The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-08-01


injuries TO his back and shoulders. Mr.
Foote bears his suflcrings with fortitud
and patience, and though In such n DO
sition that he can i'll afford TO be laid nj
long, is still thankful that IL is no worse
The family tender their sincere thank
10 kind ncighbors and friends for fhei
l timely assistance and sympathy.
NGoLDEN WEDDING. In response I,
IyefY neatly printed cards of invitation
tsue1 by Hon. l.. ID. Eldredgc, of Mid
Ndtcbrh-y, the friends of Dea. and Mrs
tJhlius j.. Eldrcdgc, of New Haven, as
hcmbled at their residence on Saturday
evening last to celebrate their colder
wedding. Dea. Eldrcdge was born in
New Haven, Feb. 10, 1907. lie was Q
son of Mr.. Lemucl Eldredge, who was
for many years an active citizen, and
constable of the town of New Haven
lie was married July 26, 1929, 10 Miss
Polly Cowles, daughter of Mr.. John
Cowles, of New Haven, and for fifty
years of happy married life has lived in
his native town, both he and his estima-
bic wife sharing in an unusual degree
the confidence and regard of all their
associates. Dea. Eldredge, besides be-
ing many years n magistrate, and filling
other important town offices, was in
1850 and 1851 member of the legisla-
ture, and has been for many years an
efficient and honored deacon in the
Congregational church.
The fiftieth anniversary OF the we'd
ding of Mr.. and Mrs. Eldrcdge, July
20, 1879, was made most happy one
by the assembling of over one hundred
of their friends ut their hospitable home,
which had been handsomely decorated
for the occasion, and the evening was
spent in a maaner which gave much
satisfaction to all concerned. The am
pie arrangements had been made under
the careful supervision of Hon. l.. ID.
Eldredge, who at nine O'Clock bespoke
the attention of the company assem-
bled, and in handsome terms expressed
his gratitude to the friends present for
their friendship and manifestations of
good will and sincere respect in aiding
to make this festal occasion bright
spot in the lives of his honored parents,
and one to be SO much enjoyed and
long remembered. He announced that
numerous letters of congratulation had
been received from absent friends, but
he could only find time at that hour to
read the letter of Eugene Cowles, Esq,
nephew of Mrs. Eldredge, who was
now prominent lawyer in Iowa. The
letter is as follows:
CHEROKEE Iowa, July 20, 1879.
DEAR UNCLE AND AUNT Il regret very much
that cannot accept the invitation to be present
at the celebration of your golden wedding, and
personally congratulate you upon the recurrence
of that atspicious day. 1t has ever seemed to me
that your lives were the most peaceful and happy
of any have ever known, and that no tempests
ever tossed the bark that was bearing you down
the river of life to the ocean OF eternity. trust
that you have passed all the rapids and that there
remains for you yet long stretch of smooth sail.
ing unyexed by cross-currents, shoals or falls.
And when you shall have reached the shore of the
boundless unknown, that you will still be side by
side TO explore its mysteries together is the sin
cere wish of your nephew,
EUGENE CowLEs.
P.s.-Aiy wife and mother send congratulations.
He also read the following poem,
contributed to the occasion by Mrs.
Helen Rich, of Brasher's Falls, N. Y:
Loves tender idyl. set to chimes
OF golden wedding bells, as sweet
As when il sang of youthful times
Oflaughing lips and dancing feet
For hearts unchanging bloomsmay know.
As Alpine flowers that breathe of spring.
And blush for very loneliness below
Cold winters white and broodng wing
q gentle hands of hst and use,
Cling closer yet foregoing much
Holding with Time this gracious truce;
Soft eyes with loving ganccs bright
The sun and rain (blest smiles and tears
Have left no shadow, and TO night,
Has Dridged with roses fifty years.
Behold the scion straight and broad,
The Loyal son of worthy sire.
In league with man, at peace with God,
With daughter all their hearts desire;
O mountains fronting starry domes.
Green valley, Haven ofthe blest,
Not one of all thy happy homes
Hath iairer outlook to the West.
Pale bride, how worthy to be loved
The tolls the cares, the duties done
The constant spirit, tried, approved,
by trials past, high purpose won
And il the shadows seem to fall
Long in the dreamy afternoon,
If vanished bliss ye both recall
Ofmornng hours that fed too soon.
Together nearing shining sands
OF that serene and crystal sea,
liailng the broad celestial lands,
where never tears or partings be,
Back gazing long the thorny road,
just there, perchance, We stumbled sore,
SO near the howery path We trod
win one who walks with you NO more.
Mid hum of piping voices. fame
Just famed your brow, as bird that dips
The meadow, soaring thence again, 4
Or drops that tempt the fever lips
You have not kept the hills between,
Nor found the heights of living green
Secure from balcful mists below.
The dearest joys. the scenes that wear
Immortal beauty 10 your eyes
All lovers true, they cluster where
Heart silence, hushed and holy lies
If grieis assaied, love came to each
And folded in caresSlng arms
If failing all your aims to reach,
le escaped, thank God the deadly harms
Not by the false and. worldly rule,
His priceless lore We reyerent conneti--
Else how reluctant join the school,
That beckons in the best beyond?
The just example, free from sin,
These children hold, as perfumes sweet
Tell where the sacrifice has been,
And guide them TO the Fathers feet.
Hail band of union. blessing fraughti
AS ships that near the harboi's calm
Astir with joyous life enwrought.
With prayers of praise and holy psalm
When these dear ones the haven find
And lie who guides the roll shall call,
Earth's ties will He not closer bind,
And clasp in arms of mercy, all!
Rev. Stephen Knowlton, being called
upon, in felicitous terms alluded to the
many pleasant features and the happy
of this festal occasion; to
the blameless and conscientious fifty
years of welded life of Dea. and Mrs.
Eldredge, and to the Importance and
OF the marriage relation, which
should ever tend to modify and make
happier and better the lives of both the
husband and the wife.
Rev. G. Il. Hubert and Sylvester
Doud, Esq, followed in a congratula-
tory manner, abiding with manifest
pride to the exemplary Christian char
acter and lives fruitful in good works
which had been exhibited in the half
century of faithful, earnest effort of the
bride and groom, who now were spared
TO celebrate in this suspicious manner
their golden wedding.
Refreshments were generously dis
pensed, and at eleven O'Clock the friends
separated, having enjoyed fully this
most delightful and interesting occa-
sion, and many of them leaving sub
stantial tokens of their regard in hand
some presents, which were seen on