The Portland daily press., 1886-05-31

best;interests of the town, especially to rescue
from oblivion the precious records OF It's MS
tory, and to make known to their cnilqren
and to the world the noble lives and virtues
of our fathers, you need not be told. have
alluded to his friendship for my brother
Seargent by whom it was warmly reclpro-
Gated. How yividly, as though it were last
wear or last week, recall an evening spent
with my brother Just oqt Oh vnfar tbaTa aoe @
der the hospitable roof of Judge Guion. my
brothers partner, and he came OUT 70 nave
talk with me about home, and ABOUT GornaIn'
He and little dreamed at the Time now MS
toric the spot was to become IN less ridn tba fa
nous line along which Gen. Grants army
slowly picked and battered and fought It's
way to the capture of the Vicksburg strong
hold on July 4, 1863. Having maoe m milluIg uid
nefshbors he remarked that nowhere, else
had he met characters so original, so striking,
and full of unique individual traits as IN Cor
ham. Referring to Judge Pierce, he ex-
pressed for him the warmest admiration,
adding: 'He is man well qualitied to De
President of the United States" Nor do l
think this was extravagant praise His va
ried talents, his knowledge, his sound sense,
his thorough acquaintance with American
history, law and legislation, his patriotism,
all fitted Judge Pierce to fill with honor any
position in the gift of the people.
But it is high time, Mr.. President, to bring
these hasty "reminiscences to q close. And
vet how willingly would | still go on and
speak to YOU Of others, whose names recall
so well; of my old pastor and true friend,
Mr. Pomeroy; of Mr.. Mason, at whose feet L
took my first lesson in classic lore; OF Rev.
Timothy Hilliard, who represented among
us, in such catholic spirit, the Episcopal
church; of Amos Brown, who did SO much
here, and, later, in New York to promote the
higher interests of education; OF Capt. Ro-
bic, the honored father OF highly hon2red
son; of Gen. Irish, so long distinguished IN
the service of the town and Of the State; OF
my old schoolmate, Daniel Z. Emery, who
was distinguished in the service of town and
State; of those excellent men, Deacon Nc
Lelan and Deacon Chadbourne; OF Gen.
Hight, my esteemed Sunday-school teacher;
of that courteous gentleman of the old school,
Col Stephenson; of that good farmer ana
upright man, Col. Jno. Tying Smith; OF ia
cob S. Smith, the cultivated lawyer, and IA
ther of two of my cousins and schoolmates,
of Col Hugh Mcclellan, q man remarkable
in many ways, and not least for his minute,
accurate knowledge of the history of Cor
ham; of Capt. Stephen and Capt. William
Stephenson, of Capt. Hunt, and Capt. Mot
ley and Capt Goldman. whose names are as
sociated with SO many dear friends of my
mother and sisters, as well as OF my own; OF
| Stephen Hinkley, Charles Hunt, Mr. Her
| sey, and Deacon Paine, and / know not how
many more among the olden generation OF
| nv contemporaries. How gladly, too, would
| | speak of younger men, whose names are
| closely associated with my brother Seargent,
or his college classmates, or his friends; VIII
| liam Tying Hilliard, John I'll. Hilllard, George
| Stephenson, Francis Barbour. Francis Ro-
| bic. and George Pierce, cut off, alas in the
| morning of beautiful manhood; and OF
| Younger generation still, beloved school
| mates and companions of my own boyhood,
| or later, college friends: Reuben Mason, An
| drew Barbour, Charles Roble, Edward T. 10
| bic, Frederick Robie, Elijah Kellogg, Cyrus
| Woodman, Frederic and Charles and Ste
| phen Stephenson and many others. Happily,
| some of them are here to-day to speak for
| themselves:
glory of children is their fathers" that is a
| true saying, as l think we all feel to-day
| And it is no less true that the glory OF chill
en-oftentimes the greater glory, by far-is
| their mothers What different 150th ami
| versary we would celebrate to-day, if the
| foundations of this town had not been laid
| in a wholesome, pure and goodly family life! !!
| The women of Gorham have been not less
remarkable for the sweet household virtues
| which have adorned so many OF It's homes,
| than the men of G0rham for those sturdler,
| more public virtues, that have made so
| many of them pillars in both church and
| State. In order to truly depict some OF these
homes, as l remember them fifty years ago,
| my pencil would have to be dipped in falrer
| colors than those of earth.
There was around them sucha dawn
| OF light mere seen before,
| AS fancy never could have drawn,
| And never can restore!
| Their mothers and daughters, whose pres
| ence transfgured them, were fashioned by
| the Eternal Spirit; they followed Christ as
| their master, and learned their lessons Of
/ household wisdom and goodness at His feet.
Some of them still live to bless the world
few of them are here today; but the larger
| number long ago were joined to. the more
congenial fellowship of saints and angels in
| the blessed kingdom meek of joy and love
| ond there NAV we he so hanpy as to see them