ngerstowit,asIndiansaretopowder.”
ItchancedthatIwalkedthatwayacrossthefieldsthefollowingnight,aboutthesamehour,andhearingalowmoaningatthisspot,Idrewnearinthedark,anddiscoveredtheonlysurvivorofthefamilythatIknow,theheirofbothitsvirtuesanditsvices,whoalonewasinterestedinthisburning,lyingonhisstomachandlookingoverthecellarwallatthestillsmoulderingcindersbeneath,mutteringtohimself,asishiswont.Hehadbeenworkingfaroffintherivermeadowsallday,andhadimprovedthefirstmomentsthathecouldcallhisowntovisitthehomeofhisfathersandhisyouth.Hegazedintothecellarfromallsidesandpointsofviewbyturns,alwayslyingdowntoit,asiftherewassometreasure,whichheremembered,concealedbetweenthestones,wheretherewasabsolutelynothingbutaheapofbricksandashes.Thehousebeinggone,helookedatwhattherewasleft.Hewassoothedbythesympathywhichmymerepresenceimplied,andshowedme,aswellasthedarknesspermitted,wherethewellwascoveredupwhich,thankHeaven,couldneverbeburnedandhegropedlongaboutthewalltofindthewell-sweepwhichhisfatherhadcutandmounted,feelingfortheironhookorstaplebywhichaburdenhadbeenfastenedtotheheavyend,—allthathecouldnowclingto,—toconvincemethatitwasnocommon“rider.”Ifeltit,andstillremarkitalmostdailyinmywalks,forbyithangsthehistoryofafamily.
Oncemore,ontheleft,whereareseenthewellandlilacbushesbythewall,inthenowopenfield,livedNuttingandLeGrosse.ButtoreturntowardLincoln.
Fartherinthewoodsthananyofthese,wheretheroadapproachesnearesttothepond,Wymanthepottersquatted,andfurnishedhistownsmenwithearthenware,andleftdescendantstosucceedhim.Neitherweretheyrichinworldlygoods,holdingthelandbysufferancewhiletheylivedandthereoftenthesheriffcameinvaintocollectthetaxes,and“attachedachip,”forform’ssake,asIhavereadinhisaccounts,therebeingnothingelsethathecouldlayhishandson.Onedayinmidsummer,whenIwashoeing,amanwhowascarryingaloadofpotterytomarketstoppedhishorseagainstmyfieldandinquiredconcerningWymantheyounger.Hehadlongagoboughtapotter’swheelofhim,andwishedtoknowwhathadbecomeofhim.Ihadreadofthepotter’sclayandwheelinScripture,butithadneveroccurredtomethatthepotsweusewerenotsuchashadcomedownunbrokenfromthosedays,orgrownontreeslikegourdssomewhere,andIwasplease