Nor heeds the sceptic's puny hands,It would seem that a procrastinating spirit, in the matter of providing school buildings, early displayed itself in this community. The demand was an urgent one. The selectmen are given full power to choose a site and erect the structure. A month later two influential citizens are selected to help the Fathers of the town in their arduous task. More than a year passes, and nothing has been done. The citizen committee is doubled, and the instructions, amounting almost to a command, urge that the work be done ‘speedily.’ A year and a half from this time, or three years lacking a month from its inception, the house is completed and the bills are paid. As the sum mentioned (£ 53) included repairs on the meeting house, probably we never shall know the exact cost of Charlestown's first school building. Before we leave this subject, let us look at the picture that is presented from another point of view. Two hundred and fifty years ago that one little Forge gleamed feebly down by Charlestown City square. The appliances, how crude! But the sparks struck from that rude anvil in the wilderness, struck in the white heat of conviction, have flashed and flown till every hill has been illumined with the brightness and every valley has become a shining track. Huge workshops, in brick and stone, have risen on every hand, but not enough to meet the demand, and the hundreds of anvils ringing, ever ringing, resound the larger life, the larger hope—and the forearm of the state is strengthened, ever strengthened. Listen to the ringing and the singing of the anvils as the sparks fly upward and the wise smith never tires! The next schoolmaster of whom we have any mention was a Mr. Stow, who, 6: 3 mo. 1651, ‘is to have what is due to ye Towne from ye Ware and the £ 5 which the major (Sedgwick) pays for Pellock's Island the last year 1650, also he is to regr. & take of such persons (as send there children now & then & not constantly) by the Weeke as he and they can agree.’ This was
While near her school the church-spire stands;
Nor fears the blinded bigot's rule,
While near her church-spire stands the school.
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[18]
Somerville. Historical Society. , 1904.
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