The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-07-03
THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING.

They were two old people. lneif
ideas and visions We're slowly turning
back to the sunny shores of childhood.
Their lives had always been simple and
transformations, then accord them only
kindly, though perhaps amused, con-
sideration, if, at the time of their
golden wedding, they chose to have
martial music, and magnified their own
small deeds of loyalty until they reach
ed such gigantic proportions as TO be
compared favorably, by themselves, to
the loyal and noble deeds of George
Washington.
Eben Trow was a great lover Of ma
tional holidays, and always gave him
self UP to the full enjoyment of each.
as the wheel of time, in its never ceas-
ing revolutions, brought them around
again and again, as the years rolled by.
There was one, though, that stood as
a lasting and endearing monument -
Eben and Eliza Trow, and always re-
ceived double recognition by them, and
that was the 22d of February, for not
only was it Washington's birthday, but
also the anniversary of their wedding
day, and no anniversary celebrated by
them had ever been SO importan. as
the present one, because they had
passed, hand in hand, the fiftieth mile
post of married life, and it was to be
their golden wedding.
Twas the day before the golden we'd
ding, and great preparations We're in
progress at the little farm on the hill
top. All of the best quilts had been
brought from their chests and aired,
that they might be spread in their va
ricolored grandeur upon the high four.
posted beds in the little guest cham
bers. There had been a great onslaught
among the turkeys, and appetizing
odors issued from pantry and kitchen.
for adj the country round had been in
vited to the golden wedding.
Presents We're sent to the door, now
and then Gold ones We're scarce, and,
aside from a gold headed cane for
Eben and a pair of gold-b bowed spec
tacles for Eliza, sent with love from
distant relatives, the presents We're only
such as might be expected from the
good, honest country folk around them.
Mandy Starks and her husband had
sent them a red plush album, with
their pictures on the first leaf Mandy
standing with her hand on her hus-
bands shoulder, who was sitting by her
side.
Alrnira Stubs had sent a gorgeous
bouquet of paper roses and dried
grasses in a large blue vase, covered
with transfer pictures, that made the
old hearts bound with delight The
parson sent Bible, and the Sunday
school, of which Eben was now a re-
tired superintendent, had sent a COM
Portable chair over to the farm
All of these presents and many others
Of like character, each accompanied by
few words of kindly greeting, bade
fair to make the great double anniver-
sary one to be remembered
The crowning glory of the event. in
EliZa'S eyes, was to be her dinner table
set with blue dishes upon a linen table
cloth woven by herself in days Ions
gone by. The heavy blue dishes Were
the pride and joy of Eliza Trows heart
and had always been brought forth on
state occasions ever since she and Eben
had been married. These dishes had
many impossible pictures upon them
and what seemed to the old folks 20
make them particularly suitable for the
coming occasion was that George and
Martha Washington figured quite
prominently in some of these marvel
Gus productions.
Eliza had just completed arranging
the table and was gazing with fond ad-
miration upon the whole There il
stood all ready. The home made table
cloth, the blue dinner set, and the poll
ished pewter service. She was about
to lock the dining-room door that moth
ing might be disturbed, and everything
kept in order for the morrow. when
she heard a commotion on the front
porch.
She quietly locked the dining-room
and put the key in her pocket Hasten
ing to the front door, she was confront
ed by a stately person, who made stiff
bow and handed her a note, and while
she read it he ordered a huge box
brought in by the two men who ac-
companied him.
The note was from her niece Mamie.
and in it she stated that the box con-
tanned a white and gold dinner set of
delicate ware to be used upon her table
at the golden wedding
1t was her gift, together with the
yellow and white roses for the dinner
floral design, and a beautiful linen ia
blecloth.
Bruce, the butler, and his attendants,
would arrange the table for her and
leave on the $50 train.
1t was then g O'Clock and Bruce had
none too much time to do all that lis
mistress expected of him and catch the
$50 train.
He removed his heavy coat. cap, ard
gloves, asked Eliza to lead the way to
the dining-room, and motioned his men
to follow.
Poor Eliza! She strived to keep back
the tears. Her blue dishes! The tears
We're for them, and dignified Bruce
mistook them for tears of gratitude and
pretended not to see them. while he
and his attendants quickly undid all
Of her work and soon had the table
reset with the dainties of linen, and
all of the beautiful white and gold
dishes, with the floral piece tastefully
arranged in the center. Then with a
few instructions as to the different
courses and how they were to be
served (Which only mystitied roor
Eliza), Bruce and the other men hur-
ried into their great coats. and were
soon flying over the snow with feet
horses and tingling sleigh bells, to
catch the train for New York City.
Eben and Eliza We're bewildered. 1t
had been done so quickly that they
scarcely realized what it meant, and
had let the men depart without a word
from them.
They were thankful to Mamie for the
beautiful present, but somehow they
wished 1t had been something differ
ent. The blue dishes and homemade
tablecloth, which had always been used
on other great occasions at Hilton