Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-01-07


gone. You know there came light fall Of snow
in the night, so, in the morning, somebody jus
took his back tracks, and followed 'em clear {,
Mr.. Stearns' door, in Perkinsyille."
81 never! SO he's counting Martha Stearns
\ is hel"
For more than twenty-five years the memory
of that bit Of conversation has remained with
me, while thousands of things that ought tC
have remembered, are utterly effaced from my
recollection.
Twonty-hyeyea ago to-day there was a we'd
ding somewhere. Not silver Wedding. though
it probably proved such, in its results, to the
parsOn or justice who tied the knot. Tonight
we come with silver gifts to greet the pair then
made one, whose heads are now being silvered
with age. In this quarter Of century they
have outgrown the little brown cottage which
they first called home, and the stately mansion
in which we are now assembled has taken its
place. Valuable as may be the gifts they receive
tonight, they have, before this received others,
beside which these are utterly worthless, look,
for illustration at this trio Of fair daughters all
useful to their parents, and ornaments to socie-
ty; look at these noble boys fast growing up to
be help to the hands that have toiled for them
these many years. What would home be with
out children? Their noise is sweetest music,
their care but pleasure. How much their love
and ompanionship do to make life sweet and
pleasant for us, can only be fully realized by
those who have seen their precious children ly-
ing in the last long sleep, with eyes that open
not at our call, and clay cold hands folded too
quietly over the silent bosom. That such sorrow
may never fall to the lot of our esteemed friends
with whom we meet tonight, is our fervent
wish and prayer.
There are some faces that we miss here to-
night; there are dear sisters who not long ago
met here, but who tonight can but think of
this gathering, in their far Western homes.
There are many absent friends, on each side,
but it is pleasant to know that, swifter than the
telegraph tself, thought can fly to our dear ones
far away, annihilating time and space, so that,
by its magic power,
"We see them as in times long past,
From each to each kind looks are cast
We hear their words, their smiles behold,
They're round us, as they were of old"
Thank God. that on one side, the aged father
and mother are both spared and one of them
able to participate in this joyful occasion. One
has been taken from the other side of the house,
but the aged mother is still left, u miracle of
strength of both mind and body, considering
her extreme age, to fill that niche in this home
which none but n grandmother can FILL Bless
ings on grandparents. Unhappy those poor
children who never knew the love of grand
mother. Who else is always at liberty to mend
the little mittens, and make rag-dols, to tell
fascinating stories of the olden time, and settle
childish disputes' Again wo say, God bless
the grandmothers!
We bring our good wishes, tonight, that our
entertainers future lives may be MS bright as
silver itself, their joys as pure and imperisha-
bic. We have good reason to hope, from the
record of the last few years, that such will be
the case The blight which once rested on this
home and family is removed and to-day our es
teemed friend here, sings "No more brown Jug
for me-" with the spirit and the understanding
also. Not that kind of spirit which was once
leading him down to destruction, but the blessed
spirit of love, purity and temperance.
Why should we add more to what VIC have
said? "Speech is silver says wise old
proverh, and therefore fitting for this occasion,
but itadds, " silence is golden more precious
yet 1t only remains for us to express, in clos
ing. wish that eur hos, and hostess may live,
with their family circle still unbrokcn, to cele-
bratc their golden wedding, twenty-five years
hence, and that all this company, both visitors
and visited, may at last be accounted worthy to
sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb,
in that city without foundations, whose maker
and builder is God.
This production vas heartily seconded
and applauded by all present.
As the evening had become far ad-
vanced, the guests began to disperse.
''And now come noise and stir,
Laughing and lingerings and the slow good.byes,
Sleighs, and impatient voices to apprise
Those ready to defer
Sand then by twos and threes
They range in sleighs where the round of light
CLOVIS out upon the still and frosty night
And CLEANS on shrubs and trees
"Till the last CHEEKY loads
Drove of into the full moon 8 mellow light;
And noisy bells were echoed through the night
On quiet country roads,
10 prove that the party was a merry
'ne, it Is only necessary to say that
u hcme," Rob" +" CluN," ." Orange"
: Bib, and the other Buck, -. George
Dill" Lige," and men of that class--all
'ale fellows well met, las most of our
eaders know and that many of the an
able and talented ladies of johnson COM
,osed it.
MIR. Carpenter desires as to express his
hanks for the valuable presents he re-
eived, and especially for the numerous
tteDdance of his friends.
FThe following, taken from the Semi.
nnusl Report read to the Congregational
'abbath School, at johnson, on the 4th
nst., was forwarded to the NEwsDBALER,
y request
The average attendance Of the School
fraction short Of eighty six. Three
abbaths the numbers present were the ,
anne, and the largest present at anv time !