The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-08-23

y
which it has ever been his lot to enjoy.
Happening to be in Westerly on FRI
day, week, accepted an invitation very
kindly extended to me by the Rev.
John Taylor to accompany the Sabbath
School, connected with the church un-
der his charge, on an excursion to Os-
brook "a delightful grove on the banks
of the Pawcatuck, nearly .oppo site
Watch Hill.
In the morning all the little ones,
crowned with wreathes and vers>pretti-
ly decorated with garden flowers. assem-
bled with their parents and friends, to
the number of about 400, in the Chapel,
and were marshalled into orderNlH their
excellent pastor. They thep ~ kchcd,
under the escort of the Westerly Brass
Band-which | may as well say here,
discourscd most beautiful music, and
added much to our enjoyment, during
the day--to the wharf of Capt. Thomp-
son, where they embarked on board his
lighter, which on this occasion was very
gaily decorated with flags, and very we'll
filled, you may guess, with living hu-
manity, baskets and boxes of provisions,
benches, chairs, and so forth.
Our sail down the river was delight
full and soul-inspring. The beautiful
scenery which nature had provided, was
rendered still more beautiful by the ap-
pcarancc upon the rivers surface, as it
winds its crooked way towards the Sound,
Of scores of sail boats, which we're pre-
ceding as on our voyage.
At about nine o'clock, we arrived at
Osbrook, and Observation-Disclosures walks
of planks having been extended to the
shore to prevent the little ones and the
ladies from wettng their feet. Soon
after our arrival, a committee f-sentle-
men was appointed to erect table, and
another of ladies to provide a collation..
These duties were admirably attended
to, and very soon a table, l44|feet in
length, was plentifully laden y th the
coed things Of life. In the mean time,
Mr.. Taylor, whose interest in thi. large
family could hardly have Teen e,eesded
if be had actually sustained 'tbSards
them the parental relation, was busy in
awarding books, wreatbes aud boquets
to those scholars who had shown unus-
ual application in devotion to their stud
les. Six scholars had each committed
10 memory the whole of the New Testa-
mont in thirteen wooks, and were re-
wardcd with presents of choice books
suited to their ages and capacities.
Others were similarly rewarded, accord
ing to the several degrees of proficiency
exhibited, and all seemed pleased with
the multitude and value of the bestow-
ments made. This was followed by
speeches from Mr.. Taylor, Rev. Mr..
Wooding, and Mr.. Foster, principal of
:he High School, interspersed with mu-
sic by the Band.
At about IL o'clock procession was
formed, and escorted by the Band to
the tables. 1 had the pleasure of walk
ing with the Rev. Mr.. Wooding at the
head of the long column, and can speak
of the procession as one of the prettiest,
if not the most imposing, that ever
saw. There was room at the table for
only about one half of the company,
which had been augmented by an unex-
pected but not unwecome accession of
about fifty strangers bat SO perfect
were the arrangements of the committee
that all were amply provided for, and
there was witnessed no disoyder>5t con-
fusion, or any expression of disshtisfac-
tion. A barrel of excellent coffee, any
quantity of lemonade, and provisions
enough for regiment of hungry soldiers,
soon satisfied our wants, and after'gath-
ering up but little less than twelve bas-
kets of fragments, We returned to other
cnjeyments. The time was delighfully
spent in speaking, singing, listening to
the strains of the Melodeon, under the
skillful and active fiugors of your young
townsman, Mr.. Richard Edwards walk
ing through the grove, swinging, chat
ting and laughing.
At a o'clock, pleased with all that
had thus far transpired, we started on