MONTPELIER. HOME OF MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY KNOX, THOMASTON, MAINE. [Never before published.] nity to every assemblage, and her vivacity was contagious. She had also been one of the heroines of the Revolution, and nearly as well known in camp as her husband. But her subsequent life in the country has not been as familiar to the world. Soon after she arrived with her family and retinue of servants at her new home "Montpelier," the towns-people were feasted at the mansion, after which the Tarrentines, their Indian neighbors, partook of their magnificent hospitality, prolonging their stay many days; but here Mrs. Knox's intercourse with her neighbors ended. In many respects General and Mrs. Knox were well suited to each other, and lived in harmony. Yet some of their habits, traits, likes and dislikes were in direct opposition; though on points of this nature neither undertook dictatorship. There is but one known instance of the general's attempting conjugal discipline. He had invited a Puritan divine to dinner; and when the two gentlemen entered the dining-room, they found Lady Knox, who was not of a particularly religious turn of mind, seated at the table. Approaching her chair, her liege lord said: "Rise, my dear, the parson will ask a blessing." Lady Knox took no notice of the request, and the general repeated it, adding a flavoring of emphasis. Still she sat in unmoved stateliness. Then, raising his tone to something of a military command, he again repeated the request. But she remained complacently deaf, and the parson was obliged to pronounce his blessing while she occupied her seat. The meal then proceeded without further interruption, and no allusion was subsequently made to her lack of homage. Yet, with all his respect for religion and his interest in church-going, General Knox is said to have occasionally indulged in profanity. Authentic tradition tells us it was not of an offensive nature, but used only in cases of meditated provocation, where blasphemy seemed to him dignity. For instance, a backwoodsman disputed him about the number of logs furnished him at one time. Knox had ample proof of his own accuracy in the matter, yet the forester rather than acknowledge his error offered to take his oath upon the correctness of his own figures. Knox coolly replied, "Well, if you are willing to risk your immortal soul for four-and-sixpence, in the name of God do it." The general was over-charitable, and blended geniality so thoroughly with charity that he almost placed himself on a level with the common folk. Mrs. Knox rarely tendered charity; and when she did, it was with such a cold hand and stony face that the recipient would starve in preference to accepting from her again. Knox loved to see every one prosperous and happy, and aided the country people in their enterprises, however unprofitable these seemed; at one time erecting a marble-mill over a stream of water too small to saw even one block of marble. Mrs. Knox, luckily perhaps for the family purse, was apparently ignorant of the existence of her common neighbors, even when she needed their services. On one occasion, when her carriage broke down, she remained standing unprotected in the muddy street rather than accept the hospitality proffered by them. This haughtiness, however, was accepted by the poorer classes as her unquestioned right; and, being aware of her aristocratic descent, they would have paid her less homage had she shown them more consideration. The awe in which they held her received its death-blow one day, however, when during her husband's absence she had the graves of the frontier defenders -whose humble memorial stones in close proximity to her drawing-room windows had often given her uncomfortable suggestions of death-opened, and their remains placed in a more appropriate resting-place. The general had cherished a peculiar sentiment toward these sacred tombs, and tore his hair in deep mortification when he learned of this action on the part of his wife. Still, the better part of the life of Mrs. Knox has not been portrayed in the incidents mentioned. There was a mean between the two extremes of her position as leading society lady at the National Capital and as lady of rank among humble neighbors, in which she appeared in her truest light. This was in extending the hospitalities of "Montpelier." No one was better qualified than she to entertain guests of distinction both from our own and from foreign countries. Invitations were freely distributed during the summer months, and on the approach of winter the family migrated to Boston, where Mrs. Knox held unquestioned sway in gay society. Whist was one of her favorite pastimes, and she risked large sums of money in the game, much to the distress of more staid matrons who dreaded the influence of that vivacious lady. Her journeyings to and from Boston were often made by land in her carriage, though the poorly-kept inns and miserable roads prompted her oftentimes to make the trip by water on board a coasting vessel. On occasions of this nature she would remain. shut up in her carriage or her cabin the entire distance, holding no intercourse with any one save her family and servants, while Knox and the children enjoyed a freer life in the society of the captain and other passengers. The reminiscences of these two personages must have been of the most interesting character. When the storm of revolution was brewing in our national sky Knox was but twenty-four years of age—a clever and dashing book-seller in Boston, his native city. His establishment was a favorite resort of cultivated persons, and his correspondence abroad was large and influential. He bent all this influence toward effecting an amicable understanding between the contending parties, and was so hopeful of success that he took no part in the "Tea Party," or other impulsive acts of resistance which engaged the patriot leaders at that time. His conduct was recognized abroad as neutrality; and consignments of tea were privately made to him soon afterward, which, with a great deal of unpleasantness and inconvenience, he eventually managed to return. He then laid aside the mask of argument and fearlessly adopted defensive measures. Cupid and Mars simultaneously took him in rule at this time. His stately figure and handsome face had, when leading a military parade, attracted the attention of Miss Lucy Flucker, daughter of Hon. Thomas Flucker, secretary of the province under Governor Gage. The spirit of romance was as keen in the eighteenth as in the nineteenth century, and this young lady lost no time in ascertaining Knox's place of business. She entered one day under pretense of purchasing books, and the old, old, old story, never threadbare from repetition, was thus begun. The attachment was bitterly opposed by both families; political sentiment by the Knox relatives, and a similar objection, backed by a strong argument of wealth and aristocracy by the Fluckers, being the points of controversy. But the strong will of the young lady, seconded perhaps by an untamed love of adventure, acknowledged no opposition. She was married to Knox in June, 1774, and the patriot cause found no braver advocate than "Lady Knox," as she was even then styled. She concealed, with able craft, her husband's sword under her mantle, and they left Boston on foot in disguise. Knox was presently active in defending Concord; but his military prominence began at Bunker Hill, where, though but a private, his skill in planning |