Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-04-30
LOCAL NEWS.


,ro there occurred in this city one Of the most
interesting occasionsit has ever been our province
10 describe. 1t was the Golden Wedding OF
Robert H. and Anna Miller---the forme: honor.
aJond respected, wherever known, for his true
,r,Tth and integrity-the latter as generally
,o,,nj and esteemed for hsr many Christian aud
,Uomanlv virtues venerable couple, who, after
"Siiv Years of Summer lite,' during which
,hrir two souls had but a single thought, their
two hearts beat as one, now IN the "sere and
,.aIl,w leaf called their children and their
sI,IJrep's children together to bless them-an
.ged pair, who having climbed lite's hill to-
rether. had their steps to the FOOT on
.Lc other side, supported by numerous aud
nnnAlv retiuue Of descendants, who strewed
sshD;r pathway with rich garlands of love and
honor aud veneratlon. -.
NO Tb, family had been assembling for several
l,ys and on the morning OF that day the whole
nnnrber-fathcr, mother, five sons, six daugh
tnrs five sons in-Iaw, five daughtcrs-in-law, and
f,rtv.fvc grand children, all belonging to it,
SAVE two grand children who had been called
hence, and all hale aud hearty, some from Mis-
souri, New York. Maryland, and other near
and distant places, We're gathered together 10
the uareutal MANSION 90 north washington
street. and happier aud merrler party has
rarely, if ever before, been assembled under one
The FIRST act of the days fcstivitics-for 10
deed to those who witnessed them, and who
ure familiar with life shortness and its casu
allies. the affair seemed play-was executed
in the moruiug by Mr.. Hall, the skillful and
excellent photographer OF this city, who took
a pcture of the whole family in three sections,
in one of which were two babies in the arms of
their mothers.
That being finished, the assemblage met in
tho parlors, and when all were quoted, a Ger
tifcate dated April %, 1878, endorsed upon
the back Of the iginal marriage certificate on
parchment, signed by the betrothed parties,
was read, stating, in substance, that the family
had assembled to celebrate the it,ieth ami
versary of the marriage. This was first signed
by Mr. Miller and his wife, and afterwards by
all the members of the family including the
babies, whose Dames were inscribed by their
parents, as an attestation of their presence upon
the occasion. After this MIR. Miller delivered
a short and impressive address, recltlog the
and his wife and children. for which blessings
he feared he had not been sufficiently thankful.
His remarks were listened to in profound 81
lence, and occasioned the feeling appropriate to
.heir solemuity, and were responded to by
son, IF. NJ. who, in beautiful and affecting
impromptu address, called upon the children
and grand children to note we'll the crcum-
stances of the occasion, the result of we'll spent
lives, and to so regulate their conduct through
out their future career in life, as to show them
selves worthy of such parents, as not to detract
from the plcaSurable "reminiscences attendant
upon this reunion, and as not to cause their
progenitors single pain or regret
The original marriage certificate mentioned
L L..
ty, Va, April %, 1923.
The following ode, written by son in-law
was then read by daughter-in
TO ROBERT q. AND ANNA MILLER,
On the Fyttieth Anniversary of their Marriage
How grandly spreads the aged oak,
Whose broad ma estic form,
Through winters frost and summers heat,
Has batted with the storm;
Il, the recurring years behold,
Grow beautiful while growing old
So our dear parents scorning aorong,
The right beloved and sought
Your blended lives extending far,
With rich example fraught;
These, the revolving seasons lind,
Moro lovely still in heart and mind
The morning of your welded lile
In mutual love begun,
lis noontlde, when respect and loVo
Commlnglo1 into one,
Are past, yet tried affections ray
Makes go(dcn this your wedding day
Serene and calm, without fear
Lile's voyage wel-nigh Der,
Content that each is spared to each,
You near the unknown shore"
Trusting in Him, whose mercy sees
Your errors, and your wish to please.
May we, your children, gathered hero
10 celebrate this scene,
BY earnest lives, upright and true,
Still keep your memory green );
Tho distant far BIO yet the day
When your loved forms shall pass away.
SANDY STRING, 1873.
After this the spacious parlors were cleared
and three tables were spread in them 10 the
shape of the letter ii the centre table being APP
propriatcd to the parents and their direct de-
scendents; the ends to the grand children. The
dinner passed off hilariousy. The health OF
The remarked pair was proposed by the eldest
son, and drunk standing, and enthusiastically,
by the elder portion of the company, and after
few other toasts had been drunk, a youngstcr
at one of the side tables rose and proposed the
health of the future brides and grooms among
the grand children, which was drunk IN iced
water, with applause
Alter the tables had been cleared away, the
following song, composed by one OF the grand
children, was sung, with full chorus:
GOLDEN WEDDING soNa.
AlR-Bonnie Blue Flag.
Come all yc merry children,
And raise joyful song,
That we may greet the honored pair
With praises loud and long;
That That on their cars, with pleasure,
Ineloyous strains may fall,
Which tell them how they both are loved
And honorcd by us all.
CHoRUs-Hurrah hurrahi
Resound the ringing cheers
For those whose life as man and wife
has prospered fifty years.
AZ Any ;S We passed their days together
l Az iof'hs man and wife,
t and' hand in hand have braved the storm,
frh nu conquered in the strife;
1T'ey We won a brighter garland
Fn na" eoh4uering heroes wear,
A A.. 'hey have baffled Satan's arts