EXPLORATIONS AMONG THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. 7 1 



lawn were given, in honor of three eminent botanists who had particu- 

 larly distinguished themselves in the study of the White Mountain flora, 

 to three fine localities of plants as well as marked topographical features. 

 It is difficult to ascertain the origin of many of the names of natural 

 objects about the mountains. Dr. Bemis has perhaps applied more 

 appellations than any other person to these features. Other names 

 have been given by chance visitors, and preserved by usage among 

 guides. 



No Indian legends remain about the mountains, and but few localities 

 have a particular history. There is one cascade, however, about a quarter 

 of a mile from the former residence of old Abel Crawford, which is more 

 distinguished by the sad story associated with it, than by the picturesque- 

 ness of the crags through which it hurries for the last mile of its descent. 

 It is called "Nancy's brook." Here, late in the autumn of 1788, a young 

 woman, who had lived with a family in Jefferson, was found frozen to death. 

 She was engaged to be married to a man who was employed in the same 

 family where she served, and had entrusted to him all her earnings, with 

 the understanding that in a few clays they should leave for Portsmouth 

 to be married there. During her temporary absence at Lancaster, nine 

 miles distant, the man started with his employer for Portsmouth, leaving 

 no explanation or message for her. She learned the fact of her deser- 

 tion on the same day, and at once walked back to Jefferson, tied up a 

 small bundle of clothing, and, in spite of all warnings and entreaties, 

 set out on foot to overtake them. The distance to the notch was thirty 

 miles, with no settlement on the way, the only road being a hunter's path 

 marked by spotted trees. It had been snowing, but she pressed on over 

 this road through the night, in the hope of overtaking her lover at the 

 camp in the notch before the party should start in the morning. She 

 reached it soon after they had left, and it appeared to those who, alarmed 

 for her safety, had followed on from Jefferson to overtake her, that she 

 had tried in vain to rekindle the fire in the lonely camp. Failing in this, 

 she had hurried on, climbing the wild pass of the notch, and following 

 the track of the Saco towards Conway. Several miles of the roughest 

 part of the way she travelled thus, often fording the river. But her 

 strength was spent by two or three hours of such toil ; and she was 

 found by the party in pursuit of her, chilled and stiff in the snow, at the 



