(Note.
– There is something ever pleasant and fascinating in traditional and legendary
beliefs. It is supposed by many people that the following mentioned English man
actually carried off the famous Mt. Tom carbuncle, but such is not the case. Had
he accomplished this, the troubled mount never would have
ceased its rumblings. In course of time underground magnetic forces drew the
precious stone from the bed of the Salmon River, back to the heart of Mt. Tom;
hence the cessation of the wonderful “Moodus Noises”. J.C.)
When
Geo. the Third, of England, ruled with an iron hand,
Dissatisfaction
grew apace throughout that mighty land;
And
subjects of the tyrant longed for freedom more and more,
And
had for years been coming to this new and verdant shore.
A
nephew of the King one day slipped on his hat and coat,
And
worked his passage over here upon the ferry boat.
And,
seeing that a silv’ry stream did down the valley course,
He
“took” a boat at Saybrook Point and started for its source;
But,
branching off into the cove, and floating on a ways,
He
saw the grandeur of Mt. Tom, whose peak dimmed in the haze.
“Aha!”
said he unto himself, “rich treasure lies therein;”
And,
casting off his royal mien, prospecting did begin.
One
day he neared the summit where to his great joy he found
A
huge red stone of dazzling wealth protruding from the ground.
He
sought to pry it from the earth but could not all alone,
And
every time it felt his touch the Mount would quake and groan.
So
day by day he dug around about the priceless gem until
He
had a trench where he could roll the treasure down the hill.
But
this he dared not do alone, so down the stream he went
With
a descriptive message which to Geo. the Third he sent:
“Send
trusted men to me at once, for, dear beloved Uncle,
On
Mt. Tom’s craggy crest I’ve found a glorious carbuncle.”
And
aged fisher who dwelt near
Heard all those rumblings deep;
And
crept along, in doubt and fear,
The rugged mountain steep.
He
saw the cockney working there,
He saw the precious stone,
And
realized that he must dare
To save it from the throne.
He
watched him closely day by day,
Behind the bush and briar;
And
when he saw him sail away,
He cried with Yankee fire:
“No
king shall own this precious stone!”
And, with a mighty push,
He
sent it down the mountain side –
Down through the underbrush.
Into
the river with a splash,
Beneath the sweeping tide,
Amid
terrific thunder’s crash
Which rocked the mountain side.
And
many years went by before
The rumbling died away;
And
village folk have marveled o’er
Its cause unto this day.
“The
fisher? What of him!” Ah, me,
For years he lay as dead;
Then,
as the rumblings ceased to be,
He lived again, ‘tis said.
July
9, ‘91
Pub.
in Conn.
Valley
Ad.
carbuncle – a jewel (such as a
garnet) that is cut into a rounded shape.
mien – air or bearing
especially as expressive of attitude or personality : demeanor
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