The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-11-20
An Old Folks Gathering,
This time they make II n Surprise Party
on McNaughtOn.

This time they make II n Surprise Party
on McNaughton.
On the 9th day of November A. ID.
1891 quite a number of the old people
of Manchester, Unexpectedly, convened
at the residence of Mr.. and Mrs.
McNaughton, in Barnumville, and
with appropriate ceremonies presented
to them pair Of beautiful rocking
chairs, in commemoration of the an
niversary of his birthday. The assem-
bly, was called to order by Hon. H. X.
Fowler, who in stating the object of the
visit made the following remarks.
Something over a year ago, our
friend McNaughton conceived the idea
of having an Old Folks Party. He
issued very unique invitation, in sub
stance as follows:
All people of the town of Manches
ter, who have attained the allotted age
of three score and ten years, are re-
spectfully invited to come and dine
with me on the 9th day of Nov. 1890,
for the renewal of acquaintance and So
cial intercourse.
1t was the anniversary of his natal
day. This invitation was given broad
cast, and embraced the high, the low,
the rich, and the poor. Age was the
only required merit. Agreeably to
that invitation there assembled at this
place one year ago a company OF ven
cradle citizens whose united ages repre-
sented more years than the world is
old, according to the Mosaic account.
The occasion proved as interesting as it
was novel. 1t awakened social spirit
that had long lain dormant and in
more respects than one accomplished
the object of its author.
Mr.. McNaughton is "a years old
this day. He has been an active bus
mess man among us for more than half
a century, while his good wife is not
only life resident but is a descendent
of one Of our first settlers who is closely
identified with the early history OF our
town. 1t was therefore very apprO-
pirate for this couple to invite their
aged neighbors to come and participate
in the peculiar festivities Of that birth
day party; and it was an honorable and
appreciative acknowledgement on the
part of the guests, that of the 106 then
in. town, upwards Of so were present,
and were sumptuously entertained.
Remembering with gratitude the oc-
casion of one year ago, and hoping to
enliven the spirit which that has evoked,
we have met here today to pay our re-
spects to Mr.. and Mrs McNaughton,
and as a memorial of our kind regards,
we have brought along the articles be-
fore us, which the Rev. Mr.. Apple
man will now present.
The chairs were placed and Mr.. and
Mrs, M. invited to occupy them while
Mr.. Appleman spoke as follows:
"Mr. and Mrs. McNaughton; one
year ago today large company Of ven
cradle people we're assembled here in
response to your kind and generous in
vitations and were royalty entertained
by your hospitality. Today we are
here by our own invitation but we trust
we are no less welcome then we were
one year ago. We congratulate you
that your lives have been spared
another year and that Divine Provi-
dence smiles upon you again today III
the preservation of your health and
through the glories of nature. But we
cannot Danish the one dark cloud which
hangs in the midst of this otherwise
cloudless sky, eleven of that elect llO
have been called from earth during the
intervening year. The gathering Of
one year ago was unique in its charac
ter 1t was Christ-like. The rich and
the poor met together without social
distinction. No introductions were
needed. They were all citizens of the
same town. Their names were printed
upon the same list. They all assem-
bled by invitation under the same roof
To meet was to be acquainted. The
end of the influence is not yet. 1t will
provoke others to emulation and the
aged will not outlive their generation
as heretofore. Old age will be greener
and the octogenarian will not pass tC
the grave unattended because unknown
An aged citizen has remarked concern
ing that gathering, 4 would rather
have the honor of that party than tc
have the honors of the Governor of the
State of Vermont Out of the depth:
of our hearts we wish you many return:
of this day. And may your faces con
tinue to appear in society so long as i
may please God to permit you to re
main upon the earth. But intirmity il