BOSTON TO ALBANY. 109 



Bechet House ^ 



Becket, Massachusetts, 



May Fourteenth. 



Mounted Paul in front of the hotel at Russell at 

 nine o'clock in the morning to ride towards Chester, 

 along the bank of the Westfield Riv^er. This swift 

 branch of the Connecticut runs along between its 

 green banks fertilizing the meadows and turning the 

 factory wheels that here and there dip down into its 

 busy current. The Indian name '^ Ag-awam " bv which 

 it is known nearer its mouth, seems more appropriate 

 for the wild little stream, and often, while I was follow- 

 ing its course, I thought of the banished Red Men 

 who had given it this musical name and who had once 

 built their wigwams along its shores. 



On this morning the air was fresh and the view 

 pleasing under the magical influence of spring, and 

 both were none the less enjoyed by the assurance 

 that dinner could be had at our next stopping-place. 

 Upon dismounting, I found that the ride could not 

 have been as agreeable to Paul as to his master, for 

 his back was in a very sore condition. Everything 

 was done for his comfort; cold water and castile soap 

 being applied to relieve the injured parts, and the. 

 cumbersome saddle-cloth which had been doing duty 

 since we left Boston was discarded for a simple blanket 

 such as I had used while in the cavalry service. This 

 was a change for the better and was made at the righ< 

 time, for, as I afterwards had some difficulty in keep- 

 ing the direct road, the equipment of my horse re- 

 lieved what might have proved a fatiguing day's ride. 



