HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MEDFORD, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1630, TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1855.
Charles Brooks, Ed.

[128] estimable traits of character displayed in the son. Our matrons give the first and most important impress of our moralists, our statesmen, and our heroes. Happy is the lot of those who have mothers of that superior excellence which rises above the vain show and glitter of life, whose pleasures centre in the care of their off-spring, in forming their habits and directing their minds to elevated sentiments and noble objects, whose greatest pride is in those splendid ornaments,--the virtues displayed by their children.

Mrs. Brooks had an excellent friend in her physician, Dr. Simon Tufts, at that time a very respectable practitioner in Medford. His high standing in our profession is evinced by his being enrolled in the list of our members previously to the present organization of the society, when its number was limited to seventy, and none were elected fellows but those who were the most distinguished practitioners in the State. Dr. Tufts observed the anxiety of the mother to elevate her son to a superior station in life, and encouraged her to give him as good an education as their finances would permit. He was accordingly placed at the town-school, where he was taught the rudiments of science, and the Latin and Greek languages. Such was his proficiency in his scholastic studies, and so amiable and exemplary was his character, that he secured the friendship of Dr. Tufts, who took him into his family at the age of fourteen, to educate him for his profession. The skill and science of the instructor, and the indefatigable attention of the pupil, supplied the deficiencies arising from the want of a liberal education. His progress in medical science, and in judicious practical observation, was such as to secure the confidence and respect of his master.

During his pupilage, the amiable traits of his character were more fully developed; and he began to display that talent and fondness for military discipline which were eminently manifested at a subsequent period, and contributed to establish that erect and manly port for which he was so remarkably distinguished. In the hours of relaxation from study, he amused himself with the drill and exercise of the soldier. His manners were so gentle and attractive that he was the delight of all the village boys; they collected about him as the chief source of their pleasures and amusements; he formed them into a company, and trained and exercised them in all the duties of military discipline. Dr. Tuft's yard was often converted into a train-field, and displayed in miniature all “the pomp and circumstance of glorious war.” These juvenile scenes are still recurred to with pleasure, by those who were engaged in them, as the happiest moments of their lives.

He continued, until he was twenty-one years old, under the tuition of Dr. Tufts, who then advised him to commence the practice of physic in the town of Reading, and gave him a high recommendation to the people, as well qualified for the important trust, and worthy of their fullest confidence. He accordingly settled