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dusty slumber on the shelves of the bouquiniste； for next year it
will be three centuries old； and it had already seen nine generations
of men when I caught its eye （Alchemiae Doctrina） and recognized it
at pistol…shot distance as a prize； among the breviaries and Heures
and trumpery volumes of the old open…air dealer who exposed his
treasures under the shadow of St。 Sulpice。 I have never lost my
taste for alchemy since I first got hold of the Palladium Spagyricum
of Peter John Faber； and soughtin vain； it is truethrough its
pages for a clear； intelligible； and practical statement of how I
could turn my lead sinkers and the weights of tall kitchen clock into
good yellow gold； specific gravity 19。2； and exchangeable for
whatever I then wanted； and for many more things than I was then
aware of。 One of the greatest pleasures of childhood found in the
mysteries which it hides from the skepticism of the elders； and works
up into small mythologies of its own。 I have seen all this played
over again in adult life；the same delightful bewilderment semi…
emotional belief in listening to the gaseous praises of this or that
fantastic system； that I found in the pleasing mirages conjured up
for me by the ragged old volume I used to pore over in the southeast
attic…chamber。
The rooms of the second story； the chambers of birth and death； are
sacred to silent memories。
Let us go down to the ground…floor。 I should have begun with this；
but that the historical reminiscences of the old house have been
recently told in a most interesting memoir by a distinguished student
of our local history。 I retain my doubts about those 〃dents〃 on the
floor of the right…hand room； 〃the study〃 of successive occupants；
said to have been made by the butts of the Continental militia's
firelocks； but this was the cause to which the story told me in
childhood laid them。 That military consultations were held in that
room when the house was General Ward's headquarters； that the
Provincial generals and colonels and other men of war there planned
the movement which ended in the fortifying of Bunker's Hill； that
Warren slept in the house the night before the battle； that President
Langdon went forth from the western door and prayed for God's
blessing on the men just setting forth on their bloody expedition；
all these things have been told； and perhaps none of them need be
doubted。
But now for fifty years and more that room has been a meeting…ground
for the platoons and companies which range themselves at the
scholar's word of command。 Pleasant it is to think that the
retreating host of books is to give place to a still larger army of
volumes； which have seen service under the eye of a great commander。
For here the noble collection of him so freshly remembered as our
silver…tongued orator； our erudite scholar； our honored College
President； our accomplished statesman； our courtly ambassador； are to
be reverently gathered by the heir of his name； himself not unworthy
to be surrounded by that august assembly of the wise of all ages and
of various lands and languages。
Could such a many…chambered edifice have stood a century and a half
and not have had its passages of romance to bequeath their lingering
legends to the after…time？ There are other names on some of the
small window…panes； which must have had young flesh…and…blood owners；
and there is one of early date which elderly persons have whispered
was borne by a fair woman； whose graces made the house beautiful in
the eyes of the youth of that time。 One especiallyyou will find
the name of Fortescue Vernon； of the class of 1780； in the Triennial
Cataloguewas a favored visitor to the old mansion； but he went over
seas； I think they told me； and died still young； and the name of the
maiden which is scratched on the windowpane was never changed。 I am
telling the story honestly； as I remember it； but I may have colored
it unconsciously； and the legendary pane may be broken before this
for aught I know。 At least； I have named no names except the
beautiful one of the supposed hero of the romantic story。
It was a great happiness to have been born in an old house haunted by
such recollections； with harmless ghosts walking its corridors； with
fields of waving grass and trees and singing birds； and that vast
territory of four or five acres around it to give a child the sense
that he was born to a noble principality。 It has been a great
pleasure to retain a certain hold upon it for so many years； and
since in the natural course of things it must at length pass into
other hands； it is a gratification to see the old place making itself
tidy for a new tenant； like some venerable dame who is getting ready
to entertain a neighbor of condition。 Not long since a new cap of
shingles adorned this ancient mother among the villagenow city
mansions。 She has dressed herself in brighter colors than she has
hitherto worn； so they tell me； within the last few days。 She has
modernized her aspects in several ways； she has rubbed bright the
glasses through which she looks at the Common and the Colleges； and
as the sunsets shine upon her through the flickering leaves or the
wiry spray of the elms I remember from my childhood； they will
glorify her into the aspect she wore when President Holyoke； father
of our long since dead centenarian； looked upon her in her youthful
comeliness。
The quiet corner formed by this and the neighboring residences has
changed less than any place I can remember。 Our kindly； polite；
shrewd； and humorous old neighbor； who in former days has served the
town as constable and auctioneer； and who bids fair to become the
oldest inhabitant of the city； was there when I was born； and is
living there to…day。 By and by the stony foot of the great
University will plant itself on this whole territory； and the private
recollections which clung so tenaciously and fondly to the place and
its habitations will have died with those who cherished them。
Shall they ever live again in the memory of those who loved them here
below？ What is this life without the poor accidents which made it
our own； and by which we identify ourselves？ Ah me！ I might like to
be a winged chorister； but still it seems to me I should hardly be
quite happy if I could not recall at will the Old House with the Long
Entry； and the White Chamber （where I wrote the first verses that
made me known； with a pencil； stans pede in uno； pretty； nearly）； and
the Little Parlor； and the Study； and the old books in uniforms as
varied as those of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company used
to be； if my memory serves me right； and the front yard with the
Star…of…Bethlehems growing； flowerless； among the grass； and the dear
faces to be seen no more there or anywhere on this earthly place of
farewells。
I have told my story。 I do not know what special gifts have been
granted or denied me； but this I know； that I am like so many others
of my fellow…creatures； that when I smile； I feel as if they must；
when I cry； I think their eyes fill； and it always seems to me that
when I am most truly myself I come nearest to them and am surest of
being listen