The Press., 1885-12-03
Mrs. Annie A. Preston in the Springfield Republican, A THANKSGIVING WEDDING BREAKFAST.

Mrs Annie A. Preston in the Springfield Republican, A THANKSGIVING WEDDING BREAKFAST. IN CONNECTICUT ONE HUNDRED AND TEN
 YEARS AGO.
 In colonial times the Sanger family lived in what is now known as the Forest Mills ueighborhood ill Wilmington. According to the facts regarding them that have been handed down from generation to genera tion, they were prosperous, industrious folks, able, hke most people in those days, to turn hand at anything needful to be done. Mrs. Sanger, by reason of her sscar- rying a pale face, as the women said, came to be known as ssdelicate;'' and in those times in New England there were few women so favored by husband and children up and growing as Molly Sanger. She was an adept at all fine and fancy spinning, weaving, needle-work and knit ting, had considerable book-learning, and was spoken of as ssny lady, by some of her more notable nelghbors. Although these women were willing enough to ac- cept her ready assistance about anything within her province, they were won't to whisper confdentially to one and another in any neighborhood emergency =
 "Molly Sanger isn't to be counted on, you know she hasn't any bockbone.'
 At the time of our national struggle for independence Parson Noble was the preach CT at the old meeting house on Willington Hill. That historic meeting house, that was 20 years in building, was only just completed, with minister's pew, pulpit and all, when the revered first pastor, Rev. Daniel Fuller, native of Dedham, Mass. grandson of that Samuel Fuller, who came to this country in the Mayfiower, a graduate of Yale college of the class of 1721, after a 3O-years' pastorate died of small -pox December $, 175S. Parson No ble was his successor, and, although there has been handed down regarding his preaching less than there has about his fox-hunting, he was good man and 8 stanch patriot, and never lost an oppor- tunity of impressing his convictions upon the people, who looked mp to him as a public teacher ill political matters, as well as in those purely spiritual.
 One Sunday in the spring of 1775, Par son Noble preached so powerfully upon the issues of the hour controlling the fu- ture of the country that Molly Sanger's heart was stirred within her, and without waiting for the closing hymn or the bene- diction, she slipped out, and mounting her high-stepping sorrel colt, she galloped away over the hill through the wood to her own dwelling. There she found her husband and her three grown-up sons sit ting ou rock just south of the barn, talking earnestly. ......... E
 Sitting in the sunshine, planning the summers work, while our enemies are crowding us at every hand P said Molly Sanger, indignantly, to herself.
 Riding up in front of them, and still sitting upon the sorrel colt, she cried:
 "There is great news this day Last night stranger came mp Walcutt's road on his way from Boston to Hartford, stir ring mp the people to the enormity of British soldiers holding possession of the Bay colony, where dwell our kinsfolk. The stranger stopped over with Parson Noble, and today that good man laid down before us our duty. Do you under stand what all this means? Do you com prehend that there is but one thing for you to do and that is for you four to rally as many as possible of your neighbors, and start at once with them to join the army near Boston? If you go the way this stranger has come, you will find rein- forcements at every house."
 But the farm ?' ssAnd the stock ?'' 'sAnd the children?" "And yourself? ?''
 At these four hastily spoken questions, Molly Sanger's white face turned peroept- ibly winter as she replied, unfinchingly
 "God has given me, along with all my blessings, faith in his ability to care for me and mine. He guided our fathers and mothers across the sea to these shores, and gave them this country in trust for us. We hold it for generations vet un. born. God intends it to be free country. If the burdens of making it so falls upon us, are we 10 let 1t slip from shoulders that have already felt the British yoke ?"
 "We should have gone before now, had it not been that we feared for you, said the oldest son, speaking out boldly for all the rest.
 "We saw the stranger in the meadow yesterday, before Parson Noble did, and heard his story. We have noted the signs of the times and felt that the honr was drawing near for some of us to go."
 "You are aUto go ]" cried Molly Sanger impetuously have decided it."
 Without needing her the oldest son con tinued: ea
 "We remained at home from meeting this forenoon to talk the matter over anc to decide upon what is best to be done without disturbing you you are always so white and thin and frail-''
 T am iron !' interrupted the aroused mother. My strength has been reserved for time of need. That hour has come You are to try me"
 So the father and the three sturdy sons marched away in the freshness of the early May Monday morning and Molly Sanger and her daughters, we'll content, took hol6 of the work in the house, the barn, anG on the farm, so bravely that their neigh bors were astonished at their good man agement, earnestness and perseverance.
 ''They are plucky lot" said Esquire Merrick; 'Molly Sanger, for all her white face that has been held up to her discredi all her life, is showing more energy and ability in this emergency than all the peo pie put together who so often have helG her up to ridicule. i"
 News from the absent ones came but seldom; but no time was lost in useless forebodings, and twice every day earnest prayers for the cause and those engaged in it ascended from the Sanger hearthstone Not selfish prayers for their four precious ones alone, but for all who were doing the Lords work for the cause of liberty, and all available time was occupied in fashion. ing warm winter garments to be sent tc the front whenever an opportunity should offer
 The days fled away, cold weather was Il .Ls1l n. 51rA