Lewis Sprague Mills

“ Generations speeding onward
In an ever widening circle,
Carry far the blood of Chaugham
And his spouse, brave Molly Barber,
Down the years with Adams, Hobson,
Jacklin, Lawrence, Barber, Elwell,
Webster, Doty, Berry, Cockran,
And the thousands yet to follow.
Through the ages still they journey,
Ever more and more descendants,
From that Ragged Mountain cabin,
Home of fearless Molly Barber
And her spouse, the Honest Chaugham. ”

“ March 7, 1965 East Hartford, Conn.
1. IN THIS LAND IS THE LOCATION, PLACE AND SCENERY OF MY STORY This legend lingers in the vale,
Like a mist upon the river,
And children listen to the tale,
When the wind is in the chimney. ”

“ And he named her Molly Barber,
Of appearance bright and comely,
Fairest of the village maidens,
Sunshine of her father's mansion,
Loved and cherished by her mother.
Always truthful was this daughter,
Honored, trusted and respected,
By the people of the hamlet,
Heeding well her parents' wishes.
6. SWEET AND FAIR AND MOST ATTRACTIVE WAS THIS LITHE AND GRACEFUL MAIDEN. No fairer maid was ever seen
Than this lovely Molly Barber,
Who moved as graceful as a queen,
Meeting all with joyous welcome.
Golden Yellow were her tresses,
Banked in ringlets o'er her shoulders. ”

“ Daughter of fair Molly Barber,
Was born a son known through his life
As "Sol Webster, Basket Maker."
Mary Chaugham married Webster,
Later known as "Old Gum Webster,'
Built a cabin on the hill-side,
Lived and died beside the Tunxis,
And their bones are in the graveyard,
In the graveyard on the hill-side
in the shelter of the forest;
None to guard their final slumber.
Solomon, the son of Webster
And his wife, fair Mary Chaugham,
Married Mary Niles of Riverton,
Lived by making brooms and baskets
Lasting for a generation ”

“ ONE GOD FOR THE INDIAN AND THE WHITEMAN Comely Tomo, called Servampsin,
Sometimes worshipped with the Whiteman;
Heard the Whiteman's prayers and sermons
Heard the Whiteman read the Bible,
Heard the story of creation
For the Indian and the Whiteman,
How the lands and seas were fashioned
In the distant lonely ages
By the unseen god in Heaven—
This the land of the Hereafter
For the Indian and the Whiteman,
Autumn land beyond the sunset. ”

“ Saddened by the bitter quarrel,
"But" she whispered very slowly,
'Though the years again roll backward,
Filling life with youth and beauty,
Bringing crowds of wealth suitors,
Never would I wed for money,
Where my heart refused to follow."
"Better toil through life in freedom
Than be bought by suitor's money
Like a lowly slave at auction."
37. GRANNY CHAVCHAM'S DAYS WERE OVER. When autumn lay on vale and hill,
Sadness came into the cabin
Where Granny Chaugham lay so still,
For her troubled life was ended. ”

“ Turnpike by the Tunxis River.
Far from Albany the coaches,
Rolling nightly through the forests,
Passed the home of Molly Barber.
And the stories of the cabins
On the side of Ragged Mountain
Spread from city unto city. ”

“ Planted there by Molly Barber."
Baskets fashioned on the hill-side
By the lonely Light House people
Still are cherished in the valley.
Thus the name of Molly Barber
Lives beyond her earthly journey
In neat handiwork and flowers.
Forest shades the lonely grave yard
Where within the dim enclosure
Over fifty dead are buried—
Many have no standing markers. ”

“ Generations pressing forward,
Down the vista of the ages.
Molly Barber and James Chaugham—
Dead and buried—gone forever:
Scattered now are their descendants.
Some are in the Town of Woodbury
Busy digging graves and hunting ”

“ Fearing for their habitations.
32. CHAUGHAM'S SPIRIT LEFT THE HILL-SIDE, And Molly Barber labored bravely on,
Strong and stately, hale and hearty,
Until brave Chaugham's life was gone,
And they laid him in the grave-yard ”