soon they were seen flocking from all quarters to the vestry (under the old town hall) where they were to meet. At two o'clock they set out in procession to Mount Assabet, two hundred and sixty-four in number. Their teachers marched in front, and many others joined them, to the number of above four hundred persons. "But just as they set out a drizzling rain began to fall, which continued till they reached the hill. It then abated and the Welcome Song was sung. The last verse was repeated; and at that moment a cask of water which had been placed on the hill was rolled down, amid the merry shouts of the boys. The refreshments were then handed around, and the other two pieces were sung. It continued to sprinkle at intervals, and at last, as there was every appearance of a thunder shower approaching, we hastened down the hill even more eagerly than we had hastened to it. We were in too much haste to make a regular retreat, and we had more the appearance of a flock of frightened sheep, or of the hurried flight of an army, than of the neat and orderly band in which we at first advanced. "O, what a scampering was there! What drabbled dresses and straightened curls, and what green and brown streaks upon the white pantaloons (white alas, no longer); and to peep a little into futurity-what mourning the next day over soiled and unstiffened ribbons and handkerchiefs, and defaced kid shoes, and, worse than all, what scolding at the wash tubs over the greenkneed pantaloons, and other effects of that disastrous flight. "We had the full benefit of all the rain that fell both going and returning, as it stopped almost immediately upon our arrival at the Meeting-house, where we went to hear the address which was prepared to be delivered on the hill. "But after all, there was only rain enough to damp a little, without extinguishing our enjoyment. Notwithstanding our disappointment, it was universally agreed to be one of the most pleasant occasions ever witnessed in this place." Such is the impression which this important occasion made upon the youthful editor of The Meteor. Compare this impression with that which the same event made upon a hardheaded stock raiser and farmer. This is the entry which Stephen Williams made in his journal: "Monday, July 4, 1836. Thermometer 61. Cloudy, wind S. E. showers P. M. All the Sunday school's children (except the Orthodox) met on Assabet Hill, treated with all sorts of cake, and an address to them at the Meeting-house by Mr. Allen." Mention is made, in the account quoted from The Meteor, of certain songs which were sung on this occasion. Fortunately, those songs are preserved in the same number of the paper that gives an account of the celebration. They were written for the occasion by Dr. Allen's wife. We reproduce them in the order in which they appear: All hail the day! let joy abound! Let all our troubles flee: Let praise to God from all resound; When tyrants laid a heavy hand Then soon arose that patriot band, Our ancestors who fought and bled, And though they rest among the dead, While we enjoy our dear-bought rights May all the Blacks as well as Whites, The above hymn breathes at once the prayer of gratitude for our national independence, and the prayer of hope that the time might come when the national sin of slavery should be blotted out and our nation become one, all of whose citizens should be free. But the next song, the song of welcome, is of especial interest to us now, because it relates particularly to the rechristening of Liquor Hill. THE SONG OF WELCOME Welcome the day, the happy day, Away with study, welcome play, Then welcome playmates, one and all, Our feast partake, of fruits and cake, Mount Assabet, with smiles we greet, For Southern slave, we pity crave, The heaviest chain is forged by sin, Then welcome playmates, one and all, Vile rum we hate-abominate- When on this hill we liquor spill, Then welcome playmates, one and all, Our feast partake, of fruits and cake, The third hymn also breathes the prayer for freedom, universal freedom. Northborough at that time was just beginning her agitation against slavery: O happy children! blest are we! Our mothers can our footsteps guide, But O, may pity move our breast Their darkened minds we would invite That Christ has made us truly free. In his address, delivered on this occasion, Dr. Allen gives no clue as to how the name Mt. Assabet, was decided upon; and in the absence of other information (except The Meteor, already quoted), we may presume that the change of name was a spontaneous desire on the part of the people of the town to show their interest in the temperance reform which was then making considerable headway. This Fourth of July celebration, coupled with the changing of the name of one of the town's beautiful hills was a great event, the echoes of which reverberated through many years. Seventythree years after the event the author talked with four people, who, as children, had taken part in it-Mrs. George Valentine, Miss Mary Brigham, Mrs. Samuel Russell (Lucy Pierce) and Charles A. Rice. All of them remembered the occasion with pleasure, and spoke of it as one of the outstanding joys of their childhood. CHAPTER XVIII THE OLD TOWN HALL What is now the Unitarian Church was formerly the Meetinghouse. It could be wished that that word had never fallen into disuse; for it is a beautful word, and expresses a beautiful custom of our forefathers "going to meeting." The Meeting-house was the gathering place on all occasions which called the people together. It belonged to all the people. It was their church on Sundays; it was their Town Hall on voting days; it was their gathering place on all social occasions. Life was simple in those days. There were no clubs and no societies to call people from their homes. Such society as there was was centered around the Meeting-house. The Meeting-house was the one center of influence in the community. And, as the people used frequently to resort to it, the building itself came to occupy a warm place in their hearts. That is why our old New England churches are revered so highly today by all our people, even by those of other faiths who seldom go into them. The traditions of their fathers cluster around them, and they are the one link in the community which connects the present with the past. But when societies began to multiply and life became more complex, the need of other gathering places more suited to their needs was felt. Then it was that the idea of a Town Hall, a place distinct from the Meeting-house, began to develop in the minds of the people. Northborough seems to have been abreast of the times in this respect, for as early as 1821 the idea of a Town House began to take definite form. On April 2, of that year, the matter was brought before the town meeting for the first time, with the result that a "committee of five were chosen to make a form or plan of a building for a Town House, estimate the expense, locate a spot to set it, and receive proposals for donations and report at May meeting." The committee lost no time in attending to the duty assigned to them, and on May 7, just one month later, made a very definite report. The committee evidently knew just what kind of a building they wanted; and as their report is a model of what such reports should be, we quote it in full: |