congregation diminishing until the pews were
given up to the boys and those who attended from curiosity. One
morning the seats of the singers were vacant, and Hubbard read the hymn
commencing: "Let those refuse to sing, who never knew their God."
That was the last, or near the last of his Sunday services.

As the controversy went on, the members of the parish withdrew, until
the only one remaining who possessed any property was an uncle of mine,
Timothy Marshall. He lived in the easterly part of the town, and he
was a Universalist in opinion. He owned a small farm and a sawmill on
the Mulpus Brook. His chief delights were reading, discussing
political and religious questions, and gathering information in the
department of the natural sciences. He associated a good deal with Dr.
Bard, but he never accepted Bard's views of the Bible. He had
continued with the old society from indisposition to disturb himself
rather than from sympathy with its teachings, or regard for its
interests. At the conclusion of the active controversy between Hubbard
and the society, the unpaid salary amounted to several hundred dollars.
Hubbard threatened suit, and he may have commenced one. In that
juncture my uncle went over the town and gathered the signatures of
those nominal members who had no property, who had not paid taxes, and
whose eyes had not seen the inside of a meetinghouse. A parish meeting
was called, composed by my uncle and his new adherents. At the end
authority was given for the conveyance to Mr. Hubbard of the site of
the old meetinghouse in full satisfaction of his claim. This spot was
in the center of the village and in the view of the houses of the
principal residents. Not their curiosity merely, but their fears were
excited when they learned that their bitter enemy was to become the
owner of the common in the center of the village. To be sure the
bounds were indefinite, but there was a spot belonging to the parish,
and it included all that was not highway.

My uncle had an understanding with Hubbard that the land was to be
conveyed to Hubbard and the society released from all its liabilities
under the contract. Then the land was to be conveyed to my uncle for
the sum of six hundred dollars. This was done, and my uncle became the
owner of the common. He was not a friend of the citizens of the
village, and various uncomfortable surmises were set afloat. But my
uncle had but little malice in his nature, and