Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-10-31
For the Free Press and Time
Silver Wedding

Silver Wedding.
The silver wedding Of Mr.. and Mrs. W.
E. Allen OF Westford. Oct 18th, 1873, was
a very pleasant affair. The day and even
INC were pleasant. The guests were numer-
Gus, social, and joyous. The gifts were
rich and costly. The banquet was fine The
serenade was splendid. The remarks and
poetry were appropriate, and the surprise
was perfect This last particular gave
special charm to the occasion: " And on 1t
there hangs a tale" 1t being known that
Mr.. and Mrs. Allen were among the last OF
mortal- to sanction any display on their be-
half there must be management, or the
veto power might prove bar to the pre-
ceedings So it was arranged that they
should spend the 2jth anniversary OF their
marriage at Fairfax, with Mr.. Beeman,
who had recently married their only daugh-
ter. and that Mrs. Allen should remain
with them some two or three days. The
morning came, and of they started, without
the Slightest suspicion of the game that was
playing. They spent the day pleasantly II
visiting and feasting. and a evening drew
on, Mr.. Allen, leaving his wife, drove home
alone. and as the boys say, never smelt
tar till he discovered his back yard tall
Of carriages. lie opened his eyes wide, and
Looked reproyingly at his sons, who stepped
forward to take his horse, but said nothing.
Ue entered his spacious dwelling, to find 1t
literally filed with relatives and friends
from all quarters. and to be piled with the
questions. Where is Mrs. Allen"
:. Where is the bride ?' and to be told
that he was strange man to be off on his
wedding day and finally to come in at 50 late
an hour without his spouse. His words
were few lie looked and have no doubt,
fiji Hqnk But he recovered after little,
and compre bending the situation he played
the last part of the game well. lie had
really forgotten that his friends were in
yited to his wedding-was sorry to have
them disappointed lie felt that he needed
q wife and proposed to send at once for
woman. whom he thought would be willing
to be his bride. But he was told he must
not. that flcf was no part Of the pro-
gramme So he waited, and we all waited,
becoming Il little nervous, for the time
seemed lon. But all was working well
for the perfection of the surprise and Its
highest enjoyment.
Something more than an hour after
Mr.. Allen left Fairfax, Mr.. Field
Of Bakersfield. and his wife "a sister
Of Mrs. Allen) drove up to Mr.. Beeman 5 IL
Fairfax. and of course trcre rery much sur
prised to find her there. They told her they
had got 10 see her husband. and must re-
turn early in the morning Then said Mrs.
Allen: II must 90 home with you Says the
daughter "If YOU do mother, come back
with them in the morning and finish out the
visit" and off she started, without mis-
trust Of the many eyes at her home watch
ing her coming. No sooner were they un-
dcrway, than the daughter and husband
We're following, and he being something OF
a Jchu in driving, passed Mr.. Field, who
was following up a French team. 1t beng
dark Mrs Allen did not know her children
and remarked that she guessed they were
some more Frenchmen. and they were prob
ably going ~0mew here to fuHk. Quite
Notwithstanding a slight mistake as to
the persons. but tOlerably true as to
their destination A. she neared hc-
home, the Westlord Band was in front
Of il, di-c0urSng music in a.>tyle that did
them great credit. why, said she, there
j. our hand and We haven't cake enough in
the house to 20 round the blessed woman
not knowing at that moment that there
was enough in her house to feed regiment
So she rode up TO her very door, not dream
ing of any thing more than a serenade,
and what was her surprise, at finding the
threng within. Half bewlldered. she ex-
claimed "what does this mean 20 Then
her daughter, whom She had left in Fairfax
stepped from the crowd, giving her her
hand, saying good evening mother.
"Why. Agsie. how came you here? Well,
well shall never believe again, that the
age of miracles Is passed All this, Of
course, was very enjoyable by the multitude,
and helped 10 give zest To one of the very
best occasions Of the kind. And what Is
pleasant in this connection, Is this fact,
that Mr. and Mrs. Allen have rendered
themselves evcryway worthy, by their
Christian. married. and social life Of such
a recognition by their numerous friends.
His remarks TO the band. and on the pre-
-cntati0n Of a beautiful silver tea set, and
other presents. were characterized by his
usual modeSty and good sense, and disclos-
ed the depth Of their emotions and graft
tude And am sure that all. on leaving
this family and their good home, wished
them many years Of lie and health, to en-
joy the many blessings with which God has
crowned them
The accompanying impromptu lines VIII
close this communication \ FRIEND