The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-29

four-horse stage coach and two-horse
covered carriage for baggage. Thus equipped
and ready to call on the General, | was in
formed that the Governor had concluded tn
escort him to the State line at Methuen.
There seemed to be nothing else 10 do than
to start at once and keep out of the way of
the Governors escort At this moment a
Revolutionary soldier from Vermont, who,
having attended the Bunker Hill celebra-
ton, had been left bv the stage. begged
ride as far as Concord, on his way home.
AS | had ample accommodations. he WAS
gladly taken into the barouche. | was not
aware of the dilemma in which was until
We approached Maiden, where great crowd
had assembled. Bells began to ring can
mons were fired, bands of music cheered,
and. as we came near. we could distinctly
hear the shouts of Welcome, Lafaycttev
Ordering the team into the midst of the
crowd, / arose in the carriage and ex-
claimed, See that you do it not; the gentle
man at my side is not General Lafayette,
but worthy soldier of the revolution. Give
him three cheers. if you please. and let us
pass on This they did with will. The
soldier gave a soldiers salute and we
drove on.
times before we reached Methuen, where
General Lafayette enjoyed hearty laugh
at NV expense / introduced to the
General my wife and frst-born child. an
pouncing his name to be George Washing
ton. He shook hands with the wife; took
the child in his arms; impressed a kiss on
its cheek, looked Mt the mother and then Mt
the child; and, in subdued voice, full of
emotion, said: am reminded of the loved
and the lost!' l knew he was thinking of
his own beloved wife. his tirst-born child
and his noble friend, Washington-all
dead"
Mr.. Parker had several interesting chats
with Lafayette, who told him many interest
Ing things about the Revolutionary times,
his family and his trip through the country.
When Lafayette left Concord he gave Mr..
Parker hearty invitation to visit Lagrange,
his chateau in France, and then set out for
Albany.
In 1928 Mr.. Parkcr's wife died, and few
years later he married the daughter of Cen
eral McClary, who was at one time United
States Senator and Marshal for New Hamp-
shire for several years. In 1884 he travelled
5000 miles through the South and West, and
published an account of his travels, of which
over 10000 copies were sold. He has also
written a small volume of poems, besides
numerous magazine and newspaper arti-
Giles.
At the outbreak of the civil war three of
Mr.. Parker's sons enlisted. Two returned
home with military hOnors, and enc was
killed and buried at Butte La Rose, La, In
1863.
Mr.. Parker's third ana last marriage was
In 1879, and this attracted far more atten-
ton than either of his previous marriages,
He was then ss years old, and his bride.
Miss Julia Smith, was Sc. She was a ma
tive of Glastonbury, Conn, and the we'd
ding was. celebrated in the old Smith house.
1t had been 101 years since similar occur
renee took place within its walls. Miss
Julia Smith was very intellectual woman
and possessed Of determined ideas. She
was one Of the ablest supporters of women's
rights in Connecticut, and when her father
died size, with her sisters, managed the
farm. Because the privilege of voting was
denied to her she refused to pay cent of
taxes, and when the collector came he was
compelled to confscate one or more of her
cows or other farm stock to satisfy his de-
mands.
Mr.. Parker lived with his wife In Glas-
tonbury for seven years, when, in 1856, she
died Mt % years of age Since that time he
! has been in Fitzwiliam.
Mr.. Parker has hardly known what is to
be sick He attributes his hearty old age to
his abstemious habits. lie has never used
tobacco nor any kind of alcoholic drink
| and takes no tea or coffee. He is tall.ir
stature, and, with the exception Of Sigh
deafness, his faculties have suffered no i'm
! pairnent. Since the death Of the historian