Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-11-22

Prnob.rot
On Thursday the 18th, a5aG; fifty rel
ati,c> and friends II Mr.. Polly Snowman
met AZ tie house Of her son. LeanIrr g.
snowman. To celebrate the auniyersgr, Of
her ninei.cth birthday. il Mas raw, cGslIy
dav and the travelling was bad. which doubt
les, prevented the attendance Of many from
abroad, The children pFesen, we're Mrs
Reuben Grindle and Leandcr y. Snowman
of Penobscoi, and Mrs. judith Waite of
Wayeily. Iowa.
The forenoon was spent in social enjoy
mcn;. Ia tracing the family history and in
re,iy.n- "reminiscences Of the past. ihcn a
boanii:ul dinner was spr,ed wAIch wOuli
CRAFTY the most iasti1iou> epicure. Inc az
ttruoul exercises consisted of singing. script
ure reading and a few appropriate remarks
by Rev s. NJ. Dunton. and an affecting
PRAYER by Rev. Y. 7. W4rdwell OF Ca>tinc
nephew of Mrs snowman who in allaG-
iGg to the tender memories of Tie past,
stirred the hearts OF all present An 4iiec-
toiiate and touchin. letter Was received
from her oldest sister, Mr.. Mercy Ward
well, who was unable 10 attend on account
Of the iGtirmi!cs Of Old a-e, being Lear.y
lightweight wears old; also one from anuth-
er sister. Mrs Charlotte Neazie of Belfast,
who was unable to be present \ number
of pretty presents were received from friends
and relatives.
Aunt Polly" as She is tln.ll:arly called,
is the oldest daughter OF the late William
Hutchins, the revolutionary survivor, and
she inherited il n striking degree the men
tai characteristics and physical constitution
of her sturdy parent. Born in this town, at
time when but a few settlers had peueirAt-
ed AMI made clearlngs in the primes al for
ests, She was accustomed to the poverty.
hardships and limited advantages Of pioneer
life She has seen this town transformed
BIZ the magic wand Of civilization as II were.
from a Wild and spar>ey settled forest ID a
thriving agricultural community, where
homes Of comfort and contentment and well
cleared farms greet the ese on every hand.
She has seen all but thiee of her fathers
large family fall by the Scl Of Time, and
has reared large family from ntanc, to
manhood and womanhood amid difficulties
which required Spartan courage. and has
seen them 20 forth an honor and blessing 10
the world. She has come up as it we're
Through great tribnIation' with the smile
of heaven resting upon her cOuntenance, a
wonderfully preserved old lady, the picture
Of con;entment and good nature.
If we pass from the circle of her obser-
walton and note what has TRANSFERRED in our
country during the period Of her lifetime We
shall say that she has lived in wonderful
age. Little more than ninety years ago our
patriotic torefathers were framing the cradle
in which to rock the Young Republic. With
IN that period all but two Of our presidents
have been elected and indicted into their
high office. Within that time nine out of
eleven territories have been organized, aud
twenty three out of tnirty-eight states have
been admitted into the Union, and our pop
ulation has increased from FIVE to fifty mill
ions Of people who have spread in their con
quering march over almost every habltab!e
portion of our country. Within that period
art and science have made their srande,t
triumphs in history in the way Of cheap
transportation and the speedy transmission
Of thought and Intelligence, and II may he
well said that the rpened fruit of four cen
turtles Of thought and progress have dropped
into the pathway of our nation.
trust, Mr.. Editor, you will pardon The
depression, but a life so long and lived for
useful purposes is problem for us all, in
terestlng IN Itself, interesting III lis connec-
tons with the great world Of mind and mat
ter that surrounds it, and we are led TO IN
Quire for the secret of il. We find it not
alone in strong constitution endowed with
great vitality and power Of endurance, but
we find it due in part to that happy blend
ing of mental and moral traits Of character
which is the sures, guarantee of long life in
q we'll balanced mind that is not easily led
captive. or overthrow by distracting or an
tagonistic views, in cheerful temperament
that does not rise and fall with every wind
and tide, in uniformly pleasant DISPOSE
ton that shines out through all the creyices
of expression and ligh,ens toll, and brings
happiness, in nature that moves in har-
mony with itself and the laws that govern it
amid the dlscords of the outward life.
IL