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cannot vouch so confidently for the cobwebby legend which wove itself
about him。 It was to this effect： He had formerly been the master of a large
merchantman running between New York and Calcutta； while still in his
prime he had abruptly retired from the quarter…deck； and seated himself at
that windowwhere the outlook must have been the reverse of
exhilarating； for not ten persons passed in the course of the day； and the
hurried jingle of the bells on Parry's bakery…cart was the only sound that
ever shattered the silence。 Whether it was an amatory or a financial
disappointment that turned him into a hermit was left to ingenious
conjecture。 But there he sat； year in and year out； with his cheek so close
to the window that the nearest pane became permanently blurred with his
breath； for after his demise the blurr remained。
In this Arcadian era it was possible； in provincial places； for an
undertaker to assume the dimensions of a personage。 There was a sexton
in Portsmouthhis name escapes me； but his attributes do notwhose
impressiveness made him own brother to the massive architecture of the
Stone Church。 On every solemn occasion he was the striking figure； even
to the eclipsing of the involuntary object of the ceremony。 His occasions；
happily； were not exclusively solemn； he added to his other public services
that of furnishing ice…cream for the evening parties。 I always thought
perhaps it was the working of an unchastened imaginationthat he
managed to throw into his ice…creams a peculiar chill not attained by either
Dunyon or Peduzziarcades ambothe rival confectioners。
Perhaps I should not say rival； for Mr。 Dunyon kept a species of
restaurant； while Mr。 Peduzzi restricted himself to preparing confections to
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be discussed elsewhere than on his premises。 Both gentlemen achieved
great popularity in their respective lines； but neither offered to the juvenile
population quite the charm of those prim； white…capped old ladies who
presided over certain snuffy little shops； occurring unexpectedly in silent
side…streets where the football of commerce seemed an incongruous thing。
These shops were never intended in nature。 They had an impromptu and
abnormal air about them。 I do not recall one that was not located in a
private residence； and was not evidently the despairing expedient of some
pathetic financial crisis； similar to that which overtook Miss Hepzibah
Pyrcheon in The House of the Seven Gables。 The horizontally divided
street doorthe upper section left open in summerushered you； with a
sudden jangle of bell that turned your heart over； into a strictly private hall；
haunted by the delayed aroma of thousands of family dinners。 Thence；
through another door； you passed into what had formerly been the front
parlor； but was now a shop； with a narrow； brown； wooden counter； and
several rows of little drawers built up against the picture…papered wall
behind it。 Through much use the paint on these drawers was worn off in
circles round the polished brass knobs。 Here was stored almost every small
article required by humanity； from an inflamed emery cushion to a
peppermint Gibraltarthe latter a kind of adamantine confectionery which；
when I reflect upon it； raises in me the wonder that any Portsmouth boy or
girl ever reached the age of fifteen with a single tooth left unbroken。 The
proprietors of these little knick…knack establishments were the nicest
creatures； somehow suggesting venerable doves。 They were always aged
ladies； sometimes spinsters； sometimes relicts of daring mariners； beached
long before。 They always wore crisp muslin caps and steel…rimmed
spectacles； they were not always amiable； and no wonder； for even doves
may have their rheumatism； but such as they were； they were cherished in
young hearts； and are； I take it； impossible to…day。
When I look back to Portsmouth as I knew it； it occurs to me that it
must have been in some respects unique among New England towns。
There were； for instance； no really poor persons in the place； every one
had some sufficient calling or an income to render it unnecessary； vagrants
and paupers were instantly snapped up and provided for at 〃the Farm。〃
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There was； however； in a gambrel…roofed house here and there； a decayed
old gentlewoman； occupying a scrupulously neat room with just a
suspicion of maccaboy snuff in the air； who had her meals sent in to her by
the neighborhoodas a matter of course； and involving no sense of
dependency on her side。 It is wonderful what an extension of vitality is
given to an old gentlewoman in this condition！
I would like to write about several of those ancient Dames； as they
were affectionately called； and to materialize others of the shadows that
stir in my recollection； but this would be to go outside the lines of my
purpose； which is simply to indicate one of the various sorts of changes
that have come over the vie intime of formerly secluded places like
Portsmouththe obliteration of odd personalities； or； if not the obliteration；
the general disregard of them。 Everywhere in New England the impress of
the past is fading out。 The few old…fashioned men and womenquaint；
shrewd； and racy of the soilwho linger in little； silvery…gray old
homesteads strung along the New England roads and by…ways will shortly
cease to exist as a class； save in the record of some such charming
chronicler as Sarah Jewett； or Mary Wilkins； on whose sympathetic page
they have already taken to themselves a remote air； an atmosphere of long…
kept lavender and pennyroyal。
Peculiarity in any kind requires encouragement in order to reach
flower。 The increased facilities of communication between points once
isolated； the interchange of customs and modes of thought； make this
encouragement more and more difficult