120 A PEN-RAMBLE 



men and children fled for their lives. But one Dresser, 

 whom they met, called them fools and deliberately taking 

 out his pipe and lighting it, said, " TU take a little smoke 

 before they get here." They did not come, but we are 

 not to infer that he is smoking now. 



One of our most substantial, practical, influential and 

 valuable Citizens, in general business and town aiFairs, was 

 Phineas Nelson Dodge, for many years selectman and as- 

 sessor, and several times elected special Supervisor and 

 commissioner in valuations and expenditures of large 

 sums of money. 



Rev. Samuel Perley was born here — a graduate of 

 Harvard College, an able preacher, and a member of the 

 Convention that ratifiedthe Federal Constitution, and voted 

 for its adoption. Here, too, was born Rev. Nathaniel 

 Howe, uncle of our present pastor, a graduate of Harvard 

 College, a preacher of Hopkinton, and noted for his orig- 

 inality, incisive diction and hard logic. Linebrook fought 

 in the Indian wars, in the Revolution, in the war of 1812, 

 and furnished some lifteen or twenty soldiers against the 

 Rebellion. 



But what of the parish as such? Of what use is it when 

 churches and ministers are not particularly necessary to 

 lead the great majority in the contemplation of truth : 

 when saving truth is uttered only by the most populär 

 preachers ; when converts can be made on a Sunday 

 pleasure-ride, as in a prayer-room ; when seasides and 

 groves are as hallowed, as the place where prayer is wont 

 to be made? Of what use when men, therefore, are under 

 no especial Obligation to support it, except as a matter of 

 charity to the church ; and tire so much during the week 

 in the Service of the world, that they feel too tired to 

 serve God on Sunday ? There is little use of it, and there 

 is a corresponding ignorance of its function. But there 



