school-buildings were mere hovels, school-terms limited. to six or eight weeks, and text-books confined to Dilworth's Speller, the New Testament and Psalter, and perhaps Webster's Third Part, and none but "written Arithmetics."*

In 1856 the will of the late Hon. Leonard M. Parker was published, and as he had left a bequest for the establishment and support of a High School, his will came up for the action of the town in a public meeting, convened Aug. 4th of the year aforesaid.

The article in the town-meeting warrant was as follows:-"To see what action the town will take in relation to the bequest,-in the last will and testament of Hon. Leonard M. Parker, late of Shirley, deceased, and the codicil thereto annexed,-for the endowment of a High School for the benefit of the youth of the town, and act anything in relation thereto."

The action of the town in the matter is given in the following record:-"Voted, to accept the provisions of the will of Hon. Leonard M. Parker, late of Shirley, deceased, testate, and of the codicil thereto annexed, which will was proved at Probate court, in Lowell, Sept. 19th, 1854, by which will the said testator made to said town of Shirley certain bequests for the endowment and support of a High School, for the benefit of the youth of the town." "Voted, that the extracts from the will of Hon. Leonard M. Parker, containing those portions relating to the bequests to the town of Shirley, be put upon record."

The following extract from the will states the terms on which the bequest was made, and its publication in this place will furnish to all who would consult these terms, a convenient means of reference :

"I give and bequeath to the inhabitants of the town of Shirley, aforesaid, the sum of four thousand dollars, to constitute a fund for the endowment and support of a High School for the benefit of all the youth of the town—

*See Appendix H.

the same to be placed under the superintendence and direction of the following persons, as a board of trustees, viz: Rev. Seth Chandler, Dr. James O. Parker, Zenas Brown, Thomas Edwin Whitney, Francis H. Kinnicutt, and Joseph Mason, Esqs. But the board shall consist of five when reduced to that number by death or otherwise. They shall continue in office five years—provided that one of the four first above named, in the order in which they are named, shall go out of office at the end of each of the first four years after the organization of the board-the other two at the end of the fifth year; and all vacancies, as they occur, shall be filled by the board, except one, which may always be filled by the town, at a meeting duly warned for the purpose, the board to determine the vacancy thus to be filled by the town.

"The choice of a trustee, by the board and by the town, shall always be made by ballot; and the same person may be re-chosen. Three members shall make a quorum for the transaction of business. The trustees shall not charge for their services, except by a vote of the town.

"The board shall be organized by the choice of a chairman and secretary. They shall make choice of all other necessary officers, appoint teachers and fix their compensation-shall determine the number, age and qualification, of pupils to be admitted to the school-shall adopt all necessary rules and do all things needful; and they shall keep a record of their doings, and annually make a report to the town, showing the condition of the school, the state of the fund, and the manner in which the income has been expended or invested, as the case may be.

"As soon as the board see fit they may procure an act of incorporation, with all needful powers to carry this will into effect, according to the true intent and meaning thereof, and for the most effectual investment of the funds, to ensure to the town their safety. And, as far as may be, the same shall be invested in stocks of the United States and of this State, in loans to towns and to individuals; and in all cases of loans to individuals the same shall be secured by mortgage of real estate.

"It is my general plan and intention that the school shall be kept at least six months, and, ere long, ten months in each year forever, as the income of the fund will admit. And, to the end that this intention may be fully accomplished, the school may, from time to time, be omitted one year, (but not exceeding two years in succession,) for the purpose of adding the income to the principal, and also for the further purpose of laying out the income in the purchase of books, maps, globes, apparatus and works essential to the design of the school,-meaning also to authorize, in due time, the erection of needful buildings.

"It is my further plan that the school shall be established in the centre of the town, as near as may be, being the most convenient point for general accommodation, besides combining quietness, health, and pleasantness of location, with much beauty of natural scenery.

