In old Narragansett; romances and realities

								

of that day. The staircase is specially beautiful with its gracefully
turned balusters and curious drop ornaments, and its deep-worn steps of
bass-wood. The walls of all the rooms are wainscoted in a substantial
manner, and the fireplaces are ornamented with blue and white Dutch
tiles. The heavy timbers and rafters--all cut on the place--have
not sagged an inch with the weight of years. Over the fireplace in
the dining-room is a panel bearing a smoke-darkened painting which
represents a deer-hunt that occurred on the Robinson place while the
house was being built. The riders in this picture appear to be standing
in their stirrups instead of sitting on their saddles. The great attic
in which the slaves are said to have slept contains now a picturesque
litter of old sea-chests, spinning-wheels, clock-reels, wool-cards,
flax-brakes, yarn-winders, saddles, and pillions; and in the beams of
the roof are great iron hooks to which--it is whispered--the slaves
of olden times were tied when they received their floggings. They are
with much more probability the loom-hooks which were used by weavers
when weaving cloth on an old hand-loom. The handsome great west room is
known as the Lafayette Chamber, it having been occupied for some weeks
by the Marquis de Lafayette during the Revolutionary War; and on panes
of glass, still whole after a century’s use, are the names of French
officers, scratched on with the writers’ diamond rings.
The house abounds in cupboards--tall, narrow cupboards high up over
the chimney, low, broad cupboards under the window-seats, medicine
cupboards and pot cupboards, triangular corner cupboards, and, in
the parlor, one beautifully proportioned apse-shaped china-cupboard
which is ornamented with carved “sunbursts” and scalloped and serrated
shelves, and is closed with glass doors to show the treasures and
beauties within. But in “Unfortunate Hannah’s” chamber is the most
famous cupboard of all, for in that narrow and shallow retreat a
beautiful daughter of Rowland Robinson hid her lover when she heard the
approaching footsteps of her irascible father on the staircase leading
to her room.
Rowland Robinson was a typical Narragansett planter--wealthy, proud,
and imperious. Tall and portly, ruddy of face, he showed in his
dress and carriage his great wealth and high position. A coat of
fine dark cloth or velvet with silver buttons was worn over a long
yellow waistcoat with great pockets and flaps; violet or brown velvet
knee-breeches with handsome top-boots, or silk stockings with buckled
shoes; lace-frilled shirts; a great beaver cocked hat looped up with
cords over his powdered hair--this attire gave him a comely and elegant
presence. His character may be given in a few words by quoting the
wife of Hon. William Hunter, minister to Brazil. She wrote in her
diary sixty years ago her personal recollection of him. “He was of