Fatherland Farm House Raising

Now preparation commenced for ' the erection of a spacious mansion.  Raisings at that period were universally a social festival, and this, from the superiority of the building, the elegance of its surroundings, and position of its owner, became an extraordinary fete.  Preparations for the occasion were made upon a scale of unusual magnificence. It was arranged that the Rev.  Dr. Parish should deliver an address, and a consecrating hymn should be sang.  The choir in our parish were invited to join that in Byfield in singing this hymn.  As the female singers were to be habited in a uniform of white muslin and blue satin, there was a, great stir of preparation, and tbe",hole community was roused into a perfect tiptoe of expectancy. 

The important day at length arrived.  Crowds in carriages, on horseback and on foot thronged to the raising, which was early in the afternoon.  Deft hands splendidly did the work; the stout timbers of the spacious building were securely upreared; then the master builder, Mr. Stephen Tappan of Newburyport, appeared on the summit, bottle in hand.   Amid profound silence, for a moment he poised himself aloft, then swinging the bottle above his head, with a cheer which was caught up and iterated and reiterated by the multitude, the new roof-tree was duly baptized in pure old Jamaica. 

The deafening cheers ended, a platform was arranged over a part of the floor timbers, to which mounted the orator, singers and most noted guests.  The eloquent divine, inspired by the, scene and hour, did himself more than justice, holding his entranced audience in breathless attention for nearl an hour by a perfect rush of eloquence. Next the orchestra took their places.  A goodlie company, those stalwart youths and buxom maidens.  The bassviol struck the tune, and the united voices floated forth on the still summer air, and sang

A tremendous crash at this point drowned the last note, and amid screams, cries and shouts the crowd upon the platform were, hurled into the cellar beneath, amidst earth, rubbish, and broken boards.  For a moment there was the wildest terror and confusion.  It was some time ere the semblance of order could be restored, or the extent of injury ascertained.  Happily no bones were broken, but there were numerous sprains and contusions, The white muslins were sadly rent and torn, but after repairing damages a degree of equanimity was restored and the sumptuous entertainment was served. This was followed by various pastimes,-wrestling, running and other athletic sports.  It was dark before the crowd dispersed, and the great, raising formed a topic of conversation, for months.  Most dire calamities were, prognosticated from the accident, by the superstitious.  Fatal prophecies foredooming the future of the family at Fatherland mansion.

Aunt Judy Dole was vehement in her diatribes.  A nephew, Mr. Benjamin Wadleigh, who had taken the place of the late James Stickney in the household received a severe, sprain in his shoulder, which incapacitated him from labor for some time.  "And served him right," the old woman exclaimed in her most oracular manner. . "He'd better have staid at home and minded his business than hyty-tityiing over to Byfield to sing psalm tunes at such a frolic, and to that great popish stringed instrument of Baal, too.  Sposin' old Parson Moses Parsons' son was gwine to build a house; because it was bigger than common he needn't make such a fuss, other folks had built big houses.  The saying was, destruction went afore a fall; she guessed destruction would arter, this time.  She hoped it would l'arn the young folks sense, - show ‘em taint all gold that glittered."