Marco Paul's Voyages and Travels; Vermont

Vill

y, and the village was upon its banks. At the upper end of the village a branch stream came in from the north, and there was a dam upon it, with some mills. The river itself was a rapid stream, flowing over a sandy and gravelly bottom, and there were broad intervals on each side of it, extending for some di

lms on each side. The houses were generally white, with green blinds. Most of them had pleasant yards before them and at their sides; these yards were planted

ouse. There were gravel walks leading in different directions through this yard, and on one side of the house was a carriage-way, which led from a great gate in front, to a door in one end of the house, and thence to the stable in the rear. On the other side of the house,

ow him the various objects of interest which were to be seen, but also to explain to him why it was th

mmencement of a village in New Engla

hat?" ask

n the woods, or, in the winter, on hand-sleds, to get it ground. But as soon as any of them are able to do it, they build a dam on some stream in the neighborhood, where there is a fall in the water, and thus get a water power. This water power they employ, to turn a saw-mill and a grist-mill. Then all the farmers, when they want to build houses or barns, haul logs to the

in that town, it will be better for him to have it near the mills, because, as the farmers all have to come to the mills at any rate

ted Marco. "Wh

ut it, very tight, to strengthen it and to hold it firmly together. Without a

most of the wood work which they want themselves. They can make their rakes, and drags, and cart-bodies, and sleds, and tool handles;

o, "that it would be easier to

ose, and an anvil, supported on a solid foundation, and various tools. All these are necessary for shoeing a single horse, and when they are all procured, they will answer for all the horses of the neighborhood. Thus it happens, that though

he town where the mills were situated. Just at this moment, Marco happened to cast his eyes across the street a short distance before them,

n a wheel; that's quite fortunat

by the side of the shop, was the fire. The fire was in the form of a ring. There were several men standing about it; one of them, whom Marco supposed was the blacksmith, by his leather apron, was putting on small sticks of wood and chips, here and there, around the ring. Marco saw that there was a large iron hoop, as he called it, on the fire. It was not real

eat the tire fo

the force of the iron. Now when iron is heated it swells, and then shrinks again when it cools. So they heat the tire hot, and

n hot, it will burn t

ly; but they stand ready with water, to pour on, as soon as the tire is in its place, a

e fellies?"

the wheel. The rim is made of several p

n to push away the burning brands a little from the tire, as it began to be hot enough. Presently he went into his shop and brought out several pairs

said Marco, "it will grip

e shrinks so much as to spring the spokes out of shape. Did

d Marco. "I never n

to put on a tire in such a manner, as to give it just the right degr

Ti

all sides. In one or two places it burst into a flame. The blacksmith, however, paid no attention to this, but with a hammer, which he held in his hand, he knocked it down into its place, all around the rim; then he took up a brown pitcher ful

Marco, in my account of the growth of a village? I wa

said

Forester, "is generally a store. You see the farmers can not raise every thing they want.

ar and tea,"

open a store, the best place that he can have for his business is near the mills and the blacksmith's shop; because the people have to come there on other business, and so that is the most convenient place for them to visit his store. And so, by and by, when a carpenter and a mason come into the c

made disputes among men, and lived by them. "Why, I know," said Forester, laughing, "that lawyers have not the credit, generally, of preventing many disputes,

y do it?" a

ocess. And there are a vast many debts which are paid, for fear of this legal process, which would not have been paid without it. Thus, knowing that the lawyers are always ready to apply the laws, men are much

e mills. There were two mills and a machine-shop. They went into the machine-shop. There was a lathe here carried by water. A man was at work at it, turning hoe handles. Forester asked him what other articles were turned there; and he said posts for

a lathe here, to work in t

worth while. There is very little of that kin

ss extensive, according to the nature of the ground. In this case there was quite a large pond, formed by the accumulation of the water above the dam. The pond was not very wide, but it ex

nd to go a-fishin

and it makes fine skati

p farther, to see what they would come to, and Forester consented. The ground ascended more and more the farther they proceeded, and the view began to be shut in by forests, precipices and mountains. Marco liked clam

said F

t?" ask

angerous a

should get killed wit

ou would; but you might get killed. The

a great thing to learn to take risks coolly

e pole the other day, to get the reins, you took a great risk, but perhaps you saved the lives of the passengers by it. That was right--but to ha

, there was much d

robability that your gun would burst, or that you would ever shoot accidentally any other person;--very little indeed. But if the gun were to burst, and b

all risk of a great

great. For example, if you and I were to walk over that log which lies across the stream, we should run a great risk; but that would be, not a small chance of a great evil, but

e

ter. "You may, however, if you please. I am willing to

ng upon the ground. Finally, he hopped across it on one foot, to show Forester his dexterity. Forester wa

iver, winding through the valley, with the green intervals on both sides of it. They could see the village and the streets, with the spire of the meeting-

s a boat,"

have paddled over the w

does she pull

ster, "no oars; t

nd then I would get a crew of boys, and tea

any thing about i

ew York, in the bo

ve some oars made, and get a cre

nd see the boat,"

to dinner now; but we'll come and see th

across the fields home to dinner. They dined at half-past