Page:David Alden's Daughter.djvu/25

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DAVID ALDEN'S DAUGHTER.
5


upon the site of the present Universalist church, and the garden joined the grounds of the meeting-house at what is now Putnam Street. In front of the mansion, along what we call Guild Row, flowed the bright waters of Smelt Brook, over which Paul Dudley later on threw a stone bridge. But we must not keep Samuel Cheeseboro, who is very thirsty, waiting any longer.

"They'll have a tap of ale over yonder for sure," remarked he, considering the Flower-de-Luce, a large low-ceiled house, with gambrel-roof, swinging casement windows with roses and columbine twining around them, a sign painted with three fleur-de-lis, and a great oaken door set wide open, and giving entrance to a cavernous, low-browed chamber with sanded floor and wainscoted walls, one heavy oaken table in the midst, and others set in convenient nooks for customers needing only a "snack" and a draught. This, the principal room ot the inn, served as dining-hall, bar, conversation room, and general exchange for the citizens who found themselves with an hour and a sixpence to spare for social intercourse and a glass of ale or Geneva bitters.

"You're just in luck, young man, for the maid is putting supper on the table," cried the landlord heartily. "Or will you rather have a hack at a round of spiced beef and a home-baked loaf for a shilling, not counting your draught? "

"My thanks to you, landlord, but I'll tarry for neither, though I've as good a stomach for it as