Page:Literary pilgrimages of a naturalist (IA literarypilgrima00packrich).pdf/152

 VIII

"THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET"

Its Home in an Unspoiled Corner of Pilgrim Land

It is not often that the scenes of a man's childhood remain measurably intact when that childhood occurred something over a century ago. Yet that is the case with Samuel Woodworth, whose detached name I fancy not one man in a thousand would recall, even among well-read people. Yet you have but to mention "The Old Oaken Bucket" and you get an answering smile of recognition from the veriest ignoramus. Even if he cannot recall the words he can whistle the tune.

People given to moralizing are apt to take instances like this for a topic and wind up with the familiar aphorism, "Such is fame!" And such it seems to be, rightfully enough I dare say. Here was a man of journalistic training and