The Press., 1894-01-11
MONSON.

A series or moeJlnSS VIII De nolu aG the Universalist church in February. The following speakers will be heard: February 6, Rev. I. A. Priest, Newton vile; IA, Rev. c. H. Puffer, Salem; 20, Rev. w. s. Perkins,. Meriden; 27, Rev. G. G. Hamilton, Everett.
 The old mansion, known as the "Porter house." at North Monson, owned by the mill corporation at that place, and occupied by James Heery, one of it's off, cials, was burned last Friday morning. The Springfield Republican says: ''The house was historic as the home of Dea. A. w. Porter, for many years treasurer of Mount Holyoke seminary. In fact the real beginnings of the seminary are asso- ciated with the place. Soon after chart CT was secured for the seminary Rev. William Taylor and Mary Lyon drove over to Monsor to secure Dea. Porter as financial manager to undertake the task of putting up the building. The trustees looked about for capable man with means who could devote his time without compensation to the work. When Miss Lyon reached the house Saturday, April IA, 1886, Dea. Porter was in Boston. She remained over Sunday, and spent much of the time in prayer. Monday she broached the project to him. He hesi- tated on account of his health and other cares, but finally took up the work, and fo, +ho Hno ol If the institution. While the first building was going up Dea. Porter put the man. agement of his mill in other hands, and drove over every Monday from Monson to the work. Mary Lyon frequently went to Monson, and the older residents re- member that she was often a guest at Dea. Porter's home."
 Why Josiah Allen Did Not Become a Con dOlier. Wall, on our way home I had an awful trial with Josiah Allen. Mebby what he had seen that day made him feel kind O rig up, and want to act
 He and I wuz a-wendin' our way along the lagoon, when all of a sudden he sez-
 ''Samantha, want to go out sailin' in a gondola-I want to swing out and be romantic," sez he.
 Sez he, ''I always wanted to be roman- tic, and 1 always wanted 10 be gondolier, but It never come handy before, and now I will! aoiU be romantic, and sail around with you in gondola. I'd love to go by moonlight, but sunlight is better than nothin'."
 looked down pityin'ly on him, as he stood few steps below me on the flight O stairs a-leadin' down to the waters S edge.
 leaned hard on my faithful old um- brell, for had a touch of rheumatic that day
 And sez I,"Romance. Josiah, should be looked at with the bright eyes of youth, not through spectacles No. 12." Sez I, "The glowin' mist that wraps her round fades away under the magnifyin' lights of them specs, Josiah Allen.''
 He had took his hat off to cool his for ward, and 1 sez further
 Romance and bald heads don't go to- gether worth a cent, and rheumatiz and azmy are perfect strangers to her. Ro- nance locks arms with young souls, Jo- siah, and walks off with 'em.''
 "Oh, shaw" says Josiah, i've hain't so very old. Old Uncle Smedley would call us young, and we be, compared to him.
 s'Wall," sez I, through the purblind gaze of ninety winters we may look young CT, but bald heads and spectacles, Josiah Allen, tell their own silent story. Weare l not young, Josiah Allen, and all our lyin' l and pretending won't make us so.''
 ''Wall, dunn it all I never shall be any younger. You can't dispute tliat.''
 ''No," sez I, "I don't spose you will, in | this spear"
 "Wall, I am bound to go out in gon- dola, I am bound to be gondolier before die. So you may as well make up your mind first as last. and the sooner I go, the younger shall go. Hain't that so ?''
 With deep sithe 1 answered, II spoze so."
 And he continued on, "There is such wild, free pleasure on the deep, Samantha. But, sez I, layin down the sword, of common sense, and takin' up the weapons of affection.
 ''Think of the dangers, Josiah The water is damp and cold, and your rheu- matiz is fearful"
 "Dum it all! haint agoin' in the wa- ter, am ?''
 II don't know" sez 1 sadly, q don't know J Josiah, and anyway the winds sweep down the lagoons, and azmy fingers on it's wings. Pause, Josiah Allen, for my sake, for liniments and poltices, as well as clouds, have their dark linin's, and they turn lem out to me as I ponder on your course" Sez I, "Your danger appauls me, and also the idee of bein' up nights with you"
 "But," sez he firmly, 'I aoiU be gon- dolier, I'm bound ont. And," sez he, "I want one of them gorgeous silk dresses that they wear. I'd love to appear in a red and yeller suit, Samantha, or green and purple, or a blue and maroon, with 8 pink sash made of thin glitterin' silk, but I spoze that you will break that up in a minute. So, spoze that I shall have to dwindle down onto 8 silk scarf, or some plumes in my hat, mebby-you never are