The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-12-20
COMMC NICATION.

Mr.. EDITOR Your numerous read
ers have heard and read about, or partic-
ipated in our ordinary Thanksgiving sea-
sons, whose annual return fills the heart
with sacred and domestic joy, crowds the
homestead with circles concentric and
causes social song and friendly greetings
to abound but it falls to my lot, Sir, to
acquaint your readers with Thanksgiv-
ing extraordinary-a glorious oll-fashion-
ed gathering of the ancient greybeard.,
and worthy spinning wheels.
The Thanksgiving meeting which
now record, took place on Thursday,
Dec I, 1865. at the bospitabie residence
of Joseph Spencer, Sen. and A. d.
Seares on Bristol Flats, Vt. From
morning till near noon sundry vehicles
were seen rolling along conveying their
precious freight of ancient and honorable
fathers and mothers to the old peoples
sociable as in the days of yore and allow
me to say, Sir, Qor was present in the
capacity OF Methuselah, although far
behind him in ycars) that for once, Time
seemed to stand still, and the hours flew
past him on wings of joy, as old age,
waved gay amid the flowers of memory.
l may not recount the good things then
uttered in old-time converse, nor repeat
the sparkling anecdotes there narrated, as
each one stirred the life within to fight
over again some we'll remembered scene
OF bygonc days, moi may enumerate the
goodies discussed at dinner, when 33
happy souls sat down to repleni.h tine in
ner economy, but to do justice to that
ancient company, will hint Ito tn, hon.
or of VermonO that one and all present
gave decided evidence of uncommon good
health in the matter of appetite! At the
first table 10 persons sat down whose
united ages footed up 1868 years.
Seven gentlemen footed up $50 years, and
ten ladies 125 years. And shall we ever
see their like again! One of the fathers
gave as his toast for the occasion, "Union,
ond may brotherly love continue" and
his speech in support gave full proof that
the ''sap" can run freely amid the frosts
of green old age.
Some three years ago the same COM
pany convened at the residence of the
late Mrs. Tucker near Bristol, since
when, nine of their number have been
carried TO the city of the dead. And ere
the remnant shall again assemble, the
unseen and relentless archer will, fear,
snatch others away TO go as we hope
where all the saved in Christ ''are gath
cred unto the Fathers" After a brief
address by the writer, touching things Of
comfort, conscience and the bliss of Abra-
hams bosom, all that staple commodity
of much population wendell its way home
ward before nightfal. seemingly well
! pleased with the interview and in the
determination TO ''keep good hours" ex
hibiting praiseworthy example to the
rising generation. II the reading had
been less rough, several other respectable
citizens of Bristol and vicinity would have
been present.
Old age when ripe, old age when blest.
! Is found in lions vsn;--
! On az, like Moses on Nebo,
| Sees Gilead unto Dan
| Old age in days, weeks, months and years,
Views God in all-leans VISIONS ways;
Old age, though Christ may solye his nsme,
u a,p."" .aitb Co.. ''the snc,.at Of days"
Bristol, Dec. 8. 1856. .KEv. r. GrxsEa.