1868.]
THE OLD SLA TE-ROOF HOUSE.
37
There, glowing like a live coal behind the great back-log, shone the massive iron fire-back, with the date of the erec
house on King street, where I now re side,was the second above Walnut street,
tion of the house in fiery figures, and
The owners of similar lots each held one thousand acres and upwards in the coun try, and, as an additional inducement for the investment, had received these city lots free, which have since proved so valuable. The western ends on Second street were regarded for some time as back lots. Foreseeing, however, the speedy growth of the town, I determined to improve my Second street property; and accordingly, I began to build this ‘Slate-roof House’—so-called by the set tlers because I covered the roof with expensive imported slates, the first used in the province. As other houses were merely shingled, this one immediately became an object of interest and re spect, partly on account of its costly covermg.
the arms of its owner, Samuel Carpenter, literally emblazoned. Argent—A grey hound passant, a chief party per pale, sable et argent. Crest—A greyhound’s head coupé.
“Ah! that is a good omen, friend Carpenter!” cried the imaginative Le titia. “ Thy good ship, the Greyhound,
will surely arrive speedily and safely in
and extended from King to Second street.
port.” /Villiam Penn was about to mildly re buke his daughter, but Carpenter frus trated his design by saying, “ Though I am not given to a belief in signs, yet it is not a little singular that this thing happened once before. At that time I had a new vessel without a name ; and when I saw the greyhound braving the “ Having designed the plan myself, flames, I said, ‘I will give that name to my ship; thus may she prove a fast after consultation with several of our sailor, and ever brave the dangers of the friends, I engaged James Porteus to deep.’ This leads me to ask if ye have superintencl its erection. This relieved me of much care, and was of great ad noticed the tiles about this fire-p1ace ?” “Indeed, we have greatly admired vantage to him, as it at once established them,” said Mistress Penn. “ Those his reputation, and laid the foundation of facing us are most elaborately ornament his present prosperity.“ ed; and the pure alabaster ones with “I well remember,” said Governor the rich crimson borders are exquisitely Penn, “ that, before this, Francis Collins finished. Where did thou procure such and T. Matlack had the bulk of that business. As early as the spring of ’86 gems P” “ From a friend of mine who has a they were engaged in putting up a house famous manufactory at Gouda, in South for a relative of mine; and Francis Rawle, Holland. He sent them to me as the who sailed from Plymouth in April of choicest specimens of his art.” that’ year, very kindly undertook to de “I delight in those in the dining-room,” liver for me a sum of money due them. said Tishe, “ with the pink grounds and Prithee, tell us further of thy enterprise, the dark-blue figures. There is one rep Samuel.” “ The foundations were of solid stone, resenting a handsome shepherd, with a broad-brimmed hat like father’s, driving quarried in the colony; but I was obliged sheep across a bridge. Another is very to send abroad for the ‘black-header’ droll. A cock is standing on a point of bricks. The red bricks were already made here in great perfection; so that land; at his feet, in a small piece of water, lie several ships. The cock, which the variety gave to the externals of the is of immense size and is crowing vig- - house a very handsome appearance. The orously, seems to fill the principal space, cellar was of unusual depth, with im and entirely dwarf the poor little vessels.” mensely thick walls. The rear was ar “ Ah! yes, that is the Gallic cock, and ranged for a kitchen. In the front, heavy is intended as a hit at the French by the " James Porteus died many years afwnvards, at an ' good Hollanders. But to resume : the advanced age, in 1736, nndleft a large fut-lune, acquired lot No. 16, on which I had first built the from the profits of his trade as a builder.
