PS 3505 .0485 08 1914 Copy 1 OUR OWN— Among the Hills These treasured series of facts, from the author's actual life, are intended to suggest the varying trinity of real or abstract incidents which invade the real of one's own existence — corresponding, in symbolism or experience, with VOCATION, OUR OWN, MEMORY. IT IS DAY— the first of the third month Con- chubor comes from a potential state into new life. The truths and secrets of ocean, earth, firmament give constant interest; creat- ures of water, wood, air, much pleasure; sunshine, rain, snow, equal value and delight — for, what in Nature is not good? At times he climbs the mountains, hunts the forests, fishes the streams — takes from the storms their energy and reads tidings in the heights. n& a I AMONG THE BY CONCHUBOR Author of "Old Man Thompson"; " ONY" — of The Mountains; Our House of Jack; The White Doe "Col- leen Bawn"; Abenaki Indian Legend — on Fact and in fate. Also the man who discovered the Celtic Snow Cross on Mount Washing- ton, White P OWN Our analysis begins amid the rural glory of a charming town in eastern Massachu- setts; at a homestead, once the historic Abenaki Inn, Ponkaboag. The place nes- tles at the western base of the Blue Hills — a modest introduction to the exiled White Mountains. As sunrise kisses frosty, beau- tiful summits, in March, 1913, a shadow is cast over the home; symbolizing the death which robed a House in sorrow — Our Sorrow. At the other side of the picturesque bar- rier, on the nearest peak of which rests the "Bay State's" artistic weather Obser- vatory, is the classic city of Boston, with its population of 670,585. Here figure links struggle and retirement of a former, as the ' welcomed" peace of the Canton cemetery now offers the lesson and inspiration of another day — Our day. At the age of eighty-eight, weighing two hundred ten pounds, a venerable owner reaches the border-land of his silent lot — which he was wont to call "my farm' ' — with faculties and senses true. Now grave- stones are alters erected to the worship of decay, so look to fairer features. That rt- p p-B 1/1 p£- cr S 3 re 4 re ^. P -. cr O re co re p ,_, B-cr-re 2- £* bJ^S t» - 2 K P o- ^ ™ "■ p b* b ^3 "• ^o b rt cr £ s 5 p :~-^p p * C o cr jt» re rt 3 " w $ p* £ ~ * -b £-o o o 2 -2 ^ C. £* C £ 7Q - C " o » Hoi " cs ^ r™ crq p» 2 5'<*H re •-" ^ ,-» 3 w y P.T3 p £. cv to 2. < cr Tl '-t p- 3 P 3 _^ B M ^*" 2.W-- to B I P- o p p re h 2 £h 5' re 3* T5 4 » = 2 £- • re p i B n r c a &■ ^ B* p p 6 5 « B rt h S cr re re o >> SSsss t- B ""^ B — p"Ji rt p p » " s 2 3 ; rt £■ re s. re re 5" 2 £ CuILhB re P-O "^ P- 2" Jo b b- o o^ re B tr B m.*c! re B B ~ P co B C P>_ O B B O B <->- re "■ p. 2. 5" ° ►-■ >-i B B 2. S*° re 2" ti. B 2. » ^< p PV! ""* e " B Q, rr B cr 2 b [0 < re ft B V, dof 1 l Indi ered Peno re ^ p B CO o izl ight, o ans of some f bscot, cr o > -S^K ^. p re < o B K 7Q t> £SwB -r a H "■ £ p B P 2. B 3Q pj » ctt3 : & re <* - • s » to tr-. here ire, ine, p r 1 "*" 2 ~ _H ■ p* p :y- re p' C" »^ o > o • p' p p p* B O n ° C O < - h-H Our Own — Among the Hills [Folio 7 he never met a man, read an article, or saw a face in his life but what he remem- bered, was often tested — even strikingly verified during his fatal illness. This evid- ence of remarkable memory has an inter- esting associate point of view, when one learns that practically all his engaged duties were in a single position — with cousins of a living Ex-President of the United States. His gracious, but responsible service, brought him in personal contact with most every noted — native and foreign — public character of the past generation. The at- tractive detail he cited, for friendly enter- tainment, may be imagined. There is, however, transmitions of a different kind, wherein universal heritage gives the best of each for all the present world — Our World. The typical exper- ience of original men and women is pic- tured in his courage. He was a pioneer — the first of his line to come to this country.* The chapters of success, affection and gra- titude are portrayed in the poetic reflections * He left Ireland the day Daniel O'Connell died — iu whose company he was five different times. Folio 8] Our Own — Among the Hills and force of the stanzas, written on the deck of the steamship Samaria, November 26th, 1872, as he was about to sail, a second time, for "home'' — Cork, Ireland. TO MOTHER, FRIENDS AND IRELAND. Meet we again for one more friendly greeting, Shake we each other once more by the hand; Quickly to quickly the moments will be fleeting, When broken and shattered must soon be our band. Friends I shall meet there, whose friendship shall never Cease 'till the current of life flows no more. Seas may divide us, but never shall sever, Hearts that beat true to our dear Erin's shore. TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Foudlv