The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-12-04
Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary.

The friends and relatives OF Dea. Ben
iamin Casey and wife assembled at
the Casey homestead on Monday even
ing, the 23d ult., to celebrate the siXtieth
anniversary of their marriage.
There were present, besides those liv-
ing in the vicinity, representatives from
several adjoining towns. as were also
Mr.. f. f. Foster and wife of Keene, n.
H., and Mrs. w. Ii. Casey of Hudson,
N. Y.
Such occasions, like diamond we'd
dings. are not of frequent occurrence, and
none seemed more pleased than those
whom the guests had assembled to con-
graduate. Theirs was not the vivacious
pleasure of youth, but rather the serele,
thoughtful enjoyment of age.
Dea. Casey has long been a social land
mark in the community in which he
dwells, type of those men of the olden
time, whose deep religious convictions
were held with the utmost tenacity.
Strong and athletic in youth, his tall
form. unbent by age, he is physically also
the ideal IA fine old New England gentle
man. He wears it with his breath"
Aunt Mary" as she is Familiarity and
lovingly called. is true representative
OF those old-time mothers, whose domes-
tic and social virtues have given charac-
ter to New England society and institu-
tions, through the sons and daughters
whom they have reared, whose strong
practical common sense. untiring indus
try and economy have in a like manner
laid the foundation of New England
thrift and pecunary prosperity. Though
IS years of age, her mental faculties are
apparently unmpaired, her retentive
memory extending back nearly or quite
to the beginning of the present century
The guests were handsomely entertained
by G. f. Casey and wife, the worthy
prospective successors to the Carey
homestead. At IA late hour for such an
occasion, the guests retired with hearty
good wishes for the aged pair and many
an expressed desire that they might live
to celebrate their diamond wedding
With these good wishes they left also
many substantial evidences of their sin
certy in the form of appropriate presents
as reminders of the occasion, and of the
friends who gathered abou. them on this
the siXtieth anniversary of their married
life. A poem was contributed and read
by niece, Mrs. Louise II. Alden of
Whiting, which, with her leave, we APP
pend to this brief and fragmentary report
of very pleasant occasion:
In welded life how few there are
The golden way-merk reach;
Yet here We meet an aged pair,
And wish much joy to each.
You've left the silver and the gold,
Way stations Tar behind;
Nearing the final diamond goal,
May you its terminus find.
Though we have met you once before
On such event as this
Coming so rare, to less than more,
Its memory we'll not miss
Since them our blessed numbers tell
How many, one ny one,
Have left Il rec 1rd, closing well,
And gone, their liie-work done.
vacant place arc ind your hearth
Has once been made since then,
And wedding bells and childrens birth,
With you, all these have been.
In Youths bright morning you set out,
Upon the well-trJd road
As burdens gathered round about,
Together bore the load.
And chdren's voices bye and bye,
Were heard along the way,
Making, their cheerful pratte nigh,
Tolls sweeter day by day.
Two sons and daughters, four were born
And grew in union blest;
In youthful beauty lilcs spring morn
Mary lay down to rest.
The way AT first, though troddcn well,
Less footprints yearly show
Ana lower yet the cycles tell
As onward still you go.
In marriage life OF sixty years
Much sorrow and much joy,
with gracious blessings, hopes and fears,
Are blended In alloy.
Should we notmeet you thus again,
Where kindred ties meier sever
May we, united happy then,
All "meet beyond the river"
LOUISE L. ALDEN.
Whiting, Nov. %, 1855.