Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-07-26
The Golden Wedding,

In this life of ours. Light aud Shade joy
and sorrow are strangely interminglcd.
There are bright spots. the remembrance
Of which wake up all the powers of the
soul; and shadows. dark and long. that live
in the memory and effect oar whole history :;
the trace of them are never forgotten: they
can never be outlvcd, Ii is our pleasure
TO have our own soul lit up with one of
these lights of which we have spoken, and
ifyou will look little. we will act the part
of a reflector and trace out some of the
scenes which we have had the good fortune
to witness. The three little words at the
head OF this may give you some clue to
what we have seen and felt.
Wooden Weddings and Tin Weddings
and Silver Weddings come and go, without
making much Impression; bnt Golden
Wedding is of so rare occurance Is to de-
serve especial notice. The children of Dea.
and Mrs. Darling. conceived the idea of
celebrating the iftieth anniversary of their
married life; and that they and their chill
dron shouldsbc interested and be to much
pains taking. is no marvel; and that others
should be Interested for them. WAS the most
natural thing in the world. But not until
a few days ago, when 4 neat white envc-
lopc. enclosing q tasty card. saying that
Mr. and Mrs. Darling, would be at home
Tuesday Eve. July 10th. with supplement
in letters of gold Golden Wedding" We're
We fully alive TO what was the true condi-
ton of things. How glad that we were
among the favored ones. and when we found
ont that ours was only one in two or three
hundred. thea our joy knew no bound.
Had we time we would speak of the eX-
citmcnt. among the dress-nallcrs aad hlr-
lressers of the founees and waterfalls.
and the queries will this do" and .low
does that look what shall wear" with
other things too numerous to mention but
we must haste to what more essentially on
Germs ourselves. After the hair was az
ranged and the boots were BACKED. we
wendell our way TO the good old Deal
cons house. The first thing that arrested
our attention. was the Chinese Lanterns
hung in the trees and lit mp the way to the
house. Having been met at the door BY
very polite bow. we were directed up stairs
and turn to the right and left. after dis
posin" of our things. and arranging our
toilet, we went down stairs. and company
was begun Having entered the Drawing
Room. we We're presented to the venerable
pair. and paid them onr respect. This be-
ing over. we had Il little time to our selv es.
to see. and be seen, ana shake hands.
The first event OF the evening of note,
WAS the grand reception of the family
OAe side Of the room WAS vacated. and the
children and grandchildren came in by
two Iccarli3g 10 ara. and paid their re-
spcct to father and mother. among them
was the infant ofdays and the man eff wears.
even of so many. that he seems 10 be fast
approaching the iimi, of human life.
Not only the extremes. but each connect
ing Link, so that the chain WAS entire. and
50 long. that many were ready to cNclain
Who are these and whence come they.
and The good man in the corner WAS almost
ready TO respond with a full heart. "iIere
am l, thy scivant. and here are those whom
thou hast given me-Eeh9ld and bless
them"
When the children were all in the room.
the Dea. rose. we now wee So far off rs
not to be able to hear gave them a most
h 'arty welcome to the old Homestead. and
pronounced a bencdiction upon them The
family played and sang in most Interest.
ing manner Sweet Home" Thea Rev.
DR.. Pond who WAS an invited guest rose tn
invoke divine blessing, He made some
very happy remarks. spoke Of his acquail-
lance with Mrs. Darling before her maj
riagc and had kept up Il pleasant acquai,-
lance since. He alluded to the bright pros
pect ofthc future. both in this life and the
life TO come. and offered 4 very intercs linz
prayer calling down the Divine blessing up
on the venerable pair and their children
aud grandchildren. Next In ord4rthe on
~ son OF the Dea. rose in behalf Of the chill
drcn, rendering to the cd people. the CON
CALCULATIONS ofthe children for their success
in life. their having enjoyed many of the
blessings of Heaven. and being blessed in
seeing their children grow up and well set
tied in life; thanking them for their regard
for their spiritual instruction, and present
ing as token oftheir regard magnificent
Bible, heavily claSpcd with gold; fifty SYM
boiling the preciousness of the truth
within.
Next one Of the grand children made a
very pretty speech. which we did not hear.
presenting TO the grand parents, from the
grand children, wedding cake about as
large as apcck measure, round in form.
mounted and inlaid with gold dollars thir-
ty-tliee in number. representing the mum
Der Of grandchildren. Next 4. C. Wood
man, Esq, who was chosen to speak for
the clildrcn-in-Law made some very hap
py remarks; alluded to the fact of seven
maria gable daughters given to the world
by this happy pair, spoke with much feel
ing of the late Mr.. Bar ard, how much he
would have enjoyed meeting like this
Then in behalf of the mother presented
the children each hundred dollar bill and
from the husband TO the wife. package of
three thousand dollars. Last but not least,
Col. Swazey appeared on the carpet with a