CHAPTER II
THEY TRAP MUSKRATS--BISHOP HANCOCK AND HIS GRANDSON JOHN
One day while we were pulling over a lot of old truck in a corner of theshop, we found some rusty muskrat traps. Edmund asked William if he usedthem. "No; I did considerable trapping when I was a boy. You and Ben mayhave them if you want them. Your father and I, Benny, trapped togetherone winter; and we used to go hunting wild turkeys too. There were anumber of them over at Mt. Gilboa and Turkey Hill. They're pretty muchall gone now. We had lots of fun with these traps, and I hope you boyswill."
There were fourteen traps. We greased them up and put them in goodcondition. And one Saturday early in the fall we got Davy to go with usto the great meadows and look the ground over. Davy said, "We must findtheir paths." When we found one, we looked for the best place to set atrap. "Now, see here. Here's a place where they come out of the water;and they climb up on that old root. Take the axe, Ben, and cut a notchin it a little under the water; and I'll smear the notch with mud sothat the rat won't notice it."
[Sidenote: TRAPPING MUSKRATS]
We opened the trap, and set it in the notch; and then fastened thechain, which was attached to the trap, to a stick; and drove the stickinto the bank a little way up the stream. "Let's put the next trap inthe path. Drive the stick into the ground, so that they can't carry thetrap off. That's right. Now set the trap and sprinkle some leaves overit to hide it."
In some of the brooks we drove a couple of sticks into the bank, so thatthe trap would rest on them, a couple of inches beneath the surface ofthe water, and fastened the chain up stream. We drove a stick into thebank about ten inches above the trap, and stuck a sweet apple on the endof it. "There, that looks real tempting. A rat will come swimmingalong, and when he sees that apple, he will jump for it; and if you arelucky, he will fall into the trap."
"Who's that over on the island in the meadow?"
"Captain Wooton. He's girdling trees."
"What's he doing that for?"
"To kill them off. That's the way the Indians cleared their land. Thetrees die, and when they are dead, he sets them on fire in the wetseason, and burns them up. He was a sea-captain, and married one of theWinship girls, and old Mr. Winship gave them this land."
"Well, let's hurry up and set the rest of the traps. I've got to gethome to my chores."
Edmund lived on the further side of the meadows and close to them, andin going to school passed several brooks that flowed into them. I livedabove the meadows, and had to go out of my way to reach them. So Edmundlooked after nine traps, and I took care of five. Every morning weexamined the traps, to see if we had caught anything, and to set themagain, and bait them. If a trap was not in sight, we pulled on thechain, and generally found a muskrat in the trap, drowned, with his hairall soaked down on his sides. Sometimes we would find one alive in atrap in their paths, and sometimes only a foot.
[Sidenote: DAVID'S BLACK CAT]
Occasionally my little brother David went with me, and while I wasbaiting a trap, would run on, to see if there was anything in the nextone. Once he came back to me, and said, "Benny, some mean fellow hasbeen down here, and stuck a nasty black cat in the trap." The cat turnedout to be a mink with a fine fur. After we had examined the traps,Edmund and I used to meet at a spot on Deacon Brown's farm, which was sopretty that folks called it "God's Creation"; and then we went over tothe highway together, on our way to school.
We trapped muskrats till April, and got fifty-four muskrats and twomink. Skins are like oysters, good every month in the year that has an_R_ in it.
How many were actually caught in our traps is another matter. Ahalf-breed Indian named Tony lived in a little hut by the edge of themeadows. Frequently we found prints of his moccasins by our traps; andthey would be baited with a different kind of an apple from that weused.
Probably Tony needed muskrat skins more than we, or at least thoughtthat he did.
We disliked Tony and avoided him. We had our little scalping-parties orwar-paths and ambuscades, in imitation of the Indians, but in spite ofthat we hated them heartily, and thought it a great weakness on the partof our minister, Bishop Hancock, when he spoke a good word for them.
[Sidenote: BISHOP HANCOCK]
He, Bishop Hancock, was of the salt of the earth. He was very old, butbright and strong, and as full of fun as a kitten. Old age seemed toimprove him, as it does wine, and made him ripe and mellow.
When we saw him walking down the road, with his full-bottomed white wig,his black coat and small clothes, his black silk stockings, and hiswhite Geneva bands, we gathered on one side of the road, folded ourhands, ducked our heads, and made our manners.
