The Empire County argus., 1854-05-13

THE LAST OF THE HEROES OF LExINGToN.-Mr
Joanthan Harrington, the last survivor of the men,
orable conflict of April 10Th, IT'S, died at Lexng-
ton, on Sunday, in the Goth year of his age. The
deceased was born in Lexington, and was but IL
years of age the time of the conflict in that town
on which occasion he played the fife for one of the
companies.
Lossinc's "Field Book of the Revolution contains
an excellent portrait autograph of this venerable
soldier of the revolution and last survivor of the
battle of Lexington. Mr.. Losing, after giving
account of an interview with Abah Harrington,
who, though not in the battle was an eye witness
of the affair at Lexington, says:
81 would gladly of listened until twilight to the
voice of such experience, but time precious, and
FASTENED to East Lexington to visit his cousin,
Jonathan Harrington, an Old man of ninety, who
played the fife when the minute-men were mar
shaled on the green on that memorable April NOR
ming He was splitting wood in his yard with as
vigorous hand when rode up; and as he sat in his
rocking chair while sketched his placid features,
he appeared no older than man of seventy. His
brother, aged eightyegbt, came in before my sketch
was finished. and could not but gaze with wonder
upon those strong old men, children of one mother
who were almost grown to manhood when the first
battle of our revolution occurred. Frugality and
temperance, cooperating with industry, cheerful
temper, and good constitution, have heightened
their days, and made their protracted years hopeful
and happy.
The aged ffer apologizcd for the rough appearance
of his signature which he kindly wrote for me. and
charged the tremulous motion of his hand to his
labor with the axe. How tenaciously we cling even
to the appearance of vigor when the whole frame
is totering to its fall MIR. Harrington opened the
ball of the revolution with the shrll notes of his
fife and then retired from the arena. He was not
soldier in the war, nor has his life passed in the
ouetude of rural pursuits, been distinguished ex-
cept by the glorious acts which constitute the sum
of the achievements OF a GOOD CITIZEN"
The soventy-ffth anniversary of the battles of
Lexington and Concord was celebrated at the latter
place on the 10Th of April, 1850. In the process
sion Wa carriage containing the venerable broth
ers above mentioned aged respectively nearly nine-
ty-one and nnety-three; Amos Baker, Of Lincoln,
ninety four; Thomas HILL of Danvers, aged ninety
two and DR.. Preston of Billerica, aged eighty
eight The Hon Edward Everett, among others,
made speech on the occasion, in which he very
happily remarked, that lit pleased his heart to see
these venerable men beside him and he was very
much pleased to assist Mir. Jonathan Harrington to
put on his top-coat a few minutes ago. In doing
So he was ready to say, with the eminent man OF
old Very pleasant art thou to me, my brother
Jonathan" Governor Briggs on the same occasion
made the following allusion to the venerable pa
triarch:
A young man in Lexington went out the evening
before and while on his way passed several British
officers and soldiers who preceded the army that
came with the rising sun. He returned home and
went to bed about one o'clock he was called up by
his mother who came to his door and said 'Jona-
than the regulars coming you must get up
something must be donel" That was the boy that
stood before you q moment ago. That was the
Jonathan called by that mother aud Jonathan got
up, and what did he do +! What could that boy of
sixteen years old do? I'll tell you what he did.
lie got up and blew that shril little fife to rally the
claus, to alarm the neighbors, to assemble the pa
triots. ,...... s
Mothers Of Massachusetts,, do you hear that?