elf happy in being able
to secure, as his portion, the quaint old homestead, with its then
well-stocked garden, and a lot large enough to make his whole domain an
acre and a half.

I have many times heard him relate the particulars of this acquisition,
and say how lucky it was for all of us that he secured it. The other
heirs, who had turned their acres into money, went into trade or
speculation and came out poor. With the homestead of the first settler
my father seemed to have inherited all his unambitious and plodding
character. His whole habit was quiet, domestic, and home-loving. He was
content to cultivate his land with the spade, raising many kinds of
fruits and vegetables for the family and for market, and working
likewise in the fields and gardens of his neighbors; while in winter he
employed himself in making nets for the fishermen.

But much of this work for others was done for gentlemen who had fine old
houses, built at least a hundred years ago. The land in Moyamensing is
so beautifully level, and is so very rich by nature, that at an early
day in the settlement of the country a great many remarkably fine
dwellings were built upon it, to which extensive gardens were attached.
Father had been in and all over many of these mansions, and was fond of
describing their wonders to us. They were finished inside with great
expense. Some had curiously carved door-frames and mantels, with parlors
wainscoted clear up to the ceiling, and heavy mouldings wherever they
could be put in. These old-time mansions were scattered thickly over
this beautiful piece of land. Such of them as were built nearest the
city have long since been swept away by the extension of streets and
long rows of new houses; but all through the remoter portion of the
district there are many still left, with their fine gardens filled with
the best fruits that modern horticulture has enabled the wealthy to
gather around them.

I remember many of those that have been torn down. One or two of them
were famous in Revolutionary history. The owners of such as remained in
my father's time were glad to have him take charge of their gardens. He
knew how to bud or graft a tree, to trim grapevines, and to raise the
best and earliest vegetables. In all that was to be done in a
gentleman's garden he was so neat, so successful, so quiet and
industrious, that whatever time he had to spare from his own was always
in demand, and at the highest wages.

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