The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-07-11
our Park and its "reminiscences.

| Vi our path'-coNeteu as IL IL Win
thick carpet of green, the limbs on
the trees bending under the weight of
their dark and heavy foliage.
Great credit is due to a number Of
our enterprising citizens, whose souls are
not wrapped up entirely in selfshness,
for their perseveriug efforts, aud liberal
outlays made from time to time to bring
about this truly gratifying public i'm
provcmcnt.
While casting our thoughts back 10
our boyhood, eighteen or twenty years
ago,wc could plainly sec daguorrcotyped
in our memory how our common appear.
cd at that time on Commencement
Day" That day was set apart by all
the old men, young men and maidcns as
a day of relaxation from labor, and was
given up entirely to enjoyment. For
ten or fifteen miles around, the farmer
hurried up haying and other work in
order to attend commencement. and have
time. We thought Of the drcary and
desert.likc appearance the whitefaced
clay had at that season of the year, trod.
den down by vehicles and footsteps until
it was bare Of verduro ard nearly a,
hard as pavement.
AS carly rs tho day previous to the
ushcrng in of this great holiday, might
be seen approaching the village from the
North and from the South, from the
East and from the West, like bees to
their hive. pcddlors Of Yankee Notions,
50 that in the morning this open space of
our village appeared alive as the plains
on which Bonnpartc encampel before
the great battle of the Pyramids Our
ctzens,mony Of them, anxious to improve
this opportunity to mako an honest shill.
ing, were busy with hammer in hand.
erecting rude storo-houses aud sales.
rooms wherein to do business during tho
day. AS the first strains Of music from
some celebrated baud broke upon the
ears of the crowd away strides whole
regiment Of youngsters, thinking, per-
baps,that by closer proximity they might
inhalc larger draugLts of music poured
forth by the brass instruments of every
conceivable shape. How distinctly do |
remember when running along with the
throng. how eager was to catch a
glimpse at the President, dreesc SO un.
like any other one in tho procession
with his long plk gown and majestic
step. And when at last The crowd roach
ed the church and the regular procession
passed ill., what rush there was to gain
an entrance to get a chance to Stqnd up
ali ddy! The exercises indoors are not
much varied, but the great change from
former years. is seen outside Then
large proportion of those that went to
Commencement did not wish to he con.
fined TO such narrow limits as the walls
Of the great white church, but rather
chose the more exciting scenes that were
trapsririne out doors. Our present
beautiful common was where all Yankee.
dom ceu,ered to expose their wares to
their excited customers. Here, mount.
cd on the top of his cart, stood tall
gaunt faukce crying at the top Of his
voice, Here is your fine patent suspend.
crs,-long enough for any boy, and short
enough for any man. Another crying
-green-cinnamou- pep.
permint, &c.-which was entirely harm.
less, when not taken in potations larger
than an ounce at time-itS principal
ingredients being pure water. tinctured
with the above named oils. oh CTS with
wooden ware-tin ware--brass watches
hats, caps. boots and shoes books Of
all kinds - The Romance of the Forest"
Jack the Giant Killer" Siubad the
Sailor'-"Songs, Patriotic and Sentimen-
tai" sung to order especially Lord
Lovel, Derry Down Dale when want
ed to mate" aud also the Catastrophe
that happened to a" Lovely" young man
that lived ou Springfield Noun. all" that
the Rattil Snaik bit Among the patrl
otto songs we're " The Hunters Of Ken.
tucky"-"We've got too far from Canada
run for life, boys. run"-you could hear
any one of the above songs sung and nave
copy to carry home for three cents.
Among the domestic peddlers might be
seen those that sold the genuine ginger
bread'-in cards about the size of 7x9
window glass; before noon GU could see a
large number of boys walking about the
streets holding on at the lower edge with
both hands and gnawing away al the top
resembling the shield Of an ancient
warrior. These were the times for deal.
ers in spruce beer Pic whole forming
perfect Babel.
Towards night the scenc was some
what varied. Then come pitching of cents
and little later wrestling, Sc. A.
boat dark tho tragedy Of pusilisiio exsr.