The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-09-04
"VOICES OF NINETY YEARS

pressly for the occasion. Miss C..
NJ. Reynolds read the following -
"voICEs OF NINETY YEARS
Ninety years 1t is a long time-only
one decade less than the ten that round
out full century. And how checkered
with changes those many years have been
how replete with experiences of both
enjoyment and sorrow ! To you who
alone of all this gathered company, can
look back upon them all, they must speak
with many and varied voices. Let us lis
ten with you. There is one, faint with
distance, that tells the story of your birth
in this same home where we gather today,
and of three innocent infantile years spent
beneath this roof. Then another follows
your removal to new home, and to other
scenes that led ON through boyhood and
youth and early manhood until, with a
growing family about you, this house
again became your home. There are
years that tell of domestic enjoyment
years shat tell of the shadow of death and
the loneliness of bereavement There are
voices that speak of separation; the sun
dering of home-tieS, the scattering of the
children who had grown up about your
hearth, the going out of one at his
country's call, to come back no more !;
voices that speak of public life, of ser
vice in positions of trust and honor, of
helpful connection with town affairs and
with church interests, of labors perform
ed in the strength and activity of mali
hood
These later years have voices which tell
of the decline of strength, the giving up
of toll, the REIMBURSEMENT of many of the
cares of this world, the waiting till the
shadows are little longer grown" and the
westward sinking sun reaches the horizon
of life.
| This year will include in it's story the
gathering of today, this meeting with
friends, this coming home of all the chill
dren except two-one in the West, and
one in that unseen country beyond the
vail of the flesh.
As you listen to these voices you recOg
Mise them as we cannot. The facts of ex
perience which they relate, you realize tt
be parts of your own life, parts of your
SELF indeed, as you have grown by ant
through them to be what you are today.
The past is yours, although not your
to alter in any way. Many of its voice
are doubtless louder in your ears thai
those that sound about you in the present
Many of its pleasures bring keener en-
joyment to you now in memory, than an
the present Offers.
And while we bring you cordial greetin
today, and hearty wishes for your welfar
and happiness now and always, we hav
put up this little sounding board to cate
l the voices of the by-gone, in the hop
, that through their music of mingled sac
| ness and gladness there might come
your heart and to ours some new lesson
of contentment and peace, some new col
sciousness that the inscrutable ways {
/ Providence are yet the kind and gent
: leading of an all-wise Fathers hand"
j Miss Vallie Wilcox rendered ver
finely this poem, which was also wri
ten by Miss Reynolds:
To Grandpa On His Ninetieth Birthda
n Dear Grandpa, one and all we're here
V To celebrate your ninetieth year,
And bring you birthday love and cheer
n We've heard the voices of your past,
4 We've seen the shadow years have cast
We know the end comes sure and fast ;
But while we gather at your side
Q The shadows flee, the lights abide,
l. The passing hours in pleasure glide.
WbiIa raminiscpnt fhnuUht and word