Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-06-08

short time edited paper, until 1922, when
he went to Boston and became editor of the
New England Farmer. During his residence
in this section be was constantly occupied
with bis pen. He published two legal works
a dictionary Of agriculture The Lady's Mon
itor, poem devoted to the consideration Of
the subject Of female education, and TO quote
from Governor Holbrook's memoir) he was
continually called upon for New Year odes
and ith of July addresses Here Mr.. Fes-
sender won the affection and esteem Of all
who knew him by the simplicity and amenity
Of his manners, his generous and frank ma.
ture, and his strict integrity. He was re-
markable for his good nature, and many are
the sallos Of his wit remembered by his
friends. His generosity Of heart knew no
bounds. The following little incident illus.
trates his utter thoughtessness Of self when
this quality was called into exercise When
he first removed to Brattleboro-an entire
stranger to most Of the inhabitants-he took
morning walk, and coming to the toll bridge
found there a poor family whom the gate
tender had stopped for want Of money. Fes-
sender at once empted his pocket Of all the
change he happened to have and let them
through, passing along with them. On his
return he found himself in like situation.
and it was not without some pnrleying
and explanation that he succeeded in getting
through.
Buckingham says Of him: He had the
book Of Yankee Comparisons always at the
nib Of his pen, and quotes from Tabitha
Tower, which you will, think agree with
him is ludicrously rich in sportive metaphor"
"My Tabitha Tower is fair,
No guinea pig ever was neater,
Like hackmatak slender and spare
And sweet as a muskrat sweeter.
Ms Tabitha Tower is sleek.
When dressed In her pretty new tucker,
Like an otter that paddles the creek,
In quest Of pout or a suckerl'
After assuming charge of the Farmer be
gave up political writing and devoted his
whole time to the interests of agriculture.
The paper obtained an extensive circulation.
and its editor became known to the yeomen
Of the United States as authority on all sub
jects pertaining to their interests.
The active part of his life was spent at a
period when it was contemptuously asserted
by foreign reviewers that America had no liter
ature, and though the productions Of his pen
at that time were of transitory character,
yet he contributed his mite in replying to the
question that has since been triumphantly an
swered, Who ever reads an American book?
willclose by quoting attribute from Hawthorne:
ION the 18th day of November 1881, while
on my way to Boston expecting shortly to take
him by the hand, letter met me with an in
vitation to the funeral. He had been struck
with apople1y on Friday, three days before,
and had lain insensible till Saturday night.
when be expired. The burial took place at
Mount Auburn on the ensuing Tuesday 1t
was q gloomy day, for the first snow storm of
the season had been drifting through the air
since morning and the Garden Of Graves
looked the dreariest spot on earth. The
snow came down so fast that it covered the
coffin in its passage from the hearse 10 the
sepulchre. The few male friends who had
followed to the cemetery descended into the
tomb and it was there that l took my last
glance at the features of a man who will hold
place in my remembrance apart from other
men. He was like no other. In his long
pathway from the cradle to the place We had
now laid him, lie had come-a man, indeed,
in intellect and achievement-bu in guileless
simplicity a child Dark would have been
the hour, il, when We closed the door of the
tomb upon his perishiug mortality, We bad
believed our friend was there.