I think of the place I am leaving, Boldly I seek what the future may give, Knowing and strength I have here been receiving. God grant us all that we know how to live. Onward we march then, with shoulder to shoulder, And bravely to meet what life has in store; With blood flowing quicker, and hearts beating bolder, As we remember Our Own— dear Erin's shore. Our Own — Among the Hii^s [Folio 9 This intermingling of faith, patriotism, friendship, pleasure and gloom we pass, for a profitable estimate of manhood, ser- vice and time — Our Time. Wandering still, throngh years and wis- dom, we come to age recognized, not so much in the length of years as their reason- ableness and just proportion, which gives it proper interpretation. Here we exper- ience sadness and cheer. The former we mourn as a race, and, as a people, are now invited to the latter by our friend. Strol- ling leisurely along we notice that he lives, not tells his story — Our Story. The un- folding teaches us to seek the relation of things, for it compensates for the loss of youthful gifts and blessings. We find him in touch with the vital state of affairs by not neglecting essential detail. He makes lone- some, yet traditionally beautiful, annual calls on families near in blood. Such oc- casions meant ' sweet" things for the children; while each marriage inspired a special visit, and its more substantial present in gold — always of equal amount. Folio 10] Our Own — Among the Hills Do standards and ideals appear? Yes! which, like the colored glass in the little mountain chapel, Our Lady of the Snows, vary in simple charm but change not with the light of succeeding days. They shine in fundamental detatchment, yet produce an harmonious whole- Neither do they darken the hours or ambition, where good things exist. Rather offer instinctive in- fluence, and allow a clearer view of safer ground beyond. If anything mars this field we should understand, for, there is fault of judgment. Nevertheless, who knows but what we survey a better land from our doubtful summit. At least we have a finer vision, because we have made our own as- cent. At this uncertain height our com- panion is near. He points to the broader horison, in a way which gives encourage- ment. Since, in seeking much there is a tendency to concentrate on future endeavor and achievement; particulars of delight — Our Delight. As the grand old guide bids a descent we turn from the bewildering vastness of the past, and find that he has taken the trail to the present. Our Own — Among the Hii^ls [Folio 11 In the feeling of fading aloftness we are informed that what we have left is one with the path travelled, and the future. If a complex mental state follows this revelation, he assures you that advanced age shall convince you of the transitoriness of humanity. In example we are taught, that the greatest conscious interest is the indivi- dual part we have to perform. Our real world is that of immediate opin- ion and environment; made so by the re- vealed connection of all forms of manifest life — Our Life. Success is in proportion to the adjustment of our own to that of the majority, of the one; its perpetuity, to the largest taking, from the other, of nature's secrets. We are convinced that it is a personal mat- ter. He directs us to a knowledge of hum- an beings and the external world — Our World. There scene and science enlight- en as to the closeness of the inter-related scheme of Nature. Then, as the grey of eve' n steals o'er our little Hills, the noble old man takes an everlasting farewell. So we are consigned to the guardianship of all men — akin to Our Own. Folio 12] Our Own— Among the Hills zA cTVIEMORY In the realm of dreamland the mystic awak- ening of personality exists in a transitory miracle of glorious nothingness, with its sad or happy oblivion. In the functional activ- ity of normal human life and sense there is a will, which gives it a real quality. But how agreeably unlike the active and passive states of a common being. Tee phenomenon of creation in one is unknowu, unfanthomable; in the other the conscious, voluntary domin- ation of a wonderful faculty governs the mys- tery of introspection to the extent of allowing the double pleasure of choice recollection. So today, inspired by numerous forms in the trees near my home, I recall, through this second, the first visit of these "birds of pass- age" — or better, passing good — and a few of the native kind, whom a reasonable public gratefully remember for practically effecting * The author wrote this for The Manchester ' >7. H.) Union, in which it appeared, Feb. 18th, 190R. The comment of the editor at that time is insert- ed simply to complete the fact's detail. It was as follows : "As an example of pure English, and as a gem in the art of