Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-29
A elDen WEDDING.


Judge w. c. Little, Of this city, accom-
panied by his wife and children went dow
to Illinois the other day to attend the colder
wedding Of his aged parents. We are IL
receipt OF the Kewanee Ladependsnt of Ma,
18th, containing six closely set columns O
the happy occasion. c. J. T. Little ant
wife were New England people, married il
1884. They had eight children, all living
now except one daughter, and all, we be-
lieve, present at the fiftieth anniversary
together with the wives, husbands, chill
dren and grandchildren, for there were
great grandchildren present. One of the
brothers is an honorable, two doctors, one
our w. c., a lawyer. There were speeches
made and poetry read. The presents con-
sisted Of bag Of gold, gold ring for the
mother, q gold-headed cane for the father
and splendid upholstered easy chair for
each.
We cannot give even synopsis Of the
things said and done, but append the re-
marks Of W. c. Little, under the head Of
HOME AND THR DEAR ONES.
Time with its tireless wings bears US on.
In the midst OF the passing years, having
reached this golden period, We cali a halt,
rs 1t were, and laying asiGe the pressing
cares and duties of every day life, with
one accord We turn our footsteps toward
the old home and the dear ones. What
pleasant memories crowd thick and fast
upon us! What u cordial welcome awaits
us as We come! The kindly greeting Of
father and mother, of sister and brother,
or kinsman, neighbor and friend not only
this, as We draw near, almost before the
hand has pressed the latch, the gate swings
open Of its own accord aud bids US enter
in. We pass down the shaded walk, trod-
den by us in other days, and the grand old
trees bow their heads in successive recog-
milton the pansy, brushed by the careless
foot, lifts its bright little face, breathes
forth its fragrance and smiles; and SO each
familiar bush aud shrub Is vocal, speaking
however in language only understood by
the members Of the old home. We meet to
recall the pleasant associations Of other
days. We meet upon the exhalted plane
Of family and sociaI equality, with naught of
caste or privileger, with naught Of rancor
or bitterness to alloy the pleasure of
this glad hour. Time will not permit us
here to detail the history Of the days we
passed ut home but in memory to-day we
may see how we lived and learned and
loved; how as the years passed by one after
aHotuef we steppeu DeyOuu tne pateTuai
Threshold, and went out to tread the un-
known ways how We went, lacking naught
ofenergy or courage, New England herit-
age may add, but strong in Hope, not
doubtful Of the issue. We meet to-day to
kindle anew upon the altar of our hearts
that love for home and the dear ones which
has been 30 strong in the past that time has
scarcely been able to dim it, SO strong that
absence has not been able to conquer nor
intervening leagues to sunder. We meet,
we rejoice, we go hence, some with faces
towards the east, others turning our foot:
steps towards the setting sun (; as we go
forth let us ever keep alive the memory of
home and the dear ones let the fires of love
burn brightly that We may carry much OF
warmth and cheer to other hearts and other
homes aud as succeeding years shall bear
us on, let the hallowed memory Of this glad
day keep alive the flame here re-kindled,
and let it burn higher and higher until it
o'erleaps the bounds of the family circle,
and let it spread until it shall pass beyond
the confines OF kinship, reaching out to-
ward the great brotherhood Of man.