Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/65

 BEAVER BROOK. 51

out of the whole order, and that all other orders concerning the valuation or coyning of money passed by the court shal be repealed. "

Of the coin made under this order, I have never seen any sample. A further order was passed October 19, 1652, which I copy, as follows : —

"For the p'vention of marking or cliping of all such peeces of money as shal be coyned within this jurisdiction, it is ordered by this court and the authoritye thereof, that hence forth all peeces of money coyned as aforesaid, both shill- ings and smaller peeces, shall have a double ring on either side with this inscription (Massachusetts) and a tree in the center on the one side, and New England and the date of the years on the other side, according to the draught herewithall presented."

This describes the famous Pine Tree Money, which was for a long time the current money of Massachusetts, pieces of which would now sell for many times their weight in gold.

John Hull, master of the mint, by means of his duties and rights under these orders, acquired great wealth, some, perhaps, much of which he loaned on mortgages. An evidence of his wealth and liberality is the dowery or wed- ding gift he bestowed on his daughter, who, when married, was directed by him to stand out in the room, in her wedding dress, while he heaped about her the coined shillings, sixpences, and threepences, until she became the centre of a cone of coined silver as high as her head.

��BEAVER BROOK.

��BY MARY H. WHEELER.

There is a grassy, winding lane

Be5^ond the pasture gate, Fenced oft' from lields of

And corn rows, long and straiglit, And where yf>u outer, for a sign. There nods a red, wild columbine.

��A silent bowlder, lichen crowned,

Stands sentinel within. Where in the gi-een-turfed mellow ground,

The hoof-marked trails begin, And, as you follow on, you may Find slieep there, feeding by the way.

The lane is wider, as you go.

With trees upon your right. And, as j'ou pass the bars below.

The pasture comes in sight, And. walking o'er a mossy ledge, You come upon a wild rose hedge.

The wide-spread pasture leads away,

From rock to hillock green, With trees and shrubs and bowlders gray,

And ferny dells between. And from a knoll you catch a view Of Gunstock mountains, steep and blue.

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