. Pigeon Cove and vicinity . cing the road andthe hill, enjoying the cool shade of the overhangingtrees and the breath of brine wafted from the responded with dignity and urbanity to thesalutation of a rambler passing, and then pressedhim to stop for rest and refreshment. His dis-course was chiefly of the past; but he was notunmindful of current events, nor was he unaffectedby the picturesque surroundings of his secludedabode. An hour with this gentleman of the oldschool, in retirement deepened and shadowed byhill, cliff, rock, tree, shrub, and vine, and sweet-ened by the mingling odors
. Pigeon Cove and vicinity . cing the road andthe hill, enjoying the cool shade of the overhangingtrees and the breath of brine wafted from the responded with dignity and urbanity to thesalutation of a rambler passing, and then pressedhim to stop for rest and refreshment. His dis-course was chiefly of the past; but he was notunmindful of current events, nor was he unaffectedby the picturesque surroundings of his secludedabode. An hour with this gentleman of the oldschool, in retirement deepened and shadowed byhill, cliff, rock, tree, shrub, and vine, and sweet-ened by the mingling odors of marsh and upland,was a pleasant episode of an afternoons meeting-house on the hill — now, alas ^among the things that were — was a substantialedifice of oaken frame, without steeple or anyother ornament outside ; with plain galleries, 94 PIGEON COVE AND VICINITY. square, high-partitioned pews, and a high pulpit,fronted by the deacons seat, and overtopped by a sounding-board within. On the sounding-board. 1 THE OLD CHURCH. was the date 1713. Formerly the now grass-grown road over the spot where this ancient houseof worship stood was much travelled, and thepeople of the West Parish ascended it from boththe east and west sides of the hill. In the pasttime, which has Ijeen recalled, there being nodwelling-house near, the worshippers from thescattered abodes and the little neighborhoodsaround the hill seemed, to one sitting on the door-step of the church waiting for them, to rise out ofthe ground, or singly and in groups to come forth,as if rocks, shrubs, and thickets had suddeidyturned into human beings in every form and guise,from l)looming childhood to hoary age. Literally,the swallow, as a swallow, unchanged, had founda place in Gods house where she might rear heryoung ; for in service-time the twitterings of theswallows, flying tlirougli the broken windows to RIDE TO ANNISQUAM. 95 and from tlieir nests on the lofty plates, mingledwith the prayers and hymns
Size: 2114px × 1182px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidpigeoncovevicini00inleon
