Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-09-22
Family Picnic in Waitsield.

Mr. Nathaniel Shepherd and his wife, (laush-
ter Of Hosea Newcomb, Esq Of Warren now re-
siding in Ripon, Wis, having returned to Vermont
on visit, with their twJ little girls. after an alb
sence of twenty years their friends and relatives
arranged to meet them aud each other, at
basket picnic in the grove near James Newcomb'.
house in Wait-feld, September sih
The day was one Of the loyelic-t of the season.
and nearly or quite one hundred we're present
from Warren, Brookfeld. Montpelier, Berlin, Dux-
bury, Waterbury, Mortified Fay ,tou and Waits
field, and all were unanimous i'm prauomcns it %
really good time Although the arrangement was
mainly for informal enjoyment" yet We New
Enslandors must be somewhat literary. So after
many kindly greetings we were called to order by
George b. Newcomh, aud about an hour was
spent in first, singing by the choir, Hear our
Prayer; remarks and prayer by Rev. }. A.
sherhume; singing, Songs tina, we never for
get by Mrs. Anna D. Bragg. reeitations, by
Miss Hattie NJ NeNcomb and Henry II Newcomb:
singing, lIunah for Spanking water" and
poem by Mrs Laura Brigham Boyce, which is
given below entitled Twenty years"
Then dinner ON the rocks under the trees, with
the birds singing an around Both dinner and
diuing-ioom were perfectly satisfactory The
Waitfcd comot hand kindly gave us SOME Of
their best music adding much to the onjo, ment
Of both young and Old, Who spent the afternoon In
conversation, swinging, etc.
Later In the afternoon. Rev Alonzo Hitchcock
made some closing remark commencing these
friendly gatherings aud urging AS an to live such
lives that when we, one hy one, leave our friends
to dwell in other lands, OF for that Homo beyond
the River" pleasant memories will lingor with
those we love, and they De better FOR our having
lived. Then all sung together, " Praise God from
whom all blessings flow, but were still 10th to
leave so much enjoyment and fingered until
almost the setting sun,
Reader, these pure, social cnioymouts have
never been valued as gold or grcenhark- but are
our lives as rirh with them as they might and
ought to be
rWENrY YEARS
iris twenty years. and more ago.
Since we have met together ana
AVE. twenty times -ien, Winter thun
Hath bound lis fast 10 ff,ri and snow.
Aud twenty umes our lougIns car-
Have hailoi. with joy. the voice of spine.
That hale our bfooi. and bird. To- slug,
And drowned the ffost-king in his teams.
Andtwcniy time; tnc summer. sun
Has scorche as with lis snry hcit
And crowned Ms win, A.. li,..en,. sweet
That faded ,.,n their mission ,l,ue
And twenty times hath Autumn brought
Ia fl. her e,n.-tint.l leave.
And crowned ms with her eolden sbe,,..
Frnitnue q. tieh MS mar, e'.r so,,a,t
since these, our friends, We gree, To-day,
We greeted last aud bldc God speed"
In qnininp All ia, l,no,.l- for n,e.,l
For ,,birh tley s,upl,t t,er Ws.ter,, ,,,,,
Press once again Che native sol
That chalhood's feet so g,lly trod
Aud once again their friends ihoy greet.
Ana happy hearts in union beat
As friends and kindred here they meet,
In frendshipa bonds "a happy band
n,,, nh, ,,, e,t,.i. - .,... ,.,t