Part 9

Time “may come, and time may go,” for nature is change, and change nature, but to us “Providence has been very kind,” and the past though hardly pressed, yet dominates the present.

Mansions and plantations justly venerated have become the property of all, and now among us we have “Vernon” and “Stenton,” “Waterview” and “Cliveden” as public parks, not great nor finished as yet, but ours, while behind looming up in the possibilities of “pleasure grounds” is “Fernhill,” and with us forever secure is the peerless Wissahickon.

Though slowly, the character of our town alters, “orders old giving place to new,” but I rejoice that we have so much to remind us of days gone by--“Cliveden” and “Upsala,” “Grumblethorpe” and “Wyck,” to any of which an enforced change would be a catastrophe.

Logan, Huber’s, Spring Alley, “Tinker” Frey’s, Vernon and Chew springs have gone, but Wister, Cope and Johnson springs continue to remind us of rural long ago. Henry’s, Vernon and Methodist lane pumps, once with never-tiring handles traveling uncomplainingly “neath earth and sky” for the public good, have been retired, but “Manheim street pump” unfailingly dispenses to who so e’er will wait. Toll-gate, Conestoga and stage-coach have disappeared from our turnpike road, and the trolley has “followed after,” yet in spite of “all temptation” we cling to the past, and the “Germantown wagon” undaunted waits upon us to do us service.

Change truly is in the air, but there is a remarkable blending of the old with the new. The curse of war has passed from among us, “swords have been beaten into plough-shares, and spears into pruning hooks,” “peace and plenteousness” reign within our borders. No more the cannon’s thundering roar disturbs our homes, and “storied groves of Johnson’s lane, where Washington the bold led Freedom’s sons on British guns in the brave days of old” are free of strife.

Now from many gardens on our “Appian Way” the perfume of blooming plants “maketh glad the heart of man;” native birds frequent, charming with enlivening song, our Main street lawns, and from above, falling upon never-tiring ears, “the great bell still tolls the hours,” as one by one they round to remind us of youth and age and the “vast forever,” while over the “belgian block,” heedlessly perhaps, “the noise of traffic rolls.”

Days come and go, the wheel turns. With us, “too soon, too soon, the noon will be the afternoon, to-day be yesterday.” “The night cometh” when no man may work. While it is yet day, let us remember those who “planted and watered” that we might benefit, and not forgetting our obligations to them, to ourselves and posterity, let us appreciate and provide, so that generations to come may receive with the increase those blessings so generously showered upon us, that the Germantown of greater opportunity to be, may upon the traditions and heritage preserved and bequeathed, rise to heights not attained, because unknown to us.

INDEX

Page

Acacia, 38

Adam and Eve Plant, 73

Addison’s Walk, 47

Ailanthus, 53, 65

Alburger, John, 41

Alcott, Bronson, 40

Alcott, Louisa M., 40

Armstrong, 41

Araucaria, 68

Arbor Vitae, 46, 59

Arrott’s School, 86

Ashton, Dr., 45

Aspen, American, 96

Aster, Meehan’s, 93

Awbury, 46, 54

Baker, W. E. S., 33, 36

Bartram, Wm., 93

Barbary, 49

Barron, Com. James, 52