Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-12-29

Three children were born and brought up
at the farm. where Charles, the older son,
now resides. Henry, the younger son,
has long been engaged in business in Rut-
land, VT, and Mrs. Sherman Davis is
pleasantly located in Minneapolis.
At the village Mr.. and Mrs Hall have
always lived by themselves. and thus their
lives have been very closely interviewer.
In later years he has been able by bis dex-
terity and strength to minister, as few
could do, to every need which has arisen
from her delicate condition of health.
For 80 years he has been deacon in
the Congregational church. and he still
leads the singing at the weekly prayer
meeting. A few years ago the church
placed upon its memorial windows the
names OF those who had wrought most
effectively for its welfare, and he is now
the only one OF those among the living.
All have been wont to seek his services
in case OF serious illness or death. At the
age Of 78 Mr.. and Mrs. Hall, with Capt.
Gorham and few Others, stand as the
honored and trusted advisers OF the COM
munity.
Amid a sturdy, homogeneous people,
and surrounded by the fiends OF their
youth, they have come to the fftieth ami
versary OF their wedding day, an unbroken
family. Well has the poet said
Happy are they, whose lives
Are spent in friendships calm security"
They are also to be congratulated upon
having lived during the greatest era of the
great Republic. The tallow candle, the
scythe and the stage-coach have given
place to the electric light, the reaper and
the lightning express. The 5000 miles of
railroad in 1850 are now increased more
than 25-fold. The telegraph was first
used in 1874. The so years under consid-
Grafton have witnessed the laying of the
first Atlantic cable, the introduction of the
telephone and the electric car, the aboli-
ton Of slavery, the collegiate education Of
women and the full possession and peopling
of this western continent, an unheralded
event, which SO good an authority as Julius
Seelye has declared to be the greatest
event of the 10Th century, because affect
ing for good the greatest number of the
human family. We wish to congratulate
Mr.. and Mrs. Hall upon their long and
useful lives during this important period
of our nations history.
Golden Wedding.
l847 1897
To Mr.. AND MRS EBENEzER HALL,
West Westminster, Vt.
The days of our years are like shadows,
So quickly they come and are gone,
The years of our lives are hut dreaming,
When we waken the journey is done.
Youth stands on the threshold moment,
Strong Of body and atful of heart,
Not needing how swift the door closes,
Without fear pressing onward, apart.
For who think. of tho nigh. -h.n the morn
Shines out with its gladness and cheer,
Who thinks Of old age and its shadows,
When the bridal day dawns sweet aud clear.
Fifty years since the wedding bells sounded,
Fifty years did we say can it bei
Can we hearken not yet to their Ginning?
Or is it the ebb OF life's sea
Fifty years with their care and their comfort
Fifty years with their labor and rest,
Half century's burdens and blessings,
And all to Gods goodness attest.
Your feet through the earth have not wan.
dered,
You have ever "looked up to the hills
The fields whose grain you have garnered,
Still the son of your household tills.
The same brooks murmur on through the
meadows,
The arbutus still sweetens the spring,
The evergreen tree crowns the woodland,
Tho birds their chorals yet sing.
Each scene is dear with remembrance,
Some memory hallows each spot,
Each year in its coming and going
Some days unforgotten have brought.
Many friends have passed over life's border,
With whom you walked many year.
The fire has gone out on some earth-stonss
Where tryst was kept sacred and dear.
But the circle of home is unbroken,
And the children jovfully come
To the welcome Of love and devotion,
In this sheltering havsn-home.
For this day so rare Of occasion,
In reminiscencs so blest,
From the past and the present comes greet
ing,
Each bringing its choicest and best.
We hear not the voice Of the future,
But pray that its message may DO
A promise Of many days added,
Days restful and peaceful to see.
And we know that beyond in the homo land
Where none ever grow weary and old,
Lost faces and voices shall greet you
When the Shepherd shall gather His fold.
Mrs FLORENCE HALL DAVIS
Minneapolis, MINI.