lehouse,whereshespunlinenforthetownsfolk,makingtheWaldenWoodsringwithhershrillsinging,forshehadaloudandnotablevoice.Atlength,inthewarof1812,herdwellingwassetonfirebyEnglishsoldiers,prisonersonparole,whenshewasaway,andhercatanddogandhenswereallburneduptogether.Sheledahardlife,andsomewhatinhumane.Oneoldfrequenterofthesewoodsremembers,thatashepassedherhouseonenoonheheardhermutteringtoherselfoverhergurglingpot,—“Yeareallbones,bones!”Ihaveseenbricksamidtheoakcopsethere.
Downtheroad,ontherighthand,onBrister’sHill,livedBristerFreeman,“ahandyNegro,”slaveofSquireCummingsonce,—therewheregrowstilltheapple-treeswhichBristerplantedandtendedlargeoldtreesnow,buttheirfruitstillwildandciderishtomytaste.NotlongsinceIreadhisepitaphintheoldLincolnburying-ground,alittleononeside,neartheunmarkedgravesofsomeBritishgrenadierswhofellintheretreatfromConcord,—whereheisstyled“SippioBrister,”—ScipioAfricanushehadsometitletobecalled,—“amanofcolor,”asifhewerediscolored.Italsotoldme,withstaringemphasis,whenhediedwhichwasbutanindirectwayofinformingmethatheeverlived.WithhimdweltFenda,hishospitablewife,whotoldfortunes,yetpleasantly,—large,round,andblack,blackerthananyofthechildrenofnight,suchaduskyorbasneverroseonConcordbeforeorsince.
Fartherdownthehill,ontheleft,ontheoldroadinthewoods,aremarksofsomehomesteadoftheStrattonfamilywhoseorchardoncecoveredalltheslopeofBrister’sHill,butwaslongsincekilledoutbypitchpines,exceptingafewstumps,whoseoldrootsfurnishstillthewildstocksofmanyathriftyvillagetree.
Neareryettotown,youcometoBreed’slocation,ontheothersideoftheway,justontheedgeofthewoodgroundfamousforthepranksofademonnotdistinctlynamedinoldmythology,whohasactedaprominentandastoundingpartinourNewEnglandlife,anddeserves,asmuchasanymythologicalcharacter,tohavehisbiographywrittenonedaywhofirstcomesintheguiseofafriendorhiredman,andthenrobsandmurdersthewholefamily,—New-EnglandRum.Buthistorymustnotyettellthetragediesenactedherelettimeinterveneinsomemeasuretoassuageandlendanazuretinttothem.Herethemostindistinctanddubioustraditionsaysthatonceatavernstoodthewellthesame,whichtemperedthetraveller’sbeverageandrefreshedhissteed.Herethenmensalut