320 THE HOWE PLACE. 



and long lived here under English rule. This land, 

 according to the deed which I hold in my hand, was 

 purchased of Stephen IsTewton for the sum of four 

 hundred and twenty-five pounds sterling an amount 

 in ready money quite as large for the place without the 

 buildings as the homestead is now worth. However, 

 there were about two hundred acres in the original 

 purchase the Brewer place, so called, having been 

 sold from it, there remain about one hundred and two 

 at the present time. 



John Howe, my great great grandfather, trans- 

 ferred his right and title in the piece of realty to his 

 only son, Paul, and he in turn deeded it to his oldest 

 son, John, who sold it to Uncle Paul and my father, 

 Samuel H. Howe. Soon after the joint ownership, 

 but not till after I was born, the property was sold 

 and for a season passed out of the Howe family. I 

 was about four years old when I left this ancestral es- 

 tate ; but I distinctly remember the departure of our 

 family, and that my mother shed tears when we left 

 the premises 



I have always held the place in sentimental es- 

 teem, and long entertained the resolve to become at 

 length its owner. All through adolescence and early 

 manhood instinctive impulses directed my feet to this 

 beloved environment, where the brooks contained 

 trout and the copses embraced wookcock and grouse. 

 In winter, after a fleecy snow had freshly fallen, I 

 visited these hills and glens to track the fox and hare, 

 and often returned home at night with an empty game- 

 bag and an emptier stomach. However, bad luck at 

 fishing and shooting was not attended with regret. I 

 had enjoyed feasting my eyes on scenes that had kin- 



