an old town by the sea-第7节
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is a mansion on a grand scale； and with a grand air。 The cellar was arranged for the stabling of a troop of thirty horse in times of danger。 The council…chamber； where for many years all questions of vital importance to the State were discussed； is a spacious； high…studded room； finished in the richest style of the last century。 It is said that the ornamentation of the huge mantel； carved with knife and chisel； cost the workman a year's constant labor。 At the entrance to the council…chamber are still the racks for the twelve muskets of the governor's guardso long ago dismissed！
Some valuable family portraits adorn the walls here； among which is a fine painting…yes； by our friend Copleyof the lovely Dorothy Quincy； who married John Hancock； and afterward became Madam Scott。 This lady was a niece of Dr。 Holme's 〃Dorothy Q。〃 Opening on the council…chamber is a large billiard…room； the billiard…table is gone； but an ancient spinnet； with the prim air of an ancient maiden lady； and of a wheezy voice； is there； and in one corner stands a claw…footed buffet； near which the imaginative nostril may still detect a faint and tantalizing odor of colonial punch。 Opening also on the council…chamber are several tiny apartments； empty and silent now； in which many a close rubber has been played by illustrious hands。 The stillness and loneliness of the old house seem saddest here。 The jeweled fingers are dust； the merry laughs have turned themselves into silent； sorrowful phantoms； stealing from chamber to chamber。 It is easy to believe in the traditional ghost that haunts the place
〃A jolly place in times of old； But something ails it now！〃
The mansion at Little Harbor is not the only historic house that bears the name of Wentworth。 On Pleasant Street； at the head of Washington Street； stands the abode of another colonial worthy； Governor John Wentworth； who held office from 1767 down to the moment when the colonies dropped the British yoke as if it had been the letter H。 For the moment the good gentleman's occupation was gone。 He was a royalist of the most florid complexion。 In 1775； a man named John Fenton； and ex…captain in the British army； who had managed to offend the Sons of Liberty； was given sanctuary in this house by the governor； who refused to deliver the fugitive to the people。 The mob planted a small cannon （unloaded） in front of the doorstep and threatened to open fire if Fenton were not forthcoming。 He forth…with came。 The family vacated the premises via the back…yard； and the mob entered； doing considerable damage。 The broken marble chimney…place still remains； mutely protesting against the uncalled…for violence。 Shortly after this event the governor made his way to England； where his loyalty was rewarded first with a governorship and then with a pension of L500。 He was governor of Nova Scotia from 1792 to 1800； and died in Halifax in 1820。 This house is one of the handsomest old dwellings in the town； and promises to outlive many of its newest neighbors。 The parlor has undergone no change whatever since the populace rushed into it over a century ago。 The furniture and adornments occupy their original positions and the plush on the walls has not been replaced by other hangings。 In the halldeep enough for the traditional duel of baronial romanceare full…length portraits of the several governors and sundry of their kinsfolk。
There is yet a third Wentworth house； also decorated with the shade of a colonial governorthere were three Governors Wentworthbut we shall pass it by； though out of no lack of respect for that high official personage whose commission was signed by Joseph Addison； Esq。； Secretary of State under George I。
V。 OLD STRAWBERRY BANK
THESE old houses have perhaps detained us too long。 They are merely the crumbling shells of things dead and gone； of persons and manners and customs that have left no very distinct record of themselves； excepting here and there in some sallow manuscript which has luckily escaped the withering breath of fire； for the old town； as I have remarked； has managed； from the earliest moment of its existence； to burn itself up periodically。 It is only through the scattered memoranda of ancient town clerks； and in the files of worm…eaten and forgotten newspapers； that we are enabled to get glimpses of that life which was once so real and positive and has now become a shadow。 I am of course speaking of the early days of the settlement on Strawberry Bank。 They were stormy and eventful days。 The dense forest which surrounded the clearing was alive with hostile red…men。 