Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1874-10-12

sion that all may understand why 30 humble an
individual sheald be ekossn to taks the initia-
tory steptn expressing TO you an earnest greet
ing of wsicons and thanks on eehsif Of this
More especially then, ia it my province to
speak on behalf OF Hockessin, aud leave it for
other and more eloquent friends to express what
their hearts may dictate. We have had no re
hearsal of this little performance. and know
not how many may wish TO extend aword Of greet
ing. Be it many or few, know you Will be patient
with u.s. for our offerings not in the spirit OF
fulsome tiattery, but spring spontaneously from
hearts full Of friendly feeling, of kindly greet
ing,-or of hearty appreciation Of your well-earn-
ed fame, as traveller author, and poet.
On behalf of the Valley Of Hockessin, then.
permit me to formally thank you for frequent
illusions to our homo in your published worls
for selecting 80 near its 'ancient meeting house
the place where your wandering Liars" found
rest aud peace in the quaint and quiet family OF
ezra Mendenhall; and where his wild BerserKer
blood found soothing power from the heart and
hand of that truly-pictured woman, his daughter
Ruth
Let me thank you again, not alone on behalf
OF the Quakera of Hockessin, but on behalf OF
all who cain interest in the name +" Friends.
and appreciate the peculiarties of their religious
charsctcr,-their thought and its mode OF ex-
preston, the correctness of the pictures you
have drawn, not alone In your Norwegian nero,
strong in his converted faith. jouneying back
to his far Northern land in obedience to an add
ing Is concern" and yielding his barred bosom
INTERESTINGLY to the knife OF his adversary, to
break the rule of bloody custom, NOT alone in
this case but in many others, whore you have
touched a responsive chord, TO which every true.
Friendly heart must vibrate. Some Of them ]
would love to quote, but time admonshes me-
While leaving to others more classically reared
to thank you for more sublime creations, We oil
| Hockessin appreciate aud heartily enjoy many OF
| your poetic fragments.
1aa nj ln drQafnN
| summer season. now, or soon to be, upon us,
wherein you touch the aesthetic sense OF beauty
| in us all
| "When the maple turns To crimson,
And the ssssafras TO yold;
When the penlian's In the meadow,
And the aster on the wUld;
When the noou Is Tapped N vapor,
Ant the night IL frosty cod.
Some fairy or nymph seems to have brought
oil this here, to day, before us. Here Is thu
crlmson maple, here the golden sassafras, the
gentian. the aster.
Will you permit ns, then. In the fulness OF ou
hearts, to thank God, on your behalf, for th'
gift Of poeHy'?-for these poets-are they not Ia
yored of heaven? Has it not ever been tina
the true poets soul dwells nearer than the soul
of common men to the Divine and inner life o
Nature, and that thus, now, as ever in the past
Poet and Seer have been almost convertlbi
names?
the worshippers at tho shrine of the divine idea
whether they be called bards or Ministries
| ekads or poets
With hearty expression of Welcome to you
home amongst US, close, as far as my poe
words may go, Hoekessins Greeting.
Following Mr.. Jackson, Mr.. Samuel Bancroft
without any formal introduction, Chat being til
rule with all the speakers rose and read tn
following