Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-29

ate the dinner tpEsther, s'rejoicing and
prsising God.' For yepys after tho ami
versary was observed. CommuniOns aud
bapiismal servieea were long celebrated
with the chRlice aud plate sent ovar by
the copper workers of Sweden TO Pastor
Riork, and the Bible long used was that
given by Quesn Apne in lTi2.
Tho Swedish tongue continued in vogue
down TO the revolution. The sexes sat
apart. Chrlstmas was the great day of
the year, although Easter aud Penteoost
were observed. On Christmas day the
old Rexson, Peter Davis, alias Dutch
Peter, alias cod Powder Proof." dr.. ssed
the church with special care. This Peter
was a Hssslsn dessrter. with powder,
marked face, who satisfied his wsrliks
propcpsitias by numbering the English
LANGUAGE ct every opportunity. He
diessed the church In fifs and evergreens,
aad sprinkle -four upon it TO give the
appearance of snow. He built 6re of
hickory logs in the huge cannon stove,
and when they were reduced to GOALS
drew them out upon tina brick floor to
diffuse a genial warmth. Then the pso-
pie came in huge sleighs and jumpers
from ten miles around, hurried ia, and
stood about the ere, greeting one another
heartily, brushing the snow from the old
sections frs, and compIimenting him on
the beauty of his appointments aud
Peter would reply "Sod be taukful for
all dish plesslns und tings." Weddings
were great events in the old church, the
bridal parties coming adorned with
crowns and garlands, and singing aud
music. The 'Dlary aud Church Record
of Holy Trinity Church" in the hand
writing of Rector Bjork, has been pre-
served by the society, and is nov being
translated into Eoglish by Dr. Horace
Burr, On accomplished linguist Of Will
mington. DR.. Burr's work, he told us, is
nearly completed, and the records will be
published shortly under the patronage OF
! the Delaware Historical Society. We
Jaw and handled tina three ancient
volumea, with thoir strange Swedish
woras--words much more difficult to do.
| cipher from tho fact that they differ
somewhat from the modern tongue.
The old yard OF the church, which liet
ell about the adifioe, is quantity inter.
esting spot. Like the old Jewish ceme
tsry at Newport
| The very names recorded here ere strange
OF foreign accent and Of different climes.
Deriossnn, Ingeborg, Stidhaen, Wal
raven, Jsquat, Yandeveree, go, are tbs
nsmes borne On tho tcmhstones. Thu
Oldest stone is that OF William vando
veree, who died in i7l9 There are somt
quaint epitaphs. A stone in memory o
Alice Kirke, date 1882, has this r
Reader, behold this stone 70 know
Whit choiea remains are hid below,
Beloved IA evety scene of life "
Asmsideni widow, mistress, wife.
And this ia memory Of Mrs. Ingebor,
Ssidhasn, ooiit l74s: gft
An obsdient CHI d, a ohaste maiden, al
honest, loving, 'virtuous wife, a good en-
dsavoging mother, q helpful nabor. ES
ample take by mo as In my lie | showet
thse.
The soiony Of stones in memory Of tn
French and West Ind;s roinFees is Q lnrg
one. Church and ohurch-yaTi are in tn
heart Of the bnsy manufacturing district
A part IT the latter has already beel
shorn of by the railroad to Baltimore
and 1t is question for speculation hoy
long time will eIapse before all &c
The very rocks on which Fort Ohrisfin
was built, and where Stuyvesaat stood I
seeeiye the surrender of the Swedes, ar
, Roue-blastsd ont, and built into tn
Delaware Brea kwater X.