Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-16

with horror.
Local News.
A VENERABLE LADY.-Who can sit
down by the side Of one, whose life
has been prOtracted during almost a
century of years, without strong emo.
tons? Who can look upon one that
readily recalls the events which imme.
diately preceded the Revolution
who remembers the battle of Bunker
Hill, and all that followed during the
war of the revolution, and not feel a
reverence for such an one too deep for
language toportray? What emotions
must have agitated the bosom of such
an one when the news of BENNINGTON
battle-of the surrender of Burgovne
and CornwaIlis-who can now fully
realize the emotions that agitated the
bosom of that venerable matron? such
emotions were cherished by one who
now fingers among US. and whose
intellect is but little clouded bv the
flight Of fourscore and fifteen years !
Mrs. Tarnson Hill Twombly, now
residing with her son, John TwombIy,
Of Bloomington, was born in New
buryport, Mass, August I'd, It'll
Among the events of her early life
which she remembers distinctly. was
the visit Of General WASHINGTON to
Portsmouth, n. H., and the throngino
of the people far and near to see him
among others little girl when she
cast her eyes On him, exclaimed with
surprise, why you are nothing but
a man" by which the great man was
affected so as to shed tears. She re-
calls another event of that visit. A
countryman in his great anxiety to
see the "deliverer of his country .
drove poor old horse with a harness
made entirely of ropes and wood, and
without any leather. At this unique
display General Washington heartily
laughed.
At an early period, but she does
not recollect the year, her father re-
moved to Kittery, n. II. In 1896 she
was married to Mr.. Jacob Twomblv.
and in 1901 removed to Sheffield.
where settlements were being made by
the few who were not afraid of the
forest, and who were willing to en-
dure the Inconvenience of pioneer
life. The trials to which these early
settlers were subjected, when many of
the roads were mere bride paths
through the forests-and mills were
distant, and all the conveniences TO
which they had been accustomed were
only hoped for in the distant future
can be but dimly apprehended by any
who now live within the sound of the
whistle of the locomotive, and who can
read the news from Boston and New
York on the evening of the dav on
which it is published in those cities.
What changes and improvements
have been witnessed by our venerable
friend! She was born under British
rule; has seen the country emerge
from slavery of foreign domination. to
liberty and independence; has wit
messed an increase of population from
less than three, millions. to more than
thirty millions; has seen the territory
by the United States more
than doubled; and all the wonders
OF steamboat and railroad travel in
Mrs. Twombly has had 8 children,
66 grandchildren, and Sc great grand
children, of whom of her own child
rem, and more than 100 of the others
are now living.
She removed with her husband to
Bloomington, to the farm on which
she now lives. in 1880. The town
was thinly settled, but the inconve-
nience of pioneer life, had been materi-
ally lessened. Here most o f her
settled and she has been
permitted to dwell in the midst of her
own people. She made profession
Oh religion, more than fifty years ago,
ana mas been permitted to see many
Oh her descendants following her ex-I
ample, and seeking first the things of
the kingdom of heaven. THOUGH her
hearing and sight have in measure
JAILED, she is yet cheerful and AWAITING
the time of her departure with chris.