He always had some funny or quaint remark to make to us. There was,perhaps, nothing wonderful in what he said, but his words always had apleasant savour; and the day seemed brighter after he had spoken to us.He was himself like one of those serene peaceful days that come in theIndian summer near the close of the year.
He had so much common sense and so sure a judgment, that all theministers of the county ran to him for advice, if any important mattercame up. And he had such authority among them, that they called himBishop Hancock, for he was as a bishop to them; and they loved andrevered him as much as they would have hated a real bishop.
His grandson, John Hancock, came to live with him, and went to schoolwith us. Young John was of our age, bright, quick-witted, with a kindheart, an open hand, and a full allowance of self-conceit.
He was always boasting about his Uncle Thomas, the richest man inBoston, of his wharf and warehouses and ships, and of his new stonehouse on the Beacon Hill.
"And after I go to college, I'm going to live with Uncle Thomas, and bea merchant like him," he used to proclaim.
Edmund, Davy, and I went up to Bishop Hancock's one noon with John, andmade a careful and minute survey of the premises, after the manner ofboys. We inspected the pigs beneath the barn, and got a pail of waterand scrubbed them with a broom till we were satisfied with theirappearance. Then we learned the names and good points of the cows andhorses. When we got to the loft, Davy made a great discovery--a pigeonnet stowed away on the rafters. Before we left, John had obtained apromise from his grandfather that he might use it to catch pigeons.
The next day we took it to a hill on the other side of the road, andlooked for a place to spread it. John knew as much about pigeon catchingas a hen does about skating. But he ordered us about, right and left,till Davy objected.
"See here, John! That place you chose is full of humps and hollows, andwon't do. We want a level spot, where the net will lie flat; and we musthave a good place near by, where we can hide. What's the matter withthat open place over there, with the big clump of bushes behind it?"
[Sidenote: THEY SET A PIGEON NET]
"Well, I guess that's all right."
"Now, boys," said Davy, "peg down one end of the net. That's it. Spreadit out. It lies like a tablecloth on a table. Fold it up, so that thepole will be on top. Now fasten the springs into the ground. Set themand rest the pole on them. Fasten the strings to each spring, so thatwhen we pull, the springs will fly up, and throw the pole forward overthe pigeons. That's right. Now let's try it."
We went back toward the bushes and pulled the strings. The springs threwthe pole forward, and the net was spread out on the ground.
"How soon can we begin, Davy?" asked John.
"Not for three or four days. We'll fold the net up and set it; and youmust come up here every evening and bait the ground by throwing downsome grain. When the birds get used to the net, we can come up and catchthem."
John reported to us daily that the birds were getting tamer, and werenot afraid of the net.
On Saturday we went up and hid in the bushes. John held the strings ofcourse. We could see the pigeons picking up the grain, and when a numberwere together, Davy said "Now, John!"
John pulled the strings, and the pole was thrown forward so that the netfell over the pigeons. We rushed up and stood on the edge of the n
et. Asthe pigeons poked their heads up through the meshes, we wrung theirnecks.
We set the net three times and caught a couple of dozen of pigeons. Thenwe went to the house, and John told of the pigeons he had caught.
"Didn't the other boys have anything to do with it?"
"Oh, yes, they helped, but I pulled the strings."
[Sidenote: BISHOP HANCOCK'S DRESSING-GOWN]
"I've noticed that it isn't always the man that pulls the strings whodoes the real solid work," said Mr. Hancock.
We did not have many quarrels or lawsuits in his time. If any disputearose, he interfered, heard both sides, and settled the case. Hisdecision ended the matter, for the defeated person knew that every onein town would stand by Bishop Hancock's law.
I was playing in the yard with John one afternoon, when Mr. Hancock cameto the window. He had on a gorgeous flowered silk dressing-gown, andinstead of his big white wig, wore on his head a cap or turban of thesame gorgeous silk. I hardly knew him, and stared at him.
"What's the matter, Benny? Oh, it's the dressing-gown and cap. Youprobably took me for some strange East India bird--a peacock, perhaps.It's nothing but some finery my son Thomas sent me to put on in thehouse. After wearing black all my life, it is very pleasant to movethrough the rooms looking like a rainbow."
"You did kind of startle me, sir. I suppose Joseph's coat must havelooked a good deal like that."
