Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/391

 JOSIAH HARTLETr.

��353

��JOSIAH BARTLETT.

��BY DANIEL ROLLINS.

In the north-eastern part of Massa- pie of Amesbury propose to erect a

chusetts, near the confines of New monument on the site, in memory of

Hampshire, there lies the busy manu- their distinguished townsman. May

facturing town of Amesbury. It is they complete it at an early day —

located on the bank of the Merrimack honoring themselves by honoring him.

river, under the brow of a protecting Josiah Bartlett was taught Greek

hill, and overlooks the blue waters of and [Latin at an early age, and soon

the Atlantic. This spot was the birth- made rapid progress in both languages,

place of Josiah Bartlett, the first man as he applied himself diligendy and

who voted for, and the second who had an excellent memory,

signed, the Declaration of Independ- He was a great reader, spending all

ence. his spare time on books. Perhaps his

If the reader will ascend Poe Hill — success was largely owing to this at the rear of the town — he can ob- habit. Neither did he neglect the tain a view hardly surpassed in this study of human nature by personal part of the country. If we look to contact with men. the north we may see fertile, undulat- In his sixteenth year, he began the ing meadows, and further on the rug- study of medicine with Dr. Ordway, ged peaks of the Granite State. If of his native town, who was also a we glance to the west we note the distant relative of the family. After long reaches of woodland extending he had finished the usual course of for many a mile. If we turn to the instruction, he removed to Kingston, south the view is still unrivalled ; fore- New Hampshire, and there began the most in the picture rises Sir Edward exercise of his profession. He soon Thornton's castle-like building situated acquired a large practice by his skill on an eminence across the river, giv- in surgery and in the study of the hu- ing a mediaeval air to the beautiful land- man frame. Perhaps no other pro- scape. Bat it is only a sham castle after fession is so ennobling as this, unless all, for the walls and turrets are made we except thit of the divine. Indeed, of wood, not of massive stones which both formerly went hand in hand ; for have resisted the wear and tear of the good priest with his necessarily centuries. limited knowledge of physic allayed

Josiah Bartletl's birthplace has been the bodily sufferings of the invalid,

pulled down within a ii\^ years, but while he at the same time healed the

fortunately a photograph was taken of sorrowing heart by wise and holy

it. It was a plain, two-story, solid old counsel.

structure, such as our forefathers were Dr. Bartlett was early noted for up- wont to build. It stood on a hill rightness and decision of character, overlooking the riv^er, near a bend and he was soon appointed a magis- called " Bartlett's Cave." The peo- trate.

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