gaged in completing the quilt; while, in one corner, sat the old lady, whose time seemed about equally divided between her knitting work and snuff box. The ladies were not all old, and the love of display, which we are sometimes inclined to look upon as characteristic of our times only, finding little room for manifesting itself in the puritan cut of the sleeve, the white kerchief, and the scanty skirt, was forced to take a higher place, and looked forth in no equivocal manner from the massive puffs of hair which surmounted their demure faces. It was rather invidiously remarked, too, that it could hardly have been acci- ' dental, that eight pairs of high-heeled satin shoes should have been so conspicuous, although the ladies were all seated. Most of the dresses were not only representative of a former age, but were true relics of the olden time, which have fortunately outlived their first possessors, and serve to connect the present with the past.

Then followed the Beaux and Belles of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a group consisting of two couples, one in the fashionable dress of 1752, and the other in that of 1852. The cushioned hair, the rich flowing brocade dress, the wrought high-heeled shoes, the monstrous fan, the strait-backed but richly-carved chair; the knee and shoe buckles, the short breeches, the ample coat, the powdered wig and cocked hat, reminded one strongly of the portraits of "lang syne's sons" and daughters, and formed a striking contrast to the more showy but less expensive dress of the opposite couple.

ner.

After these, came a busy company engaged in the various domestic employments which were the peculiar occupations of the ancient household. Carding, Spinning, Reeling, and Lace-netting were all in lively and successful operation. The linen wheel also stood in its own corNor must the old cradle be forgotten, in which, no doubt, has slumbered the embryo genius of many a beloved and distinguished son of New England. Within its oaken sides, too, have been seen the early manifestations of that restless energy, which, though troublesome in childhood, is admired in the man, and which has given brilliancy and success to the Yankee career. From out its gloomy depths, far back in the shadowy past, have proceeded, in discordant tones, those voices that, in later days, proved mighty in council and debate, and whose thunders shook the king upon his throne. You would know that none but a Puritan had made it, so square and heavy its panelled sides, so strait and unbending its posts; and one could not help feeling that, in its turn, it must have helped in giving form and character to the minds that had been pillowed in it,—at once the emblem and the nurturer of an unbending race of men.

A large carriage followed, in which it was the design to show, in contrast, the Past and Present, as exhibited in the schoolroom, and all the appurtenances. A large map was suspended in the middle, entirely separating it into two rooms. The front room presented a rough and altogether comfortless appearance. On the backless bench were seated the luckless wights who were being "educated" and "instructed," with the "Slate and Rethmetic" before them. On the other side of the room, sat the "Master," in all the restrained severity of a Cromwell Roundhead. On the table at his side lay the indispensable and only school apparatus, the clencher of every argument, the unraveller

of every scientific knot, the elucidator of every principle, the enforcer of every precept,-the rod,-good for doctrine, reproof, instruction, and correction. As it lay there in repose, a man of the present age would see in it only an emblem of the pliancy of the youthful mind, and the sprightly buoyancy of youthful spirits. But the youthful spirits opposite evidently put a different construction upon the matter, as the stereotyped tenor of countenance and the chronic shrug of the shoulders stoutly witnessed. They knew, as well they might, that its lessons were not merely emblematic, but eminently practical; that its influences were never silent, though always touching. They knew, too, by experience and "bobservation," as the sprightly nigger Sam would say, that the present quiet was only the repose of conscious power, the fearful eddy of the air that forebodes the awful tempest.

The blank side of the map, forming one wall of the room, was a fitting type of the child's mind when first committed to the master's forming hand. A more appropriate representative of that mind and character at graduation, might be found in the marred and mutilated desk cover, whereon successive generations had carved, in the impressible pine, the creations of their untutored imaginations.

The other room was fitted up with handsome modern desks. The well defined map formed the wall at the head of the room, and in front, at his table, sat the teacher, with globes and a telescope at his side, representative of the expanding range of study in our schools of the present age, and the vastly multiplied and improved facilities for communicating knowledge. The whole room was made to have a cheerful and inviting air about it, in striking contrast to the headachy look of the first room. We saw no implements of school warfare here, and were reminded of Sprague's prophetic line :

"To martial arts shall milder arts succeed."

The carriage bore the motto which was quite naturally suggested : "Let there be light; and there was light.'

This carriage gave rise to many philosophic reflections, but we forbear to record them here, since history is only the philosopher's textbook, and not the commentary.

