Connecticut western news., 1884-02-27
"Reminiscences of Southern New
 Marlboro, No. 5.


 Marlboro. No. 5.
 Under what unlucky or ill-omened star Mir Lorren Whiting was born l have never tried to determine, but l am cer- tain few men in this portion of the world were ever more unfortunate or met with such a succession of troubles and calamities and bore up under them with such heroic patience and resigna- tion as he.
 From his youth he was somewhat slender and at the age of IT he had long run of fever, which left him i'll an exceedingly weak and nervous state, so that he was unable to move or be moved but very little and in that condition he remained, having become a confirmed bedridden invalid and so continued for more than II years. His mother all this time was unremitting in her watch fulness and care.
 An event occurred in this part of his history which gave an entire new i'm pulse to his whole being. Miss Abigail Austin, the daughter of near neighbor, was frequent caller at Mir Writings and often assisted in household affairs. She conceived a strong attachment for Loren, which was duly reciprocated and arrangements were made for ther marriage. The old lady strongly object ed and for obvious reasons. But Lorren was determined. The arrangements were made and his pastor, Rev MT Burt of South New Marlborough, was invited to perform the ceremony. It was thought necessary to tidy up little and make some preparations for the coming event and not wishing to excite any suspicion in the mind of his mother of what was going on, Mrs Pomeroy, who was assisting there at that time, came in with pail full of water and had 8 crick in her back (?), tripped and split the water all over the floor. "ThereW said she, "I have got to go and mop this all upl' and mop she did and industriously scrubbed and cleaned till the parson arrived. It needs more graphic pen than mine to describe the scene during the marriage ceremony. The surprised mother, the bedridden bridegroom bol- stered up on the pillows, the flushed bride standing by the bedside, the ven- erable pastor uttering those mystic ord lo VI, bioh ,,ooIa fbaYyo npa
 And now new hopes, new aspirations and earnest longings for communion with the outside world seemed to be born within him. He believed and felt, though his muscles were almost rigid from long disuse and his feet and ancles had grown out of shape and all his bod fly powers seemed paralyzed, that by patient and persevering efforts all his physical faculties might be restored and he yet enjoy life's blessings.
 He immediately commenced system atic course of bathing, rubbing, chafng, etc, and each day witnessed slight i'm provement. He persevered and though | his progress was slow, in few months he was able to ride about the premises l and dictate about the work on the farm. He finally recovered so as to be able to keep small stock of Yankee notions on hand to sell and afterwards took up peddling as his business.
 He was getting along comfortably and as well as could be expected, but while travelling at some distance from home one of his legs was broken by kick from horse. He had hard, tough time before he recovered so as to | be able to return to his home.
 He was again able to resume his for mer occupation and again .prospered, but " terrestrial happiness is of short | continuance" His beloved wife, the | sharer of his joys and sorrows, was stricken down and soon died, leaving | four children who needed mothers | care.
 He soon after married Nancy Austin l (Abigaii's sister, and prospered for a short time, managing his farm with l considerable skill when his second wife 1 died.
 He again married, Widow Woodruff, and things went on we'll for a little | while, when one day while drawing | load of coal he turned over and wagon | and coal fell on him, crushing his legs and breaking the one which was broken before. His oldest son, about Is, was ] the only person within call and before | re p arrived he. with strength and intel- i igence beyond his years, had succeeded | in releasing him. He had another long siege of suffering. In fact he never recovered and to add to his affiiction his | wife was prostrated and for long time bedridden.
 In the midst of all these accumulated l troubles his faith in his heavenly father remained unshaken. With patience and resignation he fingered few short months until released from all his earth ly sorrows, which occurred August 19,