Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-19

One OF the most remarkable family reunions
ever held in this country was that of the SWEET
family on Wednesday at Hampden. The late
Benjamin SWEET, of lIampdcn, was the father
of thirteen children, seven sons and six daugh-
ters, the oldest Of whom is now nearly seventy
seven and the youngest 6fty-four, and no death
has ever occurred among the number. Busi
hess interests having separated the family, the
plterual estate was sold aud passed into the
possession of DR.. B. H. Ruker, who now occu-
pies it. Being a warm friend Of the family, he
has always insisted upon their still regarding
the old place as their home. Taking advapt-
age Of this kind invitation and the presence
here of one Of the daughters who resides in the
distant West, it was determined this year tu
once more get together under the old roof,
where all had not met before since November,
}>5S, where they celebrated Thanksgiving Day
together. Accordingly the family, with their
husbands aud wives, children aud grandchil
dreu, with other relatives and invited guests,
met together on W eduesday TO the number OF
ucar!y one hundred.
The house first erected by Benjamin SWEET
upon his removal to this State in 1893, having
been destroyed BY fire, the present house was
built upon cts site, and was first occupied Octo-
day of the reunion. ln this house twelve of
the children of Nlr. SWEET were born, the old
est having been born in the old house. Dur
ing the scvcnty-o -one years OF its existence but
three deaths have occurred beneath Its root,
ouly two Of these being members of the family
the two wives of MIR. SWEET, he himself hav
ing died after removing to the residence erect
cd by his sou on the same farm, and the same
now occupied by DR.. Buker.
The house was very tastefully fixed up for
the occasion, the host aud hostess having exer
ted themselves to their utmost to cooperate
with the ''children,' aud make everything
Pleasant for the occasion. In front OF the
front door an archway was erected, upon which
was inscribed the word welcome in letters OF
green, and which was festooned with the ma
tioual colors and entwined with evergreens.
In the parlor, over the fire. place, were the words
'.homc again" also in green. Opposite upon
the wall was chain composed OF thirteen Inks
of evergreen, representing the thirteen chill
drcp, and 10 each Of which was letter, form
Ing the words 'chain unbroken!' Beneath
this and over the place in the wall, where a
bullet entered the house during the invasion by
the British in 1914, and which narrowly miss
cd the mother of these children, who had just
left the spot where it entered, wreath was
placed encircling this date, and a brief account
Oi the aIIllr WAS WElltCu duu dluASo w thS "oAi.
Upon the walls were the date Of the birth of
the eldest, "l796,' Of the youngest, isis
and of the occupation of the house Oct. 8,
lS0l,' and of the present annivery, October
., 1872" each encircled in wreaths. testoons
aud garlauds of evergreens and autumn leaves
covered the walls in profusion, while the folds
of the national colors were used to add
to the effect Two long tables extend,
ed the entire length Of the old-fashioned
kitchen, another filed the old "froDt room,
and still another the adjoining bedroom and
these were loaded down with a groanlng weight
of goodies" and garnished with protusion Of
boquets OF beautiful flowers, which kind friends
and old neighbors had contributed tor the oc-
cason. The old brick oven,' long unused,
was pressed into service and from it poured
out bountiful supply of baked beans, brown
bread aud Indian pudding such as delighted
the palates, and made the bone and sinew of
the olden time. And this part of the dinner
stood in the greatest demand, and was partaken
Of with zest in the highest degree compliment
tary to the culinary skill of those who had pre-
pared this part Of the feast.
The old family cradle in which all the chill
dren had been rocked was brought out and de-
voted to the benefit of "the baby" The re
maiuder of the day was passed in social inter
course, "reminiscences Of the olden time, singing
looking over the old place. g., &.