St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-02-21
TWO GOLDEN WEDDINGS.
RaHney.


Neighbors and friends filled the
house of Deacon and Mrs. George
Ranney of this town on the 18th
inst, to commemorate their fiftieth
marriage anniversary. A very inter
esting feature of the day was the
lively recital of what was going on
in Westminster something over a
half century ago. In those days it
seems, young men taught winter
schools and bright-faced girls dill
gently pursued their studies, and in
course of time other affairs of impor-
tance came up, and progressed, and
eliminated on the 18th of February,
1889. Following this was the pur-
chase of a large farm in the north
part of the distant town of St. Johns
bury and thereafter the goOdly fam
lily life of eight and forty years, where
of many children and grandchildren
were at hand last Thursday to testi-
fly, making radiant the countenance
of the bright-faced bride of fifty
years.
The remarks of Pastor Grover
were noticeably felicitous; Ex-Pastor
Fairbanks led in prayer letters were
read, valuable gifts were brought in,
fifty gold dollars represented the
children, bountiful supper was set
forth and properly attended to, and
a long and Joyous evening followed.
Dea Ranney is one of the most
substantial and hOnored citizens of
our town, and much wider circle
than those who enjoyed the hospital
tiles of his home add their saluta-
tions and kind wishes to the worthy
head of this household. We are fa-
vored with copy of the verses con-
tributed for the occasion by Alfred
S. Hall, Esq, of Boston:
GEORGE RANNEY.
ELIZA JANE HALL.
1889. FEBRUARY IA. 1889.
Fifty welded years. Not golden the day,
Nor the Wedding but the years that have
goneI
Half century's love and devotion,
With purpose unchanging and pledges un-
broken,-
Your heaven begun here for completion be-
yond.
Abide by the record withhold not the gold
in it;
Cherish all you've gone over hold it fast
IT is the past that is yours, and forever,
brighter.
And give hope for the years yet to come.
Then golden the past, and We'll bless it;
Golden the faithful affection of years.
Golden the life-work; hand in hand you've
discharged it.
The duty performed, and the toll overborne,
The fair. open living, and your good righteous
home
Old couple. fond and worthy,-heres our
greeting:
You've done well; you've lived in honor.
Your lives and your faces, they'll stay with
ever,
AS marks of good cheer and righteous en-
deavor-
And blessings be on you both 1ere and here
George and Eliza; still strong and warm
hearted,
Your clasp and your favor we strive for
And value. Stay long and still lead us.
H old us firm in the old ways, the bold ways
OF conviction and duty and trust in the Lord
So leading, Heaven shall wait you
Well approve what you've done,-
Well kiss your kind faces,
And forget not your home,
Where we've learned many lessons
That should bear us above,
For its trend has been gracious,
Through it's fifty years loves.
ALFRED S. HALL.
Dea Ranney is of an old-fashioned
family of eight brothers and three
sisters, all of whom lived to grow up
and have families. The first death
in their number was a sister at the
age of &c years. The oldest brother
lived to be SO and the six brothers
surviving average over so years
each. The deacon's five children and
seven grandchildren were all present
at the golden wedding.