History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
There is not far from this spot a singular I'reak of nature -- a split rock, with a tree growing out of the crevice. This was a sur])rise to the writer, when, for the first time, he visited this region, nearly forty years ago. It stands on the cross-road between the Pelham and New York roads, and the oldest inhabitant has never seen it otherwise than it looks to-day. In the year 1790 the population of Pelham was as follows :
Five white mules 45
Uniler sixteen years of ago 31
Females 84
Slaves :!8
Totnl I'JS'
The interests of education in Pelham were greatly advanced when the school board of the town, a few years ago, erected in the First School District a new
Yo lio, my hearts ! let's seek the deep,
Ply every oar and cheerly wish her, Still as the bending net we sweep,
God bless the fish hawk and the fisher.
" She rears her yo<ing: in yonder tree,
She leaves lier faithful mate to mind 'em ; Like lis, for fish she sails the sea.
And plunging, sliows us w here to find 'em. Yo ho, my hearts, lot's seek the deep.
Ply every oar and cheerly wish her. While the slow bending net we sweep,
God bless the fish hawk and the fisher."
The man who wrote this hymn (whoever he was) was a close observer and lover of nature. lie had music in his heart, and, it is to be hoped, fish in his basket, and could his name be discovered, deserves to have this Fisher's Hymn inscribed on his iiiomimont.