graphic composition, The Obser- vant Citizen submits a communication recently re- ceived, which deals with a subject of interest to Manchester people. The editor of this column has not expunged a word, fearing to lose the clearness of style which permeates the letter. Space is gladly afforded for the communication in order that readers of the eolumn may absorb a better style for their • i! tnnnications in the future. Our Own — Amomg the Htlls [Folio 13 nature's balance in the local attack of spread- ing, expensive, troublesome brown-tail moth pest—ably assisted by the gypsy species— which was accidentally (?) ousted on an innocent people, from a Massachusetts professor's im- ported collection of insects, some six or seven years ago. The negative benefit may be imaginatively estimated in the preservation of beauty's nat- ural life, and correlative human comfort and happiness. Circumstances causes a person to reflect on the mystery of insect mind, which may hold to ours the same relation as finite does to infi- nite intellect. Take the inanimate order of things. I pick a beautiful bouquet to present a dear friend, or better, to brighten and scent the sick-room. The flowers should not ask the reason. They have no right to seal their destiny. So in life's estates; to be, or not to be, are justly beyond the prerogatives of individual control. But away with abstract thoughts, and let me again enjoy the incidents which made singularly happy a term of time on May 2, 1907, p. m. Welcome the facts and humor which con- cern the problems of a "gang" of eight climb- ers, "bug men;" an incident of recreation, wherein wholesome initiative and good will gave that ideal condition — mutual fellowship of democratic equality. Seated on the long Folio 14] Our Own — Among the Hu.ivS terraced wooden steps, built from the river road to the Boston and Maine railroad tracks, for the accommodation of the foot passengers, and which are situated about forty yards above the old covered wooden bridge at Amoskeag falls, I was living in the present and past de- lights of fascinating, poetic environment. Presently my attention was attracted by voices from the branches of the two largest of the half dozen trees, which, with the combi- nation hand-car and tool-house so familiarly associated with the section-hand help of the steam railroad system, occupy the triangular space formed by river bank and track bed. It proved to be an advance guard of two, ad- dressing — from the highway — their compa- nions, who were just emerging from the east side of the above mentioned structure. Then, possibly for my edification, certainly my plea- sure, came an amount of comical observations. Revelling thus in the pastime of "bugtalk" they all came, finally, in the satisfactory order of coercive choice, to the treefartherest north; overhanging the bank and the dirty, treach- erous spring flood of the Merrimack. Those carrying the extension ladder, needed in the work, slowly lowered it to the ground and leis- urely seated themselves at either end of the now comfortable height. In assembled criti- cal enjoyment the crowd watched a character nicknamed who was situated in an Our Own — Among the Hills [Folio 15 easy crotch of this tree. He glanced signifi- cantly at his fellow workmen, as the hook- shaped knife end of his sixteen-foot pole accu- rately fell on the branch which held the last brown tail moth's nest of this clump. The impervious cobweb affair, two by two inches in size and containing, I suppose, the average 600 eggs, fell — when the levers, with handle at the lower of the pole, were operated, and the blade end did its regular work. The nest had barely struck the water, to soon dis- appear like a melting snowflake in the mad current, when the serious, commanding ap- peal came : "Will somebody please rescue those moths before they drown?" D. P. C. A TEACHER'S LETTER "If may interest you to know that my Eng- lish Class memorized and explained, to the best of their several abilities, the little para- graph condensing and revealing many truths, pleasures and benefits of all creation: 'For what in Nature is not good?' " THE AUTHOR'S ANSWER "If teachers everywhere would take the ques- tion's negative infinity and develop its positive value, as you have beautifully done and the fact be aided by a system to promote its end indefinitely, the world would become, in time, a paradise of enlightment, peace, plenty, ins- tead of a prison of truth. From one viewpoint you have sensed the soul, not aloneof the story, but science — which is the wisdom of Nature in its infancy." ■ J'y v.. ■ '/■■■ v ^ W CHARLES VAUGHAN, OUR OWN "UNCLE CHARLES" 1825—1913 The first of his genealogical line to come to the United States. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IIIllliillliliiliillllL 018 602 716 4