Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-01-25
A Family Reunion.

A reunion of the family of Mr.. Z. X
Gladding took place AT the residence of
his son. w. H GIadding, in Barre, Sliur
,lav. December 81, 1881. There were
eight children, seven of whom are mar.
ried, d,-besdes the parents and grandchil-
lren present, making in all twenty three
persons, A very pleasant time was en-
| loved until about 3 o'clock, when supper
WIS served. All, excep' the the grand.
children, sat together around the table as
| hey used to do when children under the
paternal roof. The following address was
then given by the father:
DEAR CHILDREN :-Throngh a well di-
recled Providence we are PERMITTED once
| more to assemble together, all in harmony
and love. one with the other. 1t is indeed
pleasing to these prents to see their scat
tered children all toge her once more, and
we feel very thlnkful TO you for pressing
your way forward to meet your parents
and to meet each other here to-day and fiji
your places on this occasion.
May this cord of love and this net work
of affection which now twlnes around each
heart. binding each 10 the other, be pre-
served by all, guarded by all, strengthen
Ell bv ali ~ held sacred by all to the end
of life. You are not here living for your
selves alone, but for the good and comfort
of each other; YOLr charity is not to be
confined to the narrow limits of your own
household, but is to extend abroad and
around the whole circle of your bro hers
and sisters and from thence to the whole
world, to whom you stand remotely con
necled as your brethren and sisters.
In the days of your childhood your pa.
rents have watched over you for your
good and for your comfort, doing the best
and all e could do for you. And when
around your sick bed you have called us,
over you have we watched with these
eyes. now dim with age while the mid
night oil has gently consumed away. until
he morning light di~pelIed the darkness
and brought us to the anxious watching Of
another day, with alternate hope and tear.
And now word in regard TO your pa
rents, whose gray hairs tell hut too well
hat their days are almost numbered. We
now are the children and you the strong
men and women. We now in turn want
and need your care, over and for us per
haps as much rs you needed ours in your
defrnceless days.
The days OF our physical labor have
been many and hard, but we find they are
now about to close, and different pro
gramme must now be adopted; and we
ask lhese children to turn their thoughts
an their attentlon in that direction foI
their parents,
We as II family have abundant reason
to be- very thankful 10 the Great Glver oi
ibr Itia al
US in our Preservation up to this time
One branch only has been broken and
fallen and that dear one has been picked
up by our cherished memory and bl ought
along and meets with Us here to-day.
Let me now say in conclusion, that it is
ut least more than possible that these pa
rents and these children may never all
meet together again on like occasion,
but may we not look fUI ward with pleas
ure to that day IN the future, having the
assurance of another great and last family
reunion, when the scattered children oil
our Heavenly Father shall come forth
from the east and from the west, from the
north and from the south and sit down
with Abraham, Isaac and jacob in the
kingdom of our Either to go no more out
forever. This is the great company which
John saw with his prophetic eye in his
Revelations (which no man could NUN.
ber." He, looking down through the
long lapse OF time to this great and last
day, makes This disclosure.
And now rs we are about to separate
and return 10 our respective homes, We
leave our tribute of thanks with this son
and this daughter by whom we have been
called together. And | must not forget to
congratulate you on the anniversary Of the
18th year of your marrirge. wishing you
continued prosperity and that your future
days may be as pleasant and happy as the
past.
Directly after this address, the following
resolutions were adopted by the children,
Resolved, That VIC tender our most
heartfelt thanks to our father for bis ad-
dress 10 us on this occasion.
The following poem, written for the oc-
casion, was then read:
OF all occasions which we wish to call
Our love of pleasure to the minds employ,
Reunion of true friends is est OF all,
And gives the deepest and most perfect Joy