The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-03-12

years were greatly cheered by her beau.
tiful grandchildren. She had the happi-
ness of escaping the anxieties and terrors
Of the revolutionary war. She died in
December. IVA, with only one regret,
that she could not live to see her hus-
band once again. at the time of her
death he was making preparations for his
homeward voyage. Her body Was borne
to the grave by some of Franklin's Oldest
friends,-men who had known them for
ty-four years, before they had begun
housekeeping, and ate their breakfast of
bread and milk.
The grave of Benjamin and Deborah
Franklin is located near the northwest
corner of the ancient burial ground, at
Arch and Fifth streets. 1t is covered by
plain and horizontal stone, and the in
scription upon it is in accordance with his
wish, as shown in the codici to his will,
as follows l wish to be buried by the
side of my wife, if it may be, and that a
marble stone shall be made by Chambers,
six feet long, four feet wide, plain, with
only small moulding around the upper
edge, aud this inscription
Benjamin
and ~ -,
Deborah lanai"
178-
Tho records of the chnrcb state that
Deborah was buried there on the 22d of
December, l774, and Benjamin, on the
18th of April, l790,-that Francis f.,
son of Benjamin and Deborah, died Nov.
2lst, 1876, aged 4 years. month and A
days. The resting place of Franklin was
not visible from Arch street until the
year 1858, when portion OF the wall
alongside of it was removed, and au iron
railing substituted. Whenever l chance
to pass Arch and Fifth streets, l instnc.
lively pause and view the slab that COW
ers the dust of ono of Columbia's great
est sons
The 22d of February, being the ami
versary of Washington's birthday, and
legalized holiday, your correspondent
reckoned it as pertinent to the occasion to
ignore secular avocations. and avail him
self of whatever might be seen and heard
that might be appropriately utilized. The
morning was clear aud the atmosphere
crisp. The festivities of the day were
ushered in by the firing Of a national sa-
Lutte by the Key Stone Battery, at the
old cannonading ground, at Penn Square,
at the intersection of Broad and Market
streets. Proceeding down Chestnut ST.,
called at the old time houored Independ-
ence Hall, found a large crowd eagerly
scanning the various objects Of interest.
After little proceeded TO the room OF
the court of common pleas, in the same
building, where meeting Of the veteran
soldiers of the war of 1912 was advertis.
ed to bo held. After pressing my way
through the crowd in the corridor and
doorway, at length got view of the old
heroes. The roll Of the association hav-
ing been called, about forty responded,
On the bench usually occupied by the
Judges, sat the venerable President of
the association, supported on either side
by silver haired vice presidents. The
death Of one of their members was an
nounccd by the President, as having oc-
CURED that morning, accompanied with a
few touching remarks relative to the
character Of the deceased. After n few
brief speeches came the reading of some
patriotic sentiments, General Jackson's
address to his soldiers and Washington's s
farewell address. During the reading of
the last named address by the venerable
secretary, two ushers brought into the
room beautiful silk flag of the union"
lettered in gold, across the stripes, the
words, SOLDIERS of 1872" AS they un.
furled it over the head of the venerable
president, the sold heroes" gazed at it
with an intensity that unmistakably said,
were it not for interrupting the reader
we would shout huzzas, if not hosannas. to
that gorgeous ensign of American liberty
and freedom. Many Of them appeared
to be well cared for, others looked as
though they might occupy the more hum
bic walks in life, yet all appeared like
patriots and true men, and their waver-
ing footsteps indicated that the grave was
about opening to receive them. Honor
able and honored sires, when soon your
next and last battle has been fought, may
you find perpetual home in house not
made with hauds.
Chestnut street and other principal
thoroughfares were thronged with people.
The Artillery Corps and Washington
Grays had their annual parade, headed
by McClurg's band. Part of the lst
Regiment also made II street parade,
headed by Beck's band. The 18th Reg
imcnt (colored) also paraded, and made
very creditable appearance. The Tn.
ion League building, on Broad street was
thrown open to the public during the day
and large number of ladies and gentle
men passed through the building. The
rooms were decorated handsomely with
flowers, and fine band OF music played
number of appropriate airs. As clos
ing event of the day President Grant and
Secretary Belknap arrived in town. and
attended magnificent reception, given
by Collector Forney, in honor of the
day, and of his excelency, the President,
who left for Washington at early dawn
the next morning, which sudden exit pre-.
cluded any manipulating of interviewers
p. W. G.
\ bereaved Berean. of Ohio, is willing
to part with his family cat, but drowning