Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/37

 AN ANCIENT NECROPOLIS.

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��AN ANCIENT NECROPOLIS.

��nV C. C. LORD.

��THE SITE.

In the town of Hopkinton, N. H., is a ridge of land running northeasterly and southwesterly for the distance of about three miles, passing, at about half its distance, very nearly through the center of the town. Near the middle of this ridge is a depression of the surface, through which passes the highway leading from Hoj^kinton vil- lage on the southeast to the village of Contoocook on the northwest, the de- pression of the ridgy summit being about one mile from the former and two miles from the latter village.

This ridge of land has long been known as Putney's hill, doubtless from the historic prominence of the family of Putneys in this locality. The northeastern brow of this prolonged elevation is sometimes called Gould's hill, in deference to the prominent nomenclatural claim of the Gould family. The admission of this local appellation leaves "Putney's hill" to designate the southwesterly brow of the ridge.

All along the above described ele- vation of land, the eye finds abundant opportunities to enjoy its fill of nature's beauty expressed in extended land- scapes. We prefer, in this connection, to use the term beauty in a strict, technical sense. The more immediate undulations of the earth's contour are so moderate, and the greater terrestrial ruggednesses are so far away, the whole scene is so softened in visual aspect that all conceptions of the sub- lime and grand succumb to sensations of the picturesque and beautiful.

Putney's hill, or that portion of elevated land now more commonly so called, is a frequent resort of pleasure- seekers and tourists. The preference of this brow of the hill for landscape gaz- ing is no doubt due to the absence of surrounding forest and the consequent

��almost unobstructed view in every di- rection. The wooded brow of Gould's hill alone prevents the range of the eye around the entire circuit of the horizon.

Along the ridge of Putney's hill, and for the distance of nearly a mile without passing but one habitation, runs an ancient highway. Twenty-five or thirty years ago the grass crept across this highway from wall to wall, but now a fixed carriage path is maintained throughout the traveling season. Very much of this change is due to the travel of pleasure-seekers, who not only come from near and far, but also, sometimes, make favorable com- parisons of the scene from this eleva- tion with others of much wider public renown.

In respect of inhabitants, a walk or ride over the summit of Putney's hill suggests a feeling of comparative des- olation. On either hand, for much the greater part of the way, are naked fields and pastures. Uninformed in the history of this locality, one would hardly anticipate that here is the site of a former civilized center — the head- quarters of a township's population — the field of many an adventure that quickened the heart-throbs of an ex- tended circle of society.

A small plot of ground on the east side, where a few monumental slabs attest the devotion of the soil to sepul- chral purposes, and the presence of an ancient, uncouth dwelling a little iar- ther north on the opposite hand, barely suggest that human society lays claim to the more special economic uses of this spot, where death, more than life, seems to be the lord and master.

THE TITLE.

The original grant of the township of Hopkinton, N. H., was made by the authority of the Massachusetts Bay Colony to John Jones and others,

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