The sturdy pilgrim went to sleep with his firelock at his bedside； not knowing at what moment he might be awakened by the glare of his burning hayricks and the piercing war…whoops of the Womponoags。 Year after year he saw his harvest reaped by a sickle of flames； as he peered through the loop…holes of the blockhouse； whither he had flown in hot haste with goodwife and little ones。 The blockhouse at Strawberry Bank appears to have been on an extensive scale； with stockades for the shelter of cattle。 It held large supplies of stores； and was amply furnished with arquebuses； sakers； and murtherers； a species of naval ordnance which probably did not belie its name。 It also boasted； we are told； of two drums for training…days； and no fewer than fifteen hautboys and soft…voiced recordersall which suggests a mediaeval castle； or a grim fortress in the time of Queen Elizabeth。 To the younger members of the community glass or crockery ware was an unknown substance； to the elders it was a memory。 An iron pot was the pot…of…all…work； and their table utensils were of beaten pewter。 The diet was also of the simplestpea…porridge and corn…cake； with a mug of ale or a flagon of Spanish wine； when they could get it。
John Mason； who never resided in this country； but delegated the management of his plantation at Ricataqua and Newichewannock to stewards； died before realizing any appreciable return from his enterprise。 He spared no endeavor meanwhile to further its prosperity。 In 1632； three years before his death； Mason sent over from Denmark a number of neat cattle； 〃of a large breed and yellow colour。〃 The herd thrived； and it is said that some of the stock is still extant on farms in the vicinity of Portsmouth。 Those old first families had a kind of staying quality！
In May； 1653； the inhabitants of the settlement petitioned the General Court at Boston to grant them a definite townshipfor the boundaries were doubtfuland the right to give it a proper name。 〃Whereas the name of this plantation att present being Strabery Banke； accidentlly soe called； by reason of a banke where strawberries was found in this place； now we humbly desire to have it called Portsmouth； being a name most suitable for this place； it being the river's mouth； and good as any in this land； and your petit'rs shall humbly pray；〃 etc。
Throughout that formative period； and during the intermittent French wars； Portsmouth and the outlying districts were the scenes of bloody Indian massacres。 No portion of the New England colony suffered more。 Famine； fire； pestilence； and war； each in turn； and sometimes in conjunction； beleaguered the little stronghold； and threatened to wipe it out。 But that was not to be。
The settlement flourished and increased in spite of all； and as soon as it had leisure to draw breath； it bethought itself of the school…house and the jailtwo incontestable signs of budding civilization。 At a town meeting in 1662； it was ordered 〃that a cage be made or some other meanes invented by the selectmen to punish such as sleepe or take tobacco on the Lord's day out of the meetinge in the time of publique service。〃 This salutary measure was not； for some reason； carried into effect until nine years later； when Captain John Pickering； who seems to have had as many professions as Michelangelo； undertook to construct a cage twelve feet square and seven feet high； with a pillory on top； 〃the said Pickering to make a good strong dore and make a substantiale payre of stocks and places the same in said cage。〃 A spot conveniently near the west end on the meeting…house was selected as the site for this ingenious device。 It is more than probable that 〃the said Pickering〃 indirectly furnished an occasional bird for his cage； for in 1672 we find him and one Edward Westwere authorized by the selectmen to 〃keepe houses of publique entertainment。〃 He was a versatile individual； this John Pickeringsoldier； miller； moderator； carpenter； lawyer； and innkeeper。 Michelangelo need not blush to be bracketed with him。 In the course of a long and variegated career he never failed to act according to his lights； which he always kept well trimmed。 That Captain Pickering subsequently became the grandfather； at several removes； of the present writer was no fault of the Captain's； and should not be laid up against him。
Down to 1696； the education of the young appears to have been a rather desultory and tentative matter； 〃the young idea〃 seems to have been allowed to 〃shoot〃 at whatever it wanted to； but in that year it was voted 〃that care be taken that an abell scollmaster ＇skullmaster！＇ be provided for the towen as the law directs； not visious in conversation。〃 That
