Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-12-05

Rev. Walter Morbrnv ,ras the focus Of all
eyes as te arose In the pulpit
Thetford by the Danes and passed over
the exploits of old Geoffroi with q mere
glance at his several victorious hand to
hand contests with the foreign foe."
Ny father thought he should have con.
sidsrably enlarged upon the puissance OF
this old thane, seeing that no consti-
tuted the very taproot, Of the johnson
family tree.
After tracing the history Of the John.
sons during the days Of their wealth and
power, the orator came to where they
were overtaten by misfortunes through
being involved In costly litigation, In.
augurated by needy lawyers and greedy
neighbors. This brought him to Sir Ar.
chibald johnson, my great.grest-grand.
father-by importation. He said that,
harassed by litigipus neighbors and re-
duced to comparative poverty. Sir Ar.
chibald at last In his old age determined
to seek home In the new world. He
would bid an eternal farewell TO coun-
try wherein he had suffered 90 much at
the hands of avaricious and unprincipled
persons. With what could be saved
from the wreck Of his fortune he sent
his only son. Walter johnson, to Amer
lea, intending TO follow as soon a. .
place Of shelter was found for him In
one of the New England settlements.
But misfortune attended the family In
the new world as well as In the old.
Before Walter was able to permanent
ly establish himself and send for his par.
ents Lady Eleanor died. Soon after Sir
Archibald fell Ill. When informed that
his sickness was likely to terminate IA
tally, he dictated letter to his son Wal.
ter In which he made 1t his dying request
that as soon as possible his remains
should be taken to America for perma-
nent burial. He could not endure that
even his bones should lie In o country
where he had suffered 30 much and
among people who had 20 prosecuted
him.
The various misfortunes which had
prevented my grcat-grandfather and my
grandfather from fulfilling this sacred
trust were then touched upon, and 1t
was shown that my father was the
only one Of the descendants OF Sir Archi.
bald who had ever been In position pc
cuniarily to bear the great cost OF com.
plying with the dying request made 90
long ago. But the dying request had
never for moment been forgotten. The
removal Of the remains Of Sir Archibald
and their reinterinent in the soil OF free
America was bequeathed as q sacred
duty by father to son till ut last we were
witnessing the fulsllment Of that duty
In most notable and honorable way.
"Yes," said the reverend gentleman, 'in
another hour the dying request made
nearly 100 years ago will have been com.
Piled with, and the bones Of Sir Archi.
bald will repose In American soil"
Here my father buried his face In his
handkerchief. and could see by the con.
vulsive shaking Of his frame that his
feelings were almost too much for him.
Ny father was highly complimented
by the speaker for the pious manner In
which he had fulfilled the sacred trust
bequeathed to him. He had indeed 20
far exceeded the strict terms OF the dy.
ing request as to bring over the remains
Of Lady Eleanor. He carried In his breast
. heart that respected the mandate.
"whom God hath united let no man
separate"
Here I observed one Of my fathers
eyes slyly peering ont at me from be-
meath the handkerchief that covered his
face.
Our orator greatly extolled my father
for the deep reverence he bore for his
ancestors 40 exemplifed In the mourn.
ful task In which the people Of Pasona
geasit had seen him 30 long and earnest.
ly engaged. also came In for my full
share Of this praise. during which eau
tiously turned my head so far rs to see
that Prudence was slyly peering at me
from behind her fan. Even old Anna
riah threw IN eye In my direction.
In speaking Of the evil days when the
johnson family In England fell into p"
cuniary embarrassment Rev. Walter
Mowbray said that 20 honorable was
their course and name that they still
formed matrimonial connections with
the highest families in the land. Lady
Eleanor" said the orator. "was q How.
ard, the proudest name In Norfolk. and
Norfolk gives the title Of premier. duke
and peer of England to the Howard
family a. descendants OF the Now
brays."
At this my father gave me . nudge
and whispsred: There he got In nea;
little stroke of work on his sown account.
Az though by mere slip Of the tongue
be sets the Mowbrays Above the How
ards, the Johnsons and all others III
Norfolk. The Mowbrays indeedi But.
Sam, we can't help Il. We must be sal
isfied with that which we can fairly IN.
honestly claim. - ouf own-ancestral
rights which no one can gainsay.'
The speaker did well with Lady Ar.
bella. As she arrived at Salem only 10
years later than the landing OF the May
fiower pilgrims ut Plymouth. is made
quite feature Of her. In this part OF
iis discourse he took occasion TO highly
compliment the Puritans. This OF
course earned him the good opinion OF
his hearers, nearly every one among
whom claimed to be descended from the
pilgrim fathers. While working for our
family. Rev. Walter Mowbray was not
forgetful OF his own interests. ! was
glad to observe this dgn Of reawaksnsd
ambition 49,
CHAPTER x.
VICTORIOUS At LAsr-"A BEE" N Mt "a
rHER's ''BoNNKr."
No sooner were our ancestors safely
deposited In their respective vaults than
my father inclosed his burial lot with