closing he heard "Uncle Hugh" muttering to himself, "I swar, I'll pray for him, I will.”

Near the close of Dr. Lord's ministry, there was trouble in the choir, and the singers, with the exception of Ambrose Seaton, the leader, left the scats. The minister read the morning hymn, but there was no response. Presently, the senior deacon rose from his seat in front of the pulpit, and called upon the congregation to unite in singing St. Martin's, himself leading off in a voice tremulous with age. For some time he sung alone, but before the hymn was finished he had a respectable following. During the performance the chorister was heard going down the stairs in the west porch, at least two steps at once, and after landing upon the common it was noticed that his steps toward his boarding-house were of remarkable length.

In 1830 an organ was purchased of John Prentiss, Esq., and Mrs. Prentiss acted as organist many years.

Aaron Lawrence, then a young man, aided largely in this part of the Sunday services in the church. After Mrs. Prentiss left town he acted as organist, and as his means increased he spared neither time nor money to keep the peace among the singers and afford them all needful instruction and help in their performances. In 1864 a new organ was purchased of the Messrs. Hook of Boston at an expense of $1,000, one half of which was contributed by Mr. Lawrence. During this time Mr. Elbridge Hardy acted as chorister, assisted a portion of the time by Mr. Benjamin Kendrick and his family. In 1873 a new organ, built by G. H. Ryder, of Boston, was purchased, and used for the first time at the centennial celebration of the dedication of the meeting-house, 18 January, 1874. Since Mr. Hardy's departure William A. Mack, Hollis E. Abbott, Charles N. Merrill, Horace E. Woodberry, and Dr. Edward Aiken, have served as choristers, and Mrs. A. A. Rotch, Miss Annie Kent, Miss Sarah E. Aiken, and Miss Abbie F. Boylston, as organists.

CHAPTER XIV.

SCHOOLS, 1762-1882.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN IN RELATION TO SCHOOLS.-SALE of THE SCHOOL LOTS.-THE FIRST EXAMINING COMMITTEE.— ENCOURAGEMENT GIVEN FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ACADEMY.-SCHOOL LOTTERIES.-CHARTER OF THE AUREAN ACADEMY, AND NAMES OF THE PRINCIPALS.-TEACHERS OF SELECT SCHOOLS.-APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.-APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE TO DISTRICT THE TOWN FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.—THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.— THEIR NUMBERS AND LOCATION.-APPOINTMENT OF A TOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN TOWN 1817-18.SCHOOL BOOKS IN USE IN DISTRICT NO. 1, OCTOBER, 1823. THE 66 LITERARY FUND."-ITS ESTABLISHMENT AND DISTRIBUTION. -DIVISION OF DISTRICT NO. 1.-THE TWO DISTRICTS AGAIN UNITED, AND A NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE BUILT.-MR. ATHERTON'S GIFT TO THE SCHOOLS. THE TOWN RE-DISTRICTED.-LEGACY OF AARON LAWRENCE, ESQ.-OUTLINE MAPS PURCHASED.— ABOLITION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND AN APPRAISAL OF THE SCHOOL PROPERTY IN THE SEVERAL DISTRICTS.-LEGACY OF ISAAC SPALDING, ESQ.

I find no record of any schools in Soulegan West prior to its incorporation as a town. Probably private instruction was given by Mr. Wilkins, or some other qualified person, to such as desired and could afford it.

At the annual meeting of the town in 1762 a vote was passed "to keep a school this year in five divisions, the

selectmen to divide," by which we may understand the selectmen were to divide the town into five divisions or districts and employ a teacher, who should spend a part of his time in each district.

No mention is made of any effort being made to secure an appropriation for schools in the years 1763, 1765, and 1766. In 1764, 1767, 1768, and 1769, the town refused to make any appropriation for that purpose; also at a special meeting held in May, 1769.

Finally the matter became a serious one. The selectmen were in danger of being "presented" for neglect of duty in the matter of schooling. So the town voted, at a meeting. held 12 December, 1769, that "they will keep a school a part of this year," and granted the sum of thirteen pounds, six shillings, eight pence, to defray the expense of so doing.

At the annual meeting, March, 1770, they

“Voted to keep a school the ensuing year to teach the children to read, write, and cypher."

But no record remains that any money was appropriated for teachers.

March, 1771. Twenty pounds, lawful money, was voted for schooling, and the town directed that "the school should be kept some part of the time in several parts of the town." Also, voted that the people of the town "keep as many schools as they think fit, and each family that does keep a school shall be entitled to draw their proportion of the money above granted."

At a meeting held 9 March, 1772, the sum of twenty-six pounds, thirteen shillings, four pence, was granted for the support of schools that year. In 1773 the article in the warrant for the annual meeting relating to schools was referred to the selectmen.

A proposition to build several school-houses and to choose a committee to complete the same was rejected at the annual mecting in March, 1774.

The lots reserved for schools by the proprietors of the township seem to have been sold about this time, as we find in the warrant for the meeting held 13 March, 1775, an article, "to see if the town would allow that part of the town that was originally called Amherst to use the interest of the money their school right was lately sold for in private schools," which they refused to do.

No record remains of any provision being made for schools in the years 1775, 1776, and 1777. Other matters of serious import engrossed the minds of the people in those years; but it is probable that the schools were not wholly neglected.

At the annual meeting in March, 1778, it was "Voted to keep a grammar school the ensuing year."

And on the cover of the first volume of the town records are the following entries, in the hand-writing of Col. Nahum Baldwin, town-clerk and first selectman that year. 27 April, 1778,

"Agreed with Mr. William King to keep a town school at 6s. per day, and board him. Same day opened s'd school. 27 July, 1778, Agreed with Mr. Brown Emerson to keep a school in this town at 35sp'r quarter. ye school commenced this day.

N. B., Town Clerk."

These were warlike times, and the fathers used warlike terms in the transaction of their business. So we find them voting, 8 March, 1779,

"That the town be divided into squadrons at the discretion of the selectmen, that the inhabitants may be the better accommodated with a school, and that each squadron have their part of the money that shall be raised for schooling, Provided they lay it out for that purpose."

The sum of £300 was granted for the support of schools this year at an adjourned meeting held 31 March.

In March, 1780, the sum of £600 was voted for the support of schools, and the manner of keeping them was referred to the selectmen.

At the March meeting in 1781 the town voted to raise £10,000 for schooling, this year, and that "the schools be kept by each neighborhood classing together." It may be well to remember that this was in the days of the depreciated continental "fiat" money. The next year they had reached "hard pan," as they voted eighty pounds for the support of schools. The same amount was appropriated in 1783.

In 1784 they did better, and appropriated £100, and directed the selectmen to divide the town into school districts, and each district had liberty to lay out their money as they pleased.

The sum of £150 was voted for schools in each of the years 1785, 1786, and 1787.

At a meeting held 10 April, 1787, the town voted to keep a grammar school in the centre district, this year, on condition that the district shall make up to the master in a private way what their proportion of the school money falls short of an adequate salary.

A disposition was manifested at this meeting to secure. the services of such persons as teachers in the schools as were qualified for the work, and a committee, consisting of Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, Rev. John Bruce, and Augustus Blanchard, Esq., was appointed "to examine the abilities of school masters and mistresses," and it was voted that none but those that were recommended by them should be employed by any district as teachers of schools.

It was also voted that if any district should not school out their money within one year from the time it was granted, it should be paid into the town treasury for the use of the town.

One hundred and fifty pounds annually was granted for the support of schools from 1787 to 1793, inclusive.

At the annual meeting in March, 1789, the town voted to excuse a number of persons who had joined themselves together for the support of an academy in this town from