Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-10-16
Golden Wedding.

instant, each being seventy-seven years old.
There were four persons present who attended
the ceremony fifty years ago, viz; one brother
and his wife and two sisters Of the bride
groom. There were a variety Of presents made
to them on this occasion, list OF which will APP
pear below and the parlor and sleeping apart
ment of the host and hostess were decorated very
tastefully by the hands OF some OF their fair
neighbors. In the parlor appeared the word
Welcome" in evergreen letters, over the heads
Of the elderly couple, and facing the guests %
they advanced to present their congratulations
On one side Of the bedroom were the words
"Thus far the Lord-October a. 1S28-hath led
us on-October H. 1873" They sat to receive their
friends, on account OF infrmty, In easy chairs
that were presents, and were exceedingly happy
TO receive 80 many of those who had moved in
the same scenes for nearly as long time. Rep
resentatives Of six states present, viz: Yer
mont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York,
Michigan and Minnesota, while letters and mes
sages were received from friends in New Jersey
Florida, West Virginia and Kansas
At haf-past seven, p. NJ, the Rev. Mr.. Robin
son, the Young pastor Of the church Of which the
host has been deacon since 1874, called to order,
offered prayer, and introduced the other exer-
cises, viz u poem by Mrs L. L. Durant, read by
the eldest daughter Mrs. II. B. Cross; letters
read and remarks by Rev. j. II. Babbitt former
pastor; "reminiscences and poem by Rev. p b.
Fisk, the only son, now pastor of the Congrega-
tiona church, Lake City, Minn-of which the POI
ems will appear below We summarize briefly the
facts, which may be Of some interest to others who
were not present
Deacon Fisk was born on u place about two
miles below his present residence, and removed
to this place when about nine years old where his
father cut the first tree and where he has resided
continuously for sixty-eight years The cot
tage has been remodeled twice, and improved.
The barn is the first one raised in this town with
out rum, and is still sound in frame and full Of
produce. The neighbors have all been changed
except the only remaining brother, who lives on
the next farm to the south.
Mrs. Mary Spofford Fisk was born in Orange
Vt, lived several years in Jaffrey, n H., with an
uncle, was married from her fathers house in
Moretown and has resided with her husband In
this cottage ever since. Seven children were born
to them, of whom two died in childhood; the re-
naming FIVE being present at the golden wedding,
only two OF whom are married. Five grandchi-
living all these latter being the children OF Rev
p. b. Fisk none of them present on this occasion.
After these exercises, wedding cake and coffee
we're served, "Auld Lang syne " was sung, fol-
lowed by the Doxoogy, and the company gradu-
ally separated with many expressions Of pleasure.
One feature Of the preparations struck us "a
worthy OF especial mention. The relatives and
guests from distance were gradually gathered
before the celebration, and as each approached
the table found his or her own initials on the rus
tic napkin-ring beside his plate. Nothing could
have conveyed so delcately and effectually the
sense of being expected, provided for and well
coined as this.
The following are copies Of the two poems;
by MRS. L. l.. DuRANT.
What shall bring. friends. this glad festa day.
What shall the Offering be-
Our hearts overflow, as hands claspng yours.
These wide open doors we see.
We have come from the valleys and meadows fair,
And the hillside's sunny slope.
| From the light Of thy life lesson to learn
OF fahfulness courage and hope.
Chapiets of palm leaves place at thy feet
Trophies, and pillars Of gold
Flowers of spring time and odors of summer,
| That never grow faded or old;
| Fruits Of the autumn. and treasures of wealth.
Hidden deep In their silent flow;
| Pictures Of memory mirrored in light
| OF the suns pale evening glow.
| Loves of the lost ones come back as the years
| Go speedily on and on
Music Of voices and smiles OF the glad
| Thrill once again and gone.
But more golden than all, more trsgran, and fun,
Are the blessings still round you given
| The hope serene the trust 30 secure,
| OF sweet rest and peace in heaven.
From the fresh green paths thy childhood played
| Thou hast wandered far and long;
| The sunsets gmmer on the western hills
| And the nght-b begins his song
Nearer each day to the pleasant home-light
| That dispels all sorrow and feaB,
Rich in experience and rich in the love
| or those welded nifty years.
Though the JOY of youth from thy face may fee
And thy form be bowed with age,
Though thy feet are tired thou wilt rest ere long,
Where storms, no pillows rage
The severed wreaths will be twned again
by the Shepherds tender love,
All the broken cords attuned once more
In the Fathers house above.
Those mansions bright he went to prepare
May their glories to yon unfold
Inherit the kingdom prepared for You,
And receive your crown of gold
BY p. h. FISK.
1t would seem-so the twin naples sighed
To the butternut the brook
That our business is simply to bde,
And after this cottage TO look.
Every autumn your clusters down,
| But you scarcely look up even then;
while the brook prattes in out Of town,
Never staying nor coming again.
All these hills have much wider range,
We are here and have nothing to do
Unless-and It isn't 30 strange
To remember and tell what view.
Let us see-we remember full well
When our shadow crossed by bride
Who came to this cottage to dwell,
W it'll stalwart youth by her side
Their elders vigorous then;
. When. and where they went, cannot say,
Save, at each disappearance, the men
Sadly bore strange burden away.
londer river has drawn up so near
The two mills rotted down. and removed
And the landscape has changed year by year
Thrice the cottage itself been improved.
= The white mare was exchanged for the bay
(Which the haby rode down yonder "slide,'J
G Next the white-sided sorre drew hay
Having foal after foal by her side
4 Tnl Bayard"-her last except one
: Had begun his useful career,
q with the Z" Lop-ear beside him TO run,
And " Light foot" the twenty -foarth year.
q Now Nellie" three summers we've known,
- And Nellie" and "Light-foot" strong
: But "Bayard" and "w hite-side," we own,
5 Were horses worth mention in song.
: We remember the little ones-seyen.
As they came one by on the green
o Those We saw but Ave autumns and 'leven,
n And the i've now so frequently seen.
Z Other brides and then, fitted I'M
II The fifth grandohid we've happened to see,
+ How many long years has 1t been?
a Why really. full Jubilee
e Well. no wonder they stoop, for the burden
Al OF years on the glory-crowned head
They worthy of Hymen's best guerdon
Ever faithful the twin naples said.
We have longed To be like them often,
> Once TO break from these rigid confines,
s. And 80 look as the evening beams soften,
y For place where the always shines.
} Such place there be, whence, with light
II Are the sun, moon and stars ever fed;
stretching upward, zoe cannot see quite.
m May they md 1t 1.-THE twin-maples said.
" How much longer our watch who tells
10 Der what changes our broad shadows spread
"a But then-whispered the maples-'tis we'll
And the butternut nodded Its head
10 The list OF presents Is as follows; Japane
IS napkins for the evening" entertainment, lounl
$ rattan easy chair reclining chair, invalid cal
n chair, bronzed horseshoe, with monograms a
ii inscriptions, gilt and fret work box for table CT
re lery, book OF poems Pilgrims Progress tilt