for long, long years, with as little knowledge on their part as to who and whence was their wise and witty annual visitor and constant benefactor. Who does not recall "Thomas' Old Farmer's Almanac ?" As Dr. Alden well says, "This ancient almanac, established in 1793, as all know, was a favorite in every household and formerly constituted no inconsiderable part of the literature of many families. It was widely circulated and more generally read than the newspapers. Suspended by a loop at the side of the old fireplace, it was always at hand for consultation; and how much it was used its well thumbed pages showed; often supplying not only the place of a calendar but also of a diary and family record." Well, the author of the Farmer's Calendar in this almanac for fiftytwo years, from 1804-1856, was no other than Bartholomew Brown, he having sent previous to his death, April 14, 1854, two years' matter in advance! Hon. Robert B. Hall, formerly member of Congress from the Plymouth district, in a glowing tribute to the memory of Mr. Brown, compared his labors in Thomas' almanac to Dr. Franklin's in Poor Richard's. Although the subject of this sketch was interested in so many different pursuits, he maintained a high rank as a lawyer. He was not an office-seeker, but was ready to serve his fellow-citizens in whatever capacity when summoned by their voice or vote. He was a devoted friend of temperance and religion. He was for many years a member of the Unitarian church, adorning his profession by ready cooperation in every good work. Virtuous, kind, unostentatious and full of generous and helpful deeds, he was loving to all and was loved by all in return. "Gifted by nature," says Dr. Alden, "with a commanding presence, a voice remarkable for its sweetness as well as power, an eye that looked on every man as a neighbor, a winning address, a mind well trained and an extensive knowledge of men and things, always seeming to do the right thing at the right time, no wonder he was a universal favorite." He spent his last years in Boston and it was here that he died, at the age of eighty-one. The children of Bartholomew and Betsey Brown were: Lucy Ann Lazell, who married Dr. A. K. Borden of North Bridgewater; James Tilden, who died in Boston in 1809; George Henry, who married Hannah Porter of Sterling; Harriet Mitchell, who married Michael Everett Francis of Dighton.-Danvers Mirror, Aug. 3, 1878. THE ELM-TREE'S STORY. BY MISS E. JOSEPHINE ROACHE. Written for Danvers' 150th Anniversary Celebration. If we could understand the language old That hides from us in voices of the pine, Could guess the secret of June's murmuring leaves, What revelation of a distant day When this, our well-beloved town, was young, As thus I mused beneath an aged tree, An old inhabitant of Danvers town, The great elm swayed from trunk to topmost branch, And thrice it bowed its verdant leafy crown; Then spake in slow and stately harmonies. I listened while the tree its story told, And on my vision under that green shade A picturesque procession wound along; Quaint Puritanic ruff and doublet came A sachem's feathers proudly waved beside The elm-tree said: "My kinsfolk saw the barge The gleam of witches' weird and baleful glance; Once in their piteous delusion came The children from the dreary haunted manse. "One early April morn, a little group Of Danvers townsmen gathered here; The Danvers minute-men who bravely died, "When cannon sounded through the waiting air, And felt with them the breath of freedom thrill. "How many midnights closest shade I drew How with him hailed that morn when freedom came! Here sometimes strolled a poet, honored guest; He sang the slave and freeman's brotherhood, For Whittier was Mother Nature's child And all her signs and voices understood. "I saw long since the earliest schoolhouse built, And now I mark the happy morning throng Of hurrying children, whom to greet I bend, And whom my orioles welcome with a song. What names the beadroll of my memory bears! With trenchant jest and controversial thrust, The people's voice is heard in wise accord. "The town and I grew up together, strong And sturdy growths, from youth to this, her prime; And in our riper years we wait to hail The coming of that better, gentler time When fame shall write the highest on her scroll, The men who victories of Peace have won, Who bear her stainless standard wide unfurled." Just in the corner of the fence as it turns in from the road at the entrance to Joel Putnam's yard, on Locust street, is a large and beautiful elm tree, two feet or more in diameter at the base and fifty or sixty feet high, which was located there by an incident that calls attention to it at this time. The tree was planted there forty-eight years ago, and thus it came about: Daniel Richards owned Mr. Putnam's place in 1840, and that being the year Gen. William Henry Harrison was a candidate for President, and Mr. Richards being a Harrison man, made a bet of ten dollars with a man from Middleton, that Harrison would win. Mr. Richards won the bet, and as his Van Buren opponent complained of being poor, Mr. Richards told him if he would bring a good elm tree and set it in his yard, that should discharge the debt. The offer was accepted, and the Harrison tree was planted, which has grown and flourished, and awaits the election of Gen. Benjamin Harrison as President in the year 1888. Danvers Mirror, Aug. 18, 1888. BILL FOR TEACHING AT DANVERSPORT. "The Town of Danvers to Jos. H. JACKSON, Dr. $141 90 3 30 $138 60 "March 9, 1808. "Received payment by the hand of CAPT. SAMUEL PAGE. "Jos. H. JACKSON." GOVERNOR ENDECOTT AN HORTICULTURALIST. BY SAMUEL P. FOWLER. Written for the New England Farmer, September, 1852. Perhaps it is not generally known that Gov. John Endecott was probably one of the first persons who cultivated fruit, and planted nurseries in Massachusetts. In proof of the assertion that he had a love for the cultivation of fruits and for agriculture in general, we find in the first letters he sent home, he requested his friends in England to send over to him fruit stones and kernels, grains for seeds, wheat, barley and rye and domestic animals. In answer to this request, a letter was received the 19th of April, 1629, wherein the Company of England inform him that they are disappointed in not sending the things ordered, but (God willing) they propose to send them by the next vessel. Rev. Mr. Higginson, the first minister of Salem, who arrived there June 30, 1629, says they found abundance of corn planted, and our Governor hath a store of green peas grown in his garden as good as he ever ate in England. He adds that he had already planted a vineyard, also in his garden were mulberries, plum raspberries, currants, chestnuts, filberts, walnuts, small nuts, hurtleberries and haws of white thorn. By this we learn that Mr. Endecott had thus early made considerable progress in gardening. And it would seem from the observation of Mr. Higginson that green peas were about as early in 1629 as with us at the present day. It was here in this garden in Salem that he probably planted his famous pear tree, together with other fruits, and upon receiving the grant of the Orchard farm, they were removed there probably after the land was broken up by the plow, which was in 1633. This venerable tree, now more than 220 years old, we visited today [Aug. 9, 1852], and found on some of its branches it had made a growth of three or four inches this season, although it bears the mark of extreme decrepit old age. I should think it would produce this autumn a peck of pears, very fair in their appearance. The tree has thorny wood and was undoubtedly never grafted. In 1648, Governor Endecott appears to have devoted much attention to the cultivation of fruit trees. We find at this |