The Portland daily press., 1898-01-20

al the bountifulIy laden tables, Mr.. Rey-
noIds rappped for order and introduced
Hon. James e. Baxter of Portland.
Mr.. Baxter is native of Gorham and
besides placing in the chapel stained
glass window in memory of his father,
has presented to the parish handsome
piano which is in the parlors of the parish
house. Mr.. Baxter spoke as follows:
have been asked to give some person
al "reminiscences of Gorham, and especial
ly of Deacon James phinney of godly
memory, but as I left this, my native
town, when a little past six months OF
age, period of life when that absorpt1Ye
energy of the intellect so conducive to
the development of the reminiscent
faculty is dormant, I opine that If l
should contine my thoughts to the limits
would hardly be edifying.
Yet I have "reminiscences OF this dear
old town, which though perhaps not
personal, have grown with my growth,
and become as real to me as ii they We're
my very own; and though may only
have had the scenes described to me, do
I not see as clearly as If they had been
beheld by MY natural vision, the good
deacon, bent with age. holding his name
sake in his arms and blessing him with
sightless orbs turned heavenward In
patriarchal manner and bulky Mrs;
Cobb, filling her entire doorway and
watching the departure of the doctor 8
family with looks Of mingled sorrow and
anger, as their sleigh passed her house
for the last time. Certainly, DO, and
many another scene, crowded with the
FORMS of Gorham folk, to whom this town
was once familiar and dear as to you and
me, comes wildly out of the shadows OF
the past. There was the store OF 1oppan
Robie, place altogether different from
anything we behold today, the centre OF
the business life of the town. the popular
forum, so to speak, where everything
affecting the people was discussed by
Tom. Dick and Harry, often with dis
play OF wit and wisdom worthy OF a Wider
arena.
Mingled with theJ stale. literary life
which centred in the church and acade-
my, was much joyous activity, which
displayed itself on occasions somewhat
conspicuously Well do l remember how
one of the roguish academy boys on dim
night, having fastened string 70 tne
tongue of the bell, from the safe shelter
of the stone wall near by, aroused the
townsfolk from their slum Der by an COCA
sional solemn stroke, and how they gath
cred about the grounds half dressed and
shiyering in the cool night air, some be-
lieying that the noise was OF supernatural
origin. Happily forshim the culprlt was
not caught, though the cause of the mys-
FERROUS tolling was finally discovered. L
remember, too how the same rogue,
somewhile after. carried late at night an
innocent calf to Preceptor Nason's door
and tied him to the knocker, and how
the good preceptor, awakened from slum-
Der, raised his window to ask what was
wanted, but getting no reply and the
knock being repeated, finally opened the
door, discovering that his nocturnal Wis
itor was only the Widow Lombard s calf.
Over in yonder churchyard lie those
whose stories, if told, would draw the
town to listen. The gown and wig of
wisdom moulder together with the cap
and bells Of folly; yet we must not dis
turb them.
sTNo farther seek their merits to disclose,
Nor draw their frailties from their dread
abode
There they alike in trembling hope re-
pose,
The bosom of their Father and their
God.'
Yet 1 may be pardoned for recalling
two incidents connected with those who
lie there, because their recital made SO
deep an impression upon my mind thai
| seem to have witnessed them
1t was fair June day, and the people
of the town had gathered to witness the
raising of tho First Parish meeting
house. AS the fran,a slowly rose cheer
broke forth, but was suddenly succeeded
by a cry of fear, as the heavy timbers
swayed and fell, crashing upon those who
stood near and had not time to escape.