight of yore,
Scarce changed, he fancies, since when last he heard,
Beneath that vine, his mother's parting word,
And felt the farewell kiss of those most loved,—
These wake a chord, that scarce since then had moved.
Yon hillside turned the noontide ray to meet,
Where he had learned Spring's earliest steps to greet;
Where, basking in the warmest beams of May,
He loved to trace the mimic flock at play;—
The wooded glen, beneath whose tangled shade
He culled wild flowers, and watched the rude cascade,
Where many a winding pathway knew his tread,
And thick in woven boughs waved o'er his head; —
Yon sacred house of prayer, where early trained,
From noisy mirth and idle word restrained,
His footsteps learned each Sabbath morn to stray,
And his young heart to find the heavenly way.
Such scenes he views, and as declining Day
Sheds his last beams o'er all, then sinks away;
He feels that here, beneath his native sky,
'Twere sweet to live, and 'twould be sweet to die.
And in yon churchyard, where his fathers sleep,
There he would rest, that friends might o'er him weep.
Oh! never may be mine the heart that feels
No thrill of joy at memory's fond appeals!
Nor mine the eye that views unmoved those dyes
That tinge the dawning of life's eastern skies!
For I do love to linger round each place,
Where childhood's fleeting footsteps I may trace;
There cherish fond remembrance of the past,
Of sunny days that were too bright to last.
These scenes the mind's historic leaves unroll,
And wake the finer chords that thrill the soul.
—————————————
DON'T TELL ME OF TO-MORROW.
BY MRS. HATTIE CHILD COLBY,
(native of Weybridge, resident at Stansteed, C. E.)
DON'T tell me of to-morrow, while memories of the past,
Arrayed in all their loveliness, are gathering round me fast;
Are thronging till the heart is full of thankfulness and love,
To think of all the countless gifts showered by the hand above.
Oh, speak not of the morrow, when the present moments yield
For duty, and for blessing, such a broad, extended field;
When each passing hour is teeming with its wealth of peace and joy,
Shall we dare to paint the coming day with less of earth's alloy?
Don't tell me of to-morrow, — its brilliant hues may fade;
The brightest, dearest, loftiest hopes are oft the lowest laid;
But let us live and labor, the list of good to swell,
That each successive morrow may crown our efforts well.
————————————