Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-12-22


PLEASANT "REMINISCENCES OF THE AGED-On
the 18th of October 1853 Mrs. Martha Field widow
Of DR.. Seth Field, of West Brookfeld, Mass, ce,e-
brated her ninetieM birthday, in visit from her
aged friends. About thirty of her friends were pres
emit and the united ages ofthireen of the party was
1918. Very pleasant congratulations and inter
changes of past events and associations enliYened
the hours.
In happy contrast were seen here the "beauty of
age" and the ''beauty fyouth' for among the invi-
ted guests were two lovely children-one the young
est daughter of Rev S. Byington and the other the
daughter of DR.. Blodget, who was this day one gear
old, and came to offer her congratulations to her
aged friend
Mrs. Field had several little mementoes of her car
ly days, which she had in use and to view on this
interesting occasion One thing was part ola pink
and white striped satin blanket in which she agas ban
tized in infancy; also ivory snufI-box nlaid with
tortoise shell, presented to her husband in 1886 by
Hon. Dirderick Lewertieur, Danish Consul TO the
United States Probably even the great tobacco re-
former, Rev George Trask, would have looked with
cOnplaceney on the passage of the snuf-boz and its
contents among this venerable group
Mrs Field had her China cups and saucers, and
some other things in use, which she had at the time
of her marriage The cups were unusually small, as
very pleasant beverage topatrioc wives and moth
ers, by reason of undue taxation.
Large pewter platters were used for the cake of
oden time, called 'grandmother's election cake.n
A daughter of Mrs. Field inquired of Rev Mr. By
ington if it was not consistent with propriety and
true poleneSS for ladies who had learned to play
skillfully on any musical instruments to play when
invited, without declining, any apology for the
| performance. Being answered in the Affirmative
she left the room, and Immediately returned with
little foot spinning Wheel the dsta well filed with
flax and passed it to lady about eighty years ofage
and thence to Others to give some music of olden
| time-thus readily did these ladies of the old
school appreciate the opinions of gentlemen who re-
garded usefulness an important part of a ady's edu-
cation and happiness.
When the old-fashoned musical instrument the
! spinningwheel, was removed, (which was a part of
Mrs. Fields marriage dowry,) and which was
source of much interest and merriment, then came
the old-tashioned custom of drinking the health of
the ladies in glass of sweet cider. large gallon
pitcher, of antique FORM and once considered of
much beauty, presented to Mrs Field, in 1897, by
her father, Capt David Hitchcock was filed with
sweet cider, and poured first into a masonic glass;
with appropriate masonic emblems on in gold pre-
scented many years since to Dr. Seth Field, from
| which Mrs. Field now drank in remembrance of by
gone years, and an institution for which she still
chershes the highest respect. Other guests with her
partook of the same beverage in goblets of silver
and glass which she had had for more than half a
century. Mrs Field then requested to have one of
her antique cups and saucers presented to each of the
dear children present. as token Other appreciation
of their mission of love to the aged
At the close of the viss, Rev Mr. Byington read
several appropriate selections of scripture and made
a most solemn and impressive prayer, which will
ever be remembered as appes of gold in pictures of
| silver"