The Newtown bee., 1896-06-26
Our Neighbors,
BRIDGEWAT

BRIDGEWATER. A JOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING.
 There vas neighborhO0d gathering at Elmer FrOst's, last Saturday after noon to aasist at the raising of the frame work of his new 26x39 barn building Master Workman B. BOtsford of Kansas supcrintended the raising of the timbers into place, assisted by Master Mechanic A. Worden of SOuthville and many men with willing hands upreared the stalwart frame. The building will have hip roof and it's lofty form presents a new and prominent landmark. The afternoon was excessively Warm and the tired men, after finishing the work, were invited to the lawn and treated to ice cream, cake and root beer. Several ladies were also pres ent tu watch the proceedings, some If Vhom did distinguished service as
 walters. Just after the purline plates were put in place which completed the raising for the day, the following ode, written for the occasion, was read by F. i M. Frost, at the close of which reading 1 it was unanimously voted by the crowd to have it printed in THE NEWTOWN ! BEE;
 l 4 little nonsense now and then
 Is relished by the best of men;
 Accept this rhyme tor what it's worth 1 And pray forget who gave it birth. 1 This history Ot a famous barn i Should never be consigned to prose; ( l ' E, 5I,4 =, gtr, t.,]} ] How rom oblivion it rose;
 Three years ago come next December, i If rightly l SO long remember,
 With spade anu blow and scraper too This virgin soil was broken through.
 1 ike other buildings renowned in fame l Too bal that this one has no name}
 It's foundations were begun in blood, | But later they were dug in mud.
 For here one man nearly, lost his foot 1 And sIashed a hole clean through his boot.
 1 don't know how he came to do it i But he raised his saNe and cut right through if
 Later another nearly lost thumb
 Aud still there may be more Lo come.
 Was all this blood here spilled in yam?
 We hope all wounds will heal again.
 With horse and man and labor vast, Ahol many weary nIOnths had passed
 In digging iuto this tough old knoll
 '''N A''iN''
 Then from the held5 both far and near
 Were gathered stones rich and rare,
 And one by one with skillful hand
 Were Iaid with much pamtakng care;
 And slowly upward now it rOsc,' RivaIng the great wall of China
 Believe me, gentlemen, there's nothing
 AUout this building very tiny.
 Then 70 th" woods, north, south,
 East west, the choppers way is found, For trees tOmake the timbers
 Must he straight and tall and sound.
 Next came the squad of hewer5 To work ;lnd do their part;
 To how stick right truly l. unite ii work Of art.
 The chips Jew wildly to and fro,
 In winters cold and summers heat.
 At last there came time when nu Were hcwcd out shupely, trim and neat;
 An,l in the air and through the brain Vast plans were ,]rawn and laidi'
 Aud then 'twa7 found they needed
 A master workman's ald.
 In all the section round was found No man competent 10 build it. Across tie plUIns from Kansas came The man who took the bill and filled il,
 And with him wa. an assistant Abel Who hailed from the land ot William Penn
 i tell you now, il is no fable,
 One of that state's distinguished men. , And then with augur and with saw, With mullet. and with chi5cI,
 They fell right to and you shall judge
 ] all their work was fzlle. And now are gathered here today
 These worthy tilcrs of the soil, Whose brawny arms proclaim them true l Horny handed sons Of tOil. We hope each a new barn can have | And bOunteOuS crops to fill it,
 But we hope that they will never take
 50 many years to build it. The ladies, too, are present here, , To view our model work Of art. - We are glad that they 50 wiling alo 5 At such times to do their part. , And now this mighty framework stands This triumph of the mechanic's 2 ar1, And We thank each one here present l For SO faithfully doing his part. May shingles soon and boards of pine ' Enclose this building snug and tight.
 Protection give enough to please The most devout McKinlcy1te. ~ Though raised beneath the rule ot Grover ! May many like him wax and wanc l Ere these proud walls shall topple over , And crumblc to the ground again. , For listening here so patiently 4 Your humble pardon now beg; Q Your lips are parched, your throat is dry, ] Come, let ua tap the keg, , And now that we have raised the frame ! With "houeI'' and shout and scream, ' Let us adjourn q little space I And we'll try tOraise some cream. 3 Mrs Charles Lines from Bristol ha . been the guest of Mrs Almira Bennett.
 Henry c. Sanford and sister, Miss NJ
 bel, spent day in New Haven, last weel ] Mrs H. M. Jessup and Mrs Ellen Pee e spent Sunday week in Danbury. Nil f Je8sup entertained Mrs Laura WeltO 9 from Southville, last week. Miss Nellie Beers is home from Bosto for the summer, bringing 8 friend wit her.
 b Miss Bessie Smith is home from N :. Moody's school for the long vacation. f MT and Mrs A. H. GilIett and son a ? tended Miss Agnes Gllett's wedding Il Roxbury, last week.
 The school in East district, Miss Emi 3 Treat teacher, closes next week. Tn !. Center school, Miss Genevieve Sanfol n teacher, closes the first week in July. l
 R. Wooster is the new committee. ,- Rev MT Barlow, who has supplied }, Marks pulpit so satisfactorily for u e last month, was with them for the la $ time, Sunday, 2lst. Rev MT Linsley
 to take his place. . Dr Bostwick attended the funeral Il his uncle, Edwin N. Bostwick, in Ne Milford recput1v