Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-19
Centennial Birthday.

iahllN history upon your readers, feeling that ~
may possess a little Of the interest for some Of
them that 1t had for us
In Stafford, Vt, Is living Mrs Martha D.
Morey, hale and hearty old lady who reached
her hundredth birthday last Sunday She was
born in GIL, Massachusetts, April 10Th. 1916 Her
father had before his marriage, while serving in
the French war In the early days Of our history
been taken prisoner by the English, carried TO
England and kept there for seven years; her
mother reached the age Of one hundred aud one
year. Married ut twent, FIVE to Reuben Morey
their welded life was an unbrokon one forarsniv
Years until, in his ninety second year the Master
babe the husband leave his work. and the wife 10
finish the voyage alone. Lonely, but trusting she
has kept on waiting for her call, not rcpining
but filling up each day with some useful industry
In her lifetime Of q ceuturys duration she has
known nothing Of serious illness, hence the day
SO anxiously waited for by her younger kindred
found her ~ strong and hearty a. many a one
at sixty in proof that this i not overdmwn. We
noticed that she was one Of the earliest dsers In
the house; at six In the morning she had risen,
dressed herself with scrupulous neatness, made
her bed. put her room in order, and actually as
sisted ia laying the table for the early breakfast,
Of which she rartook with evident relish.
Well, we went thep to celebrate her one hun
dred brhday--sons and daughters, gfandsons
and cunddaughtors, with their husbands and
wives and children, four generations under one
roof the Youngest two years old, the eldest one
hundred-and she welcomed MS all Among the
immediate members OF the family by birth and
marriage, WHO came from far and near, were the
following; Her third son Andrew J. Morey and
wife, Gratia Tory Morcy, of stafford her fifth
and youngest son, Philemon Morcy and wife
louise Ryder Morcy, Of Boston Mass her sec
ond aud third daughters, Miss Calma Murey and
Mrs. Amelia fiske, Of STAFFORD VI, r. Tyson
Aiorey, Of Charleston South Carolina; ,. Crayton
StuHeyant and George H. Hebard, Of Hartford,
Conn. Wilbur K. sturtevant, Of Hartland, Vt. ;
Rev. d. H. Adams and wife, Of Pennington,
II. William Culver and wife and son, Of Royal
ton, Vt Phil NJ. fiske Of Toledo Ohio J. Il.
lhurston, wife and son, OF Montpelier, VI the
latter being the youngest greaigrandchild present.
These, with many Of her neighbors and friends,
gathered on Easter Sunday, in the old brick house
where the aged couple had passed ffty-three year.
Of their welded life, 10 celebrate her Centennial
As they entered the door, their eyes met the
motto -" l77G-wecome- 1S7G, and the dear
old lady emphasized it in person
The long table was spread with every thing edi-
ble not with modern silver and plate, but we
dined on modern food off the old blue land
scape china which the family closet Afforded
and at least one piece Of which had been in their
possession nearly two hundred years. Imagine, II
You can, the ancient house, the more ancient gar
niture, the dame at the head Of the table, whose
.ufputultaraI th,sa ff h.r uatt,ufs xt.t-
ence, exchanging greetings with young and old
and you will not wonder that we who were there
enjoyed and would tell the tale to others Din
ner over, repaired 10 the old parlor, where the
fire bazed high in the old brick fireplace with its
bright brass andirons tstdt, one hundred years J
prayer was offered, and a hymn sung in both
Of which the deep feeling Of all was manifest
After this there were read several original poems
two Of which we venture to quote on heir merits
The first was by Mr. George IT, Ilebard, of Hart
ford, Connecticut grandson by marriage.
VERSES TO MS MARINA Noarr. on MIR ersrrSNtat
ERfHpAr GAsrEE srNDAi. ArHil 10, ls,G
only tiny Hpplns wave,
hnndn-i YEAR ago,
Whose family undulatng path
But betrayed IT, aow.
some angel waiting his way
Acrus. ufr'- great blue osean,
Had dpl-l Ia touch the troubled sea.
And gave the tender wavelet motion.
II danced along In Joyous life,
Beneath ei.h ring moon
II rolled IN sunshine. drinking
The warmth Of hamy noon.
ar. when on beds Of heecy elonds
Aud golden pillows In the west
III. san relo-e,l. with grace fang
scarf of sheen across IT, breast,
In.
Sometimes. when skies overcast,
Aud stormy bree1es woke,
The wave, white-cres,ed with the strife,
Gaihst rock of anger moke.
on nights Of sorrow hid the sight
OF distant shore and town.
But stars Of hope. overhead,
shed cheering rays u comfort down.
o@ntnry OF hopes and fears,
OF burdens hour by hour
And vet the blov rolls IL way
with still, majestic power,
To that fair haven so serene,
Beyond high heavens hill,
Where u shall break on golden sands
And Christ shan bid It, " Peace he sim
This was followed by these lines, the contribution
OF Mr. e. f. Sturteyant, of Hartland, Vt, son.
in-law which were feelinsly read by his son :. c
Stuiteyant'
The love Of life and happiness our theme
Hiss j. the toucli-stune of the morning dfeaai
We rove through sunshine. seeking evermore
For brighter Jewels the sounding shore.
VIZ love the hamlet where used to roam
The dearest spot ON earth our mother. honc,'
That perfect love forever cngs To
Born IN the household where his life began.
Dear mother matron of thy rural home
Win cheerful hearts your and daughters
To cheer thee on To if the veil Of heaven
The tale Of grief and sorrow be forgiven.
The song OF Joy. that true pa,ernal love,
Comes In q sacred strain from heaven above.
Music harmonious, soft the matn strain
We hope in future will revive again.
Hope, them the brightest passion OF The soul
Beams In Respondent Smiles beyond control;
We dwell on thee, thou source fiying Light
Thou gmmering star npon summer night
That shines with one transcendeni glow,
Leading to lite and Joy world below.
'''Ts spring the small birds whistle in the vale
In songs apparent TO reveal the tale,
TO note the flight of time and sing the lay
our mothers age one hundred years to-day
Born year that made a nation free,
The same centennial Is her jubilee"
Then came the letters from those who we're I'm
able to be present the singing Of some Of In
old, old tunes whose music and harmony gro,
] sNccief ana flcuti WIN lNttf Year, anu the gen
erll congratulations Of all to the lady who's
shoulders the weight Of fye-score years has nc
bent, and whose brow their cares have scarcel
furrowed. Just before we parted, her younges
son, Philemon Morey, Of Boston, merry, white
haired boy Of nearly sixty read the foll0win
touching little selection which left hardly a DIR
eye among his hearers:
rr NH.
Doss the road wind up hill all the wayg
Yes, to the very end.
Win the days journey last the whoe oug day
, From morn to night, my friend
But is there for the night a resting place.
A roof for when tho slew. dark hours begin
WIN not the darkness hide 1t from my faee7
You cannot miss that Inn.
Shall meet any Nayfarers at nighlY
Those that have sone beiorei
Then shall knock OF call when just In sight
: They VIII not keep waiting at that door.
shall mud comfort, trayel-sore aud weak
OF human labor you will nnd the SUN.
VIII there he beds for me and all who seee
Aye-beds Tor an that
, All felt il to have been such a pleasant gathe
ing Many acquaintance were formed betwee
kindred who had never met, and friendshiI
sprang up which we trust will out-last time. "
) shall never, in all probability, have like oec
sion, aud should fail In rendering a just tribute
her efforts, did we not ascribe much OF the cred
OF proposing. arranging and carrying out the pla
4 to Mrs Louise Morey, Of Boston, under whose d