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〃Lift up the gates as high as the sky； And let King George and his army pass by！〃
We were told to whisper 〃Oranges〃 or 〃Lemons〃 for a pass…word； and 〃Oranges〃 always won the larger enlistment； whether British or American。
And then there was 〃Grandmother Gray；〃 and the
〃Old woman from Newfoundland； With all her children in her hand；〃 and the
〃Knight from Spain Inquiring for your daughter Jane；〃
and numberless others； nearly all of them bearing a distinct Old World flavor。 One of our play…places was an unoccupied end of the burying…ground； overhung by the Colonel's apple…trees and close under his wall； so that we should not be too near the grave…stones。
I do not think that death was at all a real thing to me or to my brothers and sisters at this time。 We lived so near the grave… yard that it seemed merely the extension of our garden。 We wandered there at will； trying to decipher the moss…grown inscriptions； and wondering at the homely carvings of cross…bones and cherubs and willow…trees on the gray slate…stones。 I did not associate those long green mounds with people who had once lived； though we were careful； having been so instructed； not to step on the graves。 To ramble about there and puzzle ourselves with the names and dates； was like turning over the pages of a curious old book。 We had not the least feeling of irreverence in taking the edge of the grave…yard for our playground。 It was known as 〃the old burying…ground〃； and we children regarded it with a sort of affectionate freedom； as we would a grandmother； because it was old。
That； indeed； was one peculiar attraction of the town itself； it was old； and it seemed old； much older than it does now。 There was only one main street； said to have been the first settlers' cowpath to Wenham； which might account for its zigzag picturesqueness。 All the rest were courts or lanes。
The town used to wear a delightful air of drowsiness； as if she had stretched herself out for an afternoon nap； with her head towards her old mother； Salem； and her whole length reclining towards the sea； till she felt at her feet； through her green robes； the clip of the deep water at the Farms。 All her elder children recognized in her quiet steady…going ways a maternal unity and strength of character； as of a town that understood her own plans； and had settled down to peaceful； permanent habits。Her spirit was that of most of our Massachusetts coast…towns。 They were transplanted shoots of Old England。 And it was the voice of a mother…country more ancient than their own； that little children heard crooning across the sea in their cradle…hymns and nursery…songs。
VI。 GLIMPSES OF POETRY。
OUR close relationship to Old England was sometimes a little misleading to us juveniles。 The conditions of our life were entirely different； but we read her descriptive stories and sang her songs as if they were true for us； too。 One of the first things I learned to repeatI think it was in the spelling…book began with the verse：
〃I thank the goodness and the grace That on my birth has smiled； And made me； in these latter days； A happy English child。〃
And some lines of a very familiar hymn by Dr。 Watts ran thus：
〃Whene'er I take my walks abroad； How many poor I see。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃How many children in the street Half naked I behold； While I am clothed from head to feet； And sheltered from the cold。〃
Now a ragged； half…clothed child； or one that could really be called poor； in the extreme sense of the word； was the rarest of all sights in a thrifty New England town fifty years ago。 I used to look sharply for those children； but I never could see one。 And a beggar！ Oh； if a real beggar would come along； like the one described in
〃Pity the sorrows of a poor old man；〃
what a wonderful event that would be！ I believe I had more curiosity about a beggar； and more ignorance； too； than about a king。 The poem read：
〃A pampered menial drove me from the door。〃
What sort of creature could a 〃pampered menial〃 be？ Nothing that had ever come under our observation corresponded to the words。 Nor was it easy for us to attach any meaning to the word 〃servant。〃 There were women who came in occasionally to do the washing； or to help about extra work。 But they were decently clothed； and had homes of their own； more or less comfortable； and their quaint talk and free…and…easy ways were often as much of a lift to the household as the actual assistance they rendered。
I settled down upon the conclusion that 〃rich〃 and 〃poor〃 were book…words only； describing something far off； and having nothing to do with our every…day experience。 My mental definition of 〃rich people；〃 from home observation； was something like this： People who live in three…story houses； and keep their green blinds closed； and hardly ever come out and talk with the folks in the street。 There were a few such houses in Beverly； and a great many in Salem； where my mother sometimes took me for a shopping walk。 But I did not suppose that any of the people who lived near us were very rich； like those in books。
Everybody about us worked； and we expected to take hold of our part while young。 I think we were rather eager to begin； for we believed that work would make men and women of us。
I； however； was not naturally an industrious child； but quite the reverse。 When my father sent us down to weed his vegetable…garden at the foot of the lane； I； the youngest of his weeders； liked to go with the rest； but not for the sake of the work or the pay。 I generally gave it up before I had weeded half a bed。 It made me so warm！ and my back did ache so！ I stole off into the shade of the great apple…trees； and let the west wind fan my hot cheeks； and looked up into the boughs； and listened to the many； many birds that seemed chattering to each other in a language of their own。 What was it they were saying？ and why could not I understand it？ Perhaps I should； sometime。 I had read of people who did； in fairy tales。
When the others started homeward； I followed。 I did not mind their calling me lazy； nor that my father gave me only one tarnished copper cent； while Lida received two or three bright ones。 I had had what I wanted most。 I would rather sit under the apple…trees and hear the birds sing than have a whole handful of bright copper pennies。 It was well for my father and his garden that his other children were not like me。
The work which I was born to； but had not begun to do； was sometimes a serious weight upon my small； forecasting brain。
One of my hymns ended with the lines；
〃With books； and work； and healthful play； May my first years be passed； That I may give； for every day； Some good account at last。〃
I knew all about the books and the play； but the work；how should I ever learn to do it？
My father had always strongly emphasized his wish that all his children； girls as well as boys； should have some independent means of self…support by the labor of their hands； that every one should； as was the general custom； 〃learn a trade。〃 Tailor's workthe finishing of men's outside garmentswas the 〃trade learned most frequently by women in those days； and one or more of my older sisters worked at it； I think it must have