Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-11-01

FOUR-SCORE.

FOUR-ScORE.
Tuesday, Oct %, 1894, was the eightietl
birthday of Capt. NJ. l.. Slower, and hi
relatives and near neighbors, to the mum
Der of thirty or more, gave him genuin
surprise party in the evening, although
his daughter, Miss Ella A. Slower, as
sisted by his two granddaughters, Mise
Fannie and Ethel Slower, had perfected
all arrangements.
1t was quite amusing to the friend
" no. with hushed voices, had come care
fully in, to overhear the daughter remark
Father, hear noises up stairs and dow
stairs" to which the captain responded
Rats, daughter, rats
After neighbor or two had dropped II
for chat, as matter OF course, the 200
opened and the room was filled to over
flowing with friends. The surprise wa
perfect, but here was cordial greeting
for each, After time spent in con
CALCULATIONS and "reminiscences, refres h
ments were served Mrs. NJ. f. May
then read he following poem:
Kind friend, | dare about this time,
aInlet" on You little rhyme;
Made l,v "uachine," 1t may be true,
But patented secure, all through,
/ Appreeiative words You've sand,
When you my jinglng rhymes have read
Aud ela-std ne With the poet grant,
/ Whosc nant- are known throLsH"dt the iaHa.
- how I'm clad to reimburse
Tho-c Gathering words with some more verse.
IL hard when you have lived 80 long
And never once been charged with wrong,
That should one exception make
lol, Sc cheatcd time and no mistake
YgI'rt frcsh and fair and well preserved;
y healthy life YOU have deserved;
Eeeau-c from VICES you've ah-tained,
Reward for virtue youve obtained.
And thus vou've cheated time in looks
# yaIl can't change it ON the books.
How ofi I've heard the stories told
I Which seemed life'- romance to unfold
How in the old academy days
Together Joined in VISIONS way,
Nv parents. and Your wife and you,
Began friendship lasting true,
And Which, 1t came that You were we'd
You started in, a. 'twerr, ahead,
Nv father stood a. your best man.
Ny mother on the brides left hand,
4 And all of YOU were building lar,
/ Enchanted castles i'll the air,
/ In our old house the fires glowed,
i When YOU, your household goods bestowed
And there you dwelt happy year
! Then moved to Your own home 80 near,
! For unmi-takcn signs were seen,
That soon another pair ween,
beginning life a. you had done
/ Would Join their destine1 in one
! And those who but the year before,
"Stood up" with YOU now lived next door
How well that path across the ield
/ The neighbor- kindly hearts revealed;
And when the children came to bless
These homes with joy and happiness,
/ The little feet soon learned the way
To comrade~hip and merry play.
once. when foreign voyage you made
! Your elder son-we called him "lade,
\ letter sent to you in France;
/ You could but smile at the first glance,
II want "a dog that will not bite
And two good soldiers that will fight"
i I'm sure that you do not forget
! For the last named are living yet;
! Dressed like the cmperor'- brave liussars
/ Woodcn-they'vc outliyed all the wars,
And then to please the daughters heart
\ foreign doll fell To her part,
And Ella cared Tor it 50 well
Noaccident has it bcfell
TimemuSt, of course have left some trace
OF wear and tear upon it, face,
+ But stiil it tloe- the fashion show
/ OF half II century ago.
When, with your foreign voya-e done'
Along the coast your vessel run,
We'd shout "Ol' Cant St"t,I'- in
Foro0miu- uF the rp1d is"l'in-'
Nell remember one glad day
Being invited down TO stay
10 eat some irtter~ OF Tim make;
OH they were good a. any cake
And lust You think to eat ON board
What wealth OF pleasure 'twoua afford
But time has swept u swiftly ON,
Those wears are vanished now and gone,
Ncishbors for nifty years-you four,
Inchau cling faith and love you bore
Each other through the lapse of time
\ heritage almost sublime,
For in the changing friendships now
one dare not place upon the brow
OF any, these few words "rhe same,
Whatever be your place or name
Children and grandchildren may see
Your steadfast faith and constancy,
And yours and mine unite to praise
The memories of those good old days.
Would they were here, who far away
VIII on this anniversary say
It's fathers birthday-he's four-score;
And then, from out their memOry's store
they'll gather scenes of days gone by,
And in their hearts be very nigh.
The Shadowed page we will not turn,
From all life's changes we can learn
That here Is not abiding rest,
But yonder where our loved are blest.
A souvenir had been prepared for eac
family represented, in the form of gill
edged booklet tied with yellow ribbo