Lastly, came the Gleaners, a little company of misses neatly and properly dressed, each wearing a broad white hat, and bearing on one arm the fruit of her labor.

HOLTEN HIGH SCHOOL.

The High School in the North Parish appeared in two carriages, each of which was trimmed for the occasion with evergreens. The advance carriage was the "Hector," bearing most of the ladies dressed in white, and wearing on their heads turbans of pink tarlatane, with long veils. In this carriage were two banners, one having the arms of the D'Anvers Family, and the motto, "History is our lesson to-day;" on the reverse,

"WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PAST, AND WE WILL LABOR
FOR THE FUTURE."

The other, bearing the name of the school, and the motto,
Η Φιλοτοφία Βίου Κυβερνήτης;”
"SCIENTIA LUX MENTIS."

on the

reverse,

In the next carriage was most admirably represented a Trial for Witchcraft-the court and its officers in full costume. The Chief Justice, Cotton Mather, Rev. Mr. Burroughs, and other historical characters, the witnesses, &c., were enacted to the life. Dr. Mather was rather surprised on finding himself introduced to the Rev. Mr. Braman, the present pastor of the church at "Salem Village," but with dignity and courtesy he greeted the reverend gentleman, who, on his part, extended a most hearty and cordial salutation, with his wonted humor. The Judge and Mr. Burroughs went through the same ceremony with characteristic gravity.

After this interruption the trial proceeded, the several witnesses, Eleazer Keyson, Samuel Webber, Ann Putnam, and Goodwife Sarah Viber testifying, in the strongest manner, to the guilt of the accused, who was of course convicted, and put under the custody of the Royal Sheriff, whose scarlet coat and official staff rendered him a prominent figure at the trial.

This school is under the care of Mr. A. P. S. Stuart, and forty-two pupils took part in the representations.

School District No. 1 is situated in the south part of the town, joining Salem, with which it is connected by Main Street. In this district is located the Lexington Battle Monument, the Danvers Bank, Methodist Meeting-house, Southwick's large Tannery, and the principal burying-ground, where now rest many of the earliest and most valued citizens of the town. This district was the home of Gen. Foster, the greater part of his life; of Dennison Wallis, Edward Southwick, Squires Shove, William Sutton, Major Sylvester Osborn, Mr. Ward, and Dea. Fitch Poole, Ebenezer Shillaber, and Oliver Saunders, as well as others whose lives of usefulness have done much to give a character of enterprise and worth to Danvers. Some notoriety has been acquired abroad on account of this being the place where Elizabeth Whitman sojourned and died, (better known to romance readers as Eliza Wharton,) and pilgrimages are still made to her grave, the mutilated headstone bearing ample evidence of the ravages of these relic-seeking and lovesick votaries.

The schools in this district were under the care of Mr. Thomas B. Hinckley, Miss Sarah H. Burt, and Miss Elizabeth E.Winchester. The number of scholars furnished to the procession was two hundred and ten, one hundred and sixty of whom were dressed in Turkish costume. The boys were attired in blue tunics and white trowsers, with scarfs and turbans, each carrying a glittering scimitar; the girls, in blue waists and white skirts, with Turkish head-dress.

The schools represented in this part of the procession were the Grammar, Wallis, and Primary, each accompanied by its teacher. The order of arrangement was as follows. First came the Grammar school, at the head of which was borne a banner inscribed with the No. of the district to which it belonged, followed at a short distance by another, bearing the Wallis school motto, "DENNISON Wallis, OUR BENEFACTOR.' Then came another, with the inscription, "TRUE MERIT OUR ONLY CLAIM TO DISTINCTION." Next came a carriage, thatched with evergreen and decorated with wreaths and flowers, con

taining "buds of promise" in their holiday dresses, accompanied by their teacher. From the back of this carriage was seen a gentleman of the olden time, who, judging from the expression of his countenance, was evidently regarding, with a troubled mind, the changes wrought in dress and habits of life by the lapse of years. There was also among the pedestrians one old gentleman, who evidently belonged to a former age, and who, though "in the world, was not of the world."

There are three schools in District No. 2, under the care of Mr. E. B. Lear, Miss Sarah A. Osgood; and Miss Lydia A. Tilton. This district comprises what was formerly called Skelton's Neck, afterwards New Mills, and now Danvers Port. It was formerly the residence of Gov. Endicott, and within its bounds the famous old PEAR TREE, which tradition informs us was planted by the Governor, still flourishes, and the fruit of its third century is annually plucked by his descendants. Col. Hutchinson, of revolutionary memory, was born in this district. Here is a Post Office and Railroad Station, and two Churches, Baptist and Universalist.