"Ha, ha, Benny, I guess you're right. And it aroused envy. Mrs. Hancocksaid yesterday that this would make a fine gown. I must be careful towhom I show myself in this attire.
"I hear that there is a quarrel between Sam Locke and Jesse Robinsonover the boundary line between their farms up on the old Salem road.
"I want you to go up there, John, and tell them that I wish both of themto meet me at the boundary line to-morrow afternoon at five o'clock. Youmight go with him, Benny, if you have time."
We did our errand, and the two men, in rather a surly manner, promisedto meet Mr. Hancock. The next afternoon Mr. Hancock gave us a couple ofstakes, which he told us to sharpen, and then we went up to the Salemroad together. We found Sam and Jesse sitting on a stone wall, waiting.
Mr. Hancock said: "Well, neighbours, I hear that you have a dispute overyour boundaries, and that you're going to law about it. That won't doat all. I'm not going to have you spending your money fighting thismatter in one court and then in another, till your money is gone. We canclear up the trouble here to-day. State your cases to me, and I can giveas good a decision as any court. Go on, Sam, and tell your story. Waittill he's through, Jesse, before you say a word." Sam told his side ofthe case, and then Jesse, and then Sam had a second chance, and afterhim Jesse again.
[Sidenote: BISHOP HANCOCK'S LAW]
Though Sam and Jesse were supposed to do all the talking, yet the bishophad his say, too. And he was so sensible and genial that soon there wasa different feeling between the two men. He told stories of theirfathers when they were boys; what great friends they were, and how theybought adjoining farms to be near each other. "And as for that onion bedwhich marked the southern boundary of Jesse's farm, I have a very goodidea of where it was. And probably we can see now where it was by thedifference in the grass." He walked along and said, "A big stone with aflat top stuck up about twenty feet from the edge of the bed."
"Why, that's just ahead of us," said Jesse.
"I thought so. And now that I've heard your stories, and remember theonion bed and the stone, I think that this is the boundary line. Drive astake down here, Benny. Now, neighbours, we've got it settled withoutcosting a penny, and I want you to shake hands and be as close friendsas your fathers were; for you're both good fellows."
How we did enjoy that old man! One day Edmund and John and I were seatedin his yard, near the stable, mending the pigeon net, and Bishop Hancockwas oiling a harness hanging just inside the barn, when the gate opened,and two old fools came into the yard.
"Good morning, Mr. Hancock."
"Good morning, neighbour Hall and neighbour Perry. You've caught me in anice mess. There's nothing very ministerial about this. Quite differentfrom preaching a long sermon at you; and to tell the truth, I halfbelieve we preach too much. My friend Cotton Mather had a story of anold Indian who was in jail, about to be hanged for some crime.
[Sidenote: WOULD-BE ELDERS]
"A minister visited him in his cell and prayed with him and preached athim till the Indian begged the jailer to hurry up the hanging. Hepreferred it to any more talk.
"This harness was getting about as rusty as my old bones and neededoiling badly. And now, neighbours, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Well, Mr. Hancock, your remark just now about your age is to the point.Some years ago you had the help of your good son Ebenezer, whose loss weall deplore. And some of us have been considering your great age, andthe numerous and hard duties you perform; and we have thought it mightbe well if you had some assistance and aid. We know that it used to becommon to have a couple of elders to assist the pastor; and thought thatyou might find it pleasant to revive the office, and have the help oftwo elders."
Mr. Hancock thought for a moment and said: "That's an excellent notion.But where can we find men ready to fulfil the duties of the office?"
"Well, Uriah and me have been talking it over, and we would be willingto take the office, for the sake of helping you."
"I suppose you know the duties of elders?"
"No! But you know all about it, and could tell us."
"Well, gentlemen, the duties of elders have never been very clearlydefined in the church. But latterly they have settled down to this. Theyounger elder is to brush down and harness the pastor's horse when hewishes to ride out, and the elder is to accompany him, when he goes outof town, and pay his bills. I should be glad to have you appointed."
Uriah gave a gasp, and said: "Hello! It looks as if there was a showercoming up, and my hay's out. Good-by, Mr. Hancock; we'll see you anotherday."
The bishop looked after them, as they walked away, and turned round witha twinkle in his eye. Seeing us laughing, he laughed too, and said:--
[Sidenote: NO ELDERS IN MR. HANCOCK'S DAY]
"I don't believe we shall have any elders in Lexington, boys. At least,not in my day."