Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-01-25
Tales and Ssftthss.
From the Pennington Chronicle.
"REMINISCENCES.
BY DANIEL CoNY


pened, but it made an inelfaceable i'm
preston upon my mind and | never re-
call it without a shudder. 1t was long
before the advent of railroads in Maine.
and when all journeys were made. either
upon shank's mare, or by the aid OF
horse flesh. There was good
deal of business and social inteicourse
between the towns upon Sandy riv-
er, and Augusta, and Iallowell. Frank
lin county had not yet been erected, and
Pennington formed part of kennebec.
The mails were carried between the latter
and former towns by stage, either two or
three times. and if | am not mistaken a
Mr.. Pease was the proprietor and driver
thereof. Frederick Stewart, also, was at
one time connected with tho line, but
whether before or after Mr.. Pease, | am
unable to say. They were both much re-
spected, and were highly intelligent, and
very gentlemanly men.
There were many families 10 Farming
ton, that were connected, either bv ties OF
blood, or marriage, with various families
in Augusta, and old fashioned friendly
visits between them, were OF frequent oc-
currence. Among these families were
the Sewals, the Bechers, the Churches,
the ConyS, the Brooks, the Stewarts, ard
others | remember. when a lad, on sew
eral occasions bringing my mother to F.
in a chaisc with trunk strapped to its
axletree, and that we made the house of
Hon. Hiram Belchor our headquarters
From this center OF hearty hospitality, we
would make the round of tea party visits,
among the family connections and friends
For two things, Pennington has always
hppn hi II -bgn nnif. aS y
years ago as to-day, viz: culture, and
hospitality. Many of the old towns OF
Maine were settled by very superior
class of men and women, and in this re-
spect, among them. Pennington was pre-
eminent. Speaking OF tea parties, those
given at the house OF uncle Jack Church
AS he was called--were exceptional
bly, unique and enjoyable. This
old gentleman was very fond of
sacred music, and, believe. played
the bass yiol and violn at any rate,
know that his daughter did. Alter refresh
ments had been served, Uncle Jack would
summon his musical forces, both vocal
and instrumental, to the front, where his
guests would be treated to perle st feast
OF sacred melody and ancient songs,
winding up with "Anld Lang Svne." The
aesthetic tastes of the citizens have led
them to cultivate music; and at the time
of which AIN writing. Pennington could
boast of some OF the best musical
talent in Maine. But to my story
Some forty odd years ago, there lived
In an eastern suburb OF Pennington, three
or four miles from town, gentleman
farmer named Sewall, who had several
beautiful, intelligent and well educated
daughters. About that time, there Was
also handsome and gallant youth, ma
tive OF Augusta, whose initials were 5.
= -, -, reading law in the
Office of the Hon. Hiram Belchcr The
youngest daughter of the before named
gentleman farmer, was rare and radi-
ant maiden" of hardly more than fifteen
summers, when 10y chance the young law
student made her acquaintance. 1t was
the ever recurring old story. repeating it
self,-loye, engagement and finally mar.
rage. The young lawyer having COM
pleted his studies, settled in Oldtown, then
place OF great business activity.
ln those days there were Fifty writs to
one lawyer, not as now, dozen LAWYERS
to one writ, and it was not long before our
young lover felt justified ia naming the
happy day. The 18th of October, 1888,
was hxed upon for the consummatiol Vi
the event. My sister and were TO repre-
sent the family OF the bridegroom at the
marriage feast, and it was arranged that
we were to bring with US the wedding
suit, which had been ordered from a fash
lonable tailor at Augusta, also the bridal
bonnet and sundry articles of fancy mil
hnery, such as are befittng an occasion 50
interesting to the gsntler sex in general,
and to the party OF the first part in par.
ticular. MIR. bridegroom was to make his
way 10 the house of his intended, by a
short cut across the intervening country.
A rural wedding fifty years ago, was a
very simple. unostentatious affair, though
then, as now, the event was surrounded
by halo of anticipated ioys, whose
roseate hues were often resolved in the
cruclble oil time, to the very practical
status OF pork and beans. The trosseau
OF the bride was not the elaborate and ex-
penslye thing it now too often is, neither
were The presents as numerous or AS cost
ly. question much, however. whether
the new order OF things brings any aug
mentation oil welded bliss. If there were
FEWER bridal bosoms adorned with spark
ing crosses there were fewer heads bowed
W eho HcoNJ SIOoSes winch uuDrluleQ am
bition often compels her votaries to bear.
ii there were fewer orange blossoms
brought to the altar, there were quite AS
many blushss msntling bridal Checks
symbols of purity and innocence. Ifthere
was less OF the glare of equipage. and
the glitter OF wealth--less of the pomn
and circumstance of social grandeurL
there were also fewer happy homes made
dssolate by crime,-fewer once bonored
and beloved husbands and brothers
.courged to their daily tasks. clad in the
ignomnious livery OF the malefactor -
fewer maniac wives bowling in the agony
OF their madness, through the long dfeary
hours oil night IN their barred and boted
cages fewer more than orphaned child
ten doomed to climb the rugged pathway
oil lie. weighed to the earth with the mill.
stone OF fathers infamy about their
hecks lever, near and dear relatives
compelled to drink of the cup of humilia-
tion, protered by hands that should rather
nave been lifted in the defence of family
nonor. Verify, we are living in an ace
IN striking contrast to that of our fathers
1hat we have made immense material ad-
Vancement, there can be no doubt; bu,