There were one hundred and fifteen pupils from this district, who came in a building which was intended to represent a schoolhouse, and was appropriately trimmed with green branches and various kinds of flowers. It was drawn with its immense load by a noble team of eight gray horses, each bearing on his headstall a miniature American flag. This beautiful team was gratuitously furnished by Mathew Hooper, Esq., an enterprising and public spirited inhabitant of the district.

The girls wore white dresses and millinett hats trimmed with evergreen. The boys had dark jackets, white pants, and palm-leaf hats trimmed with evergreen and flowers. On a banner was inscribed, "SUBSTANCE NOT SHOW."

The school taught by Miss Sophia C. Appleton, in District No. 3, (Putnamville) followed in a carriage drawn by two horses, which were decorated with evergreen and flowers. The carriage was also arched with birch boughs, and bore a banner inscribed, "PUTNAMVILLE, DISTRICT No. 3."

The boys were dressed in blue sacks, white pantaloons, and palmleaf hats trimmed with evergreen. The girls wore white dresses, with millinett hats, with wreaths of flowers. The whole number of scholars in attendance was thirty-seven. This district is the birthplace of Gen. Moses Porter and Hon. Elias Putnam.

The school in District No. 4, the birthplace of Gen. Israel Putnam, also came in a carriage trimmed with evergreen, and drawn by two horses tastefully decorated. Banners were borne with the following

The boys of this school were uniformly dressed in green jackets and palm-leaf hats. The girls also wore palm-leaf hats with wreaths. This school was under the care of Miss Mary A. Wilkins, and forty scholars attended.

The schools in District No. 5, the home of Judge Holten and Rev. Dr. Wadsworth, where is located the Village Meeting-house, and where Rev. Mr. Parris formerly lived, and the Witchcraft delusion originated,

came next in three carriages, which were trimmed with evergreen and arched over with foliage. They were well filled with happy-looking masters and misses, the whole number being eighty-four. The first carriage bore this inscription, "We come from Salem Village;" the second-"Descendants of the Witches," and the third-" The child is father to the man." These schools were attended by their teachers, Miss Sarah F. and Miss Ann Jeanette Emery.

School District No. 6 is in the central part of the town, the former residence of Master Daniel Eppes, and is known as the place where the Royal Governor, Gen. Gage, was encamped with his troops, previous to the Revolutionary war, to overawe the colonists. His head quarters were at the old mansion now standing, called the Collins house.

The school in this district, under the care of Miss Harriet Felton, made a fine appearance. The children connected with it numbered about fifty. First in order came a vehicle containing the boys, who were intended to represent Robin Hood's archers, each boy having in his hand a bow and arrow. Their dress was white pants, green tunics, and straw hats, with a wreath of evergreen. On their banners were the following: In front

In the rear

"No. 6. INCORPORATED Nov. 17, 1800."

"Bend the bow and wing the dart,
Let it reach each foeman's heart;
But the enemy must be

All that's bad in you or me."

Next came the girls belonging to the school. They were intended to represent Flower Girls. They were dressed in white, with a wreath of flowers around their hats, and each one having a bouquet in her hand. Their carriage was roofed over and densely covered with hemlock boughs and evergreen, interspersed with flowers of every variety and hue. For their motto they had the following: "Flowers are types of innocent childhood."

"Flowers that bloom for a season.

Flowers that bloom forever."

There were also two other vehicles connected with the district,—one contained some of the older girls dressed partly in antique style; the other was a very ancient sleigh, owned by one of the inhabitants of the district, in which were four girls dressed in ancient costume. Dresses of brocade silk and damask, high-heeled shoes, bonnets of ancient style, and a beaver hat ornamented with plumes, comprised a part of their attire. As it was the custom of the original owner of the sleigh to have a black servant for a driver, they procured one of the same race for THEIR driver, an old horse, an ancient string of bells, &c., were all intended to represent a sleigh-ride in 1752.

The school in District No. 8, the place where Gen. Foster spent the last part of his life and where he died, was represented by sixty scholars, who attracted much attention from their lively and animated appearance, the magnitude of their carriage, and the novelty of its team. The carriage was of great size, arched with birch trees, and trimmed with evergreens and flowers, the sides being festooned with oak leaves. A banner, trimmed with evergreen and roses, with the