"The school is always to be kept free from all sectarianism and party spirit, in matters of religion and politics. It is always to be free of expense to all availing of its benefits, belonging to the town,-but, should it ever so happen that more may be accommodated, the trustees may admit scholars from other towns, free, or otherwise, at their discretion.

"The principal composing the fund, with all its accumulations, shall always be held sacred to the objects. specified, and shall never be encroached upon; but the income shall be received and faithfully appropriated by the trustees to the purposes herein contemplated. The town shall have the right, at all times, to examine into the state of the school and of the funds, and the doings of the trustees, and to hold them to a faithful accountability. Intellectual and moral culture,-minds richly stored with knowledge, wisdom and virtue :-these are the best legacies which children can receive from their parents.

"These are the life-preserving powers of our republican government. The design of this school is to furnish means for thus cultivating and thus enriching the minds of the young through coming generations. It is not to take

the place of the common schools of the town, but to come in aid of them, to be in addition to them, and of a higher grade; so that all, at a suitable age, may come from those schools and here be carried forward in all the departments of learning essential to a thorough English education."

The will, of which the above is an extract, bears date May 25, 1854. This will is supplemented by a codicil dated June 28, 1854, from which the following paragraphs

are taken :

"Having in my said will made a bequest to the town of Shirley for the establishment and support of a High School-and for the purpose of carrying into effect, as far as may be, my plan and wishes-I now will and direct that the first interest which shall accrue on the amount so bequeathed by me, shall be appropriated to the purchase of a piece of land, northerly of my house, which formerly belonged to my father. I mean about two acres; being the spot which, in the account of the proceedings of the laying the corner-stone of the town-house, is called the Parker Grove. It is my wish and intention that this shall be ever owned and kept by the town as a public square, to be enclosed, laid out and improved, by the preservation and cultivation of trees, and otherwise, and thereby be a lasting ornament and benefit to the town. It is also my intention,-whenever it may be deemed advisable to erect a building for the accommodation aforementioned, that the same shall be placed upon some portion of this ground.

"It was the earnest wish of my father that this land should be owned and controlled by me; but circumstances caused it to be otherwise. I now hope and trust that whoever may be the owner, at the time of my decease, may be disposed to receive a fair compensation for this cherished spot of my early days,-to the end that it may be owned by the town for the purposes above mentioned. And, that the object may be the more readily effected, I

give and bequeath to the said town the further sum of five hundred dollars, to be added to the school fund established by my said will; or-if the Trustees of said school fund deem it best,-to be appropriated by them at once to the purchase and improvement of the grounds, aforementioned, instead of taking the first interest of the school fund.

"I give and bequeath to the said town of Shirley, the following books, for the beginning of a library for the school aforementioned, to wit:-My large quarto Bible— Ancient Charter and Colony Laws-Plymouth Colony Laws-Journal of Provincial Congress of MassachusettsRevised Statutes of Massachusetts-Sidney on Government, 3 vols.-The Federalist, 2 vols.-Life of Jefferson— Virginia Debates-Heron's Junius, 2 vols.-Shakespeare's Works-Bacon's Essays-Trial of Warren HastingsEdinburgh Encyclopædia, and sundry other of my books, at the discretion of my Executors, including agricultural works, and papers of all kinds.

"In case my children shall prefer not to hold my mansion house and lands adjoining, with all the houses and buildings thereon, then it is my will that the town of Shirley shall take, have and hold the same in fee, at the sum of three thousand dollars, in part payment of the said bequest of four thousand dollars."

On the 12th of July, 1856, the trustees of the Parker School Fund held their first meeting, and organized by the choice of the two trustees first named in the will, as president and secretary for the ensuing year. The executors of said will then paid over to them the bequest to the town, that appeared in said will, which with the interest that had accrued thereon amounted to $4,772.62. To constitute this sum the real estate, which formed a part of the bequest, was valued at $3,000, the price set upon it by the legator. At this meeting the trustees adopted a code of by-laws that had been previously prepared, which by-laws required the treasurer to give suitable bonds for the faithful