The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-06

NJ. E. Wrisley has in his possession a
piece OF wood which is quite curiosity.
IL 10 piece OF stove wood from a black
oak tree, cut from "Whip Stock" hill, In
the west part of the town, in which is
imbedded an English handmade
wrought nall" which must have been
driven into the tree perhaps a hundred
years ago, and it may be more 1t was
cut forty-four feet from the ground and
the nail is but about two inches from
the center of the heart of the tree, and
the grains of the piece of wood, as he
has it, counts forty years, and does not
indicate half the size of the tree. When
the person saving up the wood said his
saw had hit nail, be was laughed at by
Mr.. Wrisley, but on examination it
plainly shows the full sized nail, and the
efforts Of the man to saw it off. The
tree was probably saplIng, when the
nail was driven in a few feet from tn
ground and in the many years of growth
it has been carried up to the great height
when 1t happened, one chance in a mil
lion, TO be discovered. Mr., Wrisley has
also shad berry stick, about two inches
in diamt ter, a branch of which has
lodged into an angle formed by second
branch perhaps sixteen inches above and
they have grown together, SO that the
first branch is much larger above the
jointure, receiving here an extra por-
ton of sap for its support. Both these
are rare curiosities, and further research
may develop, from the age of the tree,
that the nail was driven in before the
settlement of the town, and must have
been done by some one from Naraganset
Bay or old Connecticut, on their way to
or from Canada, during, perhaps, the
old French war.
The services at the cemetery on Dec
GRAFTON Day passed off very satisfactor-
lily, The numbers, on the special train
from Bennington, were larger than
usual, and made fine appearance under
the leadership of the President of the
day, Henry S. Bingham, Esq The G.
A. X. post, with the military and fire
department, under their efficient officers
made an appearance highly creditable to
themselves and the occasion. The band
and drum corps first visit attracted the
special attention of the gathering, re-
ceived and won many encomIums for
their excellent music and fine personal
carriage in marching. The decorations
were made by the G. A. r and volleys
fired in honor of the sleeping dead. The
remarks made by Rev. G. II. Peck were
timely and to the point, and we're well
received by the ''army boysn and others,
as he incu!cated the lessons to be learned
from the sacrifices in the long struggle
of the rebellion. 1t had been feared there
would be scarcity of flowers, but the
children were diligent in their endeavors
and collected goodly variety.
The accident on Decoration Day, when
in turning around, the wheel of a car
rage with three young ladies from Ben
ningtOn in it, was twisted from the hub,
and the horse ran, was not as dreadful
in the result as it was feared it might be.
The one driving says she guided the
horse against lamp post, which was
perhaps the best thing to be done, and
they were thrown over the dash upon
the marble walk No bones were broken,
but one, Miss Susie Wait was carried
into DR. Newton's and cared for until
the evening train, when all went on it
to their homes. The injury was not of
serious nature. The carriage was an
old one and not suitable to be in use.
We learn there has been purchased by
our village trustees for walks, three or
four hundred dollars worth of marble.
Now is the time to make good the re-
moval of marble upon the walks near
the Graded school building by an old
Board of Trustt ca, by which the schol
ars are compelled to walk in the mud
whenever it rains, or for weeks in the
spring or fall when the sun thaws the
frozen ground little.
Mrs. Sprung, wife OF Harry Sprung,
formerly of this village, lie with her aunt,
Mrs. German Mattison. She brought
with her from the west little Bessie. who
returned with her grandmother from
here several months since.
Mrs, Hommell and child from the west,
and MISS Alice, daughter of Mr.. Ripley.
from Troy, N. Y, spent last Sabbath
here. Mrs. II is making quite length
ened visit with her friends.
Rev. G. H. Peck and wife, Mrs. C. E.
yelling, HID. Hall and wife and Mrs.H
L. Chushman, are in attendance upon
the American Home Missionary meet.
ngs at Saratoga, this week.
The family of C. j. Mckay has ar
rived for the summer, and their pleas
ant grounds are being made attractive
by the skill Of the gardener and taste of
the occupants.
a telegram was received by ii. 1.
Cushman on Saturday last, that his sis
ter Mrs. Mary Booth. died at Fort
Worth, Texas, at 10 o'clock that day.
Mrs. Edward Hinsdrll of Michigan,
daughter of Dea. Rufus Towsley, with
friend, is visiting at her former home
for short Sc son.
There has been more than the usual
show and noise from intoxication dur
ing week or two just passed, in this
vicinity.
Mrs. G. d. Millngton was in the vii
laGe, spending a short time among her
friends last week.