The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-10-20


are related OF the late Judge Harrison,
the pionneer Of Michigan, who died lately
at the advanced age Of 103. OF his ear.
ly love and wedding, the following story
is related
There are few instances OF his early life
that we are able to obtain. He was a
steady, hard working lad, energetic and
thorough. He received but little educa-
ton, three months in the common school
forming about all his educational curricu.
lum. lie learned to read and write how
ever. and took quite as much interest in
books as those around him. Like most
other boys. he early fell in love, the OBJ.
ject of his adoring passion being Martha
Stillwel, the daughter Of farmer living
near his father The attachment was re.
ciprocatcd. and the young couple exchapg-
ed words Of love and eternal fidelity.
He was nearly nineteen and she three
years his junior. BAIL, whose love gave
him confidence boldly asked the consent
of Martha's parents to their marriage.
Her father liked his frank and kindly
ways, and favored the match. but dame
Stillwel had higher aspirations for her
daughter, She wished her to wed the pos.
SCISSOR of broad acres, and not penniless
young man. Besides how could she spare
her daughter yet? No, she would not
give her consent. Grieved were the low.
ers at this decision but by no means ODE.
dient to the behest Of the stern mother
In clandestine interviews they renewed
their pledges of affection, and, encourag-
ed by Martha's father planned an elope'
ment. Indeed we suspect Mr.. Stillwel
was the chief conspirator. and most eff
cient aid did he render. The day wa!
set, but the suspicious mother kept close
watch on her daughter How to arrange
her wedding outfit without her mother
knowledge, puzzled the three consT traitors
The simple trous>eau was mostly made by
stealth, in Martha's own room at night
she received some liiile assistance from
sister also in the secret, but she happene,
to be entirely out of shoes, for it wa
March, and young ladies' then were no
ashamed to be seen in their bare Zee
while in the house and very crude brogan
when the weather made covering for tn
feet necessary. But the etiquette 0
Greencaste, 1870, did not permit brid
to appear shoeess and slipperless at he
wedding. Ready made shoes were un
known in the town, and the needed arti
cles must be made to measure. Severa
plans failed, and her father was compelled
TO move cautiously. in view Of the fac
that Dame Stillwell was somewhat suspi
cious, The matter was delayed for ia
vorabe opportunity until the day beior
the wedding, when, further procrastina
tion being out of the question, the iatbe
Invented ruse to accomplish the object
In the afternoon of the last day Of grace
he came into the weaving room, wher
mother and daugters were at work a
the loom, and shortly began to joke Mar
tina on the size of her feet Picking u
a shingle carefully placed With" ~ ~-n" ~"'
beforehand fo- 49, vurpose,) he drew
diagram of measurement Of her pedal ex
trcmities, the dimensions Of which h
laughed immode.ately about with hl
wife, to the apparent great discom6tur
Of his daughter, and then carelessly y thrc'
the shiuglc out OF the window. Fiftcc
minutes after, that -hingle was in shoe
maker wilkins shop and that worth
cobbler worked half he night to 6nis
the pumps in which the runaway bird
was TO stand at her wedding on the NOR
row. The next day at dinner.time Mar
tina slipped away, and with her fathe
for witness. she and BAIL were mad
one by the village justice. The outwi'
, ted mother was Of course indignant q
, first, but soon rclented. and thus Marc
: IT, 1893, was begun the matrimoDii
) journey Of BAIL Harrison and Marth
! Stillwell, and for nearly seventy veal
did the two live together as man an
, wife, until Juno :, 1857, the union WI
! broken by her death.