The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-12

services, and he must devote to them a
large portion of his time. He must be
their collector, clerk, their arbitrator in
innumerable instances, the Justice OF the
peace as he was for 82 years, their rep
resentative in the legislature for IA terms
and three times the delegate to the consti-
tutional conventions. So he was the coun-
sellor, arbitrator, lawyer, and prominent
townsman Tor years whose word was law
and whose law was that of the State, which
he himself had greatly assisted in enacting.
Think of the perplexities Of these situa-
tions.+
Two things here strike us with astonish-
ment.
1st That with all this exaltation and
public notoriety, he had not become vain,
idle, and finally relapsed into censorious-
ness, and cynicism as he saw younger and
perhaps weaker men endeavoring to hold
1 the handles of power.
I'd, That he had any time lett for the or
binary duties Of productive industry and
| the care and cultivation of his numerous
family.
In Vermont, public service has ordinarily
been but slightly rewarded, and Mr.. Holt
must have found that his time employed on
his farm would have yielded him a much
greater return than the law allowed him
for public service; but some man must
stand in that place, and his townsman with
| one consent declared he was the man.
~If any one now see faults in him or
great deficiencies etc. no one here wishes
to eulogize, we are simply relating facts.
| Up to nearly 80 years of age therefore his
| life was one of intense activity, and for 80
years in Pittsfeld he applied himself with
all diligence to secure his living. His farm
his family, his neighborhood, his town and
his State shared in all his capabilities-and
each one was the richer for services rem
dered. Since that time disease and in
trinity have preyed upon him to fearful
extent and he has been doomed to suffer
with diminished intellect, and disabled
body.
Having drawn these outlines 1t is easy
to fill them up and you have the character
before you. Look at him now-ye young
as the last relic of the revolution. Your
eyes will ever see. Look at him as the
bold and fearless pioneer who made the
wilderness bloom for you
Our age to 10 years is set
How short the span how brieftbe date
| But II to so we arrive,
We rather groan and sigh than live.
The things to be learned from this long
life are
LIST. That every means of improvement
ought to be diligently employed. His stu
diousness was always noticeable. From
his earliest days down to the entire matu-
rity of his strength, his researches were in
proportion TO his means, an almost inter-
minable reader He illustrates Solomon's
design in his proverbs, which were 'To
know wisdom and instruction, to perceive
the words of understanding; to receive the
instruction of wisdom justice and judge
ment and equity; to give subtlety to the
simple, to the young man knowledge and
discretion. A wise man will learn and
will increase in learning and man of I'M
derstanding shall attain unto wise counsels"
If he had not heard, nor medtated on these
things, nor applied his knowledge to prac.
tice, what would his life have been worth p
His popularity was not from artifice nor
from captivating appearance, but from
worth and capability. That worth he OBJ
tanned by faithful discharge of his several
duties and most important responsibilities,
and that capability he attained to be en-
| ploying such powers as he had in the best
way.
If long life is desirable-strive for it, in
virtue, caution, industry.
Now to you my friends Mr.. and Mrs.
II. let me as citizen-a man, a profess
ed christian address a word to you.
l am indebted to you for your patient,
faithful example in providing for, and
carefully attending upon the wants and
necessities of that aged and helpless parent
for the last II years. Heathenism, would
have consigned him to the grave etc. In
fidelity in France and especially in the
French army SINCE etc. Cold selfishness be-
gins to enquire in the christian camp.
will not the time come when in helpless
dotage and in incurable and painful dis
eases, dose of morphine shall give a
! quietus to all further pain eto. Your ex-
ample assures me that in the event of a
helpless dotage | shall not be murdered.
$50 that rs years ago; probably.
NOTE. Where stars occur the passages
were delivered extemporaneously.