按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
one of the handsomest old dwellings in the town； and promises to outlive
many of its newest neighbors。 The parlor has undergone no change
28
… Page 29…
An Old Town By The Sea
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the walls has not been replaced by other hangings。 In the halldeep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。
29
… Page 30…
An Old Town By The Sea
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
30
… Page 31…
An Old Town By The Sea
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
31
… Page 32…
An Old Town By The Sea
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 was
perhaps demanding too much； for it was not until 〃May ye7〃 of the
following year that the selectmen were fortunate enough to put their finger
on this rara avis in the person of Mr。 Tho。 Phippes； who agreed 〃to be
scollmaster for the the towen this yr insewing for teaching the inhabitants
children in such manner as other schollmasters yously doe throughout the
countrie： for his soe doinge we the sellectt men in behalfe of ower towen
doe ingage to pay him by way of rate twenty pounds and yt he shall and
may reserve from every father or master that sends theyer children to
school this yeare after ye rate of 16s。 for readers； writers and cypherers
20s。； Lattiners 24s。〃
Modern advocates of phonetic spelling need not plume themselves on
their originality。 The town clerk who wrote that delicious 〃yously doe〃
settles the question。 It is to be hoped that Mr。 Tho。 Phippes was not only
〃not visious in conversation；〃 but was more conventional in his
orthography。 He evidently gave satisfaction； and clearly exerted