Brook Farm: Historic and Personal MemoirsCodman, John Thomas
History
Brook Farm: Historic and Personal Memoirs
Codman, John Thomas
Brook Farm Phalanx (West Roxbury, Boston, Mass.)
Things were looking up in the Phalanx at this time, for money was
coming from some sources to finish a portion of the "Phalanstery." Not
that it resembled one, but more out of deference to the idea of one did
it receive its name. This would admit of additional membership, as
well-to-do and able families were to embark in the enterprise, who
could not and would not join it in the crowded state of the houses. The
feeling among all was particularly hopeful and cheerful at the
prospect, as we knew it was the cramped condition of the finances that
had prevented the finishing of the building before this time.
Monday, March 2, 1846, was the day of recommencement of labor on it. On
the Saturday previous carpenters had put a stove into the building for
the purpose of drying it, as it had gathered dampness all through the
severe winter. It was now Tuesday, the day after our sweet singer left
us, and as we were all cheerful in our new hopes, it was proposed that
we should celebrate our good luck with a social dance at the Hive. I
shall call on my imagination to people the hall with those who were
Brook Farmers, though not all of them were there in person on that
occasion, in order to give the effective picture of such an assembly;
the realization of it to the mind, rather than the absolute facts.
The first usually to occupy the hall were the young folks living at the
Hive, whose labors ended early. The dance commenced without ceremony
when one or two sets were ready. The pupils of the school from the Eyry
soon arrived, with the young Spanish boys and the well-dressed maidens.
Then the "Pilgrims" came, and the few who resided at the Cottage
completed the assembly. It was later when the members of the Direction
were seen looking in the room. They had been to some of the
interminable meetings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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