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beside ploughs and calico prints； barrels of flour； of molasses and rum；
all of which had been somehow marvellously transported over the passes of
those forbidding mountains；passes we blithely thread to…day in dining
cars and compartment sleepers。 Behind the store were moored the barges
that floated down on the swift current to the Ohio； carrying goods to
even remoter settlements in the western wilderness。
Benjamin； in addition to his emigrant's leather box； brought with him
some of that pigment that was to dye the locality for generations a deep
blue。 I refer； of course； to his Presbyterianism。 And in order the
better to ensure to his progeny the fastness of this dye； he married the
granddaughter of a famous divine； celebrated in the annals of New
England；no doubt with some injustice；as a staunch advocate on the
doctrine of infant damnation。 My cousin Robert Breck had old Benjamin's
portrait； which has since gone to the Kinley's。 Heaven knows who painted
it； though no great art were needed to suggest on canvas the tough fabric
of that sitter； who was more Irish than Scotch。 The heavy stick he holds
might； with a slight stretch of the imagination； be a blackthorn； his
head looks capable of withstanding many blows； his hand of giving many。
And； as I gazed the other day at this picture hanging in the shabby
suburban parlour； I could only contrast him with his anaemic descendants
who possessed the likeness。 Between the children of poor Mary Kinley；
Cousin Robert's daughter； and the hardy stock of the old country there is
a gap indeed！
Benjamin Breck made the foundation of a fortune。 It was his son who
built on the Second Bank the wide； corniced mansion in which to house
comfortably his eight children。 There； two tiers above the river； lived
my paternal grandfather； Dr。 Paret； the Breck's physician and friend； the
Durretts and the Hambletons； iron…masters； the Hollisters； Sherwins； the
McAlerys and Ewanses；Breck connections；the Willetts and Ogilvys； in
short； everyone of importance in the days between the 'thirties and the
Civil War。 Theirs were generous houses surrounded by shade trees； with
glorious back yardsI have been toldwhere apricots and pears and
peaches and even nectarines grew。
The business of Breck and Company； wholesale grocers； descended to my
mother's first cousin； Robert Breck； who lived at Claremore。 The very
sound of that word once sufficed to give me a shiver of delight； but the
Claremore I knew has disappeared as completely as Atlantis； and the place
is now a suburb （hateful word！） cut up into building lots and connected
with Boyne Street and the business section of the city by trolley lines。
Then it was 〃the country；〃 and fairly saturated with romance。 Cousin
Robert； when he came into town to spend his days at the store； brought
with him some of this romance； I had almost said of this aroma。 He was
no suburbanite； but rural to the backbone； professing a most proper
contempt for dwellers in towns。
Every summer day that dawned held Claremore as a possibility。 And such
was my capacity for joy that my appetite would depart completely when I
heard my mother say； questioningly and with proper wifely respect
〃If you're really going off on a business trip for a day or two； Mr。
Paret〃 （she generally addressed my father thus formally）； 〃I think I'll
go to Robert's and take Hugh。〃
〃Shall I tell Norah to pack； mother；〃 I would exclaim； starting up。
〃We'll see what your father thinks； my dear。〃
〃Remain at the table until you are excused； Hugh；〃 he would say。
Released at length； I would rush to Norah； who always rejoiced with me；
and then to the wire fence which marked the boundary of the Peters domain
next door； eager； with the refreshing lack of consideration
characteristic of youth； to announce to the Peterseswho were to remain
at home the news of my good fortune。 There would be Tom and Alfred and
Russell and Julia and little Myra with her grass…stained knees； faring
forth to seek the adventures of a new day in the shady western yard。
Myra was too young not to look wistful at my news； but the others
pretended indifference； seeking to lessen my triumph。 And it was Julia
who invariably retorted 〃We can go out to Uncle Jake's farm whenever we
want to。 Can't we； Tom？〃。。。
No journey ever taken since has equalled in ecstasy that leisurely trip
of thirteen miles in the narrow…gauge railroad that wound through hot
fields of nodding corn tassels and between delicious； acrid…smelling
woods to Claremore。 No silent palace 〃sleeping in the sun；〃 no edifice
decreed by Kubla Khan could have worn more glamour than the house of
Cousin Robert Breck。
It stood half a mile from the drowsy village； deep in its own grounds
amidst lawns splashed with shadows； with gravel paths edgedin barbarous
fashion； if you please with shells。 There were flower beds of equally
barbarous design； and two iron deer； which； like the figures on Keats's
Grecian urn； were ever ready poised to flee；and yet never fled。 For
Cousin Robert was rich； as riches went in those days： not only rich； but
comfortable。 Stretching behind the house were sweet meadows of hay and
red clover basking in the heat； orchards where the cows cropped beneath
the trees； arbours where purple clusters of Concords hung beneath warm
leaves： there were woods beyond； into which； under the guidance of Willie
Breck； I made adventurous excursions； and in the autumn gathered
hickories and walnuts。 The house was a rambling； wooden mansion painted
grey； with red scroll…work on its porches and horsehair furniture inside。
Oh； the smell of its darkened interior on a midsummer day！ Like the
flavour of that choicest of tropical fruits； the mangosteen； it baffles
analysis； and the nearest I can come to it is a mixture of matting and
corn…bread； with another element too subtle to define。
The hospitality of that house！ One would have thought we had arrived； my
mother and I； from the ends of the earth； such was the welcome we got
from Cousin Jenny； Cousin Robert's wife； from Mary and Helen with the
flaxen pig…tails； from Willie； whom I recall as permanently without shoes
or stockings。 Met and embraced by Cousin Jenny at the station and driven
to the house in the squeaky surrey； the moment we arrived she and my
mother would put on the dressing…sacks I associated with hot weather； and
sit sewing all day long in rocking…chairs at the coolest end of the
piazza。 The women of that day scorned lying down； except at night； and
as evening came on they donned starched dresses； I recall in particular
one my mother wore； with little vertical stripes of black and white； and
a full skirt。 And how they talked； from the beginning of the visit until
the end！ I have often since wondered where the topics came from。
It was not until nearly seven o'clock that the train arrived which
brought home my Cousin Robert。 He was a big man； his features and even
his ample moustache gave a disconcerting impression of rugged integrity；
and I remember him chiefly in an alpaca or seersucker coat。 Though much
less formal； more democraticin a wordthan my father； I stood in awe
of him for a diff