Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-20


brothers were alive and gathered in the
family circle making up the love and
affection of the old hOme-the home OF
fifty years ago!
Fifty years hence another generation,
yea, more than another generation, shall
celebrate "Old Home Week" and refer
to YOU with the same respect and the
same love with which you to-day refer
to those of fifty years ago.
And what constitutes such a celebra-
ton? 1t is not the words we say; it is
that feeling which is behind the words
and which words are altogether made
quate to express.
am here to-day to take part in the
dedication of this little library. Perhaps
it is generous and perhaps a selfish
thing for me to have this building
erected, and place thereon the names OF
those whose memories hold most dear.
You are not indebted to me alone for
this library. Some years ago sug-
gestions were made to me by citizens of
Buckfield that public library would be
desirable. Mrs. Josephine Themes very
kindly gave the land upon which the
building stands; the town of Bucktield
furnished the cellar and put in the
foundation. 1t has been a pleasure to
me that was able to give the building.
NV nephews-the children of my brother
and sisters-gave the books. To the
architect, Mr.. John Calvin Stephens,
You are indebted for its form and come
liness, and to Mr.. Alfred Cole, who has
been my agent here in its erection, and
who has been untiring in his efforts, you
are very much indebted!
have to-day given this library to the
town OF Buckfield, or decided it to five
citizens of my own selection in trust for
the town. Nobody knows or can meas
ure the influences of good books. Our
happiness depends, not upon the posses,
sion of wealth and luxury, but upon the
Development of the mind and the associa'
tons that we form. Think of the riches
contained in the pages of good books
Think of the whole field of poetry
science, fiction and literature that is
opened up to us, cultivating the swee,
imagination of the mind!
l sincerely trust that this little library
may prove a well-spring to the people o
Buckfield. Entertainment is needful
The man who labors all the week need!
and should have his Saturday afternoon
and his evenings for entertainment, ant
the duty of civilization is to furnish
proper and suitable means for the en-
Ijoyment of the mind!
This library comes home very sacredl.
to me when l associate it with IN.
father and mother and brother and sis
Il Il It RI
father and mother. / cannot tell yo'
what delight it is to me that you knew
them. Anywhere else, they are name
!, that would fall perfunctorily upon tn
ear. You knew them! They were tn
same sort of people that you are-de
scendants of good old Puritan stock
INV mothers sweet voice and gentl
manner many of you here recall. Tn
, secretary here described at some lengt
the early career of his grandfath an
!, II his fathers most interesting one, tel
ling of the hard, long journey by cal
and horseback in those early days OF hi
grandfather, Thomas Long, with hi
' wife and little ones from Massachusett
} to the town of Buckfield; of the hart
ships and privations of those early Sc
S tiers, and saying in part: My lathe
4 lived the hard and laborious life OF
a New England farmers son of that ear
day, until at - or IA years of age he b.
/ came cripple, and then by the utmo
4 endeavor and sacrifice, my grandfathe
J, managed to give him one term at Hebre
d Academy. He boarded three miles fro
;: the school to save expense, and roo
3 back and forth on horseback, paying b
d board with shoes which his father mad
+. 1t was a scanty education! Very lit
n of it-but there was something in Il
spirit of the man by which he improve
himself from meeting those who h'
had the opportunities of liberal ed
cation. 1t aided him. He obtain
D. books and studied them. He taug
W school. He served as clerk in cou
10 try store, and afterward formed pa
IS nership with Mr.. Nathan Atwood of Il
town, putting into the business t
munificent sum of $50!
nd Lame, poor and in delicate health,
le was stimulated with a fine ambition!
is had fine literary tastes and undoubt
or ability. He had poetic fancy and VIC
n. several creditable poems. He was
s. public-spirited citizen, active in the
Establishment of q high school at But