I have done quite a little of the same kind of work myself, by the same slow process of hand labor, as well as by the modern moulding machine driven by steam power; but I would deem myself as having achieved some fame thereat, could I be assured that my productions would last as long as have his. But the artisan of that longgone and far away time probably little dreamed, that after his work had been exposed to the sunshine and snows, the rain and winds of a century and three quarters, another of his craft would take it up and fashion it into an article of use by the methods of this later day, and call the attention of an assembly of Medford people to it. He had, however, the advantage over the artisans of the present day in having an abundance of good material to select from and to use. Such tools as he worked with seem to us uncouth and clumsy, but he knew how to use them, and did his work well.
Mr. President,—It affords me pleasure to present to the Medford Historical Society at this time, as we begin another season's work—and by your forbearance with my somewhat circumlocutory remarks, the bracket on yonder wall over which is the picture of the house well known to us (and which we are all glad to know is to be preserved) from which it was recently taken, and of which as I have said it was a part.
The forces of nature began the same soon after the advent of the white man to these shores. Artisans who will ever be to us by name unknown, fashioned it almost two centuries ago. In the lapse of the years, its ‘face with time and storm was tanned.’ Simply as a passing incident I have added a little of my own work in shaping its ends to the same curves, and I trust our society will preserve it for many years to come, as a relic of provincial days taken from the Royall House.
