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Good Larkin Moore was well known through the two neighboring counties； Essex and Middlesex。 We saw him afterward on the banks of the Merrimack。 He always wore a loose calico tunic over his trousers； and； when the mood came upon him； he started off with two canes；seeming to think he could travel faster as a quadruped than as a biped。 He was entirely harmless； his only wish was to preach or to sing。
A characteristic anecdote used to be told of him： that once； as a stage…coach containing； only a few passengers passed him on the road； he asked the favor of a seat on the top； and was refused。 There were many miles between him and his destination。 But he did not upbraid the ungracious driver； he only swung his two canes a little more briskly； and kept breast of the horses all the way； entering the town side by side with the inhospitable vehiclesa running reproach to the churl on the box。
There was another wanderer； a blind woman； whom my mother treated with great respect on her annual pilgrimages。 She brought with her some printed rhymes to sell； purporting to be composed by herself； and beginning with the verse：
〃I； Nancy Welsh； was born and bred In Essex County； Marblehead。 And when I was an infant quite The Lord deprived me of my sight。〃
I labored under the delusion that blindness was a sort of insanity； and I used to run away when this pilgrim came； for she was not talkative like Larkin Moore。 I fancied she disliked children； and so I shrank from her。
There were other odd estrays going about； who were either well known； or could account for them selves。 The one human phenomenon that filled us little ones with mortal terror was an unknown 〃man with a pack on his back。〃 I do not know what we thought he would do with us； but the sight of one always sent us breathless with fright to the shelter of the maternal wing。 I did not at all like the picture of Christian on his way to the wicket…gate； in 〃Pilgrim's Progress；〃 before I had read the book； because he had 〃a pack on his back。〃 But there was really nothing to be afraid of in those simple； honest old times。 I suppose we children would not have known how happy and safe we were； in our secluded lane； if we had not conjured up a few imaginary fears。
Long as it is since the rural features of our lane were entirely obliterated； my feet often go back and press； in memory； its grass…grown borders； and in delight and liberty I am a child again。 Its narrow limits were once my whole known world。 Even then it seemed to me as if it might lead everywhere； and it was indeed but the beginning of a road which must lengthen and widen beneath my feet forever。
II。
SCHOOLROOM AND MEETING…HOUSE。
THERE were only two or three houses between ours and the main street； and then our lane came out directly opposite the finest house in town； a three…story edifice of brick； painted white； the 〃Colonel's〃 residence。 There was a spacious garden behind it； from which we caught glimpses and perfumes of unknown flowers。 Over its high walls hung boughs of splendid great yellow sweet apples； which； when they fell on the outside； we children considered as our perquisites。 When I first read about the apples of the Hesperides； my idea of them was that they were like the Colonel's 〃pumpkin…sweetings。〃
Beyond the garden were wide green fields which reached eastward down to the beach。 It was one of those large old estates which used to give to the very heart of our New England coast towns a delightful breeziness and roominess。
A coach…and…pair was one of the appurtenances of this estate； with a coachman on the box； and when he took the family out for an airing we small children thought it was a sort of Cinderella spectacle； prepared expressly for us。
It was not； however； quite so interesting as the Boston stage … coach； that rolled regularly every day past the head of our lane into and out of its headquarters； a big； unpainted stable close at hand。 This stage…coach； in our minds； meant the city；twenty miles off； an immeasurable distance to us then。 Even our elders did not go there very often。
In those early days； towns used to give each other nicknames； like schoolboys。 Ours was called 〃Bean…town〃 not because it was especially devoted to the cultivation of this leguminous edible； but probably because it adhered a long time to the Puritanic custom of saving Sunday…work by baking beans on Saturday evening； leaving them in the oven over night。 After a while； as families left off heating their ovens； the bean…pots were taken by the village baker on Saturday afternoon； who returned them to each house early on Sunday morning with the pan of brown bread that went with them。 The jingling of the baker's bells made the matter a public one。
The towns through which our stage…coach passed sometimes called it the 〃bean…pot。〃 The Jehn who drove it was something of a wag。 Once； coming through Charlestown； while waiting in the street for a resident passenger； he was hailed by another resident who thought him obstructing the passage； with the shout；
〃Halloo there！ Get your old bean…pot out of the way！〃
〃I will； when I have got my pork in；〃 was the ready reply。 What the sobriquet of Charlestown was； need not be explained。
We had a good opportunity to watch both coaches； as my father's shop was just at the head of the lane； and we went to school up… stairs in the same building。 After he left off going to sea； before my birth；my father took a store for the sale of what used to be called 〃West India goods；〃 and various other domestic commodities。
The school was kept by a neighbor whom everybody called 〃Aunt Hannah。〃 It took in all the little ones about us； no matter how young they were； provided they could walk and talk； and were considered capable of learning their letters。
A ladder…like flight of stairs on the outside of the house led up to the schoolroom； and another flight； also outside； took us down into a bit of a garden； where grew tansy and spearmint and southernwood and wormwood； and； among other old…fashioned flowers； an abundance of many…tinted four o'clocks； whose regular afternoon…opening just at the close of school； was a daily wonder to us babies。 From the schoolroom window we could watch the slow hands of the town clock and get a peep at what was going on in the street； although there was seldom anybody in sight except the Colonel's gardener or coachman； going into or out of the driveway directly opposite。 It was a very still street； the front windows of the houses were generally closed； and a few military…looking Lombardy poplars stood like sentinels on guard before them。
Another shopa very small onejoined my father's； where three shoemakers； all of the same namethe name our lane went bysat at their benches and plied their 〃waxed ends。〃 One of them； an elderly man； tall and erect； used to come out regularly every day； and stand for a long time at the corner； motionless as a post； with his nose and chin pointing skyward； usually to the northeast。 I watched his face with wonder； for it was said that 〃Uncle John〃 was 〃weatherwise；〃 and knew all the secrets of the heavens。
Aunt Hannah's schoolroom and 〃our shop〃 are a blended memory to me。 As I was only a baby when I began to go to school； I was often sent down…stairs for a half hour's recreation not permitted to the older ones。 I think I looked upon both school and shop entirely as places of entertainment for little children。
The front shop…window was especially interesting to us children； for there were in it a few glass jars containing sticks of striped barley…candy； and red and white peppermint…drops； and that delectable achievement of the ancient confectioner's art； the 〃Salem gibraltar。〃 One of my first recollections of my father is connected with that window。 He had taken me into the shop with him after dinner；I was perhaps two years old；and I was playing beside him on the counter when one of his old sea… comrades came in； whom we knew as 〃Captain Cross。〃 The Captain tried to make friends with me； and； to seal the bond； asked my father to take down from its place of exhibition a strip of red peppermints dropped on white paper； in a style I particularly admired； which he twisted around my neck； saying； 〃Now I've bought you！ Now you are my girl。 Come； go home with me！〃
His words sounded as if be meant them。 I took it all in earnest； and ran； scared and screaming； to my father； dashing down the sugar…plums I wanted so much； and refusing even to bestow a glance upon my amused purchaser。 My father pacified me by taking me on his shoulders and carrying me 〃pickaback〃 up and down the shop； and I clung to him in the happy consciousness that I belonged to him； and that be would not let anybody else have me； though I did not feel quite easy until Captain Cross disappeared。 I suppose that this little incident has always remained in my memory because it then for the first time became a fact in my consciousness that my father really loved me as I loved him。 He was not at all a demonstrative man； and any petting that he gave us children could not fail to make a permanent impression。
I think that must have been also the last special attention I received from him； for a little sister appeared soon after； whose coming was announce