The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-06-25

would vote TO accept Miss Tenney's prop,
Osition to erect and deed library build
ing. Town clerk never penned, MOI
wires never carried happier message
from old Newbury than the following:
ITO MARTHA J. TENNEY, Haverhill, Mass
At special town meeting this afternoon town
voted unanimously to accept your generous
proposition, and by unanimous vote extended
thanks. HORACE w. BAILEY, Town Clerk"
The library building is completed, the
books of the village library together with
hundreds of volumes kindly donated are
placed upon the shelves. Thus ends the
first briefly told chapter.
| would fellow citizens that | could now
speak words strong enough, eloquent
enough, inspired enough, to properly eX-
press the deep sense of appreciation and
gratitude yelling up in our hearts as this
joyful panoramic scene passes in review.
For the citizens of Newbury, without
ial Library, for the poorest boy and the
poorest girl accept it. Martha J. Ten
ney had you in her heart when she con-
ceived the plan. The doors of yonder Ii
brary are open to all. Its books are free
to all!
We acknowledge the gift in the same
spirit in which it was given. But in ac-
knowledging the receipt of such gift a
sacred duty follows in its wake.
a pOst-mOrtem kindness may shed sun
shine but no ray of it enters the heart
that has ceased beating, it dispenses no
fragrance in the life that has gone out.
But we to-day have a duty, real ante
norton, living acting duty to perform.
Fellow citizens shall we do our reasonable
duty? We have accepted this library, shall
we support it? Shall we show Martha j..
Tenney that our expressions of pleasure
and thanks are not meaningless words ?
Shall we now while we live do an act the
benefits of which we may behold with our
mortal eyes? The generation which Is
following close in our footsteps lifts Its
appealing voice and inquiries what legacy
Will you leave us?
The duty of this hour is as sacred as any
ever urged from this desk dedicated to the
holy teachings. To this day contribute
funds the income of which will keep open
doors in yonder library building and fur
nish the reading room with wholesome
current literature; will discharge an hon
Orable obllgation,-i will speak for better
boys and better girls, for a stronger man
hood, a truer wOomanhOOd. TO support
the Tenney Memorial Library lends en-
dOrsement to education i'll its broadcast
sense. There is no God-inspired motive
in the human heart grander than that
which prompts us to do those things which
will make other lives better and happier.
Fellow citizens let us before we look
abroad examine our own resources.
AT the conclusion of his address Mr..
Bailey said, ''as if to anticipate the
needs of the hour that our esteemed
fellow citizen, Col. Erastus Baldwin
had handed in the first hundred dol
lars to which the speaker took pleasure
in adding another hundred" and the
good work continued with pleasing re-
suits, which witch the letter read by
Mr. Bailey from Sophia C. (Tenney)
Hale and appears at the conclusion of
this article. The organ selection by
Mrs. BerthOlf, 'HOme, Sweet Home"
came with Appropriateness The
short addresses" on the program was
one of the most interesting and pleas
ing events of the day. Bradley d. Rog-
ers, Esq, of Buffalo, n. Y, a native of
Newbury, was the first speaker called.
His "reminiscences of school boy days
in Newbury and the pleasing anecdotes
of Martha j. Tenney were golden mug
gets to all present Hon. +. w. Bald
win of Barton was the next speaker
called. Mr. Baldwin was a pupil at
Newbury Seminary and his wife de-
scendant of Major Nathaniel Merrill, |
so prominent in early Coos times. Mr..
Baldwin fitted into the occasion as
though cut out for the place. Col. !
Henry o. Kent of Lancaster n. H., !