St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-01-18
LETTER FROM DIR. GRAVES.
Everett, M ass.

bury "A New Years Reception TO the
Newsboys.
Correspondence OF the CALIFORNIAN
The compliments OF the season to
the old, staid, and up-to-times GALE.
DOMAIN; and to the diminishing few
Of my boyhood friends, who may yet
be among its readers; who, the
fewer they grow the dearer they be.
come.
The most pleasant, and in some
respects the most satisfactory visit to
St. Johnsbury, for many a year, has
been the recent one in October last:
the first October have spent in Yer
mont, in more than half century.
The beautiful weather the autumnal
colors on forest, and upland, and
mountain, were a perpetual delight;
my own vigorous health and so the
long rambles | could take,-to wan
der at ones sweet will with no one
tohurry ore call me to account. no bell
to summon me to and the
many delightful drives on which |
was taken and the memories they
recalled. like echos from the past;
these with friendly greetings on every
hand, filled my cup, which indeed is
still OVERLOOKING. The one minor
chord in all this music of soul was a
conviction which seemed to haunt
me, that this was my last visit For
all the greetings and kind words
spoken, and tender leave-takings, |
thank you, old friends, from my
heart.
When left st. Johnsbury, the sky
was over cast with clouds, which
settled gloomily down as we proceed
ed. At Windsor, Ascutney, the first
mountain | ever Cimed, and which
ever since has seemed very dear to me,
was blank: at Bellows Fall the
rain came down in torrents, and con-
tinued well on to night.
A brief visit with friends in Troy,
N, Y, where Mrs. Graves joined, and
in due time we reached this city,
where | first located as pastor, just
twenty-five years ago; and which
hence forth, it now seems is to be my
future abode.
New York, as we passed through
it's breadth, was at fever heat, it be-
ing the eve of election When we
reached Michigan everybody was
smiling, nay, on broad grin. Even
the democrats were mildly hilarious
over the election of the since noted
Donavan one sole Democrat in
the lower House OF our legislature.
The democratic party in the House
will henceforth act together. II only
the present congress could have fol-
lowed the wise, praise worthy and
patriotic example which will be set
in Michigan. what a record OF states
manship might it not have made for
the guidance Of coming congresses?
What an example OF devotion to prin-
ciple, to party allegiance, would it
have been, to have sunk all petty
pecularities and rivalries, and in the
concord of high, unselfsh devotion
to duty and country, posterity and
the race at large, to have cast on
every roll-call vote absolutely
unanimous and harmonious Ecce
Donaven! Such party will conquer
respect, and inspire fear. "Ab uno
disco omnes."
We are having delightful winter
here; furry of snow now and then,
which keeps the ground white but
has given us as yet no sleighing.
On New Years day occurred very
unique and enjoyable event, and as
sensible and bene6cent as it was en-.
joyable; viz. a public dinner given by
the citizens at large to the newsboys
Of the city
About 1900 boys were on parade
at II O'Clock, along our principal
streets, with bands and banner, con-
Quoted by our city officials.
At IL O'Clock they filed into our
laige city hall; the galleries of which
were packed by our citizens, male and
female. $50 tables had been prepar-
ed, and when the joyous bedlam of
surprise and delight had been Quilted
anu all were seated, one of their num-
Der was called to the platform, and
and offered very appropriate grace.
Then about $50 OF our leading citi-
zens, among whom were members of
the city council, presidents of banks,
and OF our leading corporations, doc
tors, lawyers, merchants, arrayed in
White aprons, marched down from
the platform as waters, 500 turkeys
and all